Chapter Twenty-One
Sahir Square was more than a park and more than a plaza. It was a cultivated oasis in the middle of a bustling city, wrapped in marble and sunlight.
Jucai and I strode up a stone path through a meadow bordered by low sage hedges, their silvery leaves perfuming the air with every breeze.
Mock orange bushes formed taller borders behind the sage, their small pale flowers adding the scent of orange blossoms to the herbal smell of sage.
Date trees lined the path, their fronds casting shifting shadows on our boots.
Jucai's gaze went everywhere, darting from tree to flower before latching onto the focal point of the garden—the fountain. We entered a tiled courtyard beneath a red stone arch. The arches continued around the square, their columns wrapped in climbing jasmine and trumpet vine.
Thousands of hand-cut tiles formed an intricate mosaic around the fountain, polished by centuries of footsteps so that they glowed like still water beneath the sun.
Turquoise, lapis, ivory, and gold formed a design of a dragon with a tail wreathed in flames, but it could only be seen in its entirety from above.
Massive perching platforms ringed the courtyard, just beyond the arches, one of them occupied by a sleeping dragon with blue scales shimmering in the sun.
Jucai glanced up at the beast and then down at the green dragon statue rearing up from the fountain's marble basin.
“The platforms were only added recently.” I motioned at a spiral staircase that led to an open perch. “Now that our magic is in balance, more Dragons have been moving to Erimbar. A dragon flying overhead has become a common sight.”
“You say that as if it were uncommon before.” Jucai trailed his hand through the fountain's water, coming up with a delicate petal.
“It was. There were only a few Dragons in Erimbar before the Awakening, and we were busy doing the King's bidding.
There wasn't a lot of time for pleasure flights.” I motioned to the petal he held.
“The children throw petals into the water and make wishes. They believe the dragon carries them to the Gods.”
Jucai tossed the petal back into the basin. “Well, I don't want to steal a child's wish.” He looked over the enameled dragon. “Why green?”
“In honor of King Saric. His dragon is green.”
“This exact shade?”
“Yes.”
“It's lovely. What color is your dragon?”
I tapped the corner of my eye. “Blue, but it's not as pretty as your sea dragon.”
Leaning in, he whispered in my ear, “I very much doubt that.”
Clearing my throat, I tugged on his hand. “There's more.” I led him down a colonnade that spiked off the central courtyard, bordered in the same arches.
Between the arches, tiled benches offered rest, but I kept walking.
We passed little fountains for drinking and washing hands, a man who sold little dragon dolls that floated, and tea houses set back within palms and date trees.
Children laughed and ran past, away from indulgent parents.
Many headed for the Neraky man who sold shaved ice flavored with pomegranate syrup.
Beyond the colonnade, a woman in saffron robes propelled a brass cart through the grass, the aroma of grilled lamb drifting from her brazier.
Past another tea house with walls folded open to welcome the breeze was the vendor I knew Jucai would enjoy most. As we approached the little cart, Jucai's eyes widened. He glanced at me, and I pulled out my coin purse.
“What would you like, Your Majesty?” I motioned at the sliced fruit gleaming under protective wards that kept it chilled, fresh, and safe from pests. “He can make you a mixed bowl.”
Jucai looked at the man. “I want everything.”
The Brujai man chuckled, his laugh deep and genuine. “A wise choice.” He heaped a little of every fruit he had into a ceramic bowl and handed it to Jucai. “And you, my lord?”
“My usual, please.”
The man filled my bowl with a selection of the sweetest fruit he sold—mangoes, pineapples, and killi berries. I handed him a few coppers and thanked him before leading Jucai to a bench. He was already spearing a piece of fruit with a skewer.
We sat under the shade of an arch and ate our fruit.
Every sigh and moan from Jucai made me smile, and I sighed as well, content with the day.
He wasn't the first man I had strolled through Sahir Square with, but I couldn't picture the faces of those men.
Jucai was a fallen star that outshone everyone born on land.
Men and women alike gazed longingly at him as they passed. He even fascinated the children.
A little Dragon girl ran up to Jucai, eyes wide. “Are you Karadas?”
