Chapter Thirty-Two

Shale and I played in the pools for hours, going from one to another and another to try to find the one we liked the best. In other words, the one that we were the most comfortable in while we had sex. Then Shale opened the fancy box he”d brought with us and cool air wafted out. It was a miniature cold cabinet, and inside it were chocolates and fresh strawberries. We ate them with our wine as we sprawled on the blanket together. When the sun had dried us, we got dressed and headed back to the carriage. By then, we were hungry. Chocolates and strawberries can only satisfy you to a point. So, Shale had our driver take us to an Osomah restaurant in the jungle.

The carriage stopped before a wooden structure nestled between two maltove trees, their broad branches dripping with thick roots that trailed to the ground, creating curtains that flowed over the restaurant like water. The place had been there long enough to be coated in roots, some of them wider than me. They undulated over, through, and around the building, making it appear to have grown out of the jungle.

Lively music danced out of the restaurant along with aromas that made my belly rumble. Osomah were everywhere—dining at tables on the porch, striding in and out the many doors, and even hanging out in the trees. But they went still when they spotted the Dragon King.

Shale nodded at his subjects as he led me across the porch and into the restaurant. The music got louder once we passed the threshold, but not to the point of discomfort. It suited the place perfectly, those vivacious sounds, and the customers seemed to agree. They laughed and talked, clinking glasses and twining their tails while the waitstaff deftly delivered their orders. We were the only non-Osomah in the restaurant, but I don”t think that was the reason the host froze and gaped at us.

“A table, if you please,” the Dragon King said.

“Oh, dear Gods,” the Osomah man whispered. “It”s you. You”re him.”

The music abruptly stopped. Every eye turned to us.

Shale frowned. “Are we not welcome here? It”s been a long time since I”ve visited this establishment, but when I was here last, I was assured that all races were served.”

“Of course, you”re welcome, Your Majesty! More than welcome. We”re honored to have you!” the host exclaimed, then waved frantically at the musicians.

The music began again, a little awkwardly at first, then it found its previous vigor.

“Do you have a preferred table, Sire?” the host asked.

“Any table is fine,” Shale said.

“Very good, Your Majesty. Please, follow me. I have a lovely spot for you. I think you”ll like it.” The host led us through the restaurant, people surging to their feet to bow to the King as we passed.

Shale nodded at the Osomah, accepting his due. I smiled awkwardly, his grip on my hand drawing me along. We went up a winding stairwell, the Dragon knights in their usual arrangement, and came out on the second-floor balcony. It was more spacious than it looked from below and circled the first floor.

“Would you care for a table along the railing or at a window, Your Majesty?” the host asked.

Shale looked at me.

“The window,” I said immediately. As much as I liked to people watch, especially these people, I could do that from a table near the window just as well as I could from one that overlooked the first floor. And the window would give us a view of some exotic plants.

“The window table,” Shale repeated.

“Yes, Sire.” He led us to a table for four near an open window.

Roots defined the opening, some of them weaving thinner bits inside to hook into the wall planks. But they didn”t detract from the view. Instead, the roots framed a picture of wild beauty. From the jungle floor to the tree canopy, there was beauty everywhere. Broad leaves spotted with sunlight, ferns taller than me rustling from the passage of beasts, and flowers of otherworldly beauty. The rich scent of growing and dying things came in on a breeze but was overpowered by the aromas coming from the kitchen and the other diners” plates.

“Sir?”

I looked over and found the host holding out a thin wood plank. On the plank were carved descriptions of dishes. The menu. I grinned and accepted it. “Thank you so much. Your restaurant is amazing.”

“Thank you, Sir. Would you like some drinks? Water? Wine? Guri?”

“Guri?” I asked.

“The Osomah brew a spiced fruit drink that”s a touch stronger than wine,” Shale said. “I”ll have a glass of Guri.”

“Yes, Sire! Wonderful choice. Our guri is the best in Latur.”

“I”ll try some too, please,” I said.

“Very good, Sir.” The host bowed and hurried away.

He returned shortly with our drinks, which were amazing, and then took our lunch orders. Shale went with a rice and chicken dish, and I had noodle soup. I had learned that consuming hot food makes you sweat more, but that sweat cools you down. It was why hot noodle soups were so popular in Latur. Nothing magical about it.

We were halfway through our meal when the carriage driver hurried up to our table.

“Your Majesty, word has come from the castle of a royal visitor,” the driver said.

“A royal visitor?” Shale asked. “Who?”

“King Vaxarion of Morilren, Sire.”

“King Vaxarion?” Shale frowned.

“Morilren? As in the sea?” I asked. “He”s a Sea Dragon?”

“Yes,” the driver said.

“But the King Shosu rules Morilren,” Shale said.

