“Pretty, isn't it?” Hayeel said, showing him the pool that marked the start of the stream.

  “Yes. A gem of sparkling liquid in the midst of deep green, quite like your eyes. Worth gazing at.”

  “You're becoming biased.” Hayeel said with a smile. “Yours are nicer. This is the rock I like to sit on, it makes a sort of very low backed chair, see? So close to the water but I've never been splashed. Sometimes there are all sorts of insects and birds coming here too, if you don't move much.”

  “And there's room for me too?”

  “As long as you put your arm round me and sit close.”

  “There's more water than I expected,” Salay said, sitting on the edge of the stone, and trying not to sit too close to Hayeel. Stretching his legs out after he'd lowered himself onto the low rock was a bit of a problem, but he found it worked to put one foot beside Hayeel's and the other higher on the bank. “Why is there a stream here anyway?”

  “The same reason that the vegetation grows so well. No rain at all today makes it a rare day. Plus there's some funny rock layers. This seems to be the only stream draining the entire hillside, and as you see, it comes up here already big enough to feed the house. That's what those pipes are for, and then, near the gate, it vanishes.”

  “Goes under the gate you mean.”

  “You'd think so, wouldn't you? One of the neighbours told me differently. Apparently the only other stream on this hill is far smaller than this, and according to the neighbour, the previous owner had the idea that this one doubles back underground and comes out as a waterfall near the river. He built a little dam to see if he was right.”

  “And?”

  “And curious, I closed the sluice to test it and he was right. It's closed now, so if we peer over the cliff I'll show you no waterfall now, and waterfall tomorrow.”

  “That's why we're up here, not down in in the pool?”

  “That and so I can show you this spot. I wrote you quite a few pages here.”

  “And we've got to get up to the cliff-edge? Let's learn another dance then.”

  “You just like holding my waist.”

  “Do you object?” Salay asked. He would have withdrawn his hand, but Hayeel caught it an put it back.

  “It is a pleasant experience. As is having you near at all.”

  “It's very pleasant being near you, Hayeel. Are you sure what I feel isn't love?”

  “Love, I have heard, is not an emotion at all, but a series of decisions putting the other's best interests first, no matter the cost.”

  “Very philosophical.”

  “I heard it in Tesk, need I say more? The claim was then made that what's happening to you is no more that than just rearranging the priorities in your life to fit me into them and thoroughly enjoying the experience because you expect it to end up with marriage and intimacy and producing heirs. I'll happily tell them that they're wrong. Being the philosophy department they didn't ask for any input from thought-hearers.”

  “Do I dare ask for your analysis?”

  “You're falling in love, you enjoy falling in love, falling in love feels nice, and fills you with pleasurable hopes, holding my waist feels nice, me touching your waist and your shoulder feels nice and you wonder if touching me elsewhere is forbidden because it's nicer, or if you're just assuming it's nicer because it's forbidden us for the moment. But anyway the whole contact thing, especially me whispering it to you is giving you urges you're ashamed of me hearing, but reassure me that so far you don't think I'm ugly or deformed. And so I'm going to do this.” Taking her hand out of the cool water she put it on the back of his neck.

  He gasped at the shock, as she pulled his head towards hers. Their foreheads touched. “It wasn't quite a ice, but I want that kiss, Salay.”

  “You're sure?” He asked, afraid that she was just responding to his desire.

  “I've been fighting with myself all day about that challenge. I was dreaming about you lifting me off my feet and giving me kisses as soon as you got off the ship. But you were more restrained than that and I was much too restrained to fly into your arms. Those dreams were silly, but please, Salay, I want at a kiss daily if I may have one. But I'm not going to feel comfortable putting ice down your neck or pushing you into the pool for a long time.”

  “There's still that great barrier of respect for my title, you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “You know that's what lay behind my parents' suggestion.”

  “Yes.”

  “Despite the fact that you're a duchess and Taheela is a lady fifth-rank, neither of you feel like you'd belong among nobility if it wasn't for your job, do you?”

  “What do you think?” Hayeel asked, looking at the river.

  “You know what I think, surely.” Salay said.

  “I'm trying not to listen.”

  “I think you've got too much respect for titles for us to get married yet. Father said I was to tell you not to let me kiss you until you felt could do the ice. I think that's about me taking advantage of the respect thing to force kisses on you. I'm pretty sure you'd agree to marry if I asked, but you'd be agreeing because of my title, and because of the prophecy; because of your longing to make sense out of things. Not because it was actually you wanting to spend the rest of your life with me because you like me. Am I right?”

