Chapter 39 | The Tale of Two Kingdoms

A Lecture

Temmin groaned. "Oh, shit. Elly--"

"A slut. You think I'm a slut." Her mouth was compressed in a tight, straight line, and her eyes were narrowed against threatening tears.

"No!" said Temmin desperately. "Please come in and shut the door, I don't want to have this conversation with the Gods and all the servants listening!"

"Princess Ellika," said the Teacher's quiet voice. "Please come in."

"To talk in front of you? I don't think so," she said, turning to go.

The Teacher sighed in exasperation, plucked a light wand from the lamp and threw it out in a lengthening rope; it caught Ellika around the waist and pulled her inside, squawking. The Teacher put out one hand, and a slight gust of wind closed the door behind her.

"You will let me go this instant!" shouted the astonished princess.

"I don't like to do this, it's ostentatious. But I can't stand here and let you destroy your relationship with your brother, your highness, in a misguided attempt at helping him. Some things are none of your business."

"Some things are none of yours!" said Ellika, outraged.

"Everything about this family is my business." The Teacher placed a little pocket mirror on the library table. "Show me the High Beloved. Prince Temmin, please meet us at the Lovers' Temple as soon as you can get there."

Temmin watched as his sister and the Teacher became fluid, poured through the mirror and disappeared. "Jenks!" he shouted as soon as he had his breath back. "Jenks!"

Jenks came sprinting into the room from the bedchamber at full alert. "What is it, young sir, what's amiss?"

"Everything. Send word to the stables, I need a horse immediately."

"But what's happened?" said Jenks, following him into the bedchamber.

Temmin quickly pulled out a pair of riding britches and boots and began stripping off his shoes and pants. "The Teacher has taken Ellika to the Lovers' Temple by magic. I have to meet them there. Now go! Get that horse arranged, and have a carriage readied for Ellika!" From the look on the valet's face Jenks had a thousand questions, but he bit them back and headed out the door at a run.

By the time Temmin was changed and at the front door, the horse was saddled and ready, with a mildly irritated-looking squad of guards mounted up and ready to escort him into the gaslit streets of the city. "Do you need me to come with you, your highness?" said Jenks anxiously as he helped Temmin on with his coat.

"No, no, she's not in any danger, at least I don't think so. She's at a Temple, for Pagg's sake! I'll be back in an hour or two, be sure to have some sort of cold supper for me." Temmin took off at a gallop for the Temple, and this time his security detail didn't even pretend to be discreet but thundered along behind him. What could the Teacher be up to? he thought. Taking Ellika to the High Beloved by magic--and after dark at that!

When he reached the Temple, Senik was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs; Temmin handed off the reins to a groom and followed Senik up the stairs. "Where are they?" said Temmin.

"In the High Beloved's apartments," answered Senik, leading him through the grand hall. They headed up the main staircase toward the living quarters of the senior staff. "What's going on, Temmin Supplicant? I was rubbing the Most High's feet when the Princess and that--person--popped up out of nowhere! We were having such a nice, quiet evening. Did all this really have to happen tonight?"

"Apparently so," said Temmin grimly. They reached the High Beloved's doors, and Senik knocked discreetly. "Thank you," said Temmin, giving the postulant a quick peck on the lips.

"Any time," winked Senik as he walked off.

Temmin could hear Ellika crying through the doors, and winced. He knocked louder, and this time the door opened and the Teacher ushered him in. Ellika was sobbing in the arms of the High Beloved, who was stroking her hair and making soothing noises; she stopped to wipe Ellika's nose now and again. Ellika raised her head as he came in, and her tears redoubled at the sight of him. She buried her head in the crook of the Most High's elbow.

"Elly?" he said timidly. She didn't answer. He turned an angry face to the Teacher. "What d'you mean, dragging us all the way over here like this!"

"This is Temple business, Temmin Supplicant," murmured the High Beloved. "Isn't it, dear?" she added to Ellika.

