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18
Lemming had been walked on a leash while her mistress was riding, and she sniffed Rihlia all over when she took the lead.
“Stags must smell as funny as they look,” Jasmine said as Lemming nosed her as well. “It’s too bad horses couldn’t survive here; they’re much nicer.”
“But an inferior steed,” Jayems said dismissively. True, he’d never ridden one, but he knew his history.
“What’s that?” Rihlia gestured to a grove of log posts to their right. Each log was covered with plate sized, frilly yellow mushrooms.
“Honey fungus. You had some in yo
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Dark Lands Homecoming 19
They walked past the gardens on their way back to the Citadel, and Wiley noticed a woman using a hand pump to fill a bucket. Since they were in the area of the family garden plots, she asked, “Why don’t you have hoses or something? I know you guys have electricity, and some of your technology is ahead of Earth’s.”Jayems smiled at her. “Would you like to spend your life in a factory, assembling electronic pumps? We only use technology for certain things, like pumping the water into our rooms and running our lights, or communication. Some of us still use candles and oil lamps, as well as pack our own water. The exercise is good for us, conserves resources and promotes a simpler, more relaxed way of life. You’ll notice that woman is using a wheeled cart to haul her bucket around? It has a spigot on the end, a
Dark Lands Homecoming 20
She didn’t see Keilor’s expression as he entered the room, but Wiley did. Jasmine might have hesitated if she’d seen the rawness of his gaze. He looked like a man who’d been pushed too far, and was ready to snap at the bait.Worse, Wiley had not known Jasmine was going to say that. She had a feeling Jasmine was making it up as she went along, and screwing it up, too.Jayems looked at Wiley out of the corner of his eye.Her eyes narrowed. “Forget it.” She was not participating in this lunacy.“I don’t know, I think the idea has merit,” he answered smoothly.
Dark Lands Homecoming 21
She hadn’t had an interest in exploring that section of the room before. Now she looked at the polished red bookshelves warily. Every book was handsomely bound, and many of them had gilt lettering. Normally that was a turnoff for her, because she always figured those kind of books were boring old classics. Deprived of her TV, however, she was willing to investigate closer.A book on the side table caught her eye, and she picked it up. It was titled, “Her First Time.” Her jaw went slack. Glancing to make certain Jayems wasn’t in the room, she hastily set it down and moved to the shelves to blankly study the spines.It was a few moments before she actually read the titles. He’d been thinking about her first time? Their first time? Flames lic
Dark Lands Homecoming 22
Wiley blinked, but it didn’t clear her head. The light gleamed off his chest, reflected shadows as he turned the page, illuminating every line of muscle. He’d wound her so tightly, his every move was pure temptation.As if her body weighed a thousand pounds, she turned and slowly walked to her room. It was like a nightmare where she wanted to run, but was unable. If she went in that door, she was going to become a wife.She couldn’t be a wife. She couldn’t.***Jayems watched her slow retreat. Not tonight then, but soon.
Dark Lands Homecoming 23
She took a deep breath. “We were attacked, as you know. The two of us were riding a stag together. When they came, our stag shied and threw me. You stayed on for a moment longer and fell off the other side. I assumed you’d run into the brush when I couldn’t find you, but I couldn’t get to you. Our own guards pulled me into their circle to protect me…” She let out a shaky sigh. “Most of them died in the battle, too.”Wiley watched her mother, and then turned her eyes back to the cup. That was not what happened.Something made her look at Jayems. Whatever he saw, he gave her the faintest of nods. Knowing Jayems, he wanted to talk. Maybe the nod meant he would listen, too.
Dark Lands Homecoming 24
Wiley exited the salon with her hair in a French braid, a mild concession to her mother’s quest for a new look. Of all the good luck, a merchant was selling guitars across the street. Brightly enameled and oddly shaped, they drew her like cotton candy to a child. Picking up a hot pink and red model, she tuned it by ear.“Oh, you play?” Portae said curiously, seeming relieved. Maybe she thought she was about to hear some ladylike ditties she could show off to her friends at teatime.Wiley grinned wickedly, played a few warm up chords, surged into a couple of hard rock riffs, and opened with Van Halen.Rhapsody’s eyes got big. She looked left, then right, paling as she real
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The manic shopping was wearing her down. To escape, she said, “I’m starving. Is it lunch time yet?”They had lunch in a classy, energetic café that catered to an upscale crowd. The walls were white and decorated with flowering plants, mirrors and stained glass lamps. Green wrought iron chairs graced each table, and the seats were upholstered in red-and-white striped canvas.Wiley had to admit the food was good, though her mother was doing her best to give her a bellyache. It wasn’t anything she said, it was the way she watched Wiley’s posture, scrutinized the way she ate. Wiley had never been accused of being Miss Manners, but she’d never seen the point of having no elbows on the table or chewing her food one hundred times. Co
Dark Lands Homecoming 26
Jasmine was poisoned that night.They’d been at dinner with Wiley’s family. Jasmine had taken one drink of Wiley’s wine and stiffened. The delicate glass had shattered as her hand convulsed, and moments later she’d been screaming, doubled up on the floor.Keilor and Fallon had worked frantically to help her, and somebody had called the medics. Jayems had dragged Wiley back from the scene, calming her frantic struggles with gentle force. Even now, after they knew it had been Jasmine’s dessert that was poisoned and not the wine, Wiley couldn’t shake the feeling that she was responsible. Jasmine wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for her.Wiley sat i
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