Tin Man: In the Shadow of the Mountain (5/?)
Title: In the Shadow of the Mountain
Author: Vashti (tvashti)
Fandom: Tin Man
Character(s): Wyatt Cain, Jeb Cain, Azkadellia, OC, DG
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Azkadellia is accidentally drawn to the Cains' aid, but they aren't the ones who need help.
Length: 3,193 words
Disclaimer: I don't know you. You don't know me. Let's keep it that way.
Notes: This is the ultimate fallout from the Tin Man friend meme. As usual this is unbetaed. Please feel free to spot beta at will. Yes it's a cheap way to get you to leave feedback. I have no shame ;)
Notes2: the summary is made of suck. prezzy to someone who can think of something better.
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Acclimation
Jeb set Delia up on a high stool in the kitchen, out of the way of the bustling staff. “Okay you, I heard about that stunt you pulled last night.”
“But-”
“No buts. That wasn’t very nice what you did to Princess Azkadellia and the captain. Got them both out of a sound sleep. Got’em both riled up and feeling guilty. Didn’t you like the slumber party the maids put together for you?”
“I did, but-”
“What’d I say about buts?”
“No buts,” she replied, her face crumpling.
“Jeb Cain,” one of the cooks called out, “are you making that little girl cry?”
Oh geez, he was half afraid he was. “Did you hear about that stunt she pulled?”
“What do you expect?” someone else said. “She’s underfed, in a new place, only knows three of us. She was just as likely to come looking for you, though only the Gray Gale herself knows why.”
Jeb turned around. “Keep your nose out of it, Lizzy.”
“I’m just saying.”
‘Cept she was right. Great. Jeb turned his attention back to Delia, who still looked miserable, and wrapped his hands around her knees. He shook’em around and she giggled…but looked just as miserable as soon as he was done. “Look, Kid, I know you’re scared and you’re lonely but…”
But what? She couldn’t go barging in places? If it had been her parents it would have been one thing, but she’d latched onto the Captain of the Personal Guard and a Princess of the Realm. It really wasn’t appropriate. Heck, it probably wouldn’t be completely appropriate even if they were her parents. But she was just seven. “You’re not making this easy on me, Kid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Here. Let’s get you fed while we figure this out. You’re gonna be alright right here?”
When she nodded, he popped off to beg something for her (and himself) only to have two plates thrust into his hands. “You’re gonna make a decent father someday, Jeb, but you need more work.”
“Thanks, Lizzie,” he responded dourly. He and Delia ate breakfast in silence while he thought. Jeb was a bit surprised to find her sitting all but under his arm by the time they were done. Sighing, he said, “We’re gonna work this out, Delia. I promise. We’re supposed to start looking for your people today.”
She dropped her dark blond head onto his arm. “Do you think you’ll find somebody?”
“Don’t know,” he answered truthfully, “but we’ll give it everything. I can promise you that.
“Now I am busy for most of the morning, but I know the maids won’t mind you tagging along with them. How’s that sound?”
“I want to stay with you.”
He had a feeling she might say that, except he thought she’d have another Cain in mind.
“Can’t, Kiddo. Like I said, I’m busy. Any-”
“Can I go with Princess Azkadellia?” She’d flattened out the E in the princess’ name, making it sound less like her own.
Jeb’s first instinct was to tell her no, flat out, but he had no idea what was on the princess’ schedule. “We’ll go ask her. If she says no, though, you have to abide by that and go hang out with the maids, all right? She’s a Princess of the Realm. There’s no gainsaying her, even if you want to.”
Delia nodded.
“All right. Let’s see if I can steal another cup of coffee, then we’re off.”
§§§
Azkadellia cut her eyes from Lt. Cain and his charge to the serving trays on the table. How in the world could she entertain a child? She hadn’t played any games in over fifteen years. What did she know about-
“Hey, I’ve got princess practice this morning and magic lessons right after that,” DG interjected. “That’ll keep me busy until way after lunch and it’s always more fun with an audience. Moral support and all that.”
Sitting further along the table, Tutor groaned.
“So you can hang out with me if you wanna, Delia.”
“Okay!”
Azkadellia lifted her eyes to the lieutenant’s face. He was smiling. “Great. Thanks so much, DG. I’d say she’d be no trouble, but, uh-”
“But I’m more likely to corrupt her anyway. Yeah, yeah.” She waved him off. “Go…guard something or something.”