Ellika finally looked up, her wide brown eyes red and puffy. "I'm sorry, Temmy! I'm sorry!"

Temmin quickly crossed the room and knelt at her side. "Elly, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, and I don't believe it, and I wish I'd never said it!"

"No," she sniffled, "I deserved it." She looked up at the High Beloved for reassurance. "I deserved it." She rested her head on the High Beloved's shoulder and closed her eyes. Temmin looked at the High Beloved questioningly.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing, Temmin Supplicant," said the Most High. "Ellika guessed what was troubling you, and since it involved her, she decided to bring you to a healing crisis on her own. It was not her place, nor did she have the skill. Nevertheless," said the old woman, "here we are. We may as well have it out. Teacher, you may leave us."

"I brought a carriage, if you want to send it back for Ellika," said Temmin, standing up.

The Teacher's eyes rolled. "Thank you, but that's not necessary." The Teacher walked to a large mirror hanging on one wall and stepped through to Temmin's library. Ellika shuddered.

"Now," said the High Beloved, "if I'm not mistaken, you both had similar experiences in the observation gallery."

Temmin turned bright scarlet, but Ellika just nodded. "I was hoping to help him work through his."

"It was not your place, Ellika," said the Most High, gentle but severe. "You have no real training to speak of, apart from your time as a devotee. You haven't even completed the training you need to be of much more help here than to guide petitioners from place to place."

At this, Ellika blushed and looked downcast. "No, I s'pose I haven't," she murmured. "Am I still allowed?"

"See here," said Temmin, "I don't know if I like the idea of a Princess of Tremont in those rooms."

"But, of course, a Prince of Tremont in those rooms is perfectly fine?" said the Most High with a smile.

"Me?" said Temmin blankly. "I've never been in one."

"Not yet, but you will after the first year of your training. You will spend a good bit of time with petitioners in your second year."

Temmin gawped for a moment, then held his head up. "Be that as it may, it's different, and we all know it. She simply cannot do what goes on in a great number of those rooms before she's married."

"Oh, don't lecture, Temmy," said Ellika in her old tone, to his relief. "It's very tiresome. Of course I'm going to keep my virginity, I know my place and what I'm worth," she added scornfully. "But I can be useful in other ways to petitioners, and there's no reason I shouldn't be."

"So all this time," said Temmin, changing the subject, "all this time, for ages and ages, you've been flirting with me because you had this crazy idea you were helping me?"

"No, silly, I've been flirting with you because it's fun," said Ellika. "Why should I treat you any differently? I flirt with everyone."

"It's true," smiled the Most High, patting Ellika's cheek.

"Then--"

"I admit," said Ellika, eyes downcast, "that since your return from the Temple I have not behaved I as should. I was extremely naughty." She looked up at him through her lashes.

"There!" said Temmin. "You're doing it again!"

"See? I am helping!" she said, triumphantly bouncing out of the High Beloved's arms. "You would never have noticed before!" She sobered at his glare. "But I am sorry, truly, Temmy, please forgive me. I mean nothing by it."

"Yes, you do," murmured the High Beloved.

"Oh very well then, I do!" she said dismissively, "but in the same way as you. I do and I don't. I really don't."

"All right then," said the Most High. "And will you behave, Ellika? Or must I take it up with your parents next?"

"Oh, no!" said Ellika, horrified. "Please don't! I promise, Most High!"

"Very well. I shall leave you two alone for a moment. And Ellika, when I say behave, I mean I do not want another report of you meddling with anyone's emotional life, not just Temmin's, am I clear?"

"Yes, Most High," she murmured.

"Good girl. Senik!" the Most High called; the postulant appeared in the door. "Arrange for Ellika's carriage and the Prince's horse. Then I want you in my room. We shall take up where we were left off!" Senik winked and disappeared again, and the Most High kissed the two siblings gently. "Now, good night, pretty children."

