Arranged (16 page)

"Beautiful?"

Naliya nodded happily. "Bea…utiful."

The white cloth was tied over Alison's left shoulder and draped across, leaving her right shoulder bare. The rope around her waist gave the toga looking outfit a figure. The bottom draped to just past her ankles. When she moved, she found two slits on either side that began halfway up her thigh. She blushed brightly, trying to cover herself. "Is this the underclothing?"

Naliya scrunched her face in confusion.

"Does something go over this?" she tried again.

The servant shook her head. Alison blushed again. "I can't wear this!"

"Why?"

"I'm…half naked!" it was then that Alison realized what Naliya was wearing. She had a skirt with similar slits and a sleeveless shirt that ended just above her navel. Thick rope was crisscrossed up the sides of her shirt, baring the skin underneath and her belt was also made of intricate weaving. It also hit her that Alison had always seen Qwinn without his shirt, though she never noticed because of his dark skin.

"Beautiful," Naliya said. "Stay. I get…how you say…Raasnna?"

"Raasnna?" Alison asked.

"Stay," she repeated. "I be…return." With that, she left.

Alison looked around the room nervously, if anything was in here, she couldn't run. She couldn't even take a step. The candles lit the room rather well; however, she could not stop her paranoia.

Thankfully, Naliya returned a few minutes later, a smile on her face as she led Qwinn into the room. Without realizing it, Alison stood straighter.

His eyes were on her the moment he entered the room. He slowed for a moment as his eyes moved over her, taking in every inch. Alison tried to fight her self-consciousness, but she couldn't help but notice how exposed she was.

Then a smile grew on his face and for some reason, her insecurities didn't seem so strong.

"Perfect," he whispered as he reached her side.

She blushed and lowered her eyes. "Do you have more clothes?"

He frowned slightly. "My people wear this. We have no other clothes to give you. Naliya made this just for you."

"It's not that I don't appreciate what you are doing. I'll just take mine back." She said, pointing to where Naliya was gathering her discarded dress and stockings.

"They must be cleaned," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It will take time to get used to."

Alison frowned deeply and tugged at the slits, trying to cover her exposed thigh. "I need more clothes!" she said in slight hysteria. "You can't see me like this. It's inappropriate. Please?"

QWINN DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE WAS so worried about. She looked even more beautiful in the traditional
dakkas
than he thought. Her skin shinned and her hair fell in perfect waves down her back. Again, he wanted to touch her, but fought it. Instead, he smiled. "You are not inappropriate here." She opened her mouth to say something more, but he cut her off. "I have someone for you to meet."

Alison's eyes widened in surprise and fear. "Can I stay here?"

Qwinn took a step closer to her, lowering his voice. "You look beautiful and I will not let anyone harm you."

"If I'm not a prisoner, why won't you let me go?"

His nostrils flared slightly. "We have already discussed this. I cannot."

"Why? Why worry about taking care of me? Just let me go and you can go back to the way things were."

He was silent for a moment as he thought about how to answer her. "You cannot leave because you have seen us."

"Then why not kill me already and be done with it? Why drag it out?" her voice shook, but she held her chin high.

He blinked in astonishment. Is that what she'd been thinking? That they would kill her? He had thought that by taking care of her, she would realize that they didn't want to harm her. Him the least. "We are not a violent people, unless we have to be," he answered sternly. "You will stay and live among us as one of us or as a prisoner. That is your choice."

Her beautiful green eyes filled with tears. "I promise I won't tell."

His heart lurched at the sight of her wet eyes, knowing that he was the cause. He quickly squashed the feeling. "We cannot risk it."

Though they had talked about this before, it seemed to hit her all over again. He wanted to take her into his arms and comfort her, but knew he couldn't.

Naliya stood by, looking as though she too wanted to comfort the crying girl. Qwinn cleared his throat, startling both girls. "Perhaps I better return you to your room."

Alison shrugged as if all the energy had disappeared from her. Without another word, Qwinn scooped her up and headed for the door.

ALISON COULDN'T STOP THE TEARS. QWINN had left her alone about an hour ago. Yet she still cried. She was hoping that he would change his answer about her leaving, that he would be willing to help her. He remained strict. She had been sure that he would change his answer because he seemed to like her. Or at least he had been acting more comfortable around her.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed, trying to smooth the white cloth to hide her legs. She had never been this immodest in her life. Everyone in the palace seemed to dress like this, still she felt exposed.

He had said that she was to become a part of his people, so he didn't plan on killing her. But did they treat everyone that spotted them this way? She knew there was so much more that he wasn't telling her.

She studied her dress again for the tenth time. It hugged her waist and followed the swell of her hips like other dresses hadn't. The fashion of dresses her grandmother insisted on buying her had so many layers that her true figure was hidden. For a moment, she really wanted a mirror to look at.

Then suddenly, the door opened and she instantly tucked her legs, carefully, trying to hide her exposed thighs. Naliya entered with a tray of food and set it on the bed beside Alison. She bowed her head slightly and turned to leave. Alison touched her arm, stopping her. "Please, stay with me and talk for a while," she said sweetly. Maybe she could get some answers out of the girl.

Naliya eyed the door hesitantly, then sat. "My…speak is no good."

"I can understand you fine. Maybe we can teach each other something?"

A small smile tugged at her lips as she nodded.

"How old are you?" Alison asked, deciding to allow her to feel a little more comfortable before asking big questions.

"I am…only one…four…five."

Alison blinked in confusion. "145?"

Naliya nodded with a smile.

