Kings of Deceit - R

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

Jessa sunk to the chair the moment Rhys shut the door, her legs incapable of holding her up. Her thoughts were in a messy tangle; nothing made sense and she had no idea what had just happened. Jessa touched her cheek, remembering the warmth of Rhys’ hand. She bit her lip and stared up at the ceiling. Her breathing was shallow, though she could not really explain why. Although Jessa tried to pass it off as anger – and she was still furious with Rhys – it did not feel right to call it that. What it was, she did not know.

More bewildering was why Rhys had acted in such a way. It could only be his drunkenness that had caused him to act so weirdly. Perhaps in his muddled state he had confused her with Selene. It was a ridiculous suggestion for the two women could not look more dissimilar, but it gave her a small amount of comfort. She disliked her foolish thinking but any other possibilities were unthinkable. There was no way… a harsh laugh escaped her lips. She really ought to stop overthinking: Rhys was drunk and that was all there was to it.

She could not pass his words off as inebriated ramblings. There had been truth in everything he had said and, though she still did not forgive him, he had touched somewhere in her heart. That she was the only one who could make him feel bad about his decisions both touched and upset her. She did not want him to think that she was a judgmental bitch who looked down on every choice he made, but if her opinion gave him pause that could only be a good thing.

She shook herself, realising that she, too, cared what Rhys thought of her. Perhaps she had done for a while. After all, she had asked his opinions after one of their evenings at the tavern. Would she have done that if she was really impervious to him? Jessa pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to counteract the headache brewing behind her brows. This was all too confusing.

Her mind trailed back to his touch. Her cheek tingled in memory and before she realised she was once again tracing the skin he had caressed with her fingertips. She closed her eyes. There had been only two people who had ever touched her so intimately, and one did not deserve the mention. The other was her mother, and she could safely say that this was nothing like Rhys’ hand either. Her reaction to him, then, could be borne out of a lack of and longing for affection. Jessa groaned at herself, wishing her brain would stop analysing everything for one moment. It was exhausting her.

Though she really did not want to return to the sitting room and face Rhys, she could not leave the friends she had invited in the lurch. At the same time, she had unfinished business in the library. There was no point in finding the book if she would just hide it away. If she did that she would need more of Rhys’ blood, and she could not punch him in the nose again. Sighing, she pushed away her thoughts and ignored her racing heart. Pulling the book towards her, she flicked through it, noting family names she recognised. Though the wording was convoluted, she was sure she would be able to push through it with a bit of consideration. She wrote out a few pages and then decided if she stayed much longer she would certainly be missed.

The drawer was locked. Jessa panicked. She picked up the pins and nearly dropped them. The first time she had unlocked the drawer it had been pure luck, she was sure. The only consolation she had was that, once the book was inside, no one would know she had taken it if the draw was self-locking. She bent down and fumbled with the pins, trying to replicate her previous actions. For a long time – long enough for everyone to grow suspicious – it did not seem to work, but with a final push the lock clicked open. She looked down in wonder, feeling more tired than someone should when picking a lock. Pushing the thought from her head, she put the book back and shut the draw. She left the library without looking back, taking her mother’s box, the pins and her notes with her.

She dropped everything off in her room and then took a moment to calm herself. When she felt she would be able to see Rhys, she straightened her dress and then went downstairs. She could hear voices from the sitting room.

“Where were you? Are you okay?” Freya cried upon seeing her. The woman was much more drunk than she had been when she left. Jessa realised it had been hours. She rubbed at her eyes and carefully avoided Rhys’ gaze.

“I’m okay. I just needed some time to recover from… things,” she said vaguely. Freya nodded, though she looked bewildered.

“Are you and Rhys okay now? He said he apologised to you,” Freya asked, making room for Jessa on the sofa beside her. In her absence, the group had merged into one. Opposite her was Rhys. She held his gaze for a moment and then looked down at her feet, playing with her hands in her lap.

“It’s… okay, I suppose,” she said, though it was not.

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

Being constantly hungover was becoming quite tedious. It would undoubtedly be most wise to simply stop drinking, but of course that was a course of action for rational people, of which Rhys was not. Rhys rose early and set off to the range for some target practice in a feble attempt to chase off his headache. The morning was brisk with a light chill, and without more than a simple linen shirt to keep himself warm the air woke Rhys up immediately. There was silence at the range, for it was so early that many of the servants were not yet awake, and the quiet gave Rhys much time to think.

Arrow after arrow he shot, his aim suffering from his hangover, but each action brought him more clarity. After Jessa had returned to the party the night before the evening became extraordinarily awkward. Jessa largely avoided making eye contact and kept mainly to herself, speaking little to the others. Rhys too was unsure how to act, but the wine loosened his lips, making interaction come more easily and with less thought. Occasionally he'd stolen a glance at Jessa only to catch her looking at him, and in that case both would look away abashedly. He thought back on a particularly uncomfortable moment and shot his arrow without direction, sending it flying past the targets and into the sprawling field. Rhys sighed and put down his bow as he went to collect the many arrows stuck in their targets. Instead her slouched against the wood, taking deep breaths and closing his eyes.

Memories of Jessa swirled in his thoughts, forcing him to think of nothing else. He could think of nothing but his hand on her cheek, in her hair, on her neck... Rhys forced himself to stop, shaking his head as if trying to shake away the thoughts. How suddenly these feelings had come on. Even with his preoccupation he could not be sure exactly what he felt, for all he knew was that in those moments a surge of feeling had come over him and nothing could be done to stop it. Too confused to be rational, Rhys began recalling interactions he'd had with Jessa in the past months, stripping them apart and analyzing them until there was nothing left. What did he like about Jessa? Her compassion instantly came to mind, for aside from Cair who had abused her in unspeakable ways, she had never shown any hatred or malice towards anyone. Rhys thought of her tenacity, for though she was constantly snooping through their things and acting as the worst possible spy Rhys couldn't help but admire her persistance. Most of all Rhys thought of her boldness, of how she had come to be unafraid to confront Rhys - and even Dima - though she was very aware of their power.

Now that he was thinking on such matters the entire ordeal with Cair came into a new light. It was true that Rhys would have acted the same to save the life of any of his friends, but there had been something in his desperation, and eventually his relief, that he was not sure would have been present should the captive have been Victor. And his hatred of Cair, was it simply because of Cair's malicious intent or did it have more to do with Jessa's involvement? One thing was certain, one thing Rhys could not overlook - Kieran had been right. Rhys was attracted to Jessa, no matter which way he looked at it. Somehow she had gotten under his skin and found her way to his heart, and Rhys would be a liar to not admit that it was frightening.

"I thought you might be out here," came a voice from behind. Rhys turned to face Kieran, much more suitably dressed for the weather in a sensible cloak. "Contemplating your wretched existence?"

Rhys smiled, taking Kieran's hand and pulling himself to his feet. "Actually I was contemplating your advice, so I suppose there's something wretched about that."

"Thinking about what I said about Jessa?" Rhys said nothing but the silence gave him away. "I won't say I told you so, but I'm rarely wrong."

"Shut up," Rhys muttered, pushing his uncle's arm playfully. Kieran laughed and threw his arm around Rhys as they walked back towards the house.

"I take it you're not too busy with your work?" Before Rhys could get a word in Kieran continued. "Good, I thought not. I was wondering if you might like to take a day off, spend a day with your uncle like we used to. I thought we might go sailing, visit some of the old ruins of the old city you used to enjoy so much. You haven't forgotten where they are, have you?"

"I haven't been there in years, not since you visited when I was seventeen. Gods, it's been a long time." Rhys thought back to the old ruins, wondering how he'd ever forgotten them in the first place. They'd been his favorite place to explore as a child, an abandoned city unlike any, the remains of the city that predated Jasrah hundreds of years ago. Legends abounded that it had been decimated by magic, left as nothing but a shell of its former self. Others said attributed its downfall to the Barichean Wars. Rhys had neither known nor cared, too fascinated with the dilapidated architecture to care much about the history.

"I'd love to. It'll be fun, just like old times."

"Good!" Kieran smiled, patting Rhys on the back. Then a mischievous smile crossed his face. "Why don't you invite Jessa. She's a scholar of history, is she not? I'm sure she'd be fascinated. I know I would be." Rhys rolled his eyes, fairly sure Kieran's interest was not in the ruins.

"What are you, a matchmaker now?"

Kieran smirked. "I'm many things, Rhys. I can be anything you want me to be."

As Kieran set off to gather supplies and instruct the servants to prepare a sailboat Rhys headed for Jessa's room. He paused outside the room, finding it impossible to not be nervous at the thought of seeing her. Gods, this is pathetic, Rhys thought with a sigh, rapping on her door. The scratching of quill on parchment stopped from within followed by some shuffling before the door opened a crack.

"Rhys," said Jessa, pulling the door open slightly further. She immediately looked away nervously and Rhys wondered if she was thinking of the night before. He certainly was.

"Kieran and I are going to take a day trip to some of the old ruins that lay not too far from here down the coast; they're the remains of the city that existed before Jasrah. I thought you might be interested in coming along, seeing as I know you have an interest in history."

As Rhys waited for a response his eyes wandered to Jessa's cheek, the cheek he remembered having stroked the previous night. His fingers twitched at the thought and he looked away quickly, hoping his gaze had not been noticed. Jessa bit her lip, eventually sighing and nodding.

"Why not?" She said finally. "It sounds interesting."

