Chapter 18 | The Tale of Two Kingdoms

Leading and Following

Allis's tongue once again searched through his mouth, gauging his reactions. When she ran her tongue delicately over the roof of his mouth, he shivered so visibly that she made a little happy humming sound and did it again. "Very good," she said, breaking the kiss. "Now, what have you learned?"

"Ehm," said Temmin, brain muzzy, "that I really like kissing you?"

She smiled. "In which ways? And did you at all notice the ways in which I like to be kissed?" Temmin stared at her blankly; she stared back solemnly, but with merriment in her eyes.

"I..."

"You didn't pay any attention, did you?" she said.

"I can't help it! You're quite good at this!"

Allis burst out laughing and hugged him. He could feel her soft, warm breasts pressed against his chest. "Perhaps we should try again? You lead this time," she added.

Temmin looked down into her face. Let's see, he thought.

He ran his fingers softly down the sides of her face again, drawing his thumb across her fine cheekbone before following her jaw to the tip of her chin. He heard her breath hitch. Ah, he'd done something right. He tilted her chin up and brought his lips to hers, so gently he wasn't sure at first he'd touched her. He kept the kiss light and almost teasing until she let out a soft mew, then pressed her lips more firmly.

He licked her bottom lip softly. Her mouth opened like a bud for him. Oh, this was going well. He tried the same trick with his tongue that she had done to him, stroking her palate with its tip, and got the same shiver. He kissed her fully once more and pulled back, kissing her cheek.

"You're a quick study," Allis said a bit breathlessly.

In the shadows of the forest on the outskirts of the meadow, close enough to see but not close enough to see well or hear at all, stood Jenks. He clacked his tongue happily and measured out a pint each of beer for himself and the two footmen with him. "Here's to better times, lads." They clinked their cups and drank to better times and then to the prince's health and then to the beauty and sanctity of Miss Allis Obby.

Jenks saw a black figure across the meadow among the trees, gesturing. When he squinted, it resolved into the Teacher, who saluted him and smiled. Jenks frowned at first, but the happiness of the occasion overcame him, and he saluted back. Perhaps this Teacher person wasn't so bad after all.

Suddenly, the figure in black turned into a swirling mass and vanished. Jenks recoiled in shock. Magic. He'd never get used to it. The young footman standing next to him gasped and clutched at his arm. "Mister Jenks, sir, did I see what I saw?"

"You did, Caid. Oh, now, where are you going, son? Stay hidden!"

The young footman crept round the edges of the meadow, staying out of sight of the pavilion as best he could, until he got to where the Teacher had stood. Jenks saw him stoop, pick something up and head back. "It's a little mirror, sir, a cheap pocket mirror," he said when he returned. "What does it mean?"

Jenks studied it for a moment, then put it in his pocket. "I'm sure I don't know, but here's what I think. I think we make sure no mirrors are around our young people, ever," he said, nodding toward the pavilion, "that's what I think. From now on, we sweep the area for mirrors whenever we're serving. In fact, you and Donno here, off you go round the edges of the meadow. Make sure no more of these are lying about. And make sure the rest of the staff know to watch for them." The two young men took off on their sweep. Jenks felt the edges of the little mirror in his pocket and frowned. This Teacher person had some explaining to do.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion, Temmin and Allis were wrapped up in each other, oblivious to all the goings-on in the fringes of the forest. Allis lay back on the pillows, her braid uncoiling among them. Temmin lay beside her, propped up on one elbow as he kissed her. From time to time, his hand would wander near her breasts, and she would gently redirect it. "See here," he finally said, "why can't I touch you as I wish to?"

"In this, I lead, Temmin. If you become my student, my Supplicant, you must follow my lead. I know you're used to leading--"

"I am?"

"You are, you just don't think about it. Part of what I will teach you is how to tell the difference between leading and simply getting what you want. I promise," she said, fingers twining in his hair, "I promise you won't regret it. You may be frustrated from time to time, but you won't regret it in the end."

"In that case," he groaned, "I think we'd best stop for now."

"Do you wish to?"

"Very much not, but if we keep this up I'm either going to force myself on you or embarrass myself, and I don't have a change of trousers."

Allis laughed and kissed his nose. "Very well. You are already growing wise." She sat up and began fastening her braid again atop her head. Temmin filled their wine glasses again and found a plate of strawberries. He fed one to her as she pinned, and she laughed as she took bites from it.

Eventually the wine bottle was empty, the sandwich and cake plates the same. The chicken was reduced to a pile of bones, and the only fruit left was a single shriveled grape. Temmin had fallen asleep with his head on Allis's lap as she reclined on the pillows, dozing in the warm spring air. She roused herself and brushed his hair from his face. "Temmin. I should get back to the Temple soon."

