Episode 168 That Doesn’t Count
That Doesn’t Count
Hopefully, Jonas is easy to find. Rominy has no idea where he sleeps here at Windhaven.
Voices reach Rominy from down the corridor, and relief fills him when he overhears Jonas talking to his men. Without giving it much thought, Rominy slips behind a bit of decorative greenery extending from the wall to listen to what they’re saying.
“I slept fine, Stamets. Not that it’s any of your business,” Jonas says.
“We’re just concerned that your injury might have made it difficult for you to get the sleep you need to do your job, Cap.”
“Sure you are. Wipe that smirk off your face, Hareth. You’re acting like a youth barely out of grammar school.”
“Of course, Cap. Are you planning to take tonight off as well?”
“I’m about to knock your heads together is what I’m planning to do. Go get some sleep.”
“Yes, sir. It’s good to see you, Third Taliel. Cap’s bark is worse than his bite, so don’t let him—”
“Levina is calling your name, Hareth.”
Rominy holds back laughter. Poor Jonas.
“Sleep well,” Taliel calls after them as they disappear. She looks amused.
“Sorry about that,” Jonas mutters. Rominy almost reveals himself, but Jonas reaches for the tail of Taliel’s braid and draws it to his face.
Is he smelling her hair? Rominy smiles as he watches.
“You still smell like cinnamon,” Jonas says. “Mixed with whatever shampoo you use. Honey and vanilla?”
“Very good, Cap.”
Rominy almost bursts into laughter. She calls him Cap? He’s probably not thrilled by that.
That’s likely why she does it, if she’s anything like Elowyn.
“That was cruel, Tal.”
“No one appears to be here.” Taliel shrugs.
“No one except the prince hiding behind that branch.”
This just got awkward. Why is he hiding behind a branch, spying on them, anyway?
Rominy clears his throat and steps out into the open. “Good morning.”
“You knew he was there,” Jonas says to Taliel. “Don’t tell me you didn’t. ‘No one appears to be here.’ That was creative wording.” Jonas tugs on her braid, and she laughs.
“He clomps louder than you do. Of course I knew he was there.”
“I clomp?” Rominy frowns.
“The real question is, do I clomp?” Jonas asks.
“I believe you both asked the same question,” Taliel says. “And the answer is yes.” She turns to Rominy. “Forgive my binding partner for finding me so distracting that he chose to ignore you rather than ask how he may be of service.”
Jonas opens his mouth before closing it again and glancing at Rominy. “I did that, didn’t I?”
Laughter fills Rominy. “You did. Though I’m the one who was caught eavesdropping, so I’m not sure which of us should be more embarrassed.
I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.
And you are, so mission accomplished. I’m going to stop talking now.
” Rominy rocks back and forth on his feet as he waits for someone else to say something.
“We are well, Rominy,” Taliel says. “Even Jonas, though he probably won’t tell you that. He’s been smiling a lot this morning.”
Jonas slowly turns his head toward her, his brows wrinkled. “Maybe keep some of my secrets.”
“You smiling is hardly a secret.”
Rominy crosses his arms and puts on the sternest face he can muster. “I’m having doubts about your ability to focus on your job.”
They both turn wide eyes his way and begin speaking at once.
Rominy’s lips twitch, and Jonas stops talking and rolls his eyes. “Very funny. I assume you’re here to resume our morning briefings?”
“Yes. We’ll be joining Elowyn’s family in the dining room for breakfast, but I’m not sure what the plan is after that. You’re welcome to eat with us.”
Jonas looks like he’s about to refuse when Taliel nods. “Of course. We’ll be there.”
“Wait, we will?” Jonas says.
“Why wouldn’t we?”
Jonas turns to face her again. “Do you normally eat with the King of Lostariel?”
“I do when I’m invited. Why wouldn’t I?”
Jonas looks at a loss for words, and Rominy takes pity on him.
“We aren’t in Nunia anymore, Jonas. Follow your wife’s lead. She is your liaison in Lostariel.”
Taliel’s lips tilt into a smile, and Jonas rubs a hand over his eyes. “All right. I guess we’ll join you for breakfast.”
“Good answer. I’ll see you there.” Rominy starts to walk away before turning back to them. “By see you there, I mean we’ll see you here in the corridor in a few minutes since I still need you to guard me.”
“Understood,” Jonas says. He seems to be struggling not to smile.
“Right. I’m going to check on Elowyn. We’ll be back soon.” He turns to go, chuckling to himself. That was both awkward and entertaining.
And encouraging. It seems Jonas and Taliel are adjusting just fine.
Tharios wakes to Viala kissing him. She’s lucky he didn’t attack her on pure reflex the first time she did that.
Not that the oathbinding would let him injure her. Thank the fates.
Now, it’s one of his favorite ways to wake up.
And it’s always the same pattern. A kiss. Then a pause as she hovers near, her breath warm on his lips.
Waiting for him to kiss her back.
And he always does.
“Please tell me no one is knocking on our door,” he whispers between kisses.
