6
“We’re nearly there,” Never declared. “You should probably wake her.”
I obliged, giving Chitia a slight shake. She blinked, closed her eyes, opened them again, and stretched.
“We’re almost there,” I whispered.
She rolled over, so that she looked up at me from my lap. “Did I sleep the whole way?”
“Not the whole way, but don’t worry, you didn’t miss much. Just trees.”
She pouted. “I like trees.”
“There’re more than enough trees to make up for it at my palace,” Never comforted.
“Palace?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.
“I’m royalty, remember?”
As soon as he said this, I saw just how royal he was. The tree-lined road opened suddenly, showing a huge tract of land surrounded on all sides by trees. Gardens were all around, all in bloom, and beautiful even from the distance. In the midst of all this land, a massive palace, thirteen stories tall and covered with windows, stood silent and seemingly empty.
Seemingly empty, until the car pulled to a stop in the front loop.
The two curving staircases leading to the front entrance swarmed with people, all of them wearing green of some sort or other. The overall effect was of a grassy lawn growing up the sides of the staircase.
I, in my orange, and Chitia, in her blue, looked so out of place I blushed with embarrassment. Chitia just gaped in amazement.
The oldest of these people stepped down from the bottom step and opened the car door.
“Welcome home, sir.”
“Thank you, Gibson.” He stood up and stretched his arms over his head. As he let them down, a Great Dane (black with bright green eyes, of course) woofed excitedly and laid its front paws on his shoulders. With a laugh and a smile, he took the dog’s paws and proceeded to perform a short waltz. When it ended, he bowed to the dog and the dog, still standing on its hind legs, curtseyed him.
“I’ve not been gone all that long, but it’s good to know that one is missed.” He chuckled a bit, then straightened up. “Everyone, I would like to introduce my guests.” He gestured for us to exit the car.
Chitia got out first and was greeted with a round of applause from the stairs. She blushed and lowered her eyes, standing just behind Never.
When I got out, the group broke out into a rumble of whispers. I could hear repeatedly the question, “Is that her?” and the answer, “It is, I’m sure of it.” A few whispers even reproduced my name. My steady level of confusion took a sharp dive into the deep pool of "What?!"
Never only grinned. “I guess then that she needs no introduction.”
The eldest fellow closed the car door and bowed for me. “Your every wish is our command, M’Lady.”
“Thank you,” I stammered in return.
Never put his hand on Chitia’s shoulder and brought her ahead of him. “This is Chitia. Treat her with the same respect.”
The elderly gentleman bowed for her as well. I felt relieved.
“Miranda,” called Never. A woman with long red hair responded. “Please take them to their rooms. I imagine they’d both want a nap.” He winked at Chitia. Her blush heated to atomic levels.
As Miranda led us up the stairs through the quickly dispatching crowd, I overheard Never’s conversation with the elderly servant.
“She’s beautiful, sir.”
“Aye, but there’s more. She should make a wise ruler.”
“May I inquire about the-“
Never cut him off. “Don’t name Chitia by her race.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“She belongs to the lady now.”
Belongs?
Miranda gave us a quick tour of the palace as we went. Various artifacts decorated the hallways, including paintings, sculptures, vases, and weapons. Never could easily outfit an army with his collection of weaponry.
When I asked about this, Miranda responded, “They’re gifts from his cousin, a very decorated military man.”
“And very active,” I thought.
Our guide stopped in front of a pair of heavy oak doors. “Here’s your room. I think you’ll be very happy.” With a great deal of effort, she pulled open the right-side door.
Upon first glance, the “bedroom” looked like a living room. The far wall (fifty feet away) was mostly windows, including a pair of glass doors as big as the oak ones. They led out onto a balcony that looked out over the rear gardens and the lake behind them. Chitia was out the doors and leaning on the rail before I had a chance to register all this.
“This is so beautiful!”
Miranda smiled contentedly. “We put a lot of work into it.”
I glanced around the room. The hardwood bore no scratches, the rugs looked new, and the swords on the wall were shined to a mirror finish.
“Do you think the swords could be taken down for our stay?” I wouldn’t’ve asked, except that sleeping in a room with weapons of conventional warfare bothered me.
“I’ll ask his Majesty. The decorum is his choice.”
Strangely, I was impressed that Miranda wore the only green in the room. I expected more.
“Your bedrooms are here on the left.” She motioned to a pair of doors on the left wall. “They’re the same size, so choose whichever one you want. There is a bathroom between them, but the bathing facilities are through that door.” The door she pointed to was on the right wall.
My curiosity piqued. I strode to the door and opened it slowly. A wealth of candles lit as soon as I did. The “bathing facilities” consisted of a ten feet by twenty feet pool and several shower stalls against the back wall.
“Wow!” I exclaimed.
“If I may, though, warn you that that pool tends to draw some uninvited guests. They’ll leave soon after you see them, but I thought I should tell you.”
“O… okay.” Uninvited guests?
“Your luggage will be brought up once you choose your room.”
“My luggage? How did you get my luggage? How did you know?”
Miranda smiled uncomfortably. “I’m not allowed to answer your questions. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” The curiosity was crushing me.
Chitia was sitting on the rail now, weakly kicking her legs against the concrete fish that held the rail off the balcony.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, I think, me.
I joined her on the balcony and instantly fell into agreement.
“I’m so glad this will be my home.”
“Home?” I asked.
“Yours, too,” she stated, still looking out at the gardens.
“Madam Chitia,” Miranda chimed, “please don’t say too much about that. His Majesty’s orders.”
She looked at me somewhat sadly. “Sorry.”
Curiosity can only last so long before it becomes frustration. I was close to reaching that point. Which means, time for a nap.
“Chitia, I’m going to have a nap. Do you care which room I take?”
“This is greater than my wildest dreams! Even a hand-down is better than what that woman gave me.”
“ ‘That woman’?”
She pursed her lips. “I… don’t feel like talking about it yet. But I will be, soon.” She lowered her eyes until she was looking at my shoes. “Could you help me, when the time comes?”
I laid my hand on her shoulder. “I’d be honored to.”
She reached up and squeezed my hand.
So, I went and took a nap in the right-side room.
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