make sure I had some new games to bring to dinner.”
“That was dull,” said the brunette.
Taryn looked at the woman, trying to remember her name, but didn’t answer. Knowledge was power here. It was better to let people think she wasn’t catching on than have them wise up. Already she was being included in the gossip of who fancied whom, who was being shunned for a slight. It was like reading those magazines filled with celebrity gossip, only the people were being pointed out to her. Rhodia. That was her name. Always preening.
“And do you?”
Er…she was pretty sure that Black Bitch and Snap weren’t going to win her any friends. “Of course.” Euchre maybe if she could remember how to play before dinner. What a pity there wasn’t Monopoly in Annwyn; she was sure they’d like that, or maybe Risk.
Could Verden raid a toy store for her and get some more games?
Not that Verden had spoken to her since learning how to play poker, and even then nothing had been said that meant anything. He’d passed her this morning without pausing, too busy talking to another man. That they were virtually ignoring each other at Court just made her want him more. She hoped he felt the same. But she couldn’t rely on him to fetch what she asked for. No board games. Besides, they liked cards and dice and gambling, but also strategy. Black Jack was probably too simple, and they’d all be counting cards in no time.
“Maybe you could tell us more about the mortal world. You must be so glad you are here.”
Oh yeah, it was a laugh a minute. “What would you like to know today?”
This was the trade; she got their company while she told them snippets about the mortal world. Some of them had never left Annwyn—Rhodia had never left Court. She’d been born in the castle and thought that gave her status. Sulia, on the other hand, knew more about the mortal world than she let on. Sulia knew more about everything.
“About human men. Are they rough and uncivilized?”
“Some, others are delightful.” It had always been a shame she couldn’t be with them for too long. It became too hard because she had no house and no car and technically didn’t exist in the mortal world.
“Have you slept with one?”
“We aren’t allowed to take a human lover.”
“Remember what happened to Ancelin?”
The other women shook their heads as if they shouldn’t even be talking about it.
Taryn managed not to roll her eyes. They took their social standing so seriously, they wouldn’t have any fun.
She’d give them some gossip and maybe make them jealous. “Of course I’ve had sex with human men. Five of them.”
There was a gasp.
“Well, I suppose you had no other choice.” Rhodia looked at her like she needed sympathy.
Taryn bristled. “Actually I had my pick of men. Some were my lovers for quite a while.” Six months was a long time in the mortal world. After that, things got complicated. “You should really cross the veil more often. It can be a lot of fun, going to movies, going shopping, going to nightclubs and rock concerts.” Homesickness stabbed her in the gut and twisted. God she missed the mortal world. She may not have fit in perfectly there, but at least she knew her place.
The other women looked at her like she’d suggested they all run around naked.
“Why would we want to spend any more time there than required?” Rhodia picked up a ball, tired of the conversation.
Taryn opened her mouth, but someone else cut in.
“He’s back,” one of the women whispered.
While no one actually moved to look, all eyes drifted across to the man on the horse who’d just come through the doorway. They could have played anywhere around the castle, but this was the place to be, watching the comings and goings from Court. Verden was back from the mortal world. He looked grim. His lips were pulled into a thin line. He rode past their game without even looking at them.
She carefully released the breath she’d been
“That was dull,” said the brunette.
Taryn looked at the woman, trying to remember her name, but didn’t answer. Knowledge was power here. It was better to let people think she wasn’t catching on than have them wise up. Already she was being included in the gossip of who fancied whom, who was being shunned for a slight. It was like reading those magazines filled with celebrity gossip, only the people were being pointed out to her. Rhodia. That was her name. Always preening.
“And do you?”
Er…she was pretty sure that Black Bitch and Snap weren’t going to win her any friends. “Of course.” Euchre maybe if she could remember how to play before dinner. What a pity there wasn’t Monopoly in Annwyn; she was sure they’d like that, or maybe Risk.
Could Verden raid a toy store for her and get some more games?
Not that Verden had spoken to her since learning how to play poker, and even then nothing had been said that meant anything. He’d passed her this morning without pausing, too busy talking to another man. That they were virtually ignoring each other at Court just made her want him more. She hoped he felt the same. But she couldn’t rely on him to fetch what she asked for. No board games. Besides, they liked cards and dice and gambling, but also strategy. Black Jack was probably too simple, and they’d all be counting cards in no time.
“Maybe you could tell us more about the mortal world. You must be so glad you are here.”
Oh yeah, it was a laugh a minute. “What would you like to know today?”
This was the trade; she got their company while she told them snippets about the mortal world. Some of them had never left Annwyn—Rhodia had never left Court. She’d been born in the castle and thought that gave her status. Sulia, on the other hand, knew more about the mortal world than she let on. Sulia knew more about everything.
“About human men. Are they rough and uncivilized?”
“Some, others are delightful.” It had always been a shame she couldn’t be with them for too long. It became too hard because she had no house and no car and technically didn’t exist in the mortal world.
“Have you slept with one?”
“We aren’t allowed to take a human lover.”
“Remember what happened to Ancelin?”
The other women shook their heads as if they shouldn’t even be talking about it.
Taryn managed not to roll her eyes. They took their social standing so seriously, they wouldn’t have any fun.
She’d give them some gossip and maybe make them jealous. “Of course I’ve had sex with human men. Five of them.”
There was a gasp.
“Well, I suppose you had no other choice.” Rhodia looked at her like she needed sympathy.
Taryn bristled. “Actually I had my pick of men. Some were my lovers for quite a while.” Six months was a long time in the mortal world. After that, things got complicated. “You should really cross the veil more often. It can be a lot of fun, going to movies, going shopping, going to nightclubs and rock concerts.” Homesickness stabbed her in the gut and twisted. God she missed the mortal world. She may not have fit in perfectly there, but at least she knew her place.
The other women looked at her like she’d suggested they all run around naked.
“Why would we want to spend any more time there than required?” Rhodia picked up a ball, tired of the conversation.
Taryn opened her mouth, but someone else cut in.
“He’s back,” one of the women whispered.
While no one actually moved to look, all eyes drifted across to the man on the horse who’d just come through the doorway. They could have played anywhere around the castle, but this was the place to be, watching the comings and goings from Court. Verden was back from the mortal world. He looked grim. His lips were pulled into a thin line. He rode past their game without even looking at them.
She carefully released the breath she’d been
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