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“I know. I think so too. But Niko would eat it every day if he could.”
“He has weird taste in food.” Maisy took another bite. “Although I also had a lot of just eggs and fruit and bread and that kind of thing.”
“Yeah. Nowadays, more and more Aeniceans choose to eat American-style foods. For breakfast and for other meals, too. I love a good pancake as much as the next guy, obviously, but it’s a little sad to see the stalls that used to sell amanden and gallios and other traditional pastries disappearing.”
“That reminds me — we should try some traditional Kanalean food while we’re here. I suspect we haven’t had any yet, unless Kanaleans traditionally eat a lot of picnic foods and spaghetti. I hate to think we might leave without trying anything local.”
“That’s a good idea.” Xander ate another bite of his breakfast. “Maybe today, after the jungle hike, we can swing through town and try to find something. We are technically allowed to be out if we’re together.”
“Bribing me with food again.” Maisy waved her fork at Xander. “I see what you’re doing.”
Xander raised his hands in surrender. “You caught me again.”
They chatted a little more about Aenicean and Kanalean foods while finishing their breakfast, then broke off to get ready for the hike. Xander wasn’t sure how long they’d be walking, but it was a hot day and he wanted to be prepared. He packed a bottle of water and some fruit in a small backpack that he’d found in the living room, then added a baseball cap and a pair of sensible sneakers to his outfit. As a final touch, he put on a little sunscreen. As he applied it to his face, he couldn’t help remembering putting sunscreen on Maisy yesterday. Running his hands across her shoulder blades and down the graceful arch of her back had been… well… memorable was one word that came to mind.
Xander was ready a little before Maisy, so he sat on the couch and flipped through a four-year-old magazine on fishing that was on the bookshelf in the living room. Maisy emerged a little while later in the same shorts and crop top, but with a large floppy hat on her head and a pair of walking shoes on her feet.
“I didn’t pack this,” she said as she came to sit beside Xander on the couch. “The hat, I mean. It must have been one of the publicists.”
“Is it not your style?”
Maisy tilted her head to show Xander the very large pink flower on the brim of the hat. “Not exactly. The one I wore yesterday was better, but I’m under strict orders not to repeat clothes.”
Xander chuckled. “If it makes you feel better, I didn’t pick any of the clothes that are here. Not a single one.”
“I don’t think Niko did either.” Maisy bit her lip. “He left most of the arrangements up to the publicists.”
Xander felt a stab of annoyance. It made sense, of course, that all their conversations would eventually circle back to Niko, but he wasn’t in the mood to chat about his brother. It made the situation they were in all too real. They weren’t just on vacation — they had an important role to play to ensure the future of Aenicea.
“That sounds like him.” The answer was bland, but it was better than saying what Xander was really feeling.
Just then, the door opened and Safa entered the villa. Apparently, she didn’t feel a need to knock.
“Good. You’re ready. Shall we?”
Xander and Maisy got to their feet and followed her out to the car.
“Is it just me, or do you feel like a schoolchild on a field trip?” Xander asked Maisy in a hushed voice.
“I feel more like schoolchildren who are being punished for bad behavior and are heading to detention,” Maisy replied softly.
“At least our detention is a nice hike and not writing lines.”
“True.”
Xander opened Maisy’s car door for her. She rolled her eyes, but climbed in and allowed him to close the door behind her. Xander crossed behind the car and got in on his own side. He’d barely buckled his seat belt before they were off.
Safa began telling them about the hike as they merged onto the main road. This time, they turned the opposite way from where they’d gone yesterday.
“Stay close together,” Safa said. “Hold hands as much as you can. We’ll want to take a few posed pictures and a few candid ones, so be ready. The hike is only about three kilometers, so it shouldn’t be too challenging.”
“Three kilometers — that’s about two miles, right?”
“Give or take.” Xander glanced at her. “How does that sound?”
“A little short, to be honest, but it is warm out. Maybe we’ll be tired.”
They turned away from the beach and toward the island’s jungled interior. After a few minutes of driving, they passed a building with a dirt lot full of ATVs and a sign advertising off-the-beaten-track adventures.
