Page 37 of Glass and Bone
“Oh my gods.” I mutter as I chew.
“I’m guessing pastries also weren’t very common in your diet?” He chuckles. I shake my head and pick up another pastry. “While I want you to enjoy every delicious thing you want, and I don’t care about your weight or appearance, please try to eat some eggs and fruit. You are still healing from a very rough week, and you need fuel.” I roll my eyes jokingly and plop a chunk of pineapple in my mouth. He smiles, a dimple appearing in his left cheek.
We are quiet for a few moments, the only sounds between us are chewing and swallowing. I think back to Tobias’s response, or lack of response, in regard to the wedding.
“Are we getting married today?” I ask after I wash my mouth out with orange juice. It’s sweet and pulpy and I try to keep my moans silent as I try each new thing. “You shrugged when I mentioned it.”
“I honestly don’t know. The reverend isn’t even here, nor have any preparations begun to invite guests and prepare the palace. I figured you weren’t in a rush, so I wasn’t going to push.” I nod and move fruit around on my plate.
“I’m not in a rush, but don’t we have to be married before your father passes?” That’s what my father said had to happen, but maybe he was wrong? I’m all for waiting, but it's just delaying the inevitable.
“Yes, but he seemed fine this morning,besideshis delusions.” He sips from a white mug, some hot bitter beverage. He told me it was called coffee and a sip nearly made me gag. “Do you want me to ask?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t want to skirt my responsibilities just because the king is too ill to realize.” Tobias laughs softly.
“You are not skirting your responsibilities; I promise you that.”
“So what are we going to do today?” I ask, wiping my sticky fingers off on a napkin.
“Well, I figured we could relax. We did the tour yesterday, so I was thinking of taking you out to one of my favorite lookouts where we can sunbathe and sleep and do whatever we want.” I don’t even attempt to fight the smile plastered to my face.
“We are going to leave the palace?”
“You aren’t a prisoner, Elaenor. You can go wherever you want.” Shivers of excitement trickle down my limbs and it’s taking everything in me to not jump out of this seat.
We get to leave.
*****
When we finish eating, Tobias takes us back to the room to change. He informed me that the dress I was wearing probably wasn’t suitable for horseback riding, so he recommended I wear something else.
When we get to the room, he sits behind the writing desk, catching up on his correspondence, while I rummage through the dressing room. I find a pair of black riding leggings and slip them on, surprised that they are a perfect fit. They are made out of a thin cotton that hugs my legs like a second skin. I find a matching jacket that is tight fitting and pull that over a camisole. I was wearing head to toe black, and for once, I didn’t mind that my clothes were picked out for me. I slip into a pair of beautiful leather riding boots before stepping out from behind the partition.
“Where did all these clothes come from?” I ask as I step towards the mirror. The black is slimming, not that the last few days of injuries and unconsciousness have made me in need of slimming down.
“They were made prior to your arrival. Your ladies sent your measurements over by rider.” He says quietly, distracted.
Tobias is still at the desk, writing away, so I sit at the vanity and braid my hair into a single plait down my back. It feels silkier than usual, and it makes me smile. Despite the nature of my entrance to Noterra, it seems to be agreeing with me. My smile catches when I see the bite mark peaking over my collar. It's red and swollen, with just a couple small scabs where his teeth went through my skin. A chill running down my spine causes me to shudder as I tie off my braid and throw it over my shoulder.
I quickly look away from my reflection in the mirror and stride over to the balcony. The doors are open like they always seem to be, so I step out onto the marble and squint my eyes against the bright sunlight. It’s brisk, the air slightly chilled, threatening an early end to summer. There are very few clouds in the sky, which leaves ample room for the bright blue skies to show. I take a deep breath and smile.
Right below the balcony is one of the courtyards with a huge fountain. There is no one down there, leaving the bright green grass vacant and glittering in the sunlight. I can picture myself lounging down there with a book and a blanket, sunbathing while reading. I want nothing more than to have my skin darken and the tiny freckles appear on my face that only show when I’ve been outside.
“Are you ready?” Tobias calls from the room and I turn around to see him standing up from the desk. I nod enthusiastically before bounding over to him.
We make our way through the palace with Laris and Tano following closely behind. We exit through a large double door that leads to the palace wall. People are walking around, Lords and Ladies, groundsmen and guards. They all smile and bow or curtsy as we walk past them hand in hand. I try to meet everyone’s eyes and smile, acknowledge them like I wasn’t allowed to do in Chatis.
My pulse quickens as we walk right up to the open metal gate and step past it. Trees as far as the eyes can see in all directions. Just bright green pines and evergreens forming a beautiful forest begging to be explored. I don’t try to hide my awe as Tobias walks around me to a stone building on our right. In every direction I look, all I see is a thick tree line, with only a small path leading through them.
“Your Grace.” Laris says as he gestures for me to follow them. I nod, tearing my eyes away from the trees. I step into the stone building and the scent of hay and manure assault my sinuses. I sneeze and hear Tano chuckle behind me.
Tobias is speaking to one of the stablemen, so I take this time to look around. Beautiful stalls carved out of sheetrock and dark wood line either side, hay covering every inch of the floor. My boots crunch as I walk over the golden strands up to the first stall.
A beautiful white horse munches on fresh feed, his brown eyes catching mine. His mane is long and wavy, shining in the sunlight filtering down through the windows on the ceiling. A golden placard above his stall displays his name asDawner. I reach forward and run my fingers through his silky strands.
“Hi, Dawner.” I say as he continues to munch on his feed. I slip my hand out of the stall and move to the next one.
A deep russet brown horse sticks his head out of the stall and swipes its nose across my face. I laugh as I nearly fall back. I rub his snout and glance up at the placard above his stall,Wyclif.