“Not yet. But we may be late to breakfast if you follow this thought through to its natural conclusion.”
He turns the water clock on the nightstand toward him as he squints at it. Then he groans.
“You seemed to need the sleep, my love,” Viala says as she leans over his chest. “I didn’t want to wake you even now, but—”
“I know. Breakfast. Responsibilities. Decisions to be made. I should take you on a honeymoon when this is all over. We never did that.”
“Does it count when you’ve been bound for three years already?”
“Does it matter?” He draws her into another kiss before sighing as he pulls away. “We should get up.”
“I’ve been up. I read an entire book while waiting.”
He stares at her. “You did not.”
“I guess you’ll never know.” She leans close like she’s going to kiss him before moving away again and rising from the bed instead.
“You’re cruel, faerie.”
“And you’re still in bed, elf prince,” she calls from the water closet.
“How can you tell from in there?” he mutters. Then he groans and pushes back the covers before rising to find his clothes.
When Tharios and Viala make their way out of the royal wing, Jonas and Taliel are waiting in the corridor, whispering to each other.
They seem to have survived their second night together.
“Your Highness,” Jonas says as he drags his eyes away from Taliel.
“Tharios. Please. How’s your wound?”
“Nothing more than an ache.”
“Good. I want to examine it later, but in the meantime, this will help.” He lays a hand on Jonas’s shoulder and lets his life magic flow. “You should join us for breakfast.”
“We’ve already been invited,” Taliel says. “Jonas is disturbed by this development.”
“Taliel! I’m not disturbed.”
“He believes he’s not disturbed.”
Jonas closes his eyes and shakes his head.
“Let me guess,” Tharios says as he tries not to laugh. “You’ve never been invited to King Gerault’s table before?”
“I’ve never even been invited to Rominy’s table before today. Give me time to adjust, Tal.”
Tal. He calls her Tal.
Viala squeezes Tharios’s hand. She must have noticed, too. Tharios quietly translates their conversation as Elowyn and Rominy stride toward them. Cerian and Arisanna aren’t far behind.
Elowyn smirks as she looks at Tharios. Then she takes off down the corridor, and Tharios frowns.
“What are you, twelve?” he calls after her as he breaks into a run.
“What are you, four hundred? Try to keep up!”
“You left Rominy back there, you know. Does he even know where he’s going?”
Elowyn stumbles to a stop, and Tharios breezes past her.
“Now who’s the slow one?” he asks.
She looks back down the corridor before jogging after Tharios, and they reach the door to the dining room just as Cook rounds the corner from the opposite direction with a tray of food.
“You two, running through the corridors like your elfling days aren’t long gone. If you make me drop your breakfast again, you’ll be peeling potatoes for lunch.”
Elowyn meets Tharios’s gaze, and they both burst out laughing as they offer their apologies.
“I won,” Elowyn whispers once Cook disappears into the dining room.
“You did not!”
“Well, I would have if you hadn’t reminded me—”
“That you have a binding partner you abandoned like he means nothing to you?” Tharios tsks, and she shoves his arm before turning around.
“I should go back for him.”
“Probably.”
“You just want to reach the door first.”
Cook comes back out with empty arms. “Now you’re hovering in the halls. If you need to be put to work, those potatoes won’t peel themselves.”
They watch her as she wanders back to the kitchen.
“If we were Cerian, she’d have patted us on the head and given us an apple,” Elowyn whispers.
“Indeed. Hazard of being born first.”
“He actually likes peeling potatoes.”
“There’s something wrong with him.”
“I heard that,” Cerian says as he gently shoulders his way past them and pulls Arisanna along with him. He passes through the doorway and glances back at them. “Looks like I won.”
Tharios stares as Cerian disappears into the dining room. “That doesn’t count, does it?”
Elowyn shakes her head. “Definitely not. He didn’t even run.”
“You two are ridiculous, you know that?” Rominy says as he wraps his arm around Elowyn’s shoulders. “It’s a good thing Viala took pity on me and didn’t leave me wandering Windhaven, searching for my breakfast. And my wife.”
“I would have gone back for you,” Elowyn says absently.
“I’m glad to hear you didn’t forget about me completely. Are we allowed to go in?”
Tharios finds Viala’s hand and gestures Jonas and Taliel forward. “After you.”
To Tharios’s shock, Jonas turns as he strides through the door. “Beat you.”
“Did he say what I think he did?” Viala whispers.
“He did, indeed.”
“We got here first,” Elowyn says. “How did we lose?”
Father appears in the doorway. “Why don’t you get in here so we can eat? You can ponder what just happened over your sausage and berries.”
Tharios gestures to Elowyn, and she shakes her head. “Oh, no. I don’t want a pity win.”
“You know what I want?” Rominy says. “Breakfast. That sounds good.” He drags Elowyn through the doorway, and Tharios chuckles.
“Shall we?” Tharios asks Viala, and together, they follow the others.
All too soon, they’ll be thinking about rebels and attacks again.
At least they got to have a little fun first.