Talia did as she was told. She opened her eyes to find herself staring directly into his dark orbs, and a shiver raced down her spine. His eyes were hungry and desperate and pleading all at once. She reached up to brush a strand of hair from his face, and then boldly wrapped her hand behind his neck to pull him toward her.
She wanted him to kiss her again, to feel that fierce tongue probing her mouth, but he did not comply. She may as well have been tugging on a marble statue. He took her hand from his neck and held it to his lips, lightly kissing her palm and then running his tongue across her wrist. He lightly bit and kissed the sensitive spot, and she gasped at the sensation. His eyes never left her face.
He continued to trail kisses slowly down her arm as his other hand moved across her breast and abdomen. She flinched as his fingers traced across her bruised waist.
From the corner of the room, someone loudly cleared their throat. Talia gave a horrified squeak, and desperately clawed for the discarded blanket. Prince Mikhail snatched it and quickly tossed if over her exposed body. Humiliated, Talia pulled the blanket all the way up to her eyes.
"I thought I made myself clear that your wife needs rest... undisturbed rest!" snapped a cracked and ancient-sounding voice.
As Talia watched, an elderly woman hobbled toward them, leaning heavily on a cane. Under her free arm she carried a bundle of fabric. She dropped it on the table beside the Prince and gave him a pointed glance.
"Warm clothing," she informed Prince Mikhail. "It should be about her size."
"I... I have gold. To pay you for... for all of this," the Prince replied.
"Not necessary," the elder frowned. "We see a lot of severe frost bite cases in these parts. I'm surprised she's awake, I thought she'd sleep another day at least."
"She... she says she'd still cold," Mikhail said nervously.
"Yes, well... that's to be expected with what she just went through. You know what ought to help with that?" the old lady asked.
"What?" Mikhail asked, leaning forward.
"Not ripping her blankets off to expose her naked body to the air just so you can grope at her," the old one scoffed.
Prince Mikhail had the decency to look ashamed. Talia felt a nervous desire to giggle, but the elder's eyes were on her now.
"You look better,' she remarked. "Your color is coming back. When your husband first brought you here, I wasn't sure you'd make it at all. You were barely breathing and your face was as white as the snow. With you being as small as you are-- stars of Torobirk, look at those eyes! She's got eyes like the sea people of old... the Alulian Angels!"
The elderly woman grasped at her chest as though the shock of it caused her pain and took a few steps back.
"My... husband?" Talia mouthed soundlessly to Prince Mikhail who gave her a stern look and a slight shake of his head.
"My wife is Vezdan on her mother's side," Mikhail explained. "It is far from uncommon there to have eyes like hers."
The old woman nodded slowly and scowled again, regaining her composure.
"Forgive me. It has been a long while since I've seen eyes like yours. A long while indeed," the woman said and approached her again slowly. She lifted a jar of ointment from the table and directed her fiercest look at Prince Mikhail. "Your wife seems to be recovering well enough. I'll have to see to her feet and hands still to prevent blistering. The men have returned from the fields for the day. You should speak with Remy the gamekeeper. He will choose some fellows to ride out and collect your gear and horses."
The old woman was clearly sending the Prince away. He must not have revealed his identity, and the village being so small and isolated they did not readily recognize even the Emperor's own brother. He traded a glance with Talia who gave him a slight nod.
"Have you sent my message to Pirchburg?" he asked.
"We have," the old woman nodded, moving closer to Talia. She reached down and snatched Talia's hand bringing it up to the light to inspect it and frowned.
"I shall return," the Prince muttered to Talia as he stood. The woman slathered a generous dab of ointment onto the Princess's hand and began to massage it into her fingers. Talia winced in pain.
As soon as Prince Mikhail was gone the old woman dropped her hand and set the ointment aside.
"Are you being held against your will, girl?" she demanded, striking her cane against the floor for emphasis.
"W-what?" Talia asked, genuinely confused.
"I've seen your body... the bruising, the cuts... the cold didn't do that to you! You've been starved before too. your body shows signs of long periods of malnourishment. I've seen slaves in better condition than you," the old woman frowned.
How to answer that question... Talia almost laughed as she considered it. Yes, she was most certainly a prisoner of the Empire and it was quite against her own will, but it wasn't Prince Mikhail that kept her confined. She likely could have escaped from him if she had tried. It was the well-being of her own people that was her true chain.
