Nightshade (17 page)

Darry moved into the clearing near the center of the enclosed garden, then walked beyond.

“Nightshade…” Jessa said, admiring the black and violet petals she was partly named for. It produced a potion that if boiled down would make men see things that were not there, and it was said that it could drive them mad unto death.

Jessa turned to ask if there were oxeye daisies, but the words caught in her throat.
That’s not fair
…
you’re not being fair.

Darry stood in her uniform amongst a wall of glowing orchids, lifting a flower within her hand into the moonlight. The light seemed to sink into the black silk she wore, and the white of her tunic matched the orchid she held, its petals heavy but delicate. On the edges of those petals, a ridge of bloodred lined their softness and bled back into the white, its color beneath the mixture of moonlight and distant lamps a deceptive blue. The stitching on Darry’s jacket ignited strangely, and the panther seemed to move of its own accord and climb higher up her arm.

The rush of Jessa’s emotions bled downward, the strength of her feelings lighting between her thighs and causing her lips to part at the sensation. Darry’s skin caught the spill of the moon and its pale caress skated along her chin and ran like water down her neck, flowing upon her collarbone beside the chain of her necklace and the soft skin of her exposed chest, her tunic plunging open between her breasts.

I’ll be sitting down now.
Jessa tore her gaze away.
She wasn’t so…so beautiful before, was she? Though maybe I wasn’t…just breathe, Jessa.

She walked into the clearing and turned around slowly before sitting on the grass with but a casual care for her dress. She closed her eyes and let her left hand fall to the earth, her heart easing somewhat as the slow pulse of the land beat heavy against her palm.
Such a thing is unfair and you know it
.
I prayed for a sign, not a bloody brick to the head. Essa, but she’ll want me to speak.
Her tongue was thick within her mouth at the thought.

Darry unhooked her sword and walked to her. She knelt and set her blade and scabbard on the grass. Jessa heard the rustle of the sword but did not look up until she heard, “Your orchid, my Lady.” Darry was offering her the flower. “Its beauty is matched only by the hand that was meant to hold it.”

Jessa gazed at the flower, utterly overwhelmed.

“Take it,” Darry said. “It was made by the gods just for you.”

Jessa accepted the orchid, her fingers lingering against Darry’s as she took possession. She placed the flower in her lap and put her hands beside the petals, almost afraid to touch it.

Darry frowned and shifted on her knee. She tossed her coattails out and sat cross-legged before her. “The story goes that my grandmother Marget decided she wanted orchids. Their beauty was a legend she had only heard of. And though they were not native to my land she was most determined they would be.” Darry spoke as if for Jessa’s ears only. “And it became a most terrible desire that would not go away. So one bright afternoon she announced to her husband, my grandfather Malcolm, that she would sail to the mysterious islands beyond Wei-Jinn where the Moonblood was said to grow.”

Jessa heard the smile in Darry’s voice.

“My grandfather, who was a very loud man, and quite large as well for he liked to eat very much, well, he forbid her such a perilous journey and told her that if orchids had been meant to grow in Arravan soil, they would be doing so already. This of course led to an argument so furious that my grandfather’s voice rose to amazing proportions.” Darry’s arms went out as if to encompass the greatness of it. “Huge, booming shouts that caused my grandmother to cover her ears. So huge, in fact, that the ceiling stones and mortar in the throne room cracked.”

Jessa smiled at that.

“He announced that no wife of his would
ever
sail so far upon the Sellen Sea. It simply wasn’t done. It was a mistake, of course, for no one should ever forbid something
too
severely, at least not to the woman they love. It is asking for trouble.

“When he woke the next morning, all that lay beside him on the soft pillows was a single white tulip and a note written in my grandmother’s hand.”

“What did it say?”

“I have gone out for orchids and fresh fish for dinner. Love, Marget.”

Jessa laughed. “It did not.”

Darry smiled happily. “Perhaps you’re right. But that’s how the story goes, and you see? You have a Moonblood orchid at your fingertips, and the ceiling in the throne room still bears the cracks from his booming voice.”

“Did she really go?” Jessa wondered at the courage such a journey would take merely for the beauty of a flower.

“She did. My grandmother was something of an adventurer. She sailed beyond Wei-Jinn to the Southern Isles and Artanis, an ocean voyage that took almost six months there and back, for ships then were not as they are now. My father has always said that she was forever on a quest for something new. She was very bold, but proper and always well-bred. They say I have her hair, though she was said to be very beautiful.”

“It was a magnificent gift then, Darry,” Jessa said. “But I don’t think it was all that she gave you.”

“Yes, I might have her feet as well. My toes are quite square, and it is said that my grandmother had to have special boots made.”

Jessa laughed again.

“And I don’t think I’m the sort of woman she would’ve liked,” Darry said. “Whether I look as she did or not. I’m not very proper, as you already know.”

“Do not say such a thing.”

“It’s true. I’m not as anyone expected when they looked at me in the crib. But a person can only be who they are, yes?”

Jessa had no answer to that.

“Though it’s hard sometimes to be who I am. It troubles a great many people,” Darry added. She looked down. “It troubles my father the most, but I cannot be who he wishes me to be.”

“I don’t think that’s true, Darry. He looks at you with great pride.”

“Yes. You’re right, of course.”

Jessa knew that Darry did not believe her and sensed that the subject was very private.

“People expect a great many things of you as well, yes?”

Jessa let out a breath of laughter. “Yes, well, they tell me what they want of me and I am made to do it. I would not call them expectations.”

“Your Vhaelin teach that there is free will in all things, is this not so?”

The observation surprised Jessa. “Yes.”

