In Which Raia Resorts to the Language of Men

April 12, 1166

"Just back from a nice ride in the country, are we?"

Startled, Raia turned around to find Prince Ietrin standing behind her. "What are you doing here?"

He grinned--she supposed he meant to look sly, but she privately thought that he only succeeded in looking like a mule. "Oh, I just happened to be in the area and thought I'd drop by."

That seemed doubtful somehow, but she was in a bit of hurry and didn't know if she would have time to argue with him; instead, she just smiled and nodded. "I'm sure. Anyway, I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you, but I was actually just about to leave."

Undaunted, Ietrin shrugged; Raia felt the corners of her smile begin to slip. "I wasn't planning on staying long. In fact... where are you headed? We might as well go together."

He just couldn't take a hint. Falidor had once told her that men who were oblivious to female signals were lucky in the sense that their confidence could not be shattered, but Raia had dismissed that notion with a sniff; as a woman, her opinion was that of an outsider's, but it seemed to her that no amount of confidence could compensate for impenetrable ignorance. "I'm going to Armion Keep; if you rode past here on your way from the castle, then it would be rather counterproductive of you to accompany me."

"Armion Keep?" he repeated, an unfathomable sparkle in his violet eye. "Going to visit Lornie-boy?"

Frowning, Raia nodded. "He's been going through a difficult time, you know. I can't even imagine what it's like to lose one's father, and to have to take over as duke as well? He must be so lonely."

"Such is the life of a man of status," Ietrin mused, leaning closer than Raia would have preferred; she might have shoved him if she thought there was no chance of disturbing the horses. "I would know, of course, being a prince. Few understand what we go through, so we are often alone even in the most crowded of rooms--but you seem to know exactly how to cheer the likes of us."

"Good to hear that Lorn will appreciate the visit, then."

Ietrin placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned forward; it was her instinct to turn her head away from his, but she realized it was needless as he aimed for her ear instead of her mouth. "You know... maybe I haven't been a great friend to poor Lorn lately. Perhaps I should come along with you."

"And what about this errand of yours?" she questioned with a smirk. "This task you were in the area for?"

"Oh, it's not that important."

Raia raised an eyebrow. "Compared to a social call?"

"Compared to this."

She didn't realize what had happened until it was already over. He'd taken her chin in his hand and tilted it toward his own, just enough so that their lips briefly met.

Much to her surprise, she hadn't disliked it; on the other hand, she hadn't liked it either. No tongue... no lingering sensation... no dreamy glance to follow... from what she knew of kissing, it had been hardly a kiss at all. Kisses were supposed to be passionate, sensual, or at the very least, nice. This had been... well, tolerable.

In any case, she supposed there wasn't any harm in it. He had a betrothed, but such a shadow of a kiss could have only been for practice anyway. He might as well have just given her a hug.

She took a moment to consider a verbal reply to his physical gesture. She finally settled on a quick laugh, accompanied by a wave of her hand. "Well, if your errand was less important than that, then why did you bother coming all the way out here in the first place?"

That supposedly sly grin of his returned. "Men have been known to do more for less."

"Indeed, but I figure a prince would prefer to do less for more."

Throwing back his head, Ietrin chuckled; she still couldn't discern the look in his eye. "We princes are not immune to all the ails of lesser men, that I can promise you. Now... shall we head to Armion?"

Perhaps some part of her had hoped that the kiss had driven the silliness from his system, but that must have been too much to ask. Despite the high regard older women seemed to hold it in, subtlety was not the language of men; it was time to be blunt.

"Ietrin, like I told you, I have plans for the day. Don't make the mistake of thinking they can be bent to include you."

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