When she was gone, Ellika rose and took Temmin's hands. "You do forgive me?"

"Of course I do, Elly, I can't stay mad at you for too long anyway."

"I know! It's a gift!" She let go one of his hands and twirled, then grinned up at him. "Come on, let's go light a candle in the grand hall."

"But Senik--"

"He'll find us." Ellika ran out of the room, Temmin on her heels. He chased her down the hallway and down the stairs, both of them laughing, and the little snippet of the Lovers' Testament flashed through his mind. It's all a chase, he thought, everything's a chase. The question is what happens when--if--you catch what you're chasing. Or if, he thought as he skidded to a halt, something--someone--catches you. For there was Allis, crouching barefoot in the candlelight at the foot of the statues.

The candlelight gilded her pale skin and deepened the black of her hair. In the shadows her green eyes were dark, glittering and serious, as she carefully arranged an exquisite little offering of hothouse blossoms into a tower. She sat back on her haunches and surveyed the effect with a wistful expression, and Temmin's heart lurched. He walked over to her as quietly as his riding boots would allow; he wanted to keep watching her in this unguarded moment as long as he could.

A red camellia blossom lay on the floor where it had fallen from an offering. He scooped it up, and when he reached Allis, she was still so lost in thought that she didn't see him until he was nearly on top of her. She turned, startled, and he reached down and gently tucked the flower behind one ear, smoothing her hair back as he did so.

"Temmin! What are you doing here so late?" He offered his hands, and she stood up. Her face instantly flushed, and she looked almost guilty.

"I wish I could say I came out of extreme devotion, but in actual fact, Ellika and I had to have a conversation with the High Beloved," he said. At her quizzical look, he said, "Not now, some other time, but I'd wager you can guess why. I'm very happy to see you, in any event." He lifted her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

"I'm happy to see you, too. Ellika!" she said, dropping his hands and turning to his approaching sister a little too quickly. Allis kissed her too enthusiastically for Temmin's liking; he frowned a bit, then sighed to himself.

"We just came onto the floor to light a candle quickly before our carriage is ready," said Ellika.

"Then please get to it," came Senik's mildy irritated voice as he walked up behind them. "I've been looking all over for you. Your carriage is ready whenever you'd like. Temmin Supplicant, I took the liberty of sending your horse to your guard detachment. I thought you'd prefer to escort your sister home yourself."

"Yes, thank you," said Temmin. "Show me what to do, Elly, and let's go home, I haven't had supper."

Ellika chose a beeswax candle from a stand. Placing Temmin's hand around her own, she lit it from another candle and set it into the ranks of burning tapers flickering at the feet of the statues. "Dearest Neya, Dearest Nerr, take this candle, hear this prayer. Let me always win my chase, bless me with your loving grace." They bent their heads and were silent for a moment. "Well!" said Ellika, "let's get you home before you eat the offerings."

"Good night, Holy One," said Temmin, suddenly feeling shy. He wanted to kiss her so badly, but he wasn't sure if he could by rights.

At his mournful look, Allis smiled and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him quickly. "Good night, Supplicant. I will see you soon. Now, go home."

Temmin took Ellika's hand and walked out of the grand hall down the steps to the waiting carriage. He handed her up and climbed in after her, sprawling in a corner on the opposite side. "Now, are you quite done making trouble for the night?" he said to his sister.

"Maybe," she yawned. "Have you ever gone through a mirror like that with Teacher? Very disconcerting, I'm quite fatigued now. Didn't know he could do that sort of thing, but I'm not that surprised, strangely." She fell silent and curled up on the velvet cushion, pulling a lap robe around herself against the night chill.

Temmin looked out the window at the passing houses, some lit, some dark, and thought about Allis. What had she been thinking about that made her face so serious, so winsome? He knew that when he went to sleep that night, Allis silhouetted against the candlelight would be the last image in his mind.