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

Jessa hung back as Rhys and Kieran prepared the boat for their journey. The pair joked and jostled each other as they worked. Perched on a rock, and unobserved, Jessa watched them. She felt wary around Rhys but could not help watching him as he hoisted the sail under Kieran’s guidance. Although she was definitely intrigued about what this trip might have in store for her, she was not thinking about it then. Her gaze was glued to Rhys, trying to puzzle him out. He had seemed nervous around her – more nervous than she would have expected even with his drunken antics – and she was not sure how to react. If he had done so, she would have been willing to pass the moment in the library off as an intoxicated mistake.

She could not decide if her fierce anger at him was better than this. Despite her trying, she could not bring the same fury to her mind as she had done the day before. Time really was the best medicine. She sighed and jumped off the rock when Kieran called to her.

Rhys offered his hand to help her get on the boat. She looked at it for a moment and then took it, though she had not really wanted it. It would have been rude otherwise. Rhys pulled her on board, but did not let go of her hand. Jessa realised that she was not pulling away either. Their gazes locked and a shared uncertainty and trepidation passed between them. Jessa cleared her throat and looked away, breaking whatever had transpired between them. Rhys dropped her hand hastily and excused himself to the other side of the boat. From his hunched shoulders Jessa knew that he was embarrassed by something and annoyed with himself. Then she frowned: how did she even know that? She had no idea when she had become so in touch with Rhys’ habits.

The boat moved smoothly from the dock. Once they were on the open ocean, Kieran left Rhys to driving and sidled over to her with a smile on his face. “How are you? I haven’t seen you since…”

“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Honestly, I’m… okay.”

“I thought as much. If you absolutely hated my nephew you wouldn’t have agreed to come.”

“He apologised, and even if I can’t forgive him, I know he was truly sorry,” she said, turning around and leaning against the railing of the sail boat. She saw Kieran come to stand beside her.

“Well, he looked very angry with himself when I spoke to him afterwards.” They stopped speaking, contenting themselves with watching the land pass by them. Eventually, Kieran added, “Rhys is really a good man, underneath that Marinon exterior. Well, good may not quite be the word, but you know. And even if he messes up sometimes, he’s letting you see it. He doesn’t give that to many people.”

Kieran placed his hand over Jessa’s and squeezed before leaving to help Rhys. Jessa watched the older man over her shoulder, realising she had misjudged him. She had a tendency to do that with everyone. She sighed and dropped her head against the cool metal railing. That was something she needed to change.

It did not take much longer to see the faint outline of a city appear on top of the cliffs. The men steered the boat towards the shore and moored it. They all disembarked. Jessa looked around in puzzlement. They were on the beach and the city was high above them on the cliffs. Kieran pointed a little way down the beach, where Jessa could see the beginning of steps. She sighed, realising it would be a long climb.

Her legs burned before they were even halfway up. There was nowhere to put her hands to steady herself except the tall weeds growing alongside the cliff trail. Rhys was behind her and she was sure that he would catch her if she looked like she would fall. She was certainly fitter than she had been a few weeks ago, thanks to Rhys’ training. This climb would have killed her then.

Eventually, they reached the top. She collapsed to the ground, letting her fingers trail through the grass. Rhys was beside her in an instant, asking if she was okay and offering her a hand, but she waved away his concern, telling him the weariness would pass. She had thought that he was getting less protective of her as late, but it appeared she was wrong.

From her position on the ground, she surveyed the ruins in front of her. They were in surprisingly good condition, though there were very few buildings even half-intact. There was a strange sound that rang through the air, something Jessa could not place but attributed to the silence of the city. It was odd looking upon a place which had once been the home of a great many people.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Kieran said, taking stock of the place. “I had forgotten how much.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Jessa admitted. “I’ve studied ancient towns, but there was never an opportunity for me to actually visit one.” She pushed herself to her feet and dusted the soil off her skirts. Her eyes gleamed with interest. Rhys noticed and took her hand, seemingly without thought.

“I want to show you something,” he said eagerly, pulling her into the ruined city. They jumped over rubble and fallen walls. Jessa tried to notice everything: the intricate mosaics decorating the floors where houses had once stood, the dry fountain somewhere in the centre of the city, the broken pieces of pot and frayed fabric. Nothing was beneath her notice, but Rhys did not stop long enough to let her admire anything fully. Whatever he wanted to show her, if even he found it interesting, she could not wait to see it.

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

Eventually Rhys had to slow down a bit to give Jessa time to stumble along as her dress did not allow the same free movement as breeches. Luckily they were nearly there as it was, only a short distance from his favorite part of all the ruins. As they turned a corner they came upon a short wall not much higher than Rhys' waist, but with smooth sides it would be a difficult climb for someone in skirts. Rhys looked at Jessa, she too seeming to try and figure out the best way to clear the wall, and just as she began to speak he put his hands on her waist and lifted her onto the wall. Just like when boarding the sailboat Rhys' hands rested on Jessa's waist a moment longer than truly proper, and this time Jessa's hands rested on his arms as he held her there. When he finally released he couldn't help but notice that he had been finding numerous excuses to touch her beyond what was normally expected. He quickly jumped the wall himself, taking Jessa's hand as she slid down.

"Here it is!" He exclaimed as they came upon a clearing in the ruins. The remains of what was clearly a shrine rested on a stone dais, though it was in remarkable shape for something that had been left to the elements for hundreds of years. A stone archway held up with crackling columns covered a slab of marble left nearly untouched. Strange markings in some foreign tongue covered the slab, and several holes marked the stone where Rhys could only guess jewels had once been inlayed. A dark statue presided over the shrine, its body still intact though much of the face had been marred.

"A shrine?" Jessa observed, taking a closer look. Her hand trailed along the slab, feeling the etchings in the stone. She knelt to the ground before it for a better look, squinting her eyes in an attempt to read the odd symbols.

"Kieran and I have hypothesized about this many times but we've never come up with any clue as to what it was back in its time. We assume the statue is of a goddess, though as to which one I could not say, and the markings are of no language I've ever come across. I must have come here a hundred times as a child and this was always my favorite place. There's something very..."

"Important?" Jessa suggested, her eyes never leaving the shrine.

Rhys smiled to himself. "Yes, something important about it. I'm sure whatever it was it was very important."

To Rhys' interest Jessa withdrew a piece of paper and stick of graphite from the small bag slung over her shoulder. She pressed the parchment to a set of etchings and began to rub the graphite over it, watching as the symbols began to transfer.

"You brought parchment?" Rhys asked in astonishment, transfixed with her etchings.

Jessa scoffed as if the question was ridiculous. "Of course I do. I grew up in a library, what else would I bring along to a ruin? I've waited for years to be able to visit a place like this and I wasn't going to let my chance go to waste."

"We could always come back, you know," Rhys suggested, still dumbfounded by Jessa's ingenuity. He really shouldn't have been, for Jessa continued to surprise him day in and day out.

"I might as well see what I can record now. I don't know when I'll next be back and I'm certainly not looking forward to climbing those stairs again."

Once Jessa had finished her etching, folding it neatly and slipping it back in her bag, she turned to the statue. Rhys walked up behind her, trying to focus on the sculpture instead of the proximity of their bodies. His sudden heightened awareness of Jessa was beginning to become ridiculous even if he could not help himself. Jessa began to circle the statue, her hand grazing the cold marble as her eyes wandered up and down. When she came to the back she jerked her hand away, taking a sharp intake of breath.

"What is it?" Rhys asked in alarm, quickly coming to her side.

Jessa cradled her hand as if it had been burned, but as Rhys took it, turning it over, he saw no sign of damage. She peered at the statue with suspicion, her eyes fixed on the nape of the woman's neck where a small indent caught Rhys' attention. He reached out and felt the spot, noting that though it looked like an empty crevice the spot held a small dark gem, one so scuffed and weathered over time it had become nearly indistinguishable. When Rhys turned back to Jessa she was still cradling her hand, though her expression was much more troubled than it was before.

"What happened?" Rhys pressed. "Did you hurt yourself."

Snapped out of her fixation Jessa shook her head, dropping her hand. "It was nothing. Let's keep looking, I want to see more."

They took a consolidated tour of the ruins for they were far too expansive to be completely discovered in one afternoon. Rhys pointed out the structures he knew from his past visits - the large ampitheatre, several baths, kitchens, and other rooms he could name - and was pleased to see that Jessa knew almost as much as he did despite having never visited the place before.

"I've studied old cultures for years," she explained when Rhys prodded her about her knowledge. "I've done some fairly extensive research on the Barichean Wars though I must admit I've never heard of this city before."

"Most people haven't. They're a bit of local knowledge and lore, only known to those who've been in Jasrah for most of their lives. I like to think of it as the city's best kept secret." Rhys said. "We can't let all of our secrets out, can we?"

They came to the edge of the old palace just on the edge of the cliffs, the sea crashing against the jagged rocks below. Rhys avoided the cliffs, memories of Jessa's near death still fresh in his mind. Jessa too seemed to be thinking of the same thing for she steered away, heading instead for the ruins of a great hall lined with columns. She rested against one of the sturdier looking ones, letting her eyes flutter shut as her chest rose and fell. Rhys found himself fixated, approaching quietly as so to not alarm her. Jessa did not open her eyes even when Rhys was only a breath away, though the rapid rise of her chest suggested she knew he was there. Rhys couldn't help but wish to know her thoughts, to know if all the times their hands had lingered for one second more or their eyes had met unexpectedly she too had felt anything strange. The quiet, save for the crash of the waves, made Rhys' thoughts all the more focused, and soon he could not contain himself any longer.