  Hesitantly, she nodded, and Salay continued “But having said all that, father didn't say anything about you forcing kisses on me. As long as the desire is from you.”

  “It's from both of us.” Hayeel said.

  “I got that impression too. But you are the one to decide when the desire for a kiss is greater than your respect for my title, my countess, not me. And you've also got to decide if your desire for a kiss is because you desperately want to be wanted or just because you want to kiss me.”

  “Stop analysing me, Salay.” Hayeel said, and then pulled him closer intending to make sure he couldn't say anything in reply. Off balance already, with his leg half-way up the bank, he started to topple towards her. His hand behind her was not much help, so he tried to put his other hand beside her. That hand gave him all the support that a pool of water can give — none until you get to the bottom. His arm was past his elbow when he stopped. The water was cold, he discovered again. He also discovered the gap he'd left for decency was entirely gone, and pressing against her even in such an inelegant position was quite a pleasant experience, and that Hayeel had a beautiful laugh, “Sorry, for laughing.” Hayeel said, “you just look so funny. Not to mention that you're thinking about body-contact when you're half-way to a total soaking.”

  “So, beloved and merry Hayeel, can I get out of this water without getting even wetter?”

  “Don't ask me to pull you out,” she giggled, “I'm pinned to my rock by my handsome prince and am almost falling in too.”

  “How almost?” Salay asked, trying to turn to look at her.

  “I'm not wearing the best dress for it, but I expect the future includes running back to the pool to jump in so we can get warm. Unless I push on you, I've nothing to help me sit upright.”

  “The water's a bit muddy here,” Salay said.

  “I noticed,” Hayeel said.

  “So if you push on me and I just get wet, then maybe we can save your dress.”

  “What about you?” Hayeel asked.

  “Hayeel, do you know what the advantages of an unornamented plain royal tunic made of white cloth are?”

  “Err... it stains really easily? Transparency when wet?”

  “Firstly, white cloth is quite a lot cheaper than patterned, secondly even I can make one, and thirdly, you can chuck it in a bucket of bleach and it comes out looking better. Not the same with your dress at all. Therefore, since neither of us are from the upper echelons of the central zone where rank matters, the only right thing to do is keep your beautiful dress dry, and let me get a bit wetter. Before my arm goes numb and I fall in anyway.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “You're serious aren't you?” Hayeel asked.

  “The only thing that makes me hesitant is that I don't get to hug you on the way down.”

  “You do if I make Taheela happy. Salay, please lift this hand to the ribbon in my hair.”

  “Hayeel!” Salay exclaimed, shocked.

  “If you're not ready, then just brace yourself for a swim.”

  “The water's not deep enough to swim.”

  “Will you untie my hair, Salay? I want you to.”

  “It's hardly the right time.”

  “No? Here you are, pressed across me, sacrificing yourself for my dress.”

  “Hayeel, it's far too soon.”

  “Do you reject me, then, Salay?”

  “No. But you just agreed there are all those other reasons getting in the way...”

  “There are those reasons to be happy to marry you. But you're not the only one with excited optimism.”

  “I want to be looking into your eyes as I untie your ribbon, Hayeel.”

  “Oh. That much delay I accept.”

  “But it's still too soon.”

  “No, Salay, it's not. I'm convinced we'll marry, you're convinced we'll marry. We're not ready to marry, but it's all decided that we will. And there's a name for a girl who still goes around with her hair up when she's agreed to an arranged marriage, at least in the poor-quarters.”

  “Is there?”

  “Yes. Halfie, as in half-agreed. Don't make me a halfie, please, Salay.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “Uncertainty, and looking for a way out. That they've agreed for their parent's sake but either her heart's not in it or the boy's isn't, and he or she hopes her parents will find some fault with the match, and think again and find a better offer. I find no fault in you, Salay, except that you sit too far from me, over-analyse and now you're refusing to undo my hair.”

  “Will I pull you in or get you wet if I just slide in?”

  “Slide? The other side's not that far away. And you might pull my dress in. Can't you roll?”

  “For you, I'll try all manner of things, Hayeel. But you'll need to push me.”

  “At my prince's request,”

  “Welcome, Esme, Hal.” Hayeel said.

  “Your hair is down,” Esme said.

  “Yes. Salay was reluctant to start with, but once I'd dunked him in the stream he came round to my way of thinking.”

  Saval interpreted that for Salay, who spluttered and said, “My Hayeel speaks some truth but hides truth by where she says it.”

