“Shall we eat husband?”

Staring down at the woman, and the table lined with food in the middle of my office, I had to bite my tongue to silence myself.

“I'll go handle that thing...” Jamthi said with a snicker.

“Ah! I mean. Same. Very busy...” Sarley too, quickly joined him, and as I turned to yell at them, the two had hurried out and escaped.

Their foolish laughs could be heard for awhile down the hall, so I simply slammed shut my office door.

“Is it so strange to eat? Or perchance did you just eat, and they're laughing because of that?”

Taking a deep breath, I turned around and did a once over of the room. Luckily she was alone. If someone else had been in here, I would have blamed them entirely...

“I have not eaten yet, no,” I said plainly.

She didn't just get a table, but a set of chairs... even a candle. Who had prepared this? Why in my office? Why not just take me to one of the dining areas?

“Good! Everything's still warm. And fresh! Tiana was very nice and prepared it all herself!” she said proudly.

Tiana?

I quickly ran down a list of cooks in my head, but couldn't quite place it. I knew her name, but couldn't immediately think of a face or which station she worked.

Didn't matter, I'd find out after this.

Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I wondered who I should exile first.

Jamthi? Didn't want to seem like I was favoring him, so it had to be him first. To set an example of course. Was going to have to be to extra punishing too, whatever I did.

Then Sarley... then this Tiana, then...

Or maybe I should just exile myself, save all the trouble of paperwork and...

A clatter of plates drew my attention away from my plans of exile, and I looked down to see that she was setting a plate for me.

Even going so far as to get the food ready for me, as if I was some child and she my mother.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Huh?” she paused in the middle of trying to cut off a piece of skin from a slice of meat.

She looked down to what she was doing, and then back up at me. “Was just... trying to prepare it,” she said, and I waved her back.

Sitting down across from her, I sighed and grabbed my own fork and knife. “You don't remove the skin. That's the best part of this dish. It's where all the flavor is,” I said.

“Oh...” she softly said, sitting back down in her own chair. The look on her face told me she hadn't known, and had been somewhat embarrassed by it.

“It's not your fault,” I said.

“Of course it isn't. I didn't know, I've never eaten it before... but it's still embarrassing,” she said as she went to preparing her own plate.

The platter of food in the center of the table didn't just have meat, but even fish. Considering our fish stockpiles are nearly empty, someone had gone all out on this.

That meant that this Tiana cook wasn't the mastermind. It must have been Jamthi or Sarley.

A standard cook wouldn’t have the gall to use such precious resources just to perform a stale joke.

“I uh... I asked to eat, but I told him I wanted to eat with you. But then he said something about eating in a restaurant, but I didn't want to eat around other people... and one thing led to another,” she started to explain, as if for once she was actually ashamed of her actions.

“Jamthi then,” I understood.

“Jamthi? What about him?”

“This was his idea?” I said, pointing my knife around the table.

“Nope?”

“Then whose...?” There really wasn't anyone else who could just do this, at least not without permission...

“Yevin’s,” she said with a smile.

The answer didn't just shock me… it nearly made me lose my appetite.

My fists fell to the table, and I groaned.

Mutiny. I had a mutiny on my hands.

To think even Yevin would go so far...

He had been the one man I hadn't even thought capable. What the hell was going on here?

“He's such a kind man. Maybe having such a huge body means a huge heart?” she asked herself as she began to eat.

“That man could kill you in his sleep, and he'd think it was a good dream,” I grumbled.

“That's an odd way to compliment your friend,” she laughed.

“I wasn't giving one?”

While she studied me, I studied the nearby bottle of wine. It wasn't anywhere near as fancy or expensive as the one she had drank the other night, but it was also one of the known favorites of the women.

Was this Yevin's idea too? Maybe he was a...

Wait.

Yevin?

“You said Tiana?” I asked.

“Huh? Yeah. She was so sweet. Her and Yevin helped me,” she said.

Cold understanding dawned on me, and I felt like an idiot. That was why I couldn't remember a cook.

She wasn't a cook.

It was Yevin's apprentice.

That jerk introduced her to this woman before me? Properly?

I seriously needed to sit down and rethink my chain of command...

“I don't know the name of these things, but I love them,” she said as she stuffed her face with something.

Glancing to the small bowl of fruit, I felt my eye twitch at the sight of a Fruit of Taste.

“And how exactly do you even know what those taste like?” I asked.

“Sarley got us some last night,” she said happily.

Of course she did.

I dropped my knife and fork, feeling completely defeated and lost. My appetite was both gone, and my hope had been devoured completely.

“What's wrong?” she asked, seeing my actions.

“You've poisoned my people, and it's made me sick,” I said.

She laughed a little, as if it was anything to laugh about. “Poison? How so?”

I have no idea. It made no sense, but it was the only explanation.

Gesturing mindlessly, I simply sat back and watched her eat. Although she seemed a