And that covered that. Azkadellia finished her breakfast in silence as Delia and DG talked and giggled over their plans for the day.
§§§
She didn’t look up when she heard the sound of someone approaching because it was either DG, sneaking off from her lessons, or a servant reminding her to take her noon meal. DG liked to surprise her, and so Azkadellia often let her believe that she had. And she rarely wanted to take the noon meal, at least not in the dining room all alone or awkwardly seated with whomever else had been enticed from their busy lives to eat. Better to remain in hiding in the library. And if, perhaps, both DG and the servant came together then Azkadellia had an excuse for eating among the books-an excuse that was better than a mere claim of royal lineage.
So she was startled when dark blond head and deep blue eyes appeared at the arm of her chair instead of a dark brown head and bright blue eyes.
“Delia?”
The girl, who had approached with confidence despite her circumspection, twisted on her feet. “Hi.”
“How did you get here?”
“I asked the first person I saw where you would probably be and they said the library so then I asked the next person I saw where the library was and they told me which way to go and that’s how I got here.”
Azkadellia took a moment to slow the girl’s words and replay them in her head at a speed she could follow. “Ah. I see. But why?”
“I wanted to see you?”
That sounded like a curious reason from a six-no seven-annual old. Especially when as a question. “Does my sister know you’re here?”
The twisting feet stilled. “Um…”
Lowering her book to her lap, Azkadellia raised and shook a negligent hand as if shaking back a dangling sleeve, though her cuffs were closely bound to her wrists. A broad-shouldered servant appeared at her side, careful not to block the light through the window. “Your Highness?”
“I believe it’s around noon. Please have lunch sent up. And have someone inform my sister as to the whereabouts of her missing ward.”
He bowed and turned to leave.
“Thank you,” she called after him. She still wasn’t in the habit of common courtesy.
“Why are you frowning?”
Azkadellia returned her attention to Delia. “I should have thanked Corte.”
“But you did. I heard you.”
“But it’s likely that he didn’t hear me because it took me so long to say it.”
“It did sound like you almost forgot.”
Azkadellia frowned again. She sighed. “Yes well…I’m not very good at being gracious.”
Delia returned her frown. “What’s gracious?”
“Courteousness… Kindness,” the princess added quickly. “Saying things like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at the right times without someone first prompting you to do it. Telling you that you should say those things.”
“Oh. I know what that’s like. My mom was always remembering me to-”
“Reminding, dear.”
“Reminding?”
“Instead of ‘remembering’ I think you meant ‘reminding.’”
Delia nodded sharply. “Well Mom was always doing that to me because I could never remember to say stuff like that when I was supposed to. But I mostly remember now. Least I try to, because I know she was always trying to so hard for me to remember so it must be important.”
“Very important,” Azkadellia said, reaching out to take Delia’s hand in her own but pausing halfway. Delia plucked it out of the air and brought it to her cheek. “Your skin is cold.”
“My whole hand is cold,” Azkadellia said as she stared. It was like she was looking at an entirely different hand, one that she could feel. And because it wasn’t really her hand she couldn’t pull away. Which was how Delia came to be holding it, studying it, as she sat on the little reading table when lunch finally arrived.
The servant, Corte, coughed politely. “Your Highness…”
Azkadellia eyes snapped up, focusing and refocusing on the surprisingly brawny man. Corte always served her in the library and she suspected it was because he was, in fact, a secondary bodyguard. She didn’t remember him from before, but he had been one of Captain Cain’s and her father’s appointments. And, of them all, she was in the most danger of assassination.
“…your lunch.”
Or it could be that any meal sent up by the kitchen staff either needed an entire army of servants to transport it, or a surprisingly brawny one.
“Yes, thank you.” Azkadellia tugged on her hand, pulling Delia toward her. The girl giggled as she let herself fall across the princess’ knees. A smiling tugging at her lips, Azkadellia helped the girl upright. “Come, Delia. Unless you’re not hungry.”
“I’m hungry!”
“Good, then take your seat across the table and Corte will serve us.”