"Jessa," he said quietly, "last night in the library..."

Her eyes snapped open, fixed on Rhys. Suddenly he could not find the nerve to continue, too held by Jessa's gaze. What was he even going to say? She said nothing but the blush in her cheeks and the way she looked away every few moments, unable to hold eye contact for more than a second, suggested she knew the question before it was asked.

"You were drunk," she said, looking down at her feet. "You were confused."

Rhys' heart sunk, his courage dissolving. That's what she attributed his actions to - his drunkness. He should have guessed as much for drinking hardly ever made for a solid explanation the next day, but still her skepticism hurt. Yet, despite this, Rhys could not shake off Kieran's words. Had he not said that Rhys was not alone in his feelings, and had Kieran not been correct in his earlier assumptions? Rhys took a deep breath and took a step closer, refusing to look away from Jessa's eyes as he spoke.

"Yes, I was drunk," Rhys admitted, "but that's not why I did what I did. It wasn't because I was drunk. I knew what I was doing the whole time."

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

Jessa wished Rhys was still drunk so that she had something to excuse what he was saying. She inhaled and exhaled shakily, playing with her fingers and watching it as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. She was far too aware of Rhys’ presence. His proximity muddled her thoughts and made her heart thump hard against her ribcage. Her only explanation for her reaction was that she did not want him so close. Jessa tried to sidle away but he clasped her wrist. She stared at his hand as if she had never seen one before.

“Rhys,” she whispered, tugging futilely. She knew that Rhys had taught her how to escape holds, but for some reason she could not recall what to do. Rhys pulled her back and forced her to look into his eyes. She could see no hint that he was lying to her, but there had to be something wrong.

“You haven’t met anyone new, have you? They might have done something to you,” she said, thinking of how every aspect of her thoughts had been altered by Cair. It was a perfectly reasonable explanation, but Rhys’ expression darkened and he looked suddenly irritated.

“No, Jessa, I knew what I was doing.”

“You might think that, but–”

“No,” Rhys said firmly, tightening his grasp on her wrist. “Apart from the alcohol, my head was completely clear. No one made me do anything.”

Jessa had no other suggestions, though she was not going to take his word that he had not been influenced. She knew the invasive control it had on someone’s mind, without the victim even considering why they were doing what they were doing or whether they were being influenced. She would not discount it.

“Please let me go, Rhys,” she pleaded. He watched her and dropped her hand, instantly looking guilty and concerned. Still, he did not move away and continued to wait expectantly for a response. Given that she had told him what she thought, Jessa had no idea what he was waiting for her to say.

When she still did not speak, Rhys sighed. “You still don’t believe me. Or do you just not want to? Are you trying to spare me or are you just scared?”

Jessa frowned in bemusement. She had no idea what he was really trying to say – though a part of her brain yelled at her that she did and she was just ignoring the obvious. She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. Swallowing, she tried again. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

“Yes, you do,” Rhys said, but he was prevented from saying anything else by Kieran’s arrival.

“Hey, you two. I brought some lunch and thought it would be nice to eat it at the amphitheatre together. Do you want to…” His voice trailed away upon seeing their closeness. A small smile tugged at his lips and he said slyly, “Am I interrupting something?”

Jessa capitulated on Rhys’ inattention and slipped away from him. Hastily she walked over to Kieran and said, “Of course not. I was just… We both needed a rest after exploring.”

Kieran’s eyebrows rose and he laughed. She knew he did not believe a word of it but she pushed past him and walked across the Great Hall of the decrepit palace. Kieran continued to chortle behind her, until she heard Rhys hit him. Then all she could hear was the men whispering. It made her uncomfortable, for she had the sneaking suspicious that she was the topic of their conversation. Jessa hunched her shoulders and pressed on, trying to ignore them.

They reached the amphitheatre after a short walk. Rhys came up beside her, on the pretence of climbing the stairs first, and said quietly, “This isn’t over, Jessa.”

She loitered at the bottom of the steps, apprehensive of Rhys’ words. Kieran gave her a push and she began moving almost mechanically. Kieran had set up the picnic at the top, but Jessa decided to sit a few rows down once she had collected her lunch. She was too nervous and wary around Rhys to witness his stares. Although she could feel his eyes boring into the back of her head, it was easier to deal with when she did not have to engage in idle chatter with him and his uncle. It was a bit rude of her, but Jessa did not know what else to do.

After lunch, she thanked Kieran and then told them that she was going to do some exploring on her own. Rhys looked as if he was going to protest, but mercifully he let her go without a word. Jessa practically ran down to the floor and out of the arena floor. She pulled out her parchment, pen and graphite as she walked. She took note of any of the runes on the archways that were still standing that she could not reach, and traced all the lettering that was low enough to the ground. Jessa wandered around the ruins, picking up scattered pieces of pot and analysing them, until she grew too tired to walk any more. She looked down at the pages, feeling satisfied that she had gathered a fair bit of information for one day. From the artefact fragments, she might be able to establish a timeframe for the city. If she managed to find a translation for the runes, she could ascertain the lives and believes of the long-dead inhabitants of the city.

She made her way back to the start of the cliff trail. Kieran was there but luckily Rhys was nowhere to be seen. Kieran waved to her when he saw her appear.

“When will we be leaving?” she asked.

“Rhys just wanted one last look around, and then we’ll head back.”

Jessa nodded and sat on the grass, watching for Rhys’ return. The sun was beginning to dip behind the horizon when he finally appeared, apologising for his lateness. Jessa scrambled to her feet and hastened to the front, putting Kieran between her and Rhys. If he wanted to talk to her more, she was determined to make it as difficult as possible for him. She had managed to calm herself down during her exploration, and did not particularly feeling like ruining that peace any time soon. Of course, avoiding him on the boat would probably not be possible.

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

Rhys' impatience and frustration urged him to press Jessa furthur, but his sense stepped in and stopped him before he could do anything stupid. For the entirety of the trip home Rhys let Jessa revel in the silence, keeping himself preoccupied with steering the small boat as Kieran delt with the sails.

Once Jessa seemed to accept that Rhys would not be bothering her she took out her parchment, delving into the runes she had copied with intense concentration. Kieran did not let the opening pass.

"What did you do?" He said, nodding towards Jessa at the front of the boat.

"I didn't do anything," Rhys hissed, too frustrated to think straight. "She's delusional."

"That's not a very nice thing to say," Kieran scolded, though he didn't seem particularly bothered.

"When I tried to address my forwardness from last night she assumed I was under the control of magic. Magic, Kieran. That was her first thought."

Kieran kept a blank face for all of a second before busting into fits of laughter, having to bite his own fist to muffle the sound. Rhys swore under his breath and slapped Kieran upside the head which only seemed to further his laughter. Jessa looked up from her study and looked warily at the men before hesitantly returning to her work, occasionally glancing up every time Kieran would make a particularly loud noise.

"Aren't you supposed to be an adult?" Rhys griped.

"Only when I'm working, Rhys." Kieran managed to compose himself, wiping what looked like tears of laughter from his eyes. "Well, I can certainly say that's never happened to me. In fact, that's probably a first in all of human history."

"Gods, I know. How could she think such a ridiculous thing? I try and be honest and open and this is what happens? Is she really so disinterested that the entire concept of me having any feelings for her is that ludicrous?"

Taking a quick glance at Jessa, hunched over her work, Kieran smiled and shook his head. "She's scared, Rhys. I saw you two together and trust me, that was not the face of someone who has no interest. You said yourself that she has no family, that she's been neglected for most of her life. You, Rhys, have no trouble imagining yourself to be wanted or loved because you've always had that privilege. Jessa has not been so fortunate. Give it time. Perhaps she's the kind of person that needs to be shown your intentions are true, not told."

It pained Rhys to admit when Kieran was right but there was simply no way around it. "When did you become so knowledgeable? You're not even married!"

Kieran smiled and shrugged. "I may not be married but I've had plenty of experience in my life. Besides, shouldn't you be the expert here? Did Selene teach you nothing?"

"It's different," Rhys tried to explain. "I grew up with Selene. I knew her as well as I knew myself. I never had to try with her. This is ... hard."

Suddenly Kieran chuckled, shaking his head at nothing in particular. "You know, you and Jessa are going at this a bit backwards. Usually marriage is the last action, not the first."

Back on shore Kieran insisted on tying up the boat himself, assuring Rhys and Jessa he would fetch servants to help him with his work. He pushed Rhys along with a knowing look, nodding towards Jessa in encouragement. Rhys took the hint and caught up with Jessa as she hurried to the house. As Rhys approached he noted that Jessa tensed considerably, quickening her pace.

"Jessa, wait," he called out, running up to her side. Though it was with much reluctance Jessa paused and turned to Rhys, wariness apparent in her eyes. "I wanted to apologize if I put you off earlier. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable and I don't want there to be any uneasiness between us."

It was obvious that Rhys' words did not completely comfort Jessa as she still fidgeted nervously, but she did allow herself a small exhale of breath, her eyes softening.

"You didn't know what you were saying; you were confused," Jessa said, though it seemed more like she was talking to herself than to Rhys.

