a smile. “When I first came here I remembered how I longed to have someone show me the ropes.”
She’d been a great help to me so far. But there was much I needed to learn and a lot of it was sensitive. I didn’t know how far I could trust Dani. I asked her, “After my bath, suppose I wanted to walk around.”
“Just tell the guard outside your room. He’ll arrange an escort.”
“And suppose I wanted to go someplace without an escort?” Silently I thought, Like the tower where they’re holding Severin.
Dani said, “Those guys outside your door answer only to J’Tara or the king.”
“So no go?”
“I didn’t say that. But if you’re going to do something like that don’t ask permission.”
I didn’t really think it would be that easy. although I had hoped it would be. Now I would just concentrate on getting through the next few hours.
“Is there anything I’m expected to do at this banquet?” I asked.
“Just show up and eat,” Dani answered.
“Is that all?”
Dani chuckled at that.
“What is it?” I asked. “Am I going to have to eat live snakes?”
“No. But the food scene here in general can be a little interesting.”
“Define ‘interesting.’”
“There are other fae realms out there,” she told me. “Each mirrors a culture on Earth, Asian, African, South American. Nightfall mirrors the culture of Western Europe. That wouldn’t be so bad except they are obsessed with this Ren Faire time period. This place can be like a medieval theme park run by an anal retentive history professor. There are no hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, spaghetti Bolognese, Chinese food, Thai food, Indian food, Vietnamese food, Mexican food. But you can find out what humble pie truly tastes like.”
I made a sour face at this.
Dani went on, “I know right. It’s a wonder I don’t binge every time I go back home. But that’s nothing to the drinking scene here.”
“And how bad is the drinking scene?”
“There isn’t one,” Dani said. “There’s nothing to drink except wine and beer and pretty skunky versions of both. They say they have distilled beverages, they lie.”
“That’s okay. I’m not really a mixed drink person.”
“You haven’t heard the worst part. No coffee!” Dani said.
My heart sank. “None at all?”
“Not a drop,” Dani confirmed. “Never even heard of the stuff. And no chocolate either. And they have something they call tea but it’s medicinal.”
I found the bed and sat down. As a nurse coffee was a daily ritual with me. I needed it to think clearly in the morning. And I loved my herbal tea at night. It helped me sleep.
Dani reached into the bag she carried. “Fortunately I made a stop before I came here. I hope you like it black,” she said and then produced a plastic thermos.
I smiled at her as she poured me a cup. I drank it down, savoring the warm elixir.
Dani said, “I would have packed some more stuff but I only got the word about, I’m guessing three hours ago. It’s a pain not having my wrist watch. I have to check the sun dial to be sure.”
“Sun dial? Right no iron through the fae portals,” I said.
Dani nodded, “That’s the other bad news. No cable TV so I hope you set your DVR before you came here. No internet or cell phone service. No iPods but being a fae has its advantages.”
She reached into her bag and this time pulled out a glass bottle with a stopper. The bottle was totally empty.
“My second gift,” she said.
“What is it? Bottled air?”
She laughed, “No silly. Remove the stopper.”
I did and music suddenly poured out and filled the room with the electronic thumps and thuds of club music.
Dani started grooving.
“It’s sort of like an old fashioned mix tape. Didn’t know what your tastes were so I hope you like it.”
“It’s thoughtful,” I said. “Thanks.”
I wasn’t keen on club music and couldn’t dance to save my life but I watched as
She’d been a great help to me so far. But there was much I needed to learn and a lot of it was sensitive. I didn’t know how far I could trust Dani. I asked her, “After my bath, suppose I wanted to walk around.”
“Just tell the guard outside your room. He’ll arrange an escort.”
“And suppose I wanted to go someplace without an escort?” Silently I thought, Like the tower where they’re holding Severin.
Dani said, “Those guys outside your door answer only to J’Tara or the king.”
“So no go?”
“I didn’t say that. But if you’re going to do something like that don’t ask permission.”
I didn’t really think it would be that easy. although I had hoped it would be. Now I would just concentrate on getting through the next few hours.
“Is there anything I’m expected to do at this banquet?” I asked.
“Just show up and eat,” Dani answered.
“Is that all?”
Dani chuckled at that.
“What is it?” I asked. “Am I going to have to eat live snakes?”
“No. But the food scene here in general can be a little interesting.”
“Define ‘interesting.’”
“There are other fae realms out there,” she told me. “Each mirrors a culture on Earth, Asian, African, South American. Nightfall mirrors the culture of Western Europe. That wouldn’t be so bad except they are obsessed with this Ren Faire time period. This place can be like a medieval theme park run by an anal retentive history professor. There are no hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, spaghetti Bolognese, Chinese food, Thai food, Indian food, Vietnamese food, Mexican food. But you can find out what humble pie truly tastes like.”
I made a sour face at this.
Dani went on, “I know right. It’s a wonder I don’t binge every time I go back home. But that’s nothing to the drinking scene here.”
“And how bad is the drinking scene?”
“There isn’t one,” Dani said. “There’s nothing to drink except wine and beer and pretty skunky versions of both. They say they have distilled beverages, they lie.”
“That’s okay. I’m not really a mixed drink person.”
“You haven’t heard the worst part. No coffee!” Dani said.
My heart sank. “None at all?”
“Not a drop,” Dani confirmed. “Never even heard of the stuff. And no chocolate either. And they have something they call tea but it’s medicinal.”
I found the bed and sat down. As a nurse coffee was a daily ritual with me. I needed it to think clearly in the morning. And I loved my herbal tea at night. It helped me sleep.
Dani reached into the bag she carried. “Fortunately I made a stop before I came here. I hope you like it black,” she said and then produced a plastic thermos.
I smiled at her as she poured me a cup. I drank it down, savoring the warm elixir.
Dani said, “I would have packed some more stuff but I only got the word about, I’m guessing three hours ago. It’s a pain not having my wrist watch. I have to check the sun dial to be sure.”
“Sun dial? Right no iron through the fae portals,” I said.
Dani nodded, “That’s the other bad news. No cable TV so I hope you set your DVR before you came here. No internet or cell phone service. No iPods but being a fae has its advantages.”
She reached into her bag and this time pulled out a glass bottle with a stopper. The bottle was totally empty.
“My second gift,” she said.
“What is it? Bottled air?”
She laughed, “No silly. Remove the stopper.”
I did and music suddenly poured out and filled the room with the electronic thumps and thuds of club music.
Dani started grooving.
“It’s sort of like an old fashioned mix tape. Didn’t know what your tastes were so I hope you like it.”
“It’s thoughtful,” I said. “Thanks.”
I wasn’t keen on club music and couldn’t dance to save my life but I watched as
Similar Books