Corte, balancing the wide platter with one hand, bowed to the girl. It was clear that she didn’t quite appreciate the skill involved, but Azkadellia did and offered the broad-shouldered servant a smile as Delia scampered to her seat. Corte carefully placed the tray on the low table then whisked away the top. Azkadellia turned to him. “The potato fries I recognize, but what is everything else?”
“It was thought that, as you were entertaining one so young, finger foods might be more appropriate.”
His answer was so vague that Azkadellia wondered who he was protecting with it. But it had been a very good idea, no matter whose idea it was, and she told him so. “That’s perfect. And the little things in the middle? I recognize… Are they for dipping?”
Corte nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”
A rustle of fabric drew their attention to Delia. “What’s the purple stick-y stuff?”
“Leola root.”
“Is not,” both woman and girl exclaimed. Corte smiled: “It is. Cut into narrow strips like the potato fries. Her Highness Princess DG’s idea.”
The small smile on Azkadellia’s face grew, softening it. “That sounds like her. And the rest?”
Corte gave them a brief listing, suggesting which sauces should go with which dishes before leaving them to their lunch. Delia kneeled up on her seat and dove into lunch. Used to eating later in the afternoon and so not truly hungry, Azkadellia nibbled on lightly fried asparagus and watched Delia. The girl ate with happy abandon. Messy abandon.
Chuckling softly, Azkadellia took her cloth napkin and dipped one end in her water glass. “Delia, sweet one, are you finished?”
The girl was licking her fingers. “Uh huh.”
“Don’t do that. Come here and let me…attempt to clean you up.”
Frowning, Delia asked, “Is it that bad?” She glanced down at herself.
Azkadellia laughed outright. “Yes. It is. Come here.” She pulled the girl close once she was within range and began working on her hands. “I see you don’t really believe in napkins.”
“Those were napkins?” Delia asked, glancing back at the table. “That’s not how our napkins at home were.”
Azkadellia dipped a fresh corner into her water glass. “No? Well it’s how they are here. Feel free to use them at will.”
“What does that mean? At will?”
The princess thought about that for a moment as she moved from cleaning Delia’s hands to the ring of sauce and food-bits around her mouth. “It means ‘whenever you want to.’ Your will is the thing inside you that says that you want or don’t want to do something. Your ‘I will’ or ‘I won’t.’”
Delia giggled.
Azkadellia smiled. It was all she could do not to press a kiss to the child’s forehead. She was so… She was completely unlike everything she’d experienced under the Witch’s influence and the past two years during the rebuilding process. Azkadellia wasn’t even sure if her behavior was normal for a girl her age and in her situation. She hoped it was. She hoped that they would find the child’s family soon.
She didn’t know much of anything about children at all. Her hands stilled. “You should be outside with DG and Tutor, or keeping company with the maids,” she said softly.
“But I want to be here with you.”
“Didn’t you enjoy your time with DG and her lessons?” Azkadellia knew that they weren’t very much fun for her sister, but, in her own experience, it was entirely more enjoyable to watch.
Delia shrugged. “It was okay.”
“And you didn’t have fun yesterday with the younger maids?”
“They were all right.”
“Only all right?”
Delia twisted on her feet.
“Very well, you may stay with me. But only for a little while longer. You shouldn’t stay cooped up inside.”
“But you stay inside all day.”
Azkadellia frowned. “Who told you that?” It was true, but she couldn’t believe someone had actually said it, and to a child.
Delia shrugged. “No one actually said. Not just, y’know, said it like that.”
“I see.” Now seven annual olds were commenting on her life. “Well that’s fine for me, but you’re a little girl and little girls should not be cooped up inside all day.”
“I was out this morning.”
With DG, right. She was being outwitted by someone less than half her age. But she didn’t want the child to go, so why keep pushing her away? “That’s a good point. All right then…if you’re going to stay in the library with me then you’re going to have read with me as well.” Perhaps the idea of study would coax the girl into changing her mind.
“Would you read to me?”
Azkadellia looked down at Delia, startled. “Would you like me to?”
Her dark blond hair danced as the child nodded fervently. It flashed a warm honeyed color in the sunlight.
“Well, then I suppose we’ll have to find a book.”
“Is there something you like?”
She couldn’t remember-or she didn’t want to. Rather than think on that, Azkadellia reached out and tucked a loose section of hair behind the girl’s ear. “You are our guest. I’ll read something of your choosing. Then maybe we’ll read something that I like,” she added as the child began to pout. “Assuming I can remember one, of course.”