“I don”t know, Your Majesty. But he”s awaiting you at the castle.”

“We will finish our lunch first,” Shale said. “He didn”t send word of his visit, so he can wait.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the driver said and bowed before leaving.

“You”re going to keep the King of Morilren waiting?” I whispered to Shale.

“I”m a king too, Sebastian,” he reminded me with a twist of his lips.

“I know but—”

“Finish your meal. And don”t rush. I won”t have our day ruined by an arrogant king with no manners.”

“All right,” I murmured.

I tried to relax and continue to enjoy my meal, but the prospect of meeting a Sea Dragon consumed my thoughts. I”d seen one for the first time on my way to Latur, and now I was about to meet a king. But I couldn”t let Shale see my excitement. He was already annoyed that this King had shown up unannounced.

I mean, yeah, I guess that was rude. But the guy was a king. Didn”t the monarchy get some leeway?

We finished our meal, but Shale decided to have dessert. I had some too since I didn”t want to sit there and watch him eat. It was crushed ice covered in fruit syrup and was as wonderful as the rest of the meal. Very refreshing.

At last, we left, the patrons getting to their feet again when the King strode out.

“You could have told them to remain sitting,” I whispered to Shale as we settled in the carriage.

“Sebastian, I”m their king. And they”re not courtiers. This was probably the first time most of them have seen me. At the very least it was their first up-close sight of me. To deny them that show of respect would be a disservice to us both.”

“Huh,” I said. “Yeah, all right. I get it.”

Shale smirked. “I”m so glad I haven”t disappointed you.”

“Not yet,” I teased and wove my fingers with his.

“Hopefully, never. Now, it”s time for some shopping.”

“Shale!”

“What?” He waved at the driver, and with a clomp of hooves, we headed back to the main road.

“The Sea Dragon King is waiting!”

“So?”

“So, you”re being rude.”

“He started it.”

“You don”t know why he showed up unannounced. Maybe he has a good reason.”

“Doubtful. Sea Dragons are simply more arrogant than land Dragons.”

I snorted a laugh.

He stared at me.

“Are you serious?” I asked.

“Absolutely. They were created for our god, with mainly his Water Magic and only a touch of Ensarena”s Fire in them. Our Goddess wanted her children to have mainly Fire Magic, and so a second Dragon race was created but with the balance of magic reversed.” He grimaced before going on, “Those Dragons didn”t survive. Having too much Fire proved fatal. They were too volatile, too combative. The Gods had to try again, adding more Water magic than Ensarena wanted. We were made in perfect balance—half Water and half Fire. This made us children of both Gods. I think that gives us prestige. But the Sea Dragons don”t see it that way. They think because they were made first, and survived with mostly one magic empowering them, they”re better than us.”

“But you can”t know that. You”re assuming that”s what they think.”

“You haven”t met a Sea Dragon and so you have no idea what I”m talking about.”

“Are they really that arrogant?”

“Yes. Not that they aren”t good people. But they can be almost barbaric, severely lacking in manners. They”ve been hibernating, you see. Sleeping so long that their culture didn”t progress. They”re uncivilized.”

“So, what you”re saying is, this king doesn”t know any better. He didn”t send word of his visit because he didn”t know he needed to.”

Shale grimaced. “Well, he won”t learn if I don”t show him the error of his ways.”

“He won”t learn if you”re just rude back either. Maybe you should, I don”t know, say something?”

“Certainly. I”ll just welcome him to court and tell him that he was rude to show up unannounced.”

“Don”t act as if you don”t know how to be diplomatic.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You”re behaving like a child.”

“Excuse me?” Shale scowled at me. “I am three hundred sixteen years old.”

“Holy fuck!”

“What?”

“You”re really fucking old!”

The driver snorted, then coughed to cover it.

“I”m a Dragon, Sebastian.”

“I know, but I didn”t know you were that old.”

Then I realized that Shale had spent more than half of his life unhappy and cut off from love. How sad was that?

“I see pity in your eyes, and I don”t like it,” Shale said.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “But if you”re that old, you should know better.”

“What?”

“You have no excuse for acting childish. I, however, feel justified in my childish behavior. I think it”s become imperative now.”

“Imperative?”

“For me to act like a child.”

“Act like a child, and I will punish you like one.”

“Are we talking about a spanking?” I asked eagerly. “Because then I”m definitely acting like a child.”

Shale snorted.

A few minutes later, we reached the city. The driver called back to us, “Are we headed to the castle, Your Majesty?”

I lifted a brow at Shale.

He sighed deeply, then grudgingly said, “Yes.”

I kissed his cheek. “I”m so proud of you. After all, one of us should be an adult.”

“I don”t see why it has to be me,” he muttered.