Rhys had tried, he really had, but his frustrations would not let Jessa's ridiculous assumptions slide, not again. "You've got to be kidding me," he groaned, pressing on the bridge of his nose. "I can't do this." Rhys turned on his heels, his mind reeling, but before he got more than a few steps he stopped himself. He spun around to face Jessa who had not moved an inch, looking on in surprise. "Why are you so insistant in making excuses to appease yourself? Is everything I say really that hard to believe?" Rhys took a long drawn out breath to calm himself, surprised at how quickly he'd let his emotions get out of hand. "I won't bring it up again, just please do me a favor and think about what I've said."

As Rhys retreated into the house he wondered just how long he could manage to keep his word.

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

The next few days passed with little incident. Things were tense between Rhys and Jessa. Since they only really saw each other at mealtimes, it was easy to ignore the strain between them. Jessa had become very skilled at pretending Rhys was not watching her from across the table. Whenever he was not paying attention, she searched his expression for any signs of magical interference, but she found nothing. It left her feeling very confused.

When the post arrived that morning at breakfast, Jessa was grateful for the distraction. The servant handed her a letter from Ovis. She smiled but was apprehensive about reading it. All the anger she had managed to contain would no doubt return with a vengeance. Jessa slipped the letter into her pocket so she could read it in private. When she glanced up, she caught Rhys looking away, a curious expression on his face. Jessa took no notice of the small part of her brain that wanted to share her fears with Rhys and returned to her breakfast, eating speedily.

She retreated to one of the lesser-used sitting rooms near the dining hall so that there would be little chance of being disturbed. Jessa sunk into one of the plush chairs as she ripped open the envelope and drew the thick parchment from within. The letter was brief and said very little. She cursed, realising the king had managed to silence her colleagues before her note had reached them. It was clear in the way that they alluded to their knowledge but outwardly pretended ignorance. Jessa through the letter on the arm of the chair and rubbed her temples in frustration. If she could have travelled to Ovis right then, she would not have hesitated. Alrick had no right…

Jessa pursed her lips together, seething. She stood up and stalked from the room, leaving her letter behind. There was nothing to compromise her in there, so it did not matter if someone else came across it. Jessa did not want to think about it anymore. She would respond later.

In her haste, she did not realise Rhys was in the hallway until he called to her. “Are you okay?”

She turned around and tried to calm herself down. From the wariness Rhys was displaying, she was not doing a very good job. Her jaw was hard and her eyes were narrowed in anger. “I’m fine,” she lied.

Rhys scoffed. He walked over to her. Jessa tensed, but he stopped an acceptable distance away. “You know I’m not going to believe that. What’s the matter?”

“I sent a letter to my old colleagues at the university after Kieran revealed the king’s plans. Turns out Alrick is a fast worker. They apparently can’t tell me anything. He’s put an embargo on their research, I know it, though they didn’t say that. They didn’t need to.” She sighed heavily. “I just don’t know what it is he doesn’t want people knowing.”

Rhys took a step closer but Jessa held out a hand, shaking her head fervently. She did not have the patience or the time for Rhys’ odd behaviour. “No, I’m fine. I just need to… get out of here for a while. Go riding or something. Can I borrow one of the horses?”

“You don’t need to ask. You have rights to them like anyone else in this house,” he said. Then he looked uncertain. “Do you want any company?”

Jessa was about to decline but stopped herself. The last time she and Rhys had gone riding had been one of her best days in Jasrah. It had been exhilarating, racing the horses with him. So instead, she shrugged her shoulders. “I’m going to be taking some of my research. Maybe fresh air will help me, because I have to find out what they know. So if you’re alright with being bored for a few hours, then you’re welcome to join me.”

Rhys grinned and nodded. Jessa had no idea why he seemed so excited. She frowned. “Seriously, it won’t be exciting for you, so don’t look so pleased.”

Rhys seemed like he was going to say something and then stopped himself. He shrugged. “I’m looking forward to riding my horse, is all.”

Jessa nodded, then told him to meet her at the stables in ten minutes. She went upstairs to retrieve a couple of books, her notes from the city ruins, and a few pages summarising the events leading up to the Barichean Wars. She was sure the concealment was something to do with the war. There were so many discrepancies she had noted through the years and her colleagues would have been able to investigate them more thoroughly than she. Now, though, she would have to overcome the lack of resources. She had to know.

Rhys was saddling his horse when she arrived. He pointed to the Novamorian she had ridden a few months ago. It was already prepared for their ride. She went over to it and patted its nose. He whinnied at her, and Rhys told her the horse was pleased to see her. Jessa smiled at it and whispered that she had missed him too. Then she attached her bag to the saddle and climbed onto the horse’s back with the aid of the stable hand.

A few minutes later they were on their way, taking the same path to the open fields as before. Jessa tore past Rhys the moment the ground evened and opened out. Despite the adrenaline running through her veins and the wind tangling her hair, the ride was not as fun as their first one. She had felt awkward around Rhys then, but she had known exactly where they had stood. They had not been friends. Now, she did not know what to call their relationship. She cut the ride shorter, stopping on the headland before the city boundaries. They had ridden a couple of miles, if that.

Rhys looked disappointed at its brevity. Jessa ignored him and slid off the horse. She pulled out her research and set it out on the floor in front of her. Due to the wind, she held it down with a loose rock she found hiding in the grass. Rhys watched her silently as she picked up the first page and scanned through the words. It did not take long for his constant gaze to distract her.

“Can you stop watching me? I can’t concentrate. Go and ride for a while, or something,” she suggested. To her surprise, Rhys shook his head and sat down beside her. Although he would have no clue what her notes meant, he picked up the second sheet in the pile and looked at it.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Reading. Maybe I can help you.”

Her brows furrowed. “Why would you want to do that?”

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

Damn it, Kieran, Rhys thought. Once again Kieran was proving to be uncommonly right in all things, especially when it came to Jessa. Despite constantly offering his help, always attempting to show his concern, Jessa's surprise at any show of interest was unfailing. It was then that Rhys grasped the truth behind Kieran's appraisal, the truth that Jessa was not only wary and distrustful of Rhys because of his family but because she was that way about everyone. When compared to Kieran's insights Rhys felt utterly incompetent.

"Well, I didn't come here to sit all day so I might as well help," Rhys said, rummaging through the stack with disregard and only then realizing that it was likely to be carefully organized. He flushed, trying to rearrange the papers as they had been. "Besides, though I may not be a scholar like you I'm very well educated." Rhys picked a page from the stack that caught his eye and held it up before him on display, coughing to clear his voice. "By the end of the century Barichea's exports had been reduced to three-fourths of their original quanitity and the country's debt had tripled... or something like that. I was never very good at Barichene; it's a horrible language."

Jessa looked as if she might die of shock. "You know Barichene?"

Rhys couldn't help but grin, feeling pleased to have found some use for himself. "Enough to get by. My mother was very insistent on my education in all the modern languages. I'm fluent in two and fairly proficient in three more, though Barichene is by far my worst. It has an awful, complicated structure even worse than Novarian, and that doesn't even use our alphabet."

"But you do understand it?" Jessa pressed, her eyes lit with excitement. She began to flip through her notes with speed, making a neat stack which she thrust at Rhys. "Can you read these?"

Rhys peered over the sheets, trying to recollect his shaky knowledge of the language. "Yes, I think so. Some of it looks to be a bit outdated, so I don't understand all the phrases, but I think I can get the general idea of what they say."

For a brief moment Jessa looked as though she might hug Rhys, but she seemed to catch herself, reining in her enthusiasm. She took a deep breath, looking over Rhys briefly before giving him a small smile. "I've been trying to learn Barichene for years but I only ever learned the very basics, not nearly enough to read any of these. I was hoping to either be lucky enough to find a translator or sort them out myself. Do you think you could translate them for me? If you don't want to write it all out you could even just read it out to me, really, that would be more than enough."

If all it took to brighten Jessa's mood was to translate some old papers Rhys was more than willing to oblige. He took a quill and a small bowl of ink from Jessa's sack, along with a few spare sheets of parchment and a book to write on, and began his work. Rhys quickly discovered that he had perhaps overstated his abilities, for much of the writing was not only difficult to decipher but written in old vernacular, language unknown to Rhys. Still, he struggled along, finding that with enough piecing together of the odd words and phrases he could formulate somewhat sensical translations. It was long and grueling work but Rhys was happy to have placated Jessa, even if only for the time being.

She appeared much more relaxed as she lounged out on the grass, less ever conscious of Rhys' proximity. Occasionally she would let out a small gasp or sigh, quickly scrawling something nearly illegible on her parchment. Her enthusiasm was endearing. In those moments Rhys would look up from his own work and allow himself a glance at Jessa, watching as she would tuck a stray lock of red hair behind her ear or smooth her dress over her legs. Any time she took notice of Rhys' gaze he would look back at his notes hurriedly, feeling very much like a small boy with a silly infatuation. It was funny how quickly Rhys had gone from accepting Jessa's friendship - or whatever they had managed to build - to finding himself drawn to her in a more-than-friendly way. Though he wished to keep his feelings for Selene and Jessa separate, he inevitably could not help but catch himself finding comparisons. Selene had been his good friend for many years, and it was not until they were older, practically adults, when they had began to express their feeling towards one another. It was slow and gradual, the build up of a childhood friendship blossoming into something more. With Jessa it was the same in a fashion, a gradual process, but it was accelerated indefinitely more. Rhys couldn't help but wonder if the powerful and sudden nature of his feeling was the result of his age or a stronger attraction. These were questions Rhys was not sure he wished to think of just yet, for the very though of Selene mixed in only made him uncomfortable.