“I bet you can!”
“I appreciate your faith in me,” said Azkadellia somewhat sardonically. “Come. Let’s find those books you want read.” The princess stood and offered her hand to the child. “This way.”
They soon found themselves lost in the tall rows of books. “There’s so many,” Delia whispered.
Azkadellia looked down at her charge. “That there are. This room encompasses two stories and half the floor-space of the palace. There should be a lot of books.”
“Are you sure there are children’s books in here?”
She nodded. “Very sure. My father used to bring me here almost every day.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes.” Leading the child so that she was walking in front of her, Azkadellia steered them around a stout, circular bookcase until the found the opening that faced the tall windows. Delia’s oohs and aahs made her smile. The area was made for comfortable reading; even the windows had padded seats. “Here are all the children’s books. The books for the very youngest start here,” she said as she indicated the right side of the narrow entrance, “and become more mature as you go around.”
Delia turned in circles, staring at the books with wide eyes. “On the outside, too?”
“Yes the outside, too,” said Azkadellia as she perched on one of the seats in the center of the circle.
“I didn’t know there was this many books.”
Azkadellia’s eyebrows furrowed. “Children’s books or books at all?”
“Books at all,” said Delia with a dramatic flourish.
“Do you know how to read, dear one?”
Delia nodded as she approached the books. “They teached-”
“Taught.”
“Huh?” Delia looked over her shoulder.
“ ‘They taught.’ There’s no such word as ‘teached.’”
“O-oh,” Delia said as she went back to the books. “Okay. So they taught us how to read at the orphan school.”
Azkadellia felt something unpleasant and familiar flutter behind her ribs. “How…how long were you at the orphan school?”
Delia’s feet dragged, making trails in the plush carpet. “A while.”
She wanted numbers, real hard numbers but was afraid of what the child might say. Instead she cleared her throat. “Have you found anything you like?”
Shrugging, Delia said, “These are all for babies.”
“If you keep going around you should find something that you like or want to try.”
“Do you have Galen’s Quest.”
Azkadellia started. “Yes. I think I might even know where it is.” She stood in a rustle of skirts and began to slowly walk the circumference of the shelves. Dropping to her knees, she began to scan the bottom row of books. Delia was beside her in moments, sitting on the edge of the spread of skirts.
“There it is!” she said, pointing.
“Indeed,” Azkadellia said slowly, unnerved by the child’s proximity. “Is this what you want me to read to you?”
“Mmhmm.” She nodded vigorously, climbing to her feet. “Please!”
“It can’t all be read in one afternoon,” Azkadellia warned.
Delia shrugged. “S’okay.”
Azkadellia looked up at the child, surprised.
§§§
“Okay, you.” Jeb picked Delia up and set her on the counter of the kitchen.
“Jeb Cain!” the head cook called out.
“Wuh oh.” He winked at the kid. “Madea’s gonna get us.”
Delia giggled.
“Don’t tell me you have that girl up on my counters.”
“Okay!” he called back, grinning at Delia.
“Je-eb!”
Snickering, Jeb reached for Delia and took her to another part of the kitchen and set her down on one of the tall stools. “All right. I think we’re safe this time,” he said as he settled himself into another stool. “So. You spent all morning with Princess DG.”
Delia nodded. “Uh huh.”
“And you spent all afternoon with Princess Azkadellia.”
Delia nodded again. “Uh huh.”
“And you had fun?”
She nodded a third time.
“Great. So…tonight…you’ll be okay hanging out with the maids? They miss you.”
Delia kicked her feet against the rungs of the stool, eyes fixed on the floor.
“They have another sleepover planned for you.”
She gnawed her lower lip. “The sleepover from before was nice.”
“And they’re willing to try it again, Kid. Just for you.”
She looked up and met Jeb’s eyes. “For me?”
“Yup. For some crazy reason they think you’re kinda cute.”
Delia giggled.
“And any excuse to have sleepover,” he said with a grin. “Now c’mon. As far as I know they’ve already got dinner and snacks and all sorts of super sugary, super not-very-good-for-you stuff that, quite frankly, Kid, I wish I was having for dinner.
“So you’re not going to pop up in my father’s room or anyone else’s room tonight. Right?”
