Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Phin took Rhaz home, dropped him off, and he found himself walking through the kitchen door with a smile on his face.
Basil was at the stove as usual and frowned at him. “My prince, I’m glad you’re back.” He hopped off the step stool. “Where have you been?” His hands went to his little hips as he stared up at Rhaz. “And why are you wearing that smug look?”
Rhaz bent down to him. “Because I had a nice time.” He straightened and headed for the stairs.
“Not so fast,” Basil called behind him.
Rhaz stopped and turned to face him with a sigh. “What is it?”
Basil shook a finger at him. “This human female. You’re spending far too much time with her. It’s not good for you, and it’s not good for the kingdom.”
“What do you mean it’s not good for the kingdom?” Rhaz sat on the third step of the staircase and stretched his legs out in front of him. “She’s teaching me things.”
“Yes, and I’ve seen the way you are around her. Don’t think I haven’t been watching.”
“You’re spying on me?” he said with raised eyebrows.
“I’m looking out for you,” Basil shot back. “You’re a prince. The heir to the throne. And you’re betrothed to Princess Beyza.”
“I am not betrothed yet.” Rhaz sucked in a breath and held it. Just the thought of marrying that witch made him cringe.
“Well,” Basil went on, “you’re going to be married, and you had better remember that.”
Rhaz had had about enough of this. “Basil, my dear fellow, you’re a chef, and a good one, and I’m glad I found you. But if you keep bringing this up, I’m going to leave you here.”
Basil gasped. “What? Leave me with the bloodsucker? You wouldn’t dare.”
Rhaz left the staircase and stood. “Watch me.” With that, he turned on his heel and headed up the stairs.
He almost bumped into Quill in the hallway. “Oh, back so soon?” Quill said with a smile. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes. I saw the ocean.”
Quill’s smile broadened. “That’s wonderful. I keep forgetting you’ve never seen it. I’m sorry. One of us should have taken you earlier.”
“No, it’s fine. It was nice going with Phin. She did ask questions, and I hope I deflected them properly.”
Quill made a face and stuck his hands in his pockets. “What kind of questions?”
“About Dubai, mostly. Televisions. Phones. I’m still not familiar with these things the way I should be to survive here.”
“Don’t worry,” Quill said. “We’ll get you a phone, and you can play with the television downstairs to learn it. That is, if you can tear the remote away from Basil.”
Rhaz had to chuckle at that. Basil did something called binge-watching daily, usually shows that featured human females hunting down criminals, capturing them, and bringing them to justice. Lately, he’d been watching another show. Lacey something. Or was it Cagney? Rhaz couldn’t remember.
“Rhaz,” Quill said, “if there’s anything you’re curious about or want to see, just let one of us know. We’ll take you.”
Rhaz gave him a curt nod. “Thank you. I appreciate it. There are a lot of things I’d like to see. The problem is, I don’t know what they are yet.” He smiled, patted Quill on the back, and continued down the hall to his room.
Once there, he changed his clothes, as he had sand in places he didn’t think one could get sand, and took a quick shower. When he was cleaned up and dressed, he went back downstairs to find Basil in front of the television.
By scale and flame, what was he watching? “Basil,” he said.
Basil didn’t turn his way. “Look, my prince. Monsters!”
Rhaz looked at the television screen just as a giant reptilian monster ate a human. He gasped. “What is that?”
“It’s called a T-Rex,” Basil said with delight. “Wouldn’t that make a wonderful pet?”
“It just ate a human,” Rhaz pointed out.
“Yes, but it could eat other things, too. Things that we don’t like. Or perhaps we could keep it as a torture device.”
“Basil, you need to stop watching this thing. It’s rotting your brain.”
Basil jumped to his feet and waved the remote at him. “It is not. It’s educational. I’m learning everything I can about this realm to take back and tell the king in case we want to overthrow it.”
“Basil,” Rhaz said, exasperated. “Stop that. You must remember this town does not make up this entire realm. As I understand it, this realm is huge, with billions, and I do mean billions, of humans.”
Basil’s face fell. “What?” He looked at the television with disappointment. “You mean we’re not going to overthrow Moon Creek Falls? And I was so looking forward to it.” He hung his head and sat.
Rhaz pinched the bridge of his nose, then sat next to him. “Basil, no one is overthrowing Moon Creek Falls. This is just a little town, as I understand it. But the rest of the world is huge. Bigger than the five dragon realms put together.”
Basil sat up straight at that. “That’s ridiculous. Together, we are the largest realm there is.”
Rhaz shook his head. “Sadly not, my friend.” He patted Basil on the knee and left the couch.
“I’m grabbing a snack.” With that, he headed for the kitchen and was surprised to find Aaron there. “Where did you come from?”