"No," she lied. "I was assaulted by a group of bandits near the Rainbow Pools. I grew up in Vezda where there was little food. I was told that it is why I am somewhat small for my age," Talia explained calmly.
The old woman nodded and seemed to consider her words.
"You're not half Vezdan, not with eyes like those," the woman frowned again.
"No, I am descended from a long line of Vezdans on both sides of my family. I'm sure my husband means only to protect me. Unaria has long been at war with my people after all. He doesn't like it when my background is questioned," Talia answered. Mixing truth with a falsehood always made it more convincing.
The old woman nodded again and reached for Talia's other hand. In silence she inspected it, and then began to rub in the ointment. Talia was not sure if the elderly healer believed her or not.
"Thank you," Talia mumbled, wincing again at the renewed pain in her fingers. "You saved my life. How should I address you?"
"I am Racksea, elder healer and master apothecary of Zimma, and who are you, girl?" the elder asked.
"My name is... Amari," Talia lied quickly. If Prince Mikhail had lied about being married to hide their identities, then he must have suspected danger of some sort.
"Amari of Vezda," Racksea the healer repeated as though memorizing it. "You haven't been in Unaria long, so I will give you some advice that I hope you will bear in mind. Don't look anyone in the eye if you can help it and leave the northlands as soon as you can. You'll be safer in the capitol."
"Safer?" Talia repeated.
"Yes. The north, the highlands in particular, aren't quite as... modern... as the rest of the Empire. There are a lot of legends and old beliefs that are not forgotten in these parts. Zimma began as a village of outcasts. It is said that our ancestors were descended from the sea people, just as yours were. In the old days, when the Alulians were defeated by the demons from the mountains and they abandoned us to them, the people felt betrayed. They took out their rage on the descendants the Alulians left behind. Many of my people were killed and chased from their homes. To this day, the people of the Northlands still believe that the mountain demons exist and that the Alulian descendants are bad luck and will draw the demons to them. In some parts of the North, eyes like that will get you stoned to death," Racksea frowned and shook her head.
"I... understand. I have noticed that Unarians, men in particular, treat me as though... as though I'm..." Talia scowled,
"A whore?" Racksea finished the sentence for her. The word was harsh, but her tone had softened.
"Yes. You must understand, in Vezda women don't... we follow very strict rules of conduct. A woman is unlikely to... to... bed a man she is not married to," Talia felt her face flush in guilt, knowing that the words she spoke were certainly at odds with the way she had just carried on with Prince Mikhail.
"In Vezda, do they ever tell the story of Queen Tasha of Vezda?" Racksea asked, setting the jar of ointment down and tucking the Princess's hand beneath the blanket.
"Yes," Talia answered.
"It is still told throughout the Empire as well, though I'd wager the story told here is different than the one told in Vezda. Unarians believe that Queen Tasha tricked and betrayed her husband, the Emperor. They say she had many lovers, and that he was so ensnared by her charms in the bedroom that he could not cast her away, and so, instead, he took out his rage on his wife's many lovers. She cursed him as a revenge for killing one of those lovers. She would not lift the curse even when it took the lives of her own children. For that reason, Unarians see the likeness of Queen Tasha in every Vezdan woman," Raksea explained.
"Nonsense!" Talia scoffed. "That Emperor sacrificed his own--"
"I have returned," Prince Mikhail interrupted. "How is she?"
"Improving, certainly," Racksea nodded. "But it will be weeks before she has all the feeling back in her hands and feet. I shall send medicines with you when you go. Rest is what she needs now. Plenty of rest without you pawing at her."
"I understand," the Prince scowled at the old healer's admonishment.
"Good. Then I shall take my leave for now. The temple's evening service begins soon and I must ready myself. I shall offer up a prayer for your wife's continued healing. What did you say her name was?" Racksea asked in an offhand way.
Talia froze. She did not dare to look at Prince Mikhail, as the woman might have caught the warning in her eyes. She was testing their story.
"Amari," Prince Mikhail answered without hesitation. "My wife's name is Amari."
Talia let out a long, relieved breath. He remembered. Even that small detail from that long ago night... he remembered it.
"Yes... Forgive me. I've grown old and forgetful. I believe she did mention her name," Racksea smirked and then bowed her head as she left.