She gave him one firm nod. “Right.”
“Okay.”
Author: Vashti (tvashti)
Fandom: Tin Man
Character(s): Wyatt Cain, Jeb Cain, Azkadellia, OC, DG
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Azkadellia is accidentally drawn to the Cains' aid, but they aren't the ones who need help.
Length: 3,193 words
Disclaimer: I don't know you. You don't know me. Let's keep it that way.
Notes: This is the ultimate fallout from the Tin Man friend meme. As usual this is unbetaed. Please feel free to spot beta at will. Yes it's a cheap way to get you to leave feedback. I have no shame ;)
Notes2: the summary is made of suck. prezzy to someone who can think of something better.
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Chapter 5: Acclimation
Jeb set Delia up on a high stool in the kitchen, out of the way of the bustling staff. “Okay you, I heard about that stunt you pulled last night.”
“But-”
“No buts. That wasn’t very nice what you did to Princess Azkadellia and the captain. Got them both out of a sound sleep. Got’em both riled up and feeling guilty. Didn’t you like the slumber party the maids put together for you?”
“I did, but-”
“What’d I say about buts?”
“No buts,” she replied, her face crumpling.
“Jeb Cain,” one of the cooks called out, “are you making that little girl cry?”
Oh geez, he was half afraid he was. “Did you hear about that stunt she pulled?”
“What do you expect?” someone else said. “She’s underfed, in a new place, only knows three of us. She was just as likely to come looking for you, though only the Gray Gale herself knows why.”
Jeb turned around. “Keep your nose out of it, Lizzy.”
“I’m just saying.”
‘Cept she was right. Great. Jeb turned his attention back to Delia, who still looked miserable, and wrapped his hands around her knees. He shook’em around and she giggled…but looked just as miserable as soon as he was done. “Look, Kid, I know you’re scared and you’re lonely but…”
But what? She couldn’t go barging in places? If it had been her parents it would have been one thing, but she’d latched onto the Captain of the Personal Guard and a Princess of the Realm. It really wasn’t appropriate. Heck, it probably wouldn’t be completely appropriate even if they were her parents. But she was just seven. “You’re not making this easy on me, Kid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Here. Let’s get you fed while we figure this out. You’re gonna be alright right here?”
When she nodded, he popped off to beg something for her (and himself) only to have two plates thrust into his hands. “You’re gonna make a decent father someday, Jeb, but you need more work.”
“Thanks, Lizzie,” he responded dourly. He and Delia ate breakfast in silence while he thought. Jeb was a bit surprised to find her sitting all but under his arm by the time they were done. Sighing, he said, “We’re gonna work this out, Delia. I promise. We’re supposed to start looking for your people today.”
She dropped her dark blond head onto his arm. “Do you think you’ll find somebody?”
“Don’t know,” he answered truthfully, “but we’ll give it everything. I can promise you that.
“Now I am busy for most of the morning, but I know the maids won’t mind you tagging along with them. How’s that sound?”
“I want to stay with you.”
He had a feeling she might say that, except he thought she’d have another Cain in mind.
“Can’t, Kiddo. Like I said, I’m busy. Any-”
“Can I go with Princess Azkadellia?” She’d flattened out the E in the princess’ name, making it sound less like her own.
Jeb’s first instinct was to tell her no, flat out, but he had no idea what was on the princess’ schedule. “We’ll go ask her. If she says no, though, you have to abide by that and go hang out with the maids, all right? She’s a Princess of the Realm. There’s no gainsaying her, even if you want to.”
Delia nodded.
“All right. Let’s see if I can steal another cup of coffee, then we’re off.”
§§§
Azkadellia cut her eyes from Lt. Cain and his charge to the serving trays on the table. How in the world could she entertain a child? She hadn’t played any games in over fifteen years. What did she know about-
“Hey, I’ve got princess practice this morning and magic lessons right after that,” DG interjected. “That’ll keep me busy until way after lunch and it’s always more fun with an audience. Moral support and all that.”
Sitting further along the table, Tutor groaned.
“So you can hang out with me if you wanna, Delia.”
“Okay!”
Azkadellia lifted her eyes to the lieutenant’s face. He was smiling. “Great. Thanks so much, DG. I’d say she’d be no trouble, but, uh-”
“But I’m more likely to corrupt her anyway. Yeah, yeah.” She waved him off. “Go…guard something or something.”