He woke slowly, taking in the pavilion roof pitched above them, and then Allis's gently smiling face. He pulled her down and kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that woke him up the rest of the way. He sat up and sighed. "I'm glad you came."

"I am too."

He took her hand and played with her fingers. "What happens next?"

"You need to make a decision. I don't want you to make it right now. You need to go home and think about it. I want you to decide, really decide with your whole heart, whether you want to be our Supplicant or not--and make no mistake, Temmin, you would be our Supplicant, not just mine. If your decision is yes, come to the Temple this Nerrday. That gives you tonight, Farrday and Eddinday to think about it. If your decision is no, then don't come. We will understand."

"If I decide yes, does that make me a devotee of the Temple? Or can I still make one of the other Temples my spiritual home?"

"The Lovers would be your spiritual patrons for the duration of our time together. After that, you'd be welcome to stay with the Temple or devote yourself to another of the Gods."

"How long are we talking about?"

"At least two years."

He kissed her fingers. "And then, when it's over?"

"When it's over, we will take another Supplicant in your place. We have time for three and no more at any one time."

"No," said Temmin, frowning. "I meant, what happens with us?"

"You know my vows. I can't marry or have children, or be exclusive in any way. There will never be an 'us.' I would hope," she said, encircling his hands with her own, "that we would always be friends and occasionally lovers. That would have to be enough for you, and it's something for you to think about before Nerrday."

Temmin remembered his promise to Jenks. "I will think all of this over carefully before I give an answer, I swear."

He got up and helped her to her feet, and they began to prepare themselves for the ride back to the Keep: Sleeves were rolled back down, shirts buttoned, ascots tied, jackets donned, hats returned to heads and gloves to hands. Once they were proper, Temmin beckoned for the horses. He helped Allis into the saddle and then swung up onto Jebby's broad back.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for a very pleasant afternoon," said Allis to the blushing footmen, and she shook hands with Jenks, who nearly swooned with delight.

The horses walked out of the Fairy Meadow into the Woods, Temmin taking them on the more direct route to the grand entrance to the Keep. Allis set the tempo, cantering across the clearings and walking among the trees, until finally they came in sight of the great palace gates. They walked reluctantly to the gates, where Temmin took Allis's hand.

"Thank you so very much, Miss Obby, for the honor and pleasure of your company."

"Your highness," she answered formally, "the honor and the pleasure were mine entirely."

"So...until Nerrday?" he said, still holding her hand.

"Perhaps," she said primly. "Please remember our discussion, your highness, and think things through. Get the advice of your family and your Teacher, and then make up your mind. And then perhaps we will see you on Nerrday, Prince Temmin." She dropped his hand reluctantly and cantered through the gates and toward the town. Temmin watched her go, finally turning back to the stables when she disappeared around the bend in the road.

By the time he made it back to the great house, Jenks had returned from the Fairy Meadow, leaving a small army of footmen and boys to finish cleaning up and carting everything back. The valet helped the prince out of his riding boots, and Temmin sprawled on the green velvet sofa wiggling his toes. "Jenks, you were a miracle worker as always. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"Oh, your highness," said Jenks, boots still in hand, "it was a great joy to me, truly. But," he added, "I must speak to you about that Teacher of yours."

"Really the last person I want to think about at this particular moment," said Temmin drowsily. "But what about him?"

"He was there, your highness."

"What d'you mean, he was there?" said Temmin, sitting up abruptly.

"I mean, young sir, he was there--and then he wasn't! He was standing in the Woods opposite the boys and me, we could just see him in the trees. He saw us, too, and waved at me. I returned the salute, your highness, and then--oh, your highness, you're going to think I'm daft."

"No, Jenks, when it comes to Teacher, I wouldn't think anything anyone said about him was daft, let alone you. What happened?"

"Well, he went all...swirly, like smoke, or like water going down the drain! And he just vanished! Caid went round to see if there was anything at the spot where he was standing, and brought back this." Jenks put the boots down and dug in his pocket, pulling out the little mirror.

Temmin stood and took it from his hand, turning it round. "Thank you, Jenks," he said. "I shall take this up with him tomorrow." Jenks nodded, picked up the boots, and left him alone in the study.

He walked over to the library table and laid the little pocket mirror down on it shiny side up. Hesitantly, he said, "If Allis Obby is anywhere in the kingdom in sight of her reflection, show her to me." But the mirror showed him only his own face. Trying again, he said, "If Jenks is anywhere in the kingdom in sight of his reflection"--and he knew Jenks would be, even in the mudroom--"show him to me."

Nothing.

He blew out a long breath, relieved and disappointed in equal measure, before turning the mirror reflection side down and walking away.