After a few hours Rhys grew tired of his work and he got up to stretch his legs, taking a brief stroll around the empty fields. Suddenly he remembered the letter that was tucked in his pocket, the only Kieran had handed him on his way out earlier this morning. At the time he'd been too preoccupied with Jessa's invitation to come riding to give much thought to the letter, but now thinking back on the lines of worry on Kieran's face the letter held more importance. Retrieving the folded up parchment, Rhys took a seat under the shade of a large ash tree and began to read. Almost instantly his good nature was gone, replaced with a similar worry to what Kieran had expressed this morning. Now he wished he'd paid a bit more attention to Kieran instead of waving him off. The letter spoke of tensions between the Arcius' or Novamor and the King Alrick, noting that the Arcius' had gone as far as to threaten insurrection. Though the details were very vague and far between, certain correlations did point to the king's recent embargo on Barichean research, though Rhys could hardly fathom why that would concern the Arcius'. They were a prominent family in the south, rarely concerned with the northern country a thousand miles away. Still, any news of discord between the prominent families was worrying, especially one that seemed to hint towards any sort of revolt.

When Rhys wandered back to their place in the field he found Jessa to be clearing up her things, readying her horse.

"Are you ready to go?" She asked.

Rhys nodded, trying to wipe his face of any concern and doing a fair job at it. He grabbed the stack of papers he had been working on and began arranging them neatly in the way they had been presented. Before he returned them to Jessa he paused, a strange idea passing his mind. He withdrew the letter from his pocket, unfolding it carefully and slipping it in-between the other papers. It was a questionable move, one he was not quite sure of his motives for, but as the information seemed in some way related to the Barichean mess he figured Jessa would be interested. Whether he put it the letter merely to inform Jessa or rather to gain her trust was a question he was not sure he could answer.

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

The tension she had felt between her and Rhys had dissipated over their day. Jessa was glad for that. It had been tiring, steering clear of him and wishing he was not around when he was. They arrived at the stables at the same time and helped each other return the horses to their respective stalls. Rhys unhooked her bag and handed it to her. “Thank you.”

Rhys grinned and shrugged. “I’m just glad I was of some use today.”

Jessa peered inside the bag, happy to see so many new pages of notes. It might actually be possible to discover what the university had uncovered. After all, none of the historians she worked with had been able to read Barichene; it had been their one failing as a department. “I don’t think you realise how much you might have helped me with just a few hour’s work.”

Rhys flushed, something she had seen only a handful of times. “Well, you know where I am.”

He began to walk ahead of her. She hoisted the bag onto her shoulder and ran to catch up with him. “Rhys!” she called. He turned, looking at her questioningly. She bit her lip. “I know we’ve not done it in a while. Do you think we could maybe start my training again soon?”

Rhys nodded, a bright smile lighting up his face. “Of course. There’s still a lot for you to learn.”

Jessa raised her eyebrows. “And you’re happy about giving me free rein to hit you?” she asked sceptically.

“If it helps you learn how to defend yourself, I would do anything.”

Before she could respond, she was distracting by someone calling her name. She glanced over her shoulder and brightened. Alistair waved to her as he hurried over. His face was lined with worry. He clasped her hands in his. “I heard about the changes at the university.”

Jessa slumped, feeling the anger rise up within her. “I don’t know how he thinks he can do this.”

“He’s the king. Of course he can,” Alistair said simply, though he did not sound at all happy about it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Rhys come to stand beside her. He said nothing, just listening to their conversation.

“He’s hiding something. They must have made a breakthrough, Alistair. Were they in correspondence with you?”

“Certainly they were. Until today, I was still part of their team. But they had nothing new to tell me, so I thought, and recently I hadn’t been receiving letters at all. That was nothing alarming.”

Jessa was still stuck on his first comment “You no longer work for the university?” she asked incredulously.

“With funds cut and my absence, there isn’t really a place for me there.” Jessa shook her head fervently, gripping his hands tighter.

“How can they get rid of you? You’re one of the best,” Jessa said, scowling. Alistair patted her hand.

“I chose to leave, Jessa,” he told her gently. “I cannot work in a place so heavily controlled, and in any case I’m not as sharp as I used to be. I’m adapting well to Jasrah. And though it may not be warm, it is a fair sight pleasanter here than in Ovis. It’s much better for my bones.”

“You’re staying here?” Jessa checked, allowing a little bit of excitement into her voice. Alistair nodded. Jessa, her anger momentarily forgotten, smiled widely and threw her arms around her friend in a rare burst of affection. He awkwardly patted her on the back. When she withdrew, she looked at him sheepishly. “Are you going to work at the university here?”

“If they offer me a permanent position here, then I will definitely consider it. The king’s reach does not extend to the University of Jasrah, it would seem…” Alistair looked slyly over at Rhys, who looked back with false innocence. “If not, then I will just as happily retire.”

“You can’t,” she said in disbelief. Alistair shrugged his shoulders. She could see that he was wearying – perhaps it would be the best choice for him. “Well, whatever happens, you are always welcome to come and help me with my research. I’d appreciate another pair of eyes, though Rhys has been helping me today.”

Alistair appraised Rhys, looking down his nose and through his glasses and the man. “Has he, indeed? I didn’t take you for much of a scholar, Rhys.”

Rhys shrugged. “I’m not. I just happen to be able to read Barichene. Very poorly, I might add. I’m not sure how much sense can actually be made out of my translations.”

“Well, then, Jessa. A translator, of sorts, eh?” he said, giving her a smile. He raised his eyebrows and added, “It seems that there is some good to come out of your move to Jasrah.”

Jessa looked at Rhys, who was watching her back. She kept her gaze locked on his, fighting through the small discomfort she felt from the intensity of his stare. “Yes, I suppose there is,” she agreed, watching Rhys’ smile widen at her admission. Jessa could not help but smile back.

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

With a long day of monotonous work ahead of him Rhys insisted that they train early in the morning, long before breakfast would be served. Jessa put up a bit of a protest initially but reluctantly gave in when she realized there was little she could say to change Rhys' mind. By the time Jessa arrived in the training room Rhys had finished setting up, placing down the last of the mats.

"What are these for?" Jessa asked curiously, crouching down to feel the straw-filled pads that covered the floor.

"Seeing as you've been making some good progress I thought we might have a little fun today. I thought we'd try some throws and trust me, you don't want to land on the hard floor."

Jessa's face paled and she looked at the mats with apprehension, no longer quite so excited to begin the day's work. Rhys smiled, unable to hide his amusement. For someone with such courage and determination she certainly did not seem keen at the prospect of taking a fall.

"We don't have to if you're afraid of getting hurt" said Rhys with a fake air of nonchalance. "I'd understand."

Though having no great pride, Jessa was not one to back down from a challenge. "No, of course not. I want to learn."

Rhys began with the very basics - teaching Jessa how to fall. At first she was dismissive of such a simple concept, not understanding how falling could possibly be a form of self defense, but with Rhys insistence she followed his instructions. Over and over she did small rolls and hits to the ground, nothing painful but enough to get her used to the motions. Soon enough, like always, she grew tired of the exercise, wanting something more taxing.

"Stand here," Rhys instructed, pointing to the spot just before him. "Legs apart and hand on my chest." Jessa paused at his last instruction, her hand twitching at her side. Despite his own feelings on the matter Rhys kept a neutral expression, reminding himself that there was nothing slightly romantic in the gesture. He said as much to Jessa, prodding her until she relented and put her right hand in the middle of his chest, gripping slightly at his shirt. A slightly self consious part of him wondered if she could feel the rapidness of his heart, but he shrugged off such silly concerns, trying to keep his focus on anything but her hand. Rhys placed his own hand on her left shoulder, stepping in until they were squared off, their faces only inches apart. Then, without so much as a hint of warning, Rhys stepped forward with his right leg and wrapped it around the back of her right leg, pulling sharply at her knee with one fluid motion as Jessa crashed down on the mat.

Whether he had hurt her or she was simply stunned was up to interpretation, for the wide-eyed shock apparent on her face did not explain. Still, Rhys was fairly certain it was only shock.

"You alright?" He asked out of politeness. Jessa nodded slowly, clambering to her feet awkwardly. Rhys went through the motion again but this time in slow motion, explaining how he went about it. After a few more tries they changed positions, though Rhys could not help feel that his hand on Jessa's chest was a bit more awkward, and judging by the increase in her breathing she felt so as well. It did not take long for Jessa to master the move, and after having landed on his back with several good thuds Rhys congratulated her, moving on to the next move.

The next move was similar but with a more forceful throw, Rhys pulling Jessa over his back and onto the floor before him with a heavy drop. Jessa took all the hits in stride, only complaining a few times when a particularly forceful throw knocked the wind from her chest. Though convinced she would be able to do nothing to Rhys, him being much taller and heavier, he assured her that body composition had nothing to do with the effectiveness of a technique if done correctly. Though it took several long, grueling tries, Jessa eventually managed to complete the move, pulling Rhys' arm across her body, grabbing him by the nap of the neck and forcing him up over his shoulder until he hit the ground with a slam. Before Rhys could roll out of the way Jessa lost her balance, having thrown with a bit too much enthusiasm, falling forward on top of Rhys.