And that covered that. Azkadellia finished her breakfast in silence as Delia and DG talked and giggled over their plans for the day.
§§§
She didn’t look up when she heard the sound of someone approaching because it was either DG, sneaking off from her lessons, or a servant reminding her to take her noon meal. DG liked to surprise her, and so Azkadellia often let her believe that she had. And she rarely wanted to take the noon meal, at least not in the dining room all alone or awkwardly seated with whomever else had been enticed from their busy lives to eat. Better to remain in hiding in the library. And if, perhaps, both DG and the servant came together then Azkadellia had an excuse for eating among the books-an excuse that was better than a mere claim of royal lineage.
So she was startled when dark blond head and deep blue eyes appeared at the arm of her chair instead of a dark brown head and bright blue eyes.
“Delia?”
The girl, who had approached with confidence despite her circumspection, twisted on her feet. “Hi.”
“How did you get here?”
“I asked the first person I saw where you would probably be and they said the library so then I asked the next person I saw where the library was and they told me which way to go and that’s how I got here.”
Azkadellia took a moment to slow the girl’s words and replay them in her head at a speed she could follow. “Ah. I see. But why?”
“I wanted to see you?”
That sounded like a curious reason from a six-no seven-annual old. Especially when as a question. “Does my sister know you’re here?”
The twisting feet stilled. “Um…”
Lowering her book to her lap, Azkadellia raised and shook a negligent hand as if shaking back a dangling sleeve, though her cuffs were closely bound to her wrists. A broad-shouldered servant appeared at her side, careful not to block the light through the window. “Your Highness?”
“I believe it’s around noon. Please have lunch sent up. And have someone inform my sister as to the whereabouts of her missing ward.”
He bowed and turned to leave.
“Thank you,” she called after him. She still wasn’t in the habit of common courtesy.
“Why are you frowning?”
Azkadellia returned her attention to Delia. “I should have thanked Corte.”
“But you did. I heard you.”
“But it’s likely that he didn’t hear me because it took me so long to say it.”
“It did sound like you almost forgot.”
Azkadellia frowned again. She sighed. “Yes well…I’m not very good at being gracious.”
Delia returned her frown. “What’s gracious?”
“Courteousness… Kindness,” the princess added quickly. “Saying things like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at the right times without someone first prompting you to do it. Telling you that you should say those things.”
“Oh. I know what that’s like. My mom was always remembering me to-”
“Reminding, dear.”
“Reminding?”
“Instead of ‘remembering’ I think you meant ‘reminding.’”
Delia nodded sharply. “Well Mom was always doing that to me because I could never remember to say stuff like that when I was supposed to. But I mostly remember now. Least I try to, because I know she was always trying to so hard for me to remember so it must be important.”
“Very important,” Azkadellia said, reaching out to take Delia’s hand in her own but pausing halfway. Delia plucked it out of the air and brought it to her cheek. “Your skin is cold.”
“My whole hand is cold,” Azkadellia said as she stared. It was like she was looking at an entirely different hand, one that she could feel. And because it wasn’t really her hand she couldn’t pull away. Which was how Delia came to be holding it, studying it, as she sat on the little reading table when lunch finally arrived.
The servant, Corte, coughed politely. “Your Highness…”
Azkadellia eyes snapped up, focusing and refocusing on the surprisingly brawny man. Corte always served her in the library and she suspected it was because he was, in fact, a secondary bodyguard. She didn’t remember him from before, but he had been one of Captain Cain’s and her father’s appointments. And, of them all, she was in the most danger of assassination.
“…your lunch.”
Or it could be that any meal sent up by the kitchen staff either needed an entire army of servants to transport it, or a surprisingly brawny one.
“Yes, thank you.” Azkadellia tugged on her hand, pulling Delia toward her. The girl giggled as she let herself fall across the princess’ knees. A smiling tugging at her lips, Azkadellia helped the girl upright. “Come, Delia. Unless you’re not hungry.”
“I’m hungry!”
“Good, then take your seat across the table and Corte will serve us.”
Corte, balancing the wide platter with one hand, bowed to the girl. It was clear that she didn’t quite appreciate the skill involved, but Azkadellia did and offered the broad-shouldered servant a smile as Delia scampered to her seat. Corte carefully placed the tray on the low table then whisked away the top. Azkadellia turned to him. “The potato fries I recognize, but what is everything else?”