  “How she says it,” Hayeel corrected. “More seriously, I value your prayers. Salay is convinced my emotions about him cannot be similar to his about me.”

  “They're not,” Esme said. “He feels a bit outraged about the way you spoke about him untying your hair, but like he needs to protect you, and you... well, I'll censor that shall I? But you probably ought to make time for marriage preparation classes first, Hayeel. You do need to get to understand each other better.”

  “My Salay thinks he understands my motivations, and assumes that because I'm naturally respectful he's never going to hear my opinions if they differ to his.”

  “That last sentence ought to disabuse him of that,” Hal said, smiling.

  Salay smiled too, and motioned Saval to interpret. “My Hayeel has opinions. But she wrote saying that she wanted to get to know me and have a totally free choice. Earlier she asked that we not rush off to Tesk to allow everyone time to recover from our journey, but she asked me in a way that I understood she wanted time for us to be together too, to get to know each other before being too busy. I don't know Hayeel very well, I don't know how she'll react to different things. But she is respectful and guards herself well, and she has done things that were incredibly unpleasant things, without murmur of complaint, because she felt she had no alternative. I don't want her to think that an eventual marriage is in that category.”

  “My prince you are allowing romance to blind you to reality,” Hayeel snapped at Salay, “If I don't marry you, then the prophecy says the sun will destroy. Of course I have no choice, but I could have some choice about when, I hope, but..” She paused in her tirade to give Saval a chance to translate, and then switching languages explained to Hal and Esme. “But my prince thinks that to 'ensure I have what choice I can', he must resist my exercising it! He resisted even untying my hair, as though there was some doubt that he wanted me or I him! What sort of freedom does he give me? Is the only option he'll give me the unpleasant one of waiting until I'm almost too old for children before he'll marry me, just to make sure of what I think isn't from him? Dear God, let Salay know that what I'm saying isn't from him, that what I'm thinking is from me, please! And let my children know one grandfather!”

  “I humbly ask to be excused from translating this outburst, my prince, countess.” Saval said, as Salay looked to him for a translation.

  “The good translator must sometimes be brave, Saval,” Hayeel replied.

  “Is it too late to become a good bricklayer instead?”

  “I think I understood about a third of it.” Salay said. “You refuse to tell me what you said, Hayeel?”

  “Not at all, my prince,” Hayeel said warmly, and without a sign of the emotion that she'd just expressed. “just I thought it would be another prefect opportunity to educate.”

  “Another?”

  “Was my unguarded, unrestrained outburst and lack of decorum not educational, my prince? Which me do you prefer? You need not worry about Esme's opinion, she knows all about shocking people she's just met with a well-timed lack of decorum.”

  “Saval, I don't think duchess Hayeel lost her mind, please translate what she said.”

  “May I summarise?” Saval asked. “Her grace described your desire to give her space as resisting her freedom to choose on timings. She ah, expressed concern that you might be so concerned to hear her thoughts uninfluenced by yours that you'd delay your marriage until only the unpleasant option of waiting almost past child-bearing age was available. She took exception to your resisting untying her hair when she asked you to, and then prayed that God would allow you to know that what she says is from her not from you, and asked God that her children might know one grandfather.”

  “Unlike me,” Hayeel added for clarity. “But what you do not know, confused Saval, is that just before my outburst Salay wished he could hear the shockingly open and honest me that he heard in my letters to him, and I thought that to Esme before I let my unrestrained self loose, as I am thinking the translation to her now of what I'm saying.”

  “I am educated,” Salay say. “I need to be careful what I wish for, don't I?”

  “That depends what you want, my kind Salay.”

  “Could someone explain to me the significance of untying a woman's hair?” Hal asked.

  “When my hair was tied up, that meant that I am a modest young woman who does not use her alluring hair to attract male attention. By asking Salay to untie it, I am saying to him I am happy to marry him, and to the world that we have talked of marriage and that my thoughts are turning to questions of attraction and keeping his attention focussed on me, and we are not keeping secrets from each other.

  "If he had refused, he would be saying he was not ready to make that commitment yet. In an arranged marriage if the girl's hair stays up it means that one party doesn't know or isn't happy with the arrangement. Some time, Salay will offer me a necklace, and I will allow him to put it around my neck, and I will put one around his. That says that the marriage date has been agreed and we are starting to pool our possessions.”

  “Thank you,” Hal said. “You have demonstrated your ability to share secrets, I think.”

