-Jaonah-
Apparently forgetting his prior conversation, he came to seat himself next to me and patted the sofa cushion so I had no choice but to sit as well. Sprawling on his side but keeping his gray eyes fixed on me, he noted, “You have me at a disadvantage, my lord. Will you tell me your name to even the odds?”
“Then what purpose would there be in the masks?”
His smile didn’t falter. “It doesn’t have to be your real name, if you prefer. Just give me something to address you by.”
In truth, I wanted to hear him say my name. I wanted to hear him say a great many things, in fact, and the list grew with every moment. “Jaonah.” He nodded thoughtfully, eyes wandering away from mine, and I knew what he must be thinking. Brushing my hair back to show my ears, which were more tapered than his but not so much as my cousin’s, I explained, “I’m half-human. That is what you were wondering, isn’t it?”
“I was,” he confessed. “You sound very much like an elf, but—”
“Yes, I know.” As much as I wanted to speak with him, this topic was hardly my favorite.
“That’s why you were concerned for Satella, then,” he reasoned, and I nodded. “Good.”
“Good?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow at him.
“Satella is a sweet girl. I consider her a friend.” Leaning in slightly, he went on, “I would hate to think that I might have to compete with her for your attention.” Some part of me knew very well that this was all a game, that he might say the same thing to any potential client, but he certainly presented it convincingly.
“There’s no danger of that, I can promise you.” I turned slightly to face him, and my knee brushed briefly against his, but he didn’t draw away for a moment. Another Flower in a green mask appeared to offer more wine, so Oleander took a glass for each of us. Perhaps hoping to show him I was worth his time, I took a gold coin from my pocket and placed it on the server’s tray. Her eyes widened slightly, and she gave me a coquettish smile as she left, but if Oleander noticed, he didn’t mention it. Was it gauche to try to impress him with money? All that I knew of situations like this had been learned from Taegen’s tales of his exploits, so it was difficult to gauge exactly what was proper.
“It’s rare to see elves outside the Empire,” Oleander noted, twirling the stem of his glass idly between his fingers. “To my knowledge, the only two in Vallerie are employed here with us. Are you here to stay? Or just passing through?”
“I’m only here for the evening, I’m afraid.”
“On your way to better things, no doubt. We’ll have to be sure this is an evening to remember, then.” He gave me another playful look, and I took a large sip of wine in a vain attempt to cool myself down. “Does that mean you’re one of the emperor’s diplomats? I’ve heard more and more envoys have been crossing your borders lately.”
“My cousin is the diplomat, not me. I’m simply accompanying him on the emperes’ business, as a second…voice of the Empire. And in case he needs any real magic done,” I snickered. Taegen could best me with a sword easily enough, but I outstripped him by far in terms of spellcraft.
“Oh, is that a talent of yours?”
“It’s more likely a matter of access to training and education. My magic may be impressive, but I had impressive teachers and resources,” I explained. “It’s not as if it’s something inborn.”
“Or perhaps you’re just modest,” Oleander suggested. “And now you have me very curious about this impressive magic you do. Will you show me?”
“I’m not sure this is the best time or place for a demonstration. What’s impressive to me might be intimidating to others, and I’d rather not be thrown out for misconduct as that last fellow was.”
With a pout and an exaggerated sigh, he conceded, “Later, perhaps? I so rarely have the opportunity to witness elvin magic, and the sort humans do just can’t compare.”
“If it means that much to you, then certainly. Assuming I can keep your attention long enough, that is.” I stole another glance at him, trying and failing to be discreet in what I was implying. After all, he might easily decide he was bored with me or could find a better opportunity elsewhere. I could only hope that wouldn’t be the case.
Seeing the apprehension on my face, he smiled and shook his head. “Unless you choose to send me away, you have my attention, Jaonah. For as long as you care to keep it.”
As expected, the sound of my name in his rich and smooth voice bloomed heat in my chest, not least of all because he’d pronounced it correctly. I took a deep breath in an effort to pace myself despite wanting to get him alone as soon as possible. “Ahem. I was surprised at how you responded when Satella was threatened. Are all Flowers similarly armed?”
“Oh, no. I’m a very special Flower,” he chuckled. I certainly agreed.
“And the ‘gardeners’ you mentioned? Who are they? Your friends in the silver masks, perhaps?”
He looked surprised for a moment, then smiled mischievously. “You haven’t heard the rumors? Well, I suppose you haven’t been in Vallerie for long. No, my lord, there is only one Gardener, and you won’t find him here.”
“Yet you talk about him as I if should know who he is.” I’d had enough wine by this point that I was beginning to feel pleasantly warm and relaxed a bit further in my seat. “A figure of power in Vallerie, I suppose?”
“In all of Rilleaud, in fact. The Garden is all but an institution.” Oleander leaned in a little closer, dropping his voice slightly, and it took all my willpower not to gaze intently at his lips. “It’s an organization, a network of professionals, shall we say, carrying out covert operations for the rich and powerful. Or so I’m told.”
“Covert operations?” I repeated. “Such as?”
“Difficult to say. I’ve never met any of them myself. One assumes information-gathering, at the very least. Beyond that…” He shrugged lazily, continuing with great relish, “Who knows?” It was an interesting concept, a group of—what?—spies? Informants? Assassins? The Empire had its share of subterfuge and noble intrigue, so the idea wasn’t entirely foreign. The strangest part was how interested Oleander seemed to be in it.
“And you’re saying that the Flower Bed is somehow related to this ‘Garden’?”
“Oh, no.” He sat back and laughed airily at the idea, suddenly abandoning all his earlier secrecy. “Of course not. It’s just a rumor that arose from the fortunate name of our establishment. There’s no truth to it, but the good people of Vallerie don’t have to know that. You can keep a secret, can’t you, my lord?”
I had to laugh at that. “I’m an unmarried elvin prince in a human country. Of course I can keep a secret.” I didn’t realize how bitter that must sound until I saw the smile fade from Oleander’s lips to be replaced with sympathy. Clearing my throat, embarrassed, I tried to amend myself, but he stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm.
“For tonight, you are an elvin prince in Rilleaud, in a darkened room, in a mask, and in good company,” he purred, fingertips gliding lightly up my arm toward my shoulder. His pale eyes flickered down toward my lips, and I thought for a moment that he might kiss me, but he likely realized our masks would be in the way. Would we have to keep them on all night? That would be a disappointment.
“The only company I’m truly interested in is yours, beauty,” I confessed, catching his hand in mine, praying I wasn’t being too bold. “Tell me how I might have it all to myself.”
He seemed taken aback by how earnestly I wanted him, and I almost worried I’d committed some breach of etiquette—but quickly enough, his smile returned, as warm as ever. “All you had to do was ask.” He finished his wine and set the glass aside on the table in front of us, then got up and pulled me to my feet. Tense with desire, hardly able to believe my luck, I followed his lead.
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