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The abuse left him in need of comfort that only his guardian could provide. This was how they secured their bond. It was the only intimacy they were allowed, which meant that we were no longer wanted.
Eladehl simply walked to the chair where his clothes had been stored and found his pants. "Did I leave my bottle somewhere?" he asked me.
"It's empty," I told him. "I'll get you another once I have you home." And I held out my hands for the clothes he wouldn't be wearing.
That was most of it. All Ela wanted were his pants so he could walk through the halls without shame. As soon as he had those on, he left without looking back. Sweat glistened on his back, his spine was a little too straight, and the set of his shoulders proved that something was still raging inside, but I would not ask in front of these guys. In truth, I probably wouldn't ask at all.
Not tonight.
Chapter 47
Nariana
At Sandrest, the Darkest Night was an almost sedate affair. The day had been spent skipping from feast to ball to party until the sun finally set. Once the real night started, most of the highest families headed to the Temple of Temptation to enjoy the display put on by the priests. The fact that Baron Ranndor took his family home to celebrate in private was almost shameful.
In a weak attempt to celebrate Temptation, the Ranndors exchanged gifts in the main parlor. Being new to the family, I didn't expect to get anything, yet Pia had managed to find time to purchase a warm pair of black and purple gloves along with a matching scarf. That was the only present I got from the main family. Talin was different.
He presented me with a small black box and gestured for me to open it. Inside were a pair of long, jeweled hair pins. In truth, they were more like spikes and nearly six inches long. The narrow end was sharp enough to serve as a weapon, and the top held black stone roses. They were beautiful, and probablyveryexpensive. Then I gave Talin his present.
When he opened the box and saw the watch, his breath paused. Slowly, he lifted it out for his family to see. The case and chain had both been darkened to a nearly black patina, and on the front, etched in silver, was the five-headed snake we all wore. When he opened it, there was another inscription on the inside, thanks to the power of Zeal. Talin's eyes tracked it and a smile crossed his lips briefly before he closed the watch without a word.
I hadn't expected him to read it aloud, so that smile was more than enough. The words were simple but heartfelt.My path will always lead me to you. That's the nature of love. ~N.
"Give Maela hers," he said before anyone could ask to see the watch.
I picked up both boxes and crossed the room, handing one to Baron Ranndor and the other to his lady. Tath gestured for his wife to open hers first. Maela did, looking at the beautiful crystal bottle with a weary smile. Most likely because she'd been given dozens of perfume atomizers in the last few years. Then she tested the scent, spraying a very small amount onto her wrist.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. "That's lovely! What's it called?"
I shrugged, playing innocent. "Temptation. It hasn't been smelled outside the temple in a generation."
"Thank you," she breathed, offering her wrist for her husband to smell.
Tath took a breath and looked at his wife again. Something in his demeanor changed slightly, shifting from the bored but polite husband to a little more interested. Clearly, the perfume worked exactly as Zeal said it would.
"Open yours," Maela told him.
Tath made quick work of revealing the black flask, and he immediately realized it was filled. Glancing at me with curiosity, he opened the top and sniffed at it. His expression changed to disbelief - because it smelled like nothing - then he lifted the thing in a mock toast and took a sampling sip. His eyes widened in shock.
"Another temple secret?" he asked.
I bowed my head respectfully. "It is. That's called silphium, and it's said to be the drink of the gods. It will lighten your mind without the discomfort the next morning. As the representatives of Zeal among the people, I wanted to make sure that both you and your wife had gifts worthy of your position."
"Thank you," Tath said, actually sounding honored. "Maybe next year Talin will ask you for appropriate gift ideas." The insult to his brother was delivered too smoothly.
"Maybe next year you'll actually go to the temple," Talin countered. "There, gifts are much easier for a priest to offer."
Pia cleared her throat, stopping that debate before it could start. "And to make sure we give in to our other temptations," she said, "there will be a feast in the dining room this evening at the sound of the bell. So, while all the servants are busy preparing, the rest of you have at least an hour to hide their gifts where you will, and to stash coins around the house to be discovered. Talin, would you show Nari?"
"Of course, Mama," he promised.
The room quickly cleared, with the younger siblings and the grandchildren heading over to Pia to be given a handful of coins so they'd have something to hide. Squealing in delight, the girls rushed from the room in a dizzying flutter of skirts. Talin's brothers headed in the opposite way, so Talin guided me in a third direction, toward the main hall of the house.
"Is this usually a late holiday with your family?" I asked.
"No," he promised. "We'll all be in bed by midnight." Then he lowered his voice. "Which means we can celebrate properly. Thank you for the watch."
"I should warn you," I said, keeping my voice quiet enough to stay between us. "Eladehl and Wraythe got one just like it. So did Jamik, although he assumed it was for Anver."
