The Prince's Boy

THE PRINCE'S BOY: CHAPTER 28

These thoughts did not get far in my mind, as a great drowsiness seemed to come over me. Swimming for my life must have exhausted me more than I expected. I fell into a dream, then, and in the dream Kenet came crawling under the hanging boughs of the bush to join me. His hands examined my skin, tracing the marks the final beating and the ropes had left there. "Leave it," I said. "Kenet, kiss me."

He did, and his mouth was sweeter than the nectar of this flower. Some part of me knew, though, that it was a dream, that I was inventing this vision to comfort myself. When I opened my eyes, he would not be there, but for the moment, I could dream.

When I tried to open my eyes, however, I found I could not. They were bound with some kind of cloth, or so it felt like when I tried to blink. I took stock of my situation quickly. My hands were bound behind my back and I was seated on a chair. Or more likely a stool, since I could feel nothing behind me.

"He's awake," came a low voice to my left.

"Ahhhh, good." The one on my right sounded like he was smiling. "I was starting to worry he wouldn't, after all the tingle-tingle in his system."

Oh. The bush I had been under. My knowledge of botany was quite limited, after all, but I knew of the numbing medicine one could make from the tinglebush's leaves and berries. Apparently the flowers, too, could have such an effect. I wondered if I had damaged my ability to feel, but I felt no tingling now. In fact, I could feel the air moving against my bare skin. I wondered if they had found my uniform when they'd found me, or if my nakedness was evidence they had not.

"Gresh, leave us."

"If you're going to question 'im, I should stay."

"I'm not going to question him. Not yet anyway."

"Oh. Right. Suit yourself." I heard the footsteps as the man with the lower voice turned and walked away. Were we in the open? Outdoors?

I shivered suddenly as warm fingers ran across the back of my shoulders. I expected to feel the steel of a dagger next, but no, his fingers just made their way around to my throat, brushing up my chin and then over my lips. I pulled away at that, though the touch had not been painful.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "I've done nothing to harm you."

A soft huff of breath that might have been a laugh. "If you answer my questions, maybe I will answer yours," he said.

"I thought you said you weren't going to question me."

"What I told Gresh to get us some privacy, and why, is not your concern. Or perhaps it is, but... well, that is for us to discuss a bit later, perhaps." His voice had a kind lilt, and it sounded somewhat familiar.

"What are you talking about? Do I know you?"

His hand cupped my cheek, then my ear, and it didn't feel like an unfriendly touch. It felt warm and comforting, not at all like he was trying to threaten me. "Well, why don't we start there? What is your name?"

For the life of me, I couldn't remember the name I'd used at the camp. "I'm not a threat," I said, trying to buy time. "This isn't necessary."

"I'll be the judge of how much secrecy is necessary," he said. "Your name, please."

"Jorin," I said then, and my fake name came into my head the moment I said it. "Though the army has me listed as Crieg."

"Oh, how interesting. And why is that? Surely there must be a fascinating story there?" He moved away as he spoke and I heard him stoking up a fire. The cloth must have been thick on my eyes for me not to have seen the glow.