“It was thought that, as you were entertaining one so young, finger foods might be more appropriate.”
His answer was so vague that Azkadellia wondered who he was protecting with it. But it had been a very good idea, no matter whose idea it was, and she told him so. “That’s perfect. And the little things in the middle? I recognize… Are they for dipping?”
Corte nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”
A rustle of fabric drew their attention to Delia. “What’s the purple stick-y stuff?”
“Leola root.”
“Is not,” both woman and girl exclaimed. Corte smiled: “It is. Cut into narrow strips like the potato fries. Her Highness Princess DG’s idea.”
The small smile on Azkadellia’s face grew, softening it. “That sounds like her. And the rest?”
Corte gave them a brief listing, suggesting which sauces should go with which dishes before leaving them to their lunch. Delia kneeled up on her seat and dove into lunch. Used to eating later in the afternoon and so not truly hungry, Azkadellia nibbled on lightly fried asparagus and watched Delia. The girl ate with happy abandon. Messy abandon.
Chuckling softly, Azkadellia took her cloth napkin and dipped one end in her water glass. “Delia, sweet one, are you finished?”
The girl was licking her fingers. “Uh huh.”
“Don’t do that. Come here and let me…attempt to clean you up.”
Frowning, Delia asked, “Is it that bad?” She glanced down at herself.
Azkadellia laughed outright. “Yes. It is. Come here.” She pulled the girl close once she was within range and began working on her hands. “I see you don’t really believe in napkins.”
“Those were napkins?” Delia asked, glancing back at the table. “That’s not how our napkins at home were.”
Azkadellia dipped a fresh corner into her water glass. “No? Well it’s how they are here. Feel free to use them at will.”
“What does that mean? At will?”
The princess thought about that for a moment as she moved from cleaning Delia’s hands to the ring of sauce and food-bits around her mouth. “It means ‘whenever you want to.’ Your will is the thing inside you that says that you want or don’t want to do something. Your ‘I will’ or ‘I won’t.’”
Delia giggled.
Azkadellia smiled. It was all she could do not to press a kiss to the child’s forehead. She was so… She was completely unlike everything she’d experienced under the Witch’s influence and the past two years during the rebuilding process. Azkadellia wasn’t even sure if her behavior was normal for a girl her age and in her situation. She hoped it was. She hoped that they would find the child’s family soon.
She didn’t know much of anything about children at all. Her hands stilled. “You should be outside with DG and Tutor, or keeping company with the maids,” she said softly.
“But I want to be here with you.”
“Didn’t you enjoy your time with DG and her lessons?” Azkadellia knew that they weren’t very much fun for her sister, but, in her own experience, it was entirely more enjoyable to watch.
Delia shrugged. “It was okay.”
“And you didn’t have fun yesterday with the younger maids?”
“They were all right.”
“Only all right?”
Delia twisted on her feet.
“Very well, you may stay with me. But only for a little while longer. You shouldn’t stay cooped up inside.”
“But you stay inside all day.”
Azkadellia frowned. “Who told you that?” It was true, but she couldn’t believe someone had actually said it, and to a child.
Delia shrugged. “No one actually said. Not just, y’know, said it like that.”
“I see.” Now seven annual olds were commenting on her life. “Well that’s fine for me, but you’re a little girl and little girls should not be cooped up inside all day.”
“I was out this morning.”
With DG, right. She was being outwitted by someone less than half her age. But she didn’t want the child to go, so why keep pushing her away? “That’s a good point. All right then…if you’re going to stay in the library with me then you’re going to have read with me as well.” Perhaps the idea of study would coax the girl into changing her mind.
“Would you read to me?”
Azkadellia looked down at Delia, startled. “Would you like me to?”
Her dark blond hair danced as the child nodded fervently. It flashed a warm honeyed color in the sunlight.
“Well, then I suppose we’ll have to find a book.”
“Is there something you like?”
She couldn’t remember-or she didn’t want to. Rather than think on that, Azkadellia reached out and tucked a loose section of hair behind the girl’s ear. “You are our guest. I’ll read something of your choosing. Then maybe we’ll read something that I like,” she added as the child began to pout. “Assuming I can remember one, of course.”