For one second they both laid on the floor, out of breath and sore, until their position came to the forfront of Jessa's attention. She froze, held above Rhys by only her arms, her face just inches from his. Rhys held his breath as he stared into Jessa's eyes, every nerve of his body aware of her own, her legs touching his, her stomach pressed to his. The moment lasted just a second longer before Jessa hurried to her feet, apologizing profusely as her cheeks flamed with scarlet. Rhys brushed off her apologies with the insistance that it was only normal to lose one's balance the first time, but behind his words he could not shake the feeling of magnetism between them or the urge he had felt to reach out, to close the small distance between them. No. Rhys forced the feelings from his mind. Now was not the time for such thoughts.

After Jessa's fall she seemed to have lost all interest in the exercises, far too flustered to continue. Noting the rising sun, Rhys suggested breakfast, both him and Jessa parting momentarily to clean themselves up.

When Jessa arrived for breakfast Rhys was already seated, quietly buttering a warm biscuit and reading over some dull letters from various Lords and Ladies with little interesting news. Jessa took her seat across from Rhys without a word, still looking visibly shaken. A maid approached Jessa quietly with a silver tray containing a single letter. Jessa thanked the woman and took the letter, reading it quickly, her eyes lighting up as she went.

"Good news?" Rhys asked, trying to seem only vaguely interested though the edge of his lip twitched into a small grin.

"Alistar was offered a full time position at the University!" Jessa cried. As Rhys looked up at Jessa he noted tears brimming in her eyes. Jessa looked to Rhys with a grin, though as she studied his face her grin began to fade, slowly replaced with a look of disbelief.

"Rhys... you didn't..."

It was impossible for Rhys to contain his own knowing smile. He hung his head sheepishly, averting his eyes and occupying himself with the jam selection. "We're patrons of the University of Jasrah, Jessa. Really, it was the least I could do."

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

Jessa studied Rhys for a moment, her lips parted in surprise. She was not quite sure how to react, but she was filled with warmth and appreciation for the man in front of her. He had helped her truest friend without even a suggestion. That he had given it thought, and acted on it, made her see him in a whole new light – yet again. Tentatively, still very aware of the disaster that had been their training session, she scraped her chair back and stood. Rhys’ gaze was drawn by the sound, but when she froze he went back to selecting a jam. Trying not to make a sound, she rounded the table, fiddling with her fingers as she walked.

Refusing to let herself back out of it, Jessa bent down and wrapped her arms around Rhys’ shoulders. He started, clearly astonished by the hug, but he quickly recovered and hugged her back. She closed her eyes and rested her chin against his shoulder, revelling in his warmth. She breathed in the scent that was distinctly Rhys – how she knew that she did not know. His arms were strong around her, holding her there. Her heart beat frantically. After a little while, she remembered herself and in his ear she whispered, “Thank you.”

Then, she pulled back and rushed away. Rhys let her go without protest, though she imagined that was largely because he was as stunned as she was. Jessa closed the dining hall door behind her and leaned back against it, wondering what had come over her. Her intense gratitude had clearly affected her more than she had thought. She shook her head, knowing it was not just that, but those thoughts led her down a terrifying path so she curtailed them before they could take her further.

Jessa strode across the hallway and went upstairs. As soon as she entered her bedroom, she fell face first onto her bed. She let the cool linen press against her warm face until she began to run out of breath. Then she turned onto her back and stared up at the plain ceiling. In the privacy of her bedchamber, she did not even try to stop the thoughts of Rhys.

Of one thing she could be fairly certain: magic was not involved. If a sorcerer was controlling Rhys’ actions, they would not consider making him do something like this. They would focus on things directly affecting Jessa, not her friends. No, this was Rhys himself. But why? When had his intention shifted from protecting her, to constant concern, to taking real interest in her work and helping her friends? Jessa did not know, but she could not fool herself anymore. She was meant to be intelligent and she was never meant to ignore facts just because they did not fit with expectation.

Where that left them and why, exactly, Rhys was doing this, she did not know. She did not really have time to contemplate it further, either. Jessa tended to work from the house since the university was not conveniently located and she worked on solo projects, but she liked to make an appearance once in a while. She imagined that once Alistair begun working as staff in a week’s time, she would visit more frequently. Today, her head was a jumble of thoughts and feelings and she really did not want to go. Jessa had promised, though, which was the only thing rousing her from her bed and forcing her outside. She collected her notes from the day before on her way out.

The journey to Jasrah and then to the island on which the university was situated, was long and quiet. It gave her plenty of time to think. Thankfully, the fresh air helped to clear her head and by the time she walked through the university doors she had managed to push Rhys to the back of her mind. He was still there, hovering and pushing her to properly consider what was going on between them, but she did not listen to it.

Jessa was greeted by a pile of papers when she entered the office. She began sifting through them, but there was little of interest until she reached the bottom. Although the handwriting was familiar – Irina’s, a fellow scholar in Ovis – there was no address on the envelope. It simply bore her name. She tore it open.

Inside, there was but a single line: The truth lies to the south.

Jessa swallowed. She had no idea what it meant, but Irina would not send her something so cryptic she could not figure it out. The south could mean anything, though. It could mean the south of Etrene or nearly any other country on the continent, since Etrene was nearly as far north as a person could get. She slumped back in her chair and waved away the questions the people who shared her office asked her. Jessa folded the note, knowing she did not want anyone else to see it. Jasrah may be ruled by the Marinons, but it did not mean there were no spies from Ovis in their midst. This was one of her best leads and she would not let it slip through her fingers.

***

On the boat on the journey back, she approached Jaq, the boatman. “What do you think of when I say south?” she asked nonchalantly. The sailor frowned.

“I don’t know, lady. Maybe Novamor, or Antascia?”

Jessa nodded. She could see Jaq was curious about her question, but because of his station relative to hers he did not ask. It frustrated her a little bit, but she was also grateful for it, since she could not explain. However, he had helped her greatly. She had thought about the note often throughout the day and had remembered something. Irina enjoyed writing in riddles, but it was usual with her that the most obvious answer was the correct one. Since Jessa had a habit to overthink things, a second opinion was always beneficial. Now, she could focus her thoughts on Novamor.

When Jessa got off the boat, she was surprised to see Rhys watching her out of the window. She gave him a brief wave, and then headed inside. She went straight to her bedroom and began rifling through the papers she had left at home. Halfway through Rhys’ translations, she came across a letter which was not addressed to her, but to Kieran. How had his letter got caught up in her notes? She was about to stand up and return it to him when the words caught her eye. Although it felt wrong, Jessa could not help but read the whole thing. Why were the Arcius family in Novamor interested in the work of historians in Ovis? This was certainly no coincidence.

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

Even hours later Rhys was unable to move past Jessa's show of affection from breakfast. In his mind Jessa's arms still wrapped around him, her chin poised on her shoulder. He felt her hair against his face and could smell her scent, a warm blend of an indescribable nature. So far gone into the memory Rhys didn't even notice when his name was called.

"Rhys!"

It was like being pulled violently from his own thoughts and thrown into reality. Vyserene narrowed her eyes from across the table, shaking her head in silence as Rhys looked up and down the table with a start. Stony faced Lords and Ladies stared down Rhys without amusement, their faces mirrors of Rhys' mother's.

"Sorry, what was the question again?" He said, hoping that indeed a question had been asked.

Vyserene clucked and pushed a piece of parchment in front of Rhys. "Lord Valeys suggests a trial system for those who do not pay their debts as opposed to our current system. What are your thoughts on the issue?"

It was lucky for Rhys that he had indeed read over the issue at hand before showing up to the session, and as such was able to discuss the question with few hiccups. Vyserene looked immensely relieved at Rhys' recovery and after his speech directed the conversation away from his topic of study, allowing Rhys to return to his daydreams with as little embarrassment as necessary.

After the meeting cleared and the nobles gave their farewells Vyserene took Rhys aside before he could escape the study.

"What was that?" She pressed, grabbing Rhys by the hand with a bit more force than was probably necessary. Rhys tried to keep his composure and not let his embarrassment betray his carefully constructed mask. He shrugged off the question, insisting he had gotten too little sleep the night before. His mother, however, was far too insightful to believe his lies.

"I heard you commissioned a new historian for the university," Vyserene said quietly, leading them from the study. Rhys kept his admission to a simple nod to which Vyserene raised a single eyebrow, turning back to face the hallway. "I did not realize you'd taken an interest in history. In fact, I was fairly certain that it was one of your least favorite subjects in your schooling. This is an interesting development indeed."

At this point there was little use in lying - his mother could see through any trickery or lies without skipping a beat. "Jessa's friend from Ovis decided to resign from his position at the university there and wanted to stay in Jasrah. I figured she'd be happy to have a friend nearby."

If Vyserene had an opinion on the matter she said nothing, keeping her eyes forward and her face impassive. After a few moments of awkward silence she spoke. "I wasn't aware that Jessa's happiness had become one of your priorities."

"Yes, well we've been getting on better lately. I thought an act of kindness was not entirely out of order." Though the words were true they still felt like a lie, one Rhys was sure he would not get away with. Still, he could not bring himself to be honest with his mother. He himself was still sorting through his own feelings - a second party's opinion was not needed nor wanted.

