Lady Amara. To honor Jelena, the Lady of Kerala had willingly yielded her place this night to the girl who had saved her husband’s life. She sat to Jelena’s left, and insisted on serving her guest with her own hands.
At the center of the table, stuffed and roasted to perfection, rested the very reason for Jelena’s honored presence tonight-the boar she had so valiantly slain. Even in death, his fierceness had been preserved, for the cooks had left in place his vicious, curving tusks.
Ashinji sat across the table from his mother, where he made little attempt to hide his true feelings. He had exchanged his plain brown hunting leathers for a simple tunic and trousers of dark green cotton, and to Jelena, he looked far more elegant than anyone else in the room, despite the plainness of his clothes. His gaze kept wandering to her face, and she struggled to resist the pull of his desire and not meet his eyes. His behavior was not going unnoticed.
From the corner of her eye, Jelena could see Lady Amara scrutinizing her youngest son closely, and in that instant, she knew the love she and Ashinji shared remained a secret no longer, at least not to his mother. She felt a cold knot of apprehension tighten in her belly.
“ Little Brother, I can’t help but notice how fascinated you are with our Jelena. Take care, or we’ll all think you have designs on her.”
Sadaiyo’s tone contained equal parts amusement and mockery. He sat in his usual place at Lord Sen’s right hand, his wife Misune by his side. Jelena risked a glance in his direction and found him leaning forward, staring at her with frankness bordering on insult. She refused to meet his eyes, looking instead to Ashinji, who nodded his head almost imperceptibly, as if to reassure her.
“ Whatever feelings I may have for Jelena are entirely proper and none of your concern, Brother,” Ashinji responded. Outwardly, he seemed calm. A tiny muscle along his left jaw began to twitch.
Lord Sen cleared his throat and raised his wine goblet. He looked pointedly at each of his sons, then addressed the gathering. “Raise your cups to this girl in salute, for she saved my life today with her bravery and skill.” He turned to Jelena. “Jelena, you shall ever hold a place of honor at my table and in my house.” He waited until all the others had raised their goblets, then put his own to his lips and drank.
Jelena felt slightly dizzy, as if caught up in a dream. How was it possible that she, a girl of dubious breeding and no family, now found herself toasted by an entire assemblage of elven nobility?
She remembered the flaming arrow, and the surreal sensation of floating outside of her body. Had that been a dream as well? How could it have been, when the evidence of its reality now lay roasted and sliced on a platter before her?
Sadaiyo’s derisive laughter snapped her back to the present. “Look at him! He’s hopelessly smitten. Father, I think it’s high time you found my little brother a bride. He is obviously suffering from a lack of suitable female companionship. A proper wife is just what he needs to take his mind off, er, other things.”
“ My wife’s cousin has a daughter who is of suitable age, Sakehera. I’d be happy to make inquiries on your behalf,” Lord Dai offered.
“ She’s a charming girl, and quite pretty. I believe you’d find her most pleasing,” Lady Dai added cheerfully. She leaned around her husband to eye Ashinji speculatively, who looked as though he’d just been slapped.
Sen nodded. “It’s true,” he said, seemingly oblivious to his son’s reaction. “My youngest son is in need of a wife. His mother and I have several possibilities in mind, but none of them has really impressed us. We’d be very interested in learning more about your cousin’s daughter, my lady.”
Jelena’s heart skipped a beat. A wave of vertigo threatened to topple her from her chair. She felt a hand grip her shoulder and turned to see Lady Amara peering intently into her face.
Abruptly, the room began to fade, and all sound receded to a muted buzz. Jelena’s field of vision tunneled down to focus on Lady Amara’s face, ageless and beautiful, floating before her like a pale mask. Words skirled softly through her mind.
Lady Amara’s face receded, and Jelena’s senses returned in a rush. She gasped and looked around in confusion. Amara still gripped her shoulder but only to give it a gentle squeeze.
“ Husband, our honored guest is not well,” Amara said.
“ Oh! Um…I hope it’s nothing serious!” Lord Sen seemed genuinely concerned. He rose from his chair, grimacing in pain. A servant leapt forward to lend assistance, but he waved the man off. “I’ll have a servant see you back to your quarters,” he said.
Jelena shook her head. “No, please. I can walk myself back. Thank you, my lord.”
“ Let my son walk you back, Jelena,” Lady Amara said quietly, then in a clear, strong voice, she announced, “Ashinji will see Jelena safely to the barracks.”
Sadaiyo, who had been taking a gulp from his wine glass, sputtered and began to cough violently. Misune exclaimed in dismay and began slapping him between his shoulders. Lord Sen, who also appeared to be taken entirely by surprise, shot his wife a questioning look, but did not object.
“ Come, Jelena,” Ashinji said. He rose from his chair and beckoned to her.
As she moved to follow, Jelena smiled gratefully at Lady Amara, who nodded in acknowledgment. It seemed that she could now count the Lady of Kerala as her ally. Together, she and Ashinji walked out of the hall into the night.
At first, Ashinji walked beside her in silence. When they were well away from the open door of the hall, he grabbed Jelena’s shoulder and spun her around to face him. He pulled her close and rested his forehead against hers.
“ I love you,” he whispered fiercely.
She began to shake. So much had changed since she had ridden out to the hunt that morning, but she still dared not let herself hope for a future with this man.
“ I love you, too,” she replied. “But how can we…?” her voice trailed off, forlorn.
“ Come to my chamber. Stay with me tonight. I need you.” His voice trembled with desire. “Please!” he begged.
Gods, he felt so good! Not all of the obstacles standing between them and a life together seemed so insurmountable when he whispered to her with such love in his voice. Jelena felt an answering desire flare within her…and she melted. She could resist him no longer. Her lips sought his, and they kissed, slowly and softly at first, then with rising passion.
Ashinji groaned.
“ Hurry, my love,” he urged, pulling her along toward the outer staircase that led up his rooms.
Ashinji’s apartment occupied the entire top floor of a small, newer addition off the east wing of the castle. A servant had already prepared the single, large chamber for the evening. The warm glow of lamplight greeted