“I bet you can!”
“I appreciate your faith in me,” said Azkadellia somewhat sardonically. “Come. Let’s find those books you want read.” The princess stood and offered her hand to the child. “This way.”
They soon found themselves lost in the tall rows of books. “There’s so many,” Delia whispered.
Azkadellia looked down at her charge. “That there are. This room encompasses two stories and half the floor-space of the palace. There should be a lot of books.”
“Are you sure there are children’s books in here?”
She nodded. “Very sure. My father used to bring me here almost every day.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes.” Leading the child so that she was walking in front of her, Azkadellia steered them around a stout, circular bookcase until the found the opening that faced the tall windows. Delia’s oohs and aahs made her smile. The area was made for comfortable reading; even the windows had padded seats. “Here are all the children’s books. The books for the very youngest start here,” she said as she indicated the right side of the narrow entrance, “and become more mature as you go around.”
Delia turned in circles, staring at the books with wide eyes. “On the outside, too?”
“Yes the outside, too,” said Azkadellia as she perched on one of the seats in the center of the circle.
“I didn’t know there was this many books.”
Azkadellia’s eyebrows furrowed. “Children’s books or books at all?”
“Books at all,” said Delia with a dramatic flourish.
“Do you know how to read, dear one?”
Delia nodded as she approached the books. “They teached-”
“Taught.”
“Huh?” Delia looked over her shoulder.
“ ‘They taught.’ There’s no such word as ‘teached.’”
“O-oh,” Delia said as she went back to the books. “Okay. So they taught us how to read at the orphan school.”
Azkadellia felt something unpleasant and familiar flutter behind her ribs. “How…how long were you at the orphan school?”
Delia’s feet dragged, making trails in the plush carpet. “A while.”
She wanted numbers, real hard numbers but was afraid of what the child might say. Instead she cleared her throat. “Have you found anything you like?”
Shrugging, Delia said, “These are all for babies.”
“If you keep going around you should find something that you like or want to try.”
“Do you have Galen’s Quest.”
Azkadellia started. “Yes. I think I might even know where it is.” She stood in a rustle of skirts and began to slowly walk the circumference of the shelves. Dropping to her knees, she began to scan the bottom row of books. Delia was beside her in moments, sitting on the edge of the spread of skirts.
“There it is!” she said, pointing.
“Indeed,” Azkadellia said slowly, unnerved by the child’s proximity. “Is this what you want me to read to you?”
“Mmhmm.” She nodded vigorously, climbing to her feet. “Please!”
“It can’t all be read in one afternoon,” Azkadellia warned.
Delia shrugged. “S’okay.”
Azkadellia looked up at the child, surprised.
§§§
“Okay, you.” Jeb picked Delia up and set her on the counter of the kitchen.
“Jeb Cain!” the head cook called out.
“Wuh oh.” He winked at the kid. “Madea’s gonna get us.”
Delia giggled.
“Don’t tell me you have that girl up on my counters.”
“Okay!” he called back, grinning at Delia.
“Je-eb!”
Snickering, Jeb reached for Delia and took her to another part of the kitchen and set her down on one of the tall stools. “All right. I think we’re safe this time,” he said as he settled himself into another stool. “So. You spent all morning with Princess DG.”
Delia nodded. “Uh huh.”
“And you spent all afternoon with Princess Azkadellia.”
Delia nodded again. “Uh huh.”
“And you had fun?”
She nodded a third time.
“Great. So…tonight…you’ll be okay hanging out with the maids? They miss you.”
Delia kicked her feet against the rungs of the stool, eyes fixed on the floor.
“They have another sleepover planned for you.”
She gnawed her lower lip. “The sleepover from before was nice.”
“And they’re willing to try it again, Kid. Just for you.”
She looked up and met Jeb’s eyes. “For me?”
“Yup. For some crazy reason they think you’re kinda cute.”
Delia giggled.
“And any excuse to have sleepover,” he said with a grin. “Now c’mon. As far as I know they’ve already got dinner and snacks and all sorts of super sugary, super not-very-good-for-you stuff that, quite frankly, Kid, I wish I was having for dinner.
“So you’re not going to pop up in my father’s room or anyone else’s room tonight. Right?”
She gave him one firm nod. “Right.”
“Okay.”