To Rhys' surprise Vyserene smiled, but the true surprise was not the gesture but the emotion behind it. She looked almost... touched, if such a thing were possible. Coming to the base of the staircase she took Rhys by the shoulders and stood on the lowest stair in order to place a kiss on his forehead. "You are a fine man, my darling." She drew back and placed a kiss on each of his cheeks in turn, then reached out and took Rhys' face in her hands. "This is what I want for you."

Before Rhys could question her vague words she was gone, leaving Rhys more confused than he'd been to start.

***

"WAKE UP!"

Awaking with a jolt, Rhys kicked out at the dark intruders standing over him in his room, lashing out with such force that he tumbled from his bed to the floor. The dark figures began to laugh, two of them grabbing Rhys, one by his arms and the other by his legs. Hoisted into the air he began to trash about uselessly, held tight by his captors. He was taken from the darkness of his room into the hallway and down the stairs, never allowed to touch the ground once. It was not until they were outside in the cool night air that the moonlight lit the face of one of the men, bringing Rhys very quickly back to reality.

How could he have forgotten?

Selene, Freya, and a very confused looking Jessa trailed behind Victor and Ero who held Rhys parallel to the ground. They walked as quickly as possible for two people carrying an extra person, making their way down the beach and towards the slope leading up to one of the smaller cliff tops. Rhys stopped his resistance having resigned himself to his fate, making the travel much quicker. Once the party reached the top of the cliff Rhys was able to look down at the dark, calm water below after being righted vertically before being tossed with force off the side of the cliff, plummeting into the water below.

The fall was quick and Rhys hit the water with a painful force, his whole body stinging from impact. Despite the pain Rhys quickly found his directions, working quickly to make his way to the surface of the frigid water despite his protesting muscles. He gasped as he broke the surface, shaking out his hair and looking up at the laughing figures on the cliff above.

"Happy birthday, Rhys!" They yelled in unison. Rhys laughed along with them, though the chilly water certainly made the whole thing significantly less amusing. Before Rhys could try and make his way back to the shore just a few meters away, someone's hands - though he could not tell whose through the darkness - pushed on Jessa's back, sending her screaming off the edge of the cliff.

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

Jessa flailed as she fell, her heart in her throat, trying to straighten herself for the impact – her only logical thought in the midst of gripping terror. She hit the water hard, the chill shocking her. Jessa went limp, sinking under the water. Jessa could barely move, her muscles seizing up. Her head felt funny. Someone dove under her and caught her in his arm, and then kicked madly for the surface. It was slow going – she was going to die – but eventually they burst through the surface. Jessa coughed and clung to her rescuer.

“Jessa, Jessa! Are you alright?” Rhys asked in a panic, clutching her with one hand and using the other to keep them afloat. Jessa did not answer, only adding to the fear in Rhys’ voice. Frantically, he made for the shore, laying Jessa on her side on the beach and gripping her hand tightly. Her hand was too weak to hold his hand back, but the grounding to another person was something she needed. She could not speak, but her mind whirled. Everything had happened so quickly. She had been thrown off a cliff. Jessa shuddered and coughed, spewing water. She groaned and breathed in and out shakily. Pain blossomed in her muscles. It felt so extreme in her legs that she was sure she would never walk again.

“Jessa, please answer me,” she faintly heard Rhys beg through his own shivers.

“I… I’m okay,” Jessa whispered, closing her eyes. It still had not really hit her what had just occurred. She knew what had happened, obviously, but it felt as if it had happened to someone else, not her. Suddenly, the pressure on her hand was gone. She reached out for Rhys’ hand but he had already moved away.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled at someone. Jessa opened her eyes, seeing Victor and the others standing a short distance away, concern written all over their faces. “Who the hell pushed her?”

Victor spoke up. “I did. I just wanted to initiate her into the tradition. Etrene knows I didn’t want to actually hurt her.”

“Well it was a pretty stupid thing to do without warning her first,” Rhys hissed.

The pain had lessened now, and she realised she had just been dramatic. She was still shivering from the bitterness of the water, her dress clinging to her body. Jessa sat up slowly, staring at the cliff she had fallen from. She was instantly taken back to another cliff, much taller and standing in far shallower waters. Jessa averted her gaze and tried not to sob. Rhys was there in an instant, folding her into his arms.

“I’m sorry, Jessa,” he whispered. She shook her head against his neck.

“Not your fault. And I’m okay, really. Just a bit rattled is all.” She carefully looked herself over and tested her limbs. “Nothing’s broken. I’m a bit bruised, maybe. It was mostly just the shock of the cold.”

“Jessa,” Victor said hesitantly, approaching them. Rhys lifted his head and glared at his friend, but Jessa put a hand on his arm to calm him. She nodded at Victor. “I am sorry. You’re not too hurt, are you?”

“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it, please. I was just a little surprised,” she said, smiling shakily. Victor did not look convinced. He glanced at Rhys warily, who was glaring daggers at him again.

“Well, I think you should worry about it,” Rhys said. He suddenly pulled away from Jessa and stalked off into the shadows. The last thing she saw of Rhys was him tugging at her hair, shoulders hunched. Victor followed after him. Selene came and sat down beside Jessa, watching where Rhys had gone speculatively.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Selene finally asked, focusing on Jessa. She saw the fierce trembling and removed her coat. Though Jessa tried to protest, Selene would not hear anything of it. “You are far colder than I. Don’t worry, as soon as we’re sure you’re okay we’ll head inside and then you can change into something warmer.”

Jessa nodded and accepted the coat, pulling it around her wet, icy shoulders. Selene went back to looking pensive. “I’ve only seen Rhys like that a handful of times.”

“Well, I suppose it isn’t every day someone is thrown into the ocean off a cliff,” Jessa said lightly, ignoring what she knew Selene was really trying to say. It was rather easy to pretend ignorance, since her mind was still focused on the fact that she had been the one who had fallen.

“He cares about you,” Selene said quietly, refusing to beat around the bush. Jessa swore she heard pain in her voice and moved her hand to take Selene’s. She squeezed it, gaining a small, grateful smile from the other woman. She exhaled heavily, and added, “A lot, I think.”

Jessa looked away in embarrassment. “I’m sure he’s just worried that a friend might die because of something so silly,” she tried to explain. Selene shook her head.

“No, it isn’t that. It isn’t that at all.” Selene squeezed Jessa’s arm and then stood. Jessa saw the sadness in her friend’s eyes and knew what the woman was thinking. She was incorrect, however, she had to be. Jessa was fairly certain that Rhys was still absolutely in love with Selene. That would not have changed.

Selene helped Jessa to her feet when Rhys and Victor returned from their walk. They were tense, but they seemed to have reached some kind of truce. Rhys rushed over to aid Jessa in walking back to the house. Selene threw her a pointed look, which Jessa promptly ignored.

“Happy birthday, Rhys,” she murmured as they walked. Rhys shook his head and looked at her incredulously.

“Oh, yes, it’s been a great start to my day.” Jessa winced as she landed oddly on her foot, grabbing Rhys’ attention. Frantically, he asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m not having you suffocate me with your concern and constant questions, not again,” she groaned. “I just need some rest. After all: I wouldn’t want to miss your party this evening, would I?”

[Rosabeth]

{name:Rhys#|#picture:48}

It had been quite some time since Rhys had felt so angered, especially towards his friends. Even after Victor had apologized profusely, checking in on Jessa ever few seconds, Rhys could not completely let the matter slide. It was nonsensical to react in such a way. No one had been hurt - at least not seriously - and it had all been in good, if not idiotic, fun, yet just the possibility of something going horribly wrong would not let Rhys rest.

As Jessa changed out of her dripping clothes and into something warm, Rhys took it upon himself to berate Victor further.

"You didn't even know if she could swim!" Rhys yelled, only quieting when Selene reminded him that it was indeed the middle of the night.

"She grew up on the coast, Rhys. Of course she can swim! Look, I already said I was sorry and it's not as if we can change the past. It was all in good fun. I don't think Jessa minded that much, really."

"She could have died," Rhys pressed. "With that sort of speed, had she landed on her back or on her chest it would have been the same as as hitting a stone wall. You should have at least warned her!"

It took the following silence of the room for Rhys to realize how loud his voice had grown, how impassioned and strained he sounded. Had he been more self-conscious he might have felt embarrassed, but as it was his worry kept him from thinking too much into it. Still, Rhys let out a long sigh, wiping his wet hair out of his face. "I'm sorry, Victor. I know you didn't mean any harm."

Victor nodded in understanding but said nothing, looking more grave than Rhys had ever seen him. Freya went to check on Jessa to make sure she was still alright as Ero sat down with Victor, their heads bowed in quiet conversation. Left alone, Selene watched Rhys calmly as he let himself relax, forcing him into a chair once he seemed somewhat at ease. There was a nervous air about Selene but she kept her eyes fixed on Rhys.

"If I asked you something would you answer honestly?" She said finally, setting her jaw hard with a determined look in her eyes. Rhys nodded, unsure where this question was leading. "Do you love Jessa?"

Had it been any other question Rhys would have answered in a heartbeat, feeling no need to conceal anything from Selene. However, this one question gave him pause. He was sure the whole room could hear his hear beating, so hyperaware of Selene's eyes on him and the pressure of the question. Rhys' silence seemed to be answer enough for her, for she closed her eyes with a knowing smile, nodding just barely to herself. Just then Freya returned, Jessa following close behind clothed in a dry dress and a wollen shawl. Rhys sighed with relief as Jessa smiled, motioning for him to stay seated as he began to rise. There was no ignoring Selene's pensive observance of the exchange.