“Sehala, don't bother them.” Her mother hurried up and inclined her head to me. “Greetings, Lord Nadar.”
“Lady Yevena, how lovely to see you.” I stood up and bowed. “And you as well, Lady Sehala.”
“Hello,” Sehala said and went back to staring at Jucai.
“This is King Jucai of the Ilshi Sea,” I introduced them. “Your Majesty, this is Lady Yevena and her daughter, Lady Sehala.”
Sehala bowed low. “You're a king?”
Jucai leaned forward to take Sehala's hand. “I am a Sea Dragon, the King of Ilshi, an underwater kingdom. But I thank you for comparing me to our God. That is quite a compliment.”
“You're welcome,” she said politely. Then followed it with, “You live underwater? How do you breathe?”
“I can breathe water, but we cover our cities in warded domes that hold out the sea and siphon in air.”
“Can I visit your city?”
“Perhaps when you're older and you've learned how to use your Water Magic.”
“Mama, I need to practice my Water Magic!”
Lady Yevena chuckled and stroked her daughter's hair. “Yes, as I've been telling you.” She bowed to Jucai. “Welcome to Zaru, Your Majesty. It's a great honor to meet one of the Sea Kings. My daughter will certainly never forget you.”
“It's my honor to meet two lovely ladies.” Jucai inclined his head.
“We received an invitation to dine at the palace tonight,” Yevena said. “I assume the dinner is in your honor.”
“That would be kind of King Saric, but he hasn't mentioned it to me.”
“Oh, my! I've ruined a surprise.”
“Don't worry. I can keep a secret.” Jucai winked at her.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” She looked down at her daughter. “Say goodbye to King Jucai.”
“Goodbye, King Jucai,” Sehala said.
Jucai stood. “Goodbye, Lady Sehala.” He lifted his gaze to Yevena. “And Lady Yevena.”
“Goodbye until this evening.” She bowed to him. “It's so nice to have you home, Lord Nadar.”
“Thank you, it's nice to be home.”
We sat down as they left. I returned to my fruit, but when I glanced at Jucai, I found him frowning.
“What's wrong?” I asked. “I thought it was sweet that she mistook you for Karadas.”
“Indeed, it was quite complementary.”
“Then why do you look upset?”
“I am not.” Jucai smiled. “It has been a lovely day despite the way it began.”
“Great Gods, it feels as if it's been a week since we left the sea.”
“The day has been long indeed.”
“And here I am offering you fruit. You must be starving.” Even as I said the words, my stomach growled.
“As are you.” He laughed.
“After we finish our fruit, I'll buy us some lamb kebabs. They should hold us over until dinner.”
“You have a wonderful home, Nadar.”
I went still. His tone had been bitter and a little wistful. Was this why he was upset? Did he expect to find a lesser city, only to be met with Zaru’s glittering splendor instead?
“Your home is extraordinary as well, Jucai.”
Jucai frowned. “Yes, of course it is. Why would you say that?”
“I thought perhaps you were upset to see that life was as good on land as it is underwater.”
“Why would that upset me?”
“I don't know. Pride maybe.”
“Kansu is not in competition with Erimbar. They are both beautiful.”
“Then what is it? You were so happy a few minutes ago.”
“There are no oranges.”
“What?” I looked into his bowl. “There's a piece right there.”
“No, in the park.” He waved his hand outward. “You said there were orange trees in the park.”
“Oh!” I laughed. “Actually, I didn't say that. I said it smelled of citrus and sage. Then I said that we grew sweet oranges here. Breathe in, you'll smell orange blossoms.”
“Yes, I smelled them earlier, but where are the trees?”
“The scent comes from the mock orange bushes.” I waved at the bushes covered in little white flowers behind us. “They smell like orange blossoms, thus the name.”
“Mock orange.” He grimaced. “They are pretend oranges. I don't like that.”
“But you have the smell in your nose and the fruit in your bowl.” I pointed at the bowl. “What more do you need?”
Jucai stared at me long enough to make me feel awkward. Then he said, “Everything.”