"But…that's impossible!" she said with a frown.

"Some…think I too…young…to help for Raasnna," she shrugged. "I…help hard." She smiled proudly.

Alison studied the girl and realized she was just that, young. Had she been human, she would have been only a few years younger than Alison. How could she be 145? "I think the word you are looking for is work. You work hard."

A smile lit the servants face. "W-work."

"Naliya, how can you be 145? You look younger than me and I'm almost 18…"

She was silent for a moment as she put together the words to answer. "We…grow slow?"

They aged slowly? She didn't even know that was possible and if Naliya was 145, how old was Qwinn? Alison nodded to let the girl know she'd understood. "Do you have siblings?"

Naliya scrunched her face in confusion. Alison tried again. "Do you have brothers and sisters?"

She nodded. "Brother. He…only seven…three."

Alison pictured him to be a baby or a toddler. The age difference was hard to wrap her mind around.

"You?" Naliya asked.

Alison shook her head. "I'm an only child. I'm sure if my mother stayed around after I was born, my father would have loved to have more," she answered, frowning in thought. She hadn't thought of her mother in a long time. She wasn't worth her energy. Alison had only ever seen a picture of her. She was beautiful, but as soon as Alison was born, she disappeared, leaving behind a note that explained that she wasn't ready for a child. No one ever heard from her again.

Naliya placed a hand gently on her arm. "So…sorry."

Alison smiled sadly. "It's alright. I spent a lot of time with my father when he was alive."

"You have…hard live."

Alison nodded. "I miss him. But enough about me. Tell me what you do in the palace."

"I help Raasnna. He choose me…help you."

"Who is Raasnna?" she had heard that name from Naliya's before.

She suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I no know…how say."

"Have I met this person?" Alison asked.

She nodded. "I no think he…want us speak him," she said as she got up to leave.

Alison sighed. "Can you just answer one more question?"

She paused, weighing the consequences. Before she could think too much, Alison pounced. "Is Raasnna the man who keeps coming in here?"

She didn't answer for a while then she nodded and let herself out. Alison was left alone to puzzle over the strange name. He had told her his name was Qwinn. However, she said his name was Raasnna. She would have to ask him when he returned.

QWINN SLAMMED THE SWORD AGAINST HIS opponents shield, knocking him backwards. He quickly spun, blocking a blow from his other opponent, growling low. The other men surrounded him, hooting and calling encouragement as the King fought his final four. Qwinn leapt into the air, bringing the hilt of his sword into the man's helmet, knocking him out. He quickly turned on another opponent, who was charging him. At the last minute, he ducked and swung his leg, sweeping the man's legs out from under him.

Another raised his sword. Qwinn pushed off his legs, flipping backward and out of aim. He stood tall, not the least disoriented from the flip. He twirled his sword, egging his last two opponents on. They charged at the same time and Qwinn spun, slicing through ones leather and drawing a thin line of blood from the stomach, while blocking the others blow with the same swing. Their swords clinked as they were held at a standstill, both men breathing heavily.

Then Qwinn slid to the side, throwing his opponent off, causing him to stumble forward. Qwinn slammed the hilt of his sword at the now exposed back of his opponent. The man fell into the packed dirt, coughing.

The men surrounding them cheered as Qwinn ran his sword into the dirt, signifying the end of the battle. He had fought off about eight of his best men. He could feel his muscles quivering with fatigue, yet his blood sang through his veins. His men were very good fighters, he had not had such a challenge in a long time.

After leaving Alison's room, he'd been angry. She acted as though she wanted nothing to do with his people, even after he'd gone through all of the trouble to get the baths ready for her. He'd chosen the most beautiful outfit for her and she had taken his breath away. He'd done all of this and more, yet she didn't want to stay.

He exited the circle, his men clapping him on his back as he passed. He swiped at his forehead with a cloth. Despite how angry he was with her, he wanted to see her, to touch her creamy skin and learn more about her.

He headed for the pools. When he entered the chamber, he found that some of the candles still burned. He frowned at them, blaming them for his problems. He dropped his clothes and dove into the frigid pool, shocking himself out of his tiredness. He swam to the other side and climbed out, heading for the warmer pool.

When he was done, he worked a new plan into his mind. He could kill two birds with one stone. He quickly dressed and took care of the arrangements.

Her room was dark with the exception of one candle, when he entered. He knocked softly on the table as he walked in and her slumbering form moved. He made his way to her side, kneeling so that he was eye level. When her eyes opened, she didn't pull back in fear as he thought she would; however, she did stiffen.

"I am sorry for being so short with you last time."

She watched him from her pillow, she still hadn't moved.

"Life here could be better for you than one you led on the surface."

"Everyone here wants to kill me," she said, propping herself on her elbow.

"I will not let them touch you. Please, forget the surface. My people are good people."

She was silent for a moment. He could tell she was thinking it through. "So, I am to become one of you?"

He nodded.

Worry crossed her face. He leaned closer, ready to silence her doubts. "Give it some time. Get to know my people. Let them get to know you."

She opened her mouth to protest, however, he continued. "I have someone I want you to meet who might put your mind at ease."

Now she sat up, wincing slightly because of her leg. "Can't I just stay here?"

He smiled as he stood and scooped her into his arms. She gasped in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He stilled for a moment as the scent of Paalnus flowers hit his nose. They had been his mother's favorite flower and as a child, he'd love them whenever she picked them and brought them into the house. Alison must have used the oil from the flower during her bath and he had not noticed it before this moment.