"I don't know," Rhys admitted, turning back to Selene and gathering his courage enough to look her in the eye. "But I still love you."

If words could kill Selene would surely be dead, for the pain that flickered in her eyes at his words was enough to cause Rhys anguish in turn. "I know that," she whispered. "But it doesn't really matter, does it? It never did."

There was no time to spend pining over words or feelings for with Jessa's return Ero stepped in, taking Victor's place as the jovial leader. He gathered them all, arranging the chairs and couches into a small circle in the center of the room.

"You'll get your sleep soon," Ero assured Jessa, noticing how she groaned realizing there were more activities afoot. "We have a very long standing tradition for birthdays and we will not let one mishap ruin our fun, will we? Good. Who would like to start?"

Jessa leaned over to Rhys. "What's going on?" She whispered as the others argued between themselves.

"On each other's birthday's we always play a little game we made up back when we were young. Everyone shares their most embarrassing or funny story of an interaction they had with the birthday person in the last year, and after everyone has told their stories they vote on whose was the best and that person gets to create some silly dare for the person in question. It's silly, really, but it's tradition. Victor is very adamant about keeping with tradition. We're really a bunch of children at heart."

"You just hate it because I always win and always give you the worst task imaginable," Victor interjected, seemingly having regained his good nature. "I'll start. Rhys and I were at the tavern this summer and in his drunken state his mistook the carpenter's daughter Aliyah for Selene and kissed her in front of everyone. She slapped him so hard I thought he might lose a tooth."

Everyone burst into laughter, Ero jumping in to add extra detail about Rhys' state of confusion. Selene's gaped, shoving Rhys into Jessa. "You didn't!"

"I'm sorry!" Rhys laughed, unable to keep his cheeks from reddening. If this was the best Victor could conjure Rhys dreaded to hear what the others had to say. It had not been Rhys' best year. "She looks a bit like you, you have to admit."

Freya offered up the next story, reminiscing about the time she had snuck up on Rhys as he was leaving Jasrah in the night and frightened him so badly he had drawn his sword, only to slice his hand in his drunken confusion.

"Must everything be a tale of my drunken antics?" Rhys groaned, burying his head in his hands as the room once again erupted in laughter, Freya reenacting the scene with Ero with extra dramatics. Even Jessa seemed to be enjoying herself now, joining in on the fun with enthusiasm. After Ero and Selene had both told their stories, Ero's another of an inebriated mishap and Selene's of a time Rhys had puked on Anja while sick, a disaster Rhys had hoped would not be mentioned, his friends turned to Jessa.

"I don't have anything interesting," Jessa said quietly, looking down at her hands. "Honestly, I don't think I've known Rhys long enough to have seen anything truly mortifying."

"Of course you have!" Ero assured, reaching across and patting Jessa on the knee. "Rhys is a walking wreck - everyone who knows him for five minutes witnesses something embarrassing."

Rhys turned to Jessa, watching her expectantly as she seemed to rack her memories for something worthwhile. Suddenly she looked up, biting her lip and looking away in embarrassment. Everyone else had noticed the change, all leaning in in earnest to hear the tale. As Rhys caught Jessa's eye he knew in an instant from her uncomfortable state, the way she avoided his eye, exactly what memory she was thinking of.

"Oh come on, you can't not tell us now!" Freya urged, grabbing Jessa's hand. "You must let us know. Is it awful?"

"I shouldn't," Jessa murmured, refusing to look at any of them. This of course only excited the others to the point where they looked ready to burst of anticipation. Rhys sighed and shrugged when Jessa looked to him for validation. She closed her eyes tightly, looking as though the memory itself brought her some sort of pain, though Rhys was not sure how it could be more uncomfortable for her as it was to him.

"My first night in Jasrah I accidentally walked in on Rhys and Selene ..." she trailed off, her voice so low as to be nearly inaudible. Selene grew stiff and wide-eyed at her words, sharing a quick pained look with Rhys. There was no need to finish her sentence, for Victor, Ero and Freya's howls of delight drowned out any other words.

"Why did I only now just hear of this?" Victor demanded, wiping a tear from his eye, his face red from laughter. He turned to Jessa, putting his arms out in front of him and bending in a mock bow. "I do not believe there is any contest. You win without a doubt. You put us to shame."

[Mollianne]

{name:Jessa#|#picture:47}

They all watched her expectantly. “What?” she asked warily. Victor rolled his eyes.

“You need dare Rhys to do something,” he said. Jessa instantly paled and shook her head, shying away from the group. “Seriously, Jessa. It’s a tradition. None of us will judge you for it.”

“I can’t,” she said. “I don’t want to. You think of something.”

Victor shook his head while Ero wagged his finger at her. “No way, Jessa. You won. Come on: a chance to humiliate him. Shouldn’t you be jumping at the chance? We would be.”

“Erm,” she muttered, feeling flustered. Jessa had never played this sort of game, and had never really understood why people were happy to let others make them do embarrassing things. She glanced at Rhys, who looked at her encouragingly. His small, smug smile, hinting that he thought she would go easy on him, strengthened her resolve. She would not be underestimated.

“I’ve noticed that your father is rather partial to a glass of Vaina wine and keeps a bottle of it locked away in the cupboard in his study,” she said innocently. Everyone’s faces began to turn to delight, except Rhys’, whose smile was beginning to turn worried. “I dare you to steal it and, throughout the day, drink the entire bottle, starting now. Aquena’s pretty well known for its very strong wine, so we’ll see if you’re still standing by the end. Hopefully without your father realising, since he’s rather fond of it.”

“Oh, Jessa, that’s a good one.” Victor guffawed. “More drunk stories of Rhys to tell next year, I think!”

Rhys gaped at her, while the group laughed at him. Jessa, however, detected that a part of him was impressed by her deviousness. He knew as well as she that his father never let anyone touch his wine. It would not be good for him if he was found out.

Without saying anything, Rhys stood up and strode out of the sitting room. Jessa and their friends followed him like sheep, keeping quiet so that Rhys could attempt his dare unnoticed by the rest of the house. He left them at the bottom of the stairs so he could fetch his lock picks. When he returned, he headed for his father’s story, keeping his gaze averted from all of them. They loitered outside once he had picked the lock to the study door.

Jessa peered through the crack in the doorway, watching as he crept around the desk and looked at the glass cabinet holding two bottles of the Vaina wine. She could see him pondering how he would be able to hide the fact that one of the bottles was missing. Jessa rolled her eyes and told Ero to fetch one of the other bottles of red wine in the sitting room. He was gone less than a minute, not wanting to miss any of the action. Jessa ripped off the label and tiptoed into the study.

She tapped Rhys on the shoulder, who jumped in fright. “Honestly, Jessa, don’t creep up on a man like that.”

Jessa smiled smugly at him, trying not to laugh, and presented him with the bottle. He looked down at it, uncomprehending. “To switch it. Take the one at the back. Sometimes you’re pretty stupid.”

Rhys glowered at her, though there was no heat behind it. “You’re meant to be nice to me on my birthday,” he complained. Jessa winked at him.

“Not when I’m the one daring you. You’ll have to earn that by doing what I ask,” she whispered as he turned and used his lock picks to open the cabinet. He glanced at her appraisingly and then opened the glass door. It creaked ominously, so Rhys hurriedly swapped the two bottles and closed it again. After relocking everything, they all returned to the sitting room. No longer able to contain themselves, their friends burst out laughing.

“I’m not sure I can believe you really did that,” Selene said. “And then I remember you’re never one to back down from a dare.”

“Come on, Rhys. Drink up,” said Victor, procuring a glass from the sideboard beside him. Rhys sighed and accepted the wine glass. He handed Jessa the bottle so she could decide how much he would drink.

“I can’t believe you’re making me start now,” he said. “You could at least let me sleep and have breakfast.”

“No, I couldn’t,” she said simply, pouring a small amount into the glass. “I’m not giving you much. It’s got to last you all day.”

They all waited while he stared at the red liquid. He sighed resignedly and swallowed it all in one gulp. He winced at the strong taste. “Wow, that’s…”

“Don’t worry, Rhys. You won’t taste it after a little bit,” Freya exclaimed before another round of giggles took her at the pained expression on Rhys’ face. Rhys glared at her and then at Jessa.

“One day, I will get you back,” he promised. Jessa grinned.

“I’m sure you will. But for now, I’m tired and going to go to bed. I’ll see you all at the party later.”

***

Jessa awoke to sore, stiff muscles. She stretched out carefully and checked the bruises on her arms and legs. They looked angry, but the pain was not unbearable. She had been very lucky last night, considering. She slipped out of bed and got changed, then headed slowly for Rhys’ room. Although she had never dared anyone before, she was going to do this properly. She needed to make sure that Rhys did indeed drink the wine throughout the day, which would require constant supervision.

Jessa knocked on his door and went in when he heard a grunt. He glared at her as soon as he realised who it was. “I am going to hate you tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you will,” she said magnanimously, picking up the empty wine glass from the night before and refilling it. Jessa was surprising herself with how much enjoyment she was getting from this. She passed it to Rhys with a wide grin on her face. “Drink up.”

He did, shuddering again. “Seriously, you could have picked any wine. This is vile. I don’t know how my father likes it.”

“Yes, but that would not have been nearly as fun,” she reminded him.