Chapter 25

Raylon

I couldn’t stop staring at Connie. She had a light, a joy about her that had me sitting here grinning like a fool at her every word or action.

When the Balbanox waitress came to the table with the two tall Dalmalors behind her, I watched Connie’s eyes grow wide at the sight of the massive platter of food.

They set it down in the center of the table and with a bow, they left.

“Wow! That is a lot of food,” Connie said as she eyed every item on the platter.

When she got to the Karak Slime, I watched her cringe in disgust as she poked at the clear goo. The tiny black balls inside got stuck on her nail and she gagged at the sight.

“What is that?” she asked as she wiped her finger on a napkin.

“It’s called Karak Slime. It’s a highly prized delicacy.”

“It looks like snot,” she said as she met my eyes.

I reached over the table and picked up the two-pronged fork next to her. “Do you trust me?”

She hesitated for a moment then nodded.

“Close your eyes,” I said and waited.

She did as I asked, and I took a moment to admire her stunning face.

“When I was a child,” I began, stabbing one of the crispy crustaceans onto the fork, “my mother tried to make me eat Karak as well.”

I dipped the small meaty chunk into the Karak. “I refused to so much as look at it, let alone eat it. It was only when she disguised it that I first tried it. Open your mouth.”

I watched her swallow, and her face pulled into a disgusted frown, but she slowly parted her lips.

I placed the bite into her mouth and watched her delicate lips pull the piece of meat off. She held it in her mouth without moving and her eyes were still shut tight.

“Trust me,” I whispered, and she took a slow and hesitant bite.

Her eyes burst open wide as she stared at me for a second before her mouth moved faster as she chewed.

“Oh my God,” she mumbled with a full mouth. “This is incredible!”

I waited until she swallowed, following the movement of her throat.

“Ohh,” she said, waving her hand in front of her mouth. “A little spicy, but really good. Is that the slime stuff?”

“Yes. It goes well with almost anything, as long as you do not mind the burn after,” I said, handing her the fork back.

She poked and shifted the food around for a moment, before settling on one of the other meaty bite-sized portions on the platter. I leaned back and happily watched her eat.

Her face changed with every new thing she tried.

Some she liked more than others. When she tried the berries that were on the platter for decorative purposes, she pulled the most adorable face and spat them into the napkin.

When the tea was served, I poured her a cup and slid it over to her. She looked at the lavender liquid, then up at me with questioning eyes.

“Jix tea,” I said. “The leaves come from the Jix plant. The only life that grows at the top of the high mountains on the far side of this planet. They are mixed with moon berries.”

I opened the lid of the pot, showing her a metal container with holes. “The name comes from their half-moon shape. They are used to sweeten the tea. It’s very good for you.”

She took a slow sip and nodded with approval before looking at me, then asked, “Are you not having anything?”

“I have already eaten,” I lied. I was starving, and the smell of all this delicious food was making my stomach hurt.

I wouldn’t dare eat in front of her, for that would mean I had to take my mask off.

“Are you sure? Because there is a lot of food, and I won’t be able to eat all of this.”

“Thank you, but I couldn’t eat anymore. The palace cooks feed me well.”

“Suit yourself,” she said with a smile and continued to enjoy the meal.

As we left the eatery, I thanked the woman who served us and paid her.

I led Connie outside into the busy street of the market. The crowd had grown denser now with the afternoon rush.

“Uhh!” Connie moaned next to me. “I am so full, I can’t move!”

“Do you need assistance?” I asked, not sure what the problem was. She chose to eat the whole platter, so to complain about it now seemed somehow silly.

“No, I just need to walk it off. I couldn’t help it—everything was just so perfect.”

“Then let us walk,” I said, gesturing with my hand for her to walk beside me.

As I led Connie from one trader to the next, I smiled as she purchased the most random things.

Tulkan combs, that she had no use for, but she said they were just too pretty not to buy. A bag of Pilkam nuts, disgusting to everyone except the Pilkams, and a children’s toy.

As the day went on, and as I happily watched Connie move around the market without a care in the world, I somehow found myself carrying more and more bags for her.

I wasn’t sure how it happened, but as the sun began to lower in the sky, both my hands were beginning to hurt from the weight of them.

I looked behind me to the guards and called one over. When he approached, I handed him the bags and told him to take them to the Fuls’ ship for Connie.

A chime in my ear sounded, followed by my brother’s voice. “Raylon, how are things in the market?” he asked.

“Fine, brother. I never knew the market could be this much fun.”

“It is almost evening. Will you be joining the other families and I at the palace for dinner? Like we spoke about?”

I let out a disappointed sigh. “Yes. Forgive me, the day has run away from me. I will return shortly.”

I went over to Connie and pulled her away from a stall before she bought herself a Hikhik pet.

“Connie, forgive me, but I need to return to the palace. I have pre-arranged dinner plans with my brother.”

She gave me a bright smile. “That’s okay. I should leave this market, or I’ll have too much stuff for Billy and Bob’s ship. Will you walk me back? I don’t know where I am.”

“Of course,” I said and smiled as her arm again came around mine.

I led her back to the docking station, and when we stood in front of the Fuls’ ship entrance, I didn’t want to leave.

I tried to think of any good enough excuse to not go back to the palace, but I had to. This meeting was an important discussion with the other four royal families.

“Thank you for today,” Connie said. “I had a really fun time.”

“I did too. Will you allow me to spend the day with you tomorrow?”

She smiled shyly and nodded, saying, “That would be nice.”

“Perhaps you will allow me to take you to Parna. It’s my private planet.”

I could see her considering my request. As I was about to tell her that we could do anything else, she said, “I will see you tomorrow then.” And she entered the ship.

I stared at the door as it closed.

~Did she agree to go to Parna? I guess I have to wait until tomorrow to find out.~

I returned to the palace and found Zasrus in the dinner hall with Laylar and a son from one of the other families.

I greeted them, but my mind was full of the day with Connie.

Laylar pulled me aside after excusing us with a polite smile. “Uncle, please don’t let my father do this,” she asked.

“What has he done now?” I asked as her eyes filled with tears.

“He wants that horrid boy to court me,” she said, indicating a young man standing with the king.

His long curly hair was a mess on his head, and even from this distance I could see his upturned nose and prideful self-esteem.

“He is horrid, isn’t he?” I said, mostly to myself, but Laylar grabbed my arm.

“You see, Uncle! Please, do something.”

“What of Rein?” I asked her as I led her out to the large patio.

Once we had some privacy, she sighed sadly. “He still talks to me, but he is fearful of my father. We had such wonderful plans. My heart hurts to see him again.”

“What if I could find a way for you two to spend some time together, alone? Without your father knowing.”

Her wide smile told me how much this idea pleased her.

“Oh, Uncle, you would do that for me?”

“I will do anything for you, Laylar, you know that. But you must promise me one thing,” I said.

“Anything.”

“If I allow this, you will not do anything…unbecoming of a princess.”

Her cheeks grew red as she turned her eyes away from me. “Of course, Uncle. I would never—”

“Laylar, look at me.”

I waited for her to meet my gaze and said, “Promise me, child.

“Because if you get yourself into trouble with this boy and your father finds out that I allowed it, he will hang us both.”