Amber followed Kenan through the square and stared in close mouthed fascination as he exchanged short greetings and clasped hands with people as they walked by. It was obvious that everyone knew and respected him.
“So I’m guessing you weren’t exaggerating when you said this was your village?”
“Nope.” Kenan had paused outside of a large house. He leaned forward, giving her a charming smile as he rested his hand on the wooden door behind her.
Amber looked up at the house. It was very large, though not as large as the houses that she knew back home. Still, after days of traveling with no roof over her head, it seemed like a mansion. She counted three stories from the ground level, with several windows on each story.
Kenan was staring at her seductively and the look of interest on his face made his desire for her obvious. Just when her heart rate started to accelerate he rocked back on his heels and reached for an ornate gold key that was hanging around his neck. The key had been concealed by his clothes and Amber turned her head quickly when she realized that she was staring at his chest muscles. He unlocked the door and gestured for Amber and the boy to go inside.
They entered a large room that resembled a trophy room. It was filled with strange artifacts that looked like they were from another time or another place, although she saw some statuettes that reminded her of home. Amber began to examine some of these items, but Kenan cleared his throat as if trying to get her attention. She began following him down a narrow hallway. She looked back and saw the boy trying to open another door that was locked.
“Come on!” she half whispered, half yelled, and he reluctantly followed.
As if he could read their thoughts, Kenan said, “If you need to get anywhere in here, just come ask me. Every room is locked, but I carry the master key with me at all times.”
They followed him up a winding staircase which led them to another narrow hallway. Kenan stopped at a door on the left and unlocked it with his master key. He looked at the boy with a warm smile and said, “I think you’ll find this room to your liking.”
The boy stepped into the room. It was small and rather plain looking, but very tidy, with clean blankets on the bed. There was a small bookshelf filled with several leather-bound volumes.
“You must be famished,” continued Kenan. “I will make sure that someone brings you a tray of food right away.”
Amber thought that out of the corner of her eye she saw the corner of the boy’s mouth turn up into a slight smile just before Kenan gently pulled the door closed behind him.
“And now, my dear, let me show you to your room.”
He led her up another flight of stairs to yet another hallway that looked identical to the previous two. Amber was expecting another small room with a mini library. She was shocked when he opened the door and she saw a room that was at least twice the size of the boy’s room. It had a very large bookshelf that spanned the length of the room, covered with hundreds of volumes.
She spied a king size bed with what were obviously silk sheets. Next to the bed was an oaken chest of drawers. There was also a beautiful vanity topped with the biggest mirror she had ever seen. On the right side of the room was an open door which led into an immaculate bathroom. Kenan finally spoke up when she had kept her silence for a long time.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes…um…it’s perfect,” she said, still in shock over the extravagance.
“Excellent. Well, I’m sure you will want to clean up from your journey. I shall have my servant draw a warm bath for you. Afterwards, I would be honored if you would join me for dinner.”
No sooner than he’d stepped out of the room a servant materialized, carrying a heavy pail of water. He made several trips in and out of the room until eventually the tub was filled. After he left, Amber placed her dirty clothes on the floor outside of the bathroom and stepped into the warm water. She had not bathed since just before she had left the fairy kingdom, and the journey had left her feeling filthy.
She relished the experience as if it were both the first time she had ever had a warm bath and the last time it might ever happen. After what felt like hours, she finally remembered that Kenan was expecting her for dinner. Imagining him waiting at a table all alone, she immediately stepped out of the tub, wrapped a towel around herself and another around her hair, and came out of the bathroom.
She was shocked when she saw that her clothes were gone. Had someone come in here and taken them while she was in the bath? For a moment she felt violated. Then she looked at the bed and saw a beautiful silk nightgown and robe set spread out on it. Apparently, the same servant who prepared her bath had also brought her clean clothes.
She thought it odd that a man like Kenan would have items like these. But suspicions fled her mind and she no longer cared the moment she felt the fresh clean garments on her clean skin. She felt like she was in heaven. Just after she finished getting dressed, she heard a gentle tap on the door. “Come in,” she said, and in walked Kenan.
“I wanted to check on you and see how you were doing. I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to give you all the time you needed. Are you ready to join me for dinner?”
Amber didn’t know how it was possible, perhaps she’d been so filthy that even her eyes had a layer of grime on them, but he looked even more magnificent than when she had first seen him. As she stared open-mouthed at him, she finally remembered that he was waiting for a response.
“Yes! Yes, definitely.”
“Excellent. Follow me.”
He led her down the hallway to another flight of stairs. As they walked, her curiosity got the best of her and she asked him a question that she had been wondering about.
“So, where did you get this nightgown?”
“Do you like it?” Kenan replied. “It was my mother’s. She was about your size.”
She nodded her head at the perfectly logical explanation. They had arrived at a huge dining room. Next to a roaring fireplace was a very long table filled with several exquisite foods and a large chalice of red wine. Kenan ran in front of her and pulled out a chair for her, beckoning her to sit down. He sat down next to her, and as servants began dishing up food for them he finally asked a question of his own.
“So, what is a lovely young lady, such as yourself, doing walking through these dangerous lands without protection?”
“I was on my way to visit…someone.” She paused, not wanting to give him more detail than necessary.
“And where do you come from?” Kenan asked.
“I come from a village called Beckingston.”
“I see,” he said with a smile before taking a drink of wine.
“You know,” she continued, “when I arrived in your village, I couldn’t help but notice the warded walls. I never expected to see something like that way out in the woods.”
“Yes, the elementals are always a looming threat, which is why those walls are so important. But as long as you see fit to reside here, I personally guarantee that no harm shall come to you.”
He continued to gently prod her with questions throughout dinner, some of which she gave a complete answer to, while others she could only answer in part. However, as the evening progressed she began to feel a secure in a way she had never felt before. Perhaps it was the wine, but the more relaxed she got the looser her tongue became.
Incendiary the Fire Elemental Series 