An Intimate History of the Greater Kingdom

Temmin told no one of his plans to visit the Temple--almost no one. He told Jenks that evening, and the happy valet burrowed into the Prince's wardrobe all Paggday to ferret out the proper clothes for a visit to the Temple. Though Jenks was discreet, Temmin himself let it slip to Ellika in the hearing of a footman. It spread through the Keep until it reached the ear of Gram, the King's valet, and thence to the King himself.

"Winmer!" said Harsin as he stomped into his study. "Harla take you, Winmer, I need you now!"

Temmin's face grew hot, as the image rose in his mind: Allis before him, Issak behind him, mouths and hands and-- He rolled over onto the pillows and pulled her atop him. The smile left her face, but she showed no fear. "What if that is what I want?" he said.

"Then you should chase us," she answered.

He gave her a tentative kiss, a brushing of the lips, shy and unsure after all his bravado. He felt his heartbeat, jumpy and fast, and wondered if she felt it too. Allis took his face in her hands and kissed him again, deeper, and he sighed into her mouth. Everywhere she touched him grew warm and shivery. He cradled her head in one hand, smoothing along her jaw with his thumb, and hoped he did it right. She ran her tongue over the roof of his mouth, and he shook violently. She gave an amused little hum, and did it again to the same whimpering reaction. "Very good," she murmured, breaking the kiss. "Now tell me, what have you learned?"

"Learned?" said Temmin, muzzy-brained. "I was supposed to learn something?"

"A question? I don't think so," said Temmin, dropping his reins. Jebby came to a halt, and turned his massive head to eye his nervous master.

Temmin picked up the reins, and Jebby sauntered away down the Road, until Allis suddenly sped up and wheeled Jinny around to block Temmin's way. "I said, ask your question, Prince Temmin."

Teacher had said Temmin might ask Allis anything, anything at all, but this was far too embarrassing to contemplate so soon into the ride. "I hadn't intended to ask you anything, Holy One," he said, echoing her formal tone, "until perhaps we'd gotten to know one another better--"

"Ask your question!" she repeated, still blocking the Road.

"Very well, then!" he said. "Do you--have you--what is the nature of your relationship with your brother?"

On Neyaday morning, Temmin skipped his ride. For one, he wanted Jebby to be fresh, and for another, he wanted to give what saddle time his poor bottom would allow to Allis. He would have her all to himself for an afternoon. What would happen once he had her all to himself, he didn't know.

Jenks and Affton made the preparations. A picnic would await them in the Fairy Meadow, not as high in the foothills as Temmin had ridden two days previous, but high enough to afford a lovely view of the City from the comfortable shade of an Inchari-style tent pavillion: opulent carpets, enormous pillows, a low table, and no chairs. Temmin himself found the Inchari style of dining fussy and overly exotic, a decadent, indulgent byproduct of the southern continent's laxity of character and oppressive heat. But with Allis to impress, every luxury the Keep could produce must be brought to bear. All Temmin had to do was show up, and not make a fool of himself.