  “Possibly more shockingly than Salay expected.” Hayeel said, “I apologise for any offence ”

  “I am not offended,” Salay said, “But a little shocked, yes, and indeed educated. I need to be careful what I ask for, don't I?”

  “All I ask is that you understand that when you ask for my opinion I will give it, Salay. And when we are alone I will try to ignore your title and be as forthright as you would wish. Just because we agree, it does not mean that I am reflecting your thoughts.”

  “I have been a source of much frustration to you today, haven't I? Sorry.”

  Eyes laughing she asked, “would you prefer honesty or diplomacy this time, Salay? Or may I ask Saval to turn away so he is not shocked even more?”

  “What of our guests?”

  “Almost on this very spot Esme shocked me, so it's entirely appropriate. And Esme knows what I'm planning anyway, Salay.”

  “I expect I do too, my shocking Hayeel, But it's time to talk on the radio.”

  “Then I beg you to ask Saval to lead the way, my prince.”

  “It seems Hayeel wishes a private word, Saval, please escort our guests to the radio room.”

  “Certainly, my prince,” Saval said.

  “You have upset Saval,” Salay said.

  “He thinks that I dishonour the princess-regent and crown-price by taking liberties I should not in their presence. He forgets that they are my closest friends here, and they would be far more offended by strict protocol than by any openness.”

  “And what did you wish to say to me, Hayeel?”

  “That I wish to know you better before we marry. And I want to give you this as a thank you for your understanding.” As she kissed him, he felt something being put down his neck; a piece of paper. “The paper says 'ice' on it, doesn't it?” Salay asked, holding Hayeel's waist.

  “Among other shocking things.”

  “First icy fingers and then that?” Smiling, he kissed her and said, “I'd better read it on the way so I can tell my parents, hadn't I?”

  “Summarise, please, or you might shock Saval beyond reason. He has not had to escape from noble daughters competing to show their flesh at him, I'm sure, and I am not fulfilling his expectations for how a godly woman should behave.”

  “I don't know what I expected.”

  LL“I expect the longer we delay, the worse Saval's opinion of me will grow, my Salay. Let's go the back way.”

  “The back way?”

  “Whoever designed this place thought servant's stairs and corridors were a good use of space. This way.”

  “'Ice and other obstacles to overcome before we marry?'” he read.

  “Honest opinions, Salay. Perhaps 'conversation topics' would be a better title. Feel free to add some things to the list.”

  “Now I see why the paper was larger than most people would write 'ice' on.” Salay said. “It's quite a long list.”

  “Not at several a day it's not,” Hayeel corrected. “Even at one a day it's not even a month's worth. But I think when we've discussed all those things, even allowing some of them to come back multiple times, I'm going to feel like I know you quite well.”

  “Not to mention all sorts of hopes and wishes. What's 'Snoring, nose picking and any other irritations'?” Salay read.

  “A suggestion from Taheela a few weeks ago. How do we expect we'll react; bottle it up, nag, that sort of thing. And is that acceptable or wise?”

  “May I say, Hayeel, that you've astounded me again?”

  “I'm sure you may. I just like writing things down so I don't forget them.”

  “You're organised. Good trait for an empress.”

  “Yes. We need to talk about that too. What's my expected role here, there, and at different times of life. I thought about that the other day. Did it get on there?”

  “I don't see it.”

  “Sorry for the incomplete list, Salay. See? I'm not perfect.”

  “Just beautiful, clever and amazing.”

  “I'm happy we're going to get married too, Salay. Is the date my choice?”

  “Since I'm allowed to add items to this list. Yes.”

  “Sneaky man. Joint decision once you've added more discussion topics than me.”

  “What about non-discussions? Like I think I need to visit Tesk.”

  “Can you explain why that has to happen while we need separate cabins?”

  Salay looked at her in shock. “Oh. Vastly different assumptions.”

  “You said you had your father's permission for us to marry, Salay,” Hayeel said, not hiding the betrayal she felt.

  “I do. I'd assumed, wrongly, that if we need to go back to the empire, that meant... Sorry, Hayeel. You say where and when we marry as long as we can discuss implications.”

  “That's why you were thinking we'd need loads more topics that could be overheard.”

  “Yes, for the journey home.”

  “My sister is here, her family is here, my friends are here, my church is here. I know I've only been here half a year, but...”

  “It feels more like home than your tiny student's room?”

  “Yes. How do you know about my room?”

  “I'm not sure. It just came to mind. I've never thought to ask how big your room was but I know you wrote about when you got it.”

  “Interesting! Maybe it's just coincidence. But we're here.”