Aaron smiled at him from the kitchen table. He was drinking a cup of tea. “Betty brought me. Whenever Betty has to go do something, she brings me here. She doesn’t like it when I’m alone.”
He stared at the table. “I don’t like it when I’m alone. I like being with Anon and the others. And it’s even more fun with you here.”
Aaron sat up a little straighter and smiled. “Do you think you can take me for a ride tonight?”
Rhaz went to the door and looked out the window. “I think the moon might still be too bright. But we’ll see. If there are enough clouds, it might work. We’ll have to find a place to start from. No one needs to see me coming and going.”
Aaron stood and joined him at the door. “You could come to my place. It’s secluded enough. But I suppose if there aren’t enough clouds, I’ll have to wait.”
Rhaz heard the disappointment in his voice and put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Aaron. You’ll get your ride. And in return, perhaps you can let me ride on the water.”
Aaron scrunched up his face in confusion. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried that. It propels me through itself, but I’ve never ridden on it. Can such a thing be done?”
Rhaz nodded. “From what I know of Nemthra, yes. You can literally stand on a wave. It will hold you and propel you across the surface of the water.”
Aaron’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Rhaz nodded. “Really. You’ll have to practice that. Probably at night when no one can see you, just in case.”
Aaron nodded, then returned to his tea. “Would you like a cup?” he offered.
Anon entered the room, a smile on his face. “Well, look who came home. Quill said you were getting cleaned up. Hello, my boy,” he greeted Aaron and went to the table.
Anon patted him on the head like he was a puppy. “Fixed yourself a cup of tea, I see. Splendid idea.”
Basil came into the kitchen, took one look at Aaron, and prostrated himself on the floor. “I am not worthy. You served yourself, Great One. Now I must die.”
Rhaz gave him a nudge with his foot. “Oh, get up,” he groused. “Stop being so dramatic.”
Basil rolled over onto his back. “I am not worthy. But I think I’m worthy of a T-Rex. Can’t I have one, my prince?”
Rhaz dragged a hand over his face in exasperation. “No, you cannot have a T-Rex, not even for a pet.”
“I’m afraid he can’t have a T-Rex, no matter how badly he wants one,” Anon said. “They’re extinct.”
Basil bolted upright. “What?” He got to his feet. “Extinct? How did this happen? Oh, what a horrible blow. I don’t know if I’ll survive it!” He went to the stove, rested his head on an arm, and cried.
Aaron’s eyes rounded to saucers. “Why is he so upset?” He looked at Anon, then Rhaz. “And what is a T-Rex?”
Anon laughed, walked over to the Basil and gave him a gentle boot on the derriere with his foot. “Stop that, gnome. You’re acting ridiculous. You’re embarrassing your prince.”
Basil turned to face everyone, plastering himself against the oven door. “No, I’m not. My prince knows I do this. This is just me. Get used to it, bloodsucker.”
Anon sighed. “Oh dear. How do you put up with him?”
“Years of practice,” Rhaz said dryly. He gazed at Aaron’s teacup and thought of having a cup himself when Basil kicked him in the shin.
Rhaz started. “Basil! What was that for?”
Basil scowled up at him. “Remember your duty, my prince! We will return, and you will fulfill your obligations!” He stormed out of the kitchen, and probably back to the TV.
Anon shook his head. “My, my, the little tyrant is in a mood today, isn’t he?” He headed for the kitchen door. “I must tend my goats. I’ll be back soon Aaron, and then we can play checkers!”
Aaron’s entire face lit up. “Good. I like that game.”
As soon as Anon closed the door, Aaron turned to Rhaz. “What obligations?”
Rhaz heaved a sigh. “Well, I’m supposed to get married, for one.”
Aaron shot out of his chair. “Married? To who?” He cocked his head. “Phin?”
Rhaz smiled. “No, Aaron. Not Phin.” Phin’s face flashed across his mind. Not lovely Phin. He caught himself thinking it and quickly shoved the thought aside.
Aaron sat back down, a disappointed look on his face. “Oh. Well, then who do you have to marry? And why do you have to? Don’t you want to?”
Rhaz laughed at that. “It’s something called duty, my friend.” He went to a chair at the table and sat across from Aaron. “Princess Beyza is her name. She is the daughter of King Iskareth. It is occupied by white dragons. They excel at finance and greed.”
Aaron sat back in his chair, a funny look on his face. “That does not sound good.”
“It isn’t,” Rhaz agreed.
“Why would you have to marry someone from a place like that?” Aaron asked.
Rhaz closed his eyes. “As Basil said, obligation and duty.”
“I do not understand.” Aaron shook his head. “You are obligated to marry someone you don’t like?”
Rhaz opened his eyes and nodded. “It’s called an arranged marriage, Aaron. It’s when one kingdom marries off a prince or princess to another kingdom in order to form an alliance. Kind of like a living peace treaty.”