“Good. Then I will trust to your fine judgment and not worry so much upon the choices that will be laid before you. For one such as you, Jessa, whose beauty might pull the stars from the sky? A woman who is so clever that your thoughts spill from your eyes when something heavy is on your mind? I think then that whatever your future holds it shall be most interesting to see. And I will be very honored to be a part of it in any way you choose.”

Jessa had never had such words spoken to her before.
How can you say such things so freely? Have you not a care for your heart, Darrius? And if not then your soul must bear many terrible scars
.
How is it that you’ve not learned to hide yourself better?

Darry chuckled. “Why do you look at me so, Jessa? We are friends, are we not? There are no expectations within that. There is only what we would make of it, and the joy and comfort it might provide.”

“You are…” Jessa pondered her words. “You are a most open woman, Darrius.”

“Not so very, I think. But I am as you see me, for I can be no other way. Does this upset you? I can try to—”

“No!” Jessa said. “No,” she repeated with a quick smile to lighten her words. “I like you as I see you. You must never think otherwise.”

“Good,” Darry said with a nod.

“
Jessa
?”

They turned at the voice in the distance.

“We’re discovered!” Darry stood in a rush. “Emmalyn is like a bloody hound upon the scent. She’ll find us for certain and within the Queen’s own garden. Up now, quick!”

Jessa laughed. She took Darry’s offered hands and was pulled to her feet with strength. She swallowed at the hand on her waist. A firm touch brushed at her skirt and her heart faltered. “Is it stained?” she asked, turning and trying to look.

Darry chuckled and moved with her. “Stop it, Jess.”

Jessa put her hand on Darry’s shoulder. “Radha will bloody well
kill
me.”

“No, it’s fine,” Darry said. “And besides, I would protect you.”

“Then Radha would kill
you
.”

“I have no doubts as to that. She is a most imposing woman for one so tiny. Perhaps it would give you time to run, though.”

Jessa laughed at the thought.

“Jessa?” Emmalyn’s voice called out again.

Darry grabbed her hand and they ran to the ivy-covered door. Darry’s boots slipped and Jessa seized her arm in order to steady her. “
Ah
!” Darry looked back. “My
sword
,” she whispered, then seemed to swallow a laugh.

“Perhaps she’s by the fountain,” Royce said from beyond the hedgerow.

“No time,” Jessa whispered, leaning close as Darry straightened beside her. Darry’s left arm went around her waist from behind and she closed her eyes, letting her body fall slowly against Darry’s lean strength. She slid her hand up the silk of Darry’s vest and beneath the softness of her jacket.

Darry caught her breath as Jessa stepped close. Jessa’s breasts pressed near her own, and there was a warm breath on her neck as Jessa’s hair teased her flesh. She lowered her face, smelling the scent of Jessa’s skin regardless of the garden they stood in and its riot of perfumes. Jessa’s right hand moved up the small of her back and her body gave a tremble of response.

“No,” Emmalyn grumbled, then laughed, a rustling of ivy and leaves following quickly. “
Royce
!”

“You taste very good.”

Darry closed her eyes as her heart struck in a wild manner.
Please no, Gamar, not with her in my arms…bloody hell, she smells so good.

“Dammit, Royce, you’ve already spoiled my hair
once
,” Emmalyn said, which was followed by more laughter and a gentle struggle.

Darry gave a jerk at the sound of a slap striking true.

“Gods, woman!” Royce exclaimed.

Darry lowered her face as her laughter rose up. Jessa smiled as well and bit her lower lip. She pressed her fingers against Darry’s mouth.

“I think you broke my hand,” Royce said.

“Then it should not have been beneath my dress,” Emmalyn replied evenly.

Jessa turned her face against Darry’s neck. She could smell an elusive musk and, oddly enough, the scent of the ocean. It was not what she expected and sent a thrill along her veins. And then she recognized it, one more piece of her visions falling into place.

“It seemed a fine place for it to be, actually,” Royce said.

“Shall we check the fountain?” Emmalyn said coyly.

“I’m not sure I want to go with you now.”

There was a rustle of skirts and then, “What was that, my love?”

“Sweet
Gamar
, Em!”

Jessa lifted an eyebrow at the tone.

“Wherever you wish to go, my love.” His voice was filled with strain.

“You’re awfully brazen, Royce, with my father’s guard so near at hand,” Emmalyn said. “I have merely to cry out.”

Darry reached slowly with her right hand.

“Yes, I know,” Royce replied merrily. “It’s why you love me.”

Jessa looked up as Darry’s touch floated softly against her face, pushing the curl back with a gentleness that caught at Jessa’s breath.

“The fountain?” Emmalyn said playfully.

Jessa’s hand trembled against Darry’s mouth and then she caressed her mouth, moving slowly across her lips, tracing their softness from one side to the other as the blood raged within her ears. She could feel her heartbeat even to her toes, and she moved her touch down to discover the smooth dip beneath Darry’s lower lip.
I know this
… She skated over Darry’s chin and curled beneath as she brushed the backs of her fingers along Darry’s throat.

“Then let us find Malcolm’s Lyonese beauty and return her to the party.” Royce sighed. “And where is Darry?” His voice was moving back along the path. “She enters like a summer storm and then takes her splendid clothes and disappears.”

Darry swallowed and Jessa’s lips parted with a breath at the sensation of Darry’s throat moving beneath her touch.

“
Darry
?” Royce called out.

Both Darry and Jessa started and Jessa dropped her hand.

“If we don’t find
either
of them, Mother will sound the watch bells.” Emmalyn gave a snort of unladylike laughter. “We shall all be food for Amar.”

Darry moved back with a slow step, trying to clear her thoughts, or at least push them into a more acceptable place.
She doesn’t understand what she did. You’ve promised to be her friend, not a bloody fool…just be her friend.

“This Amar fellow, he doesn’t sound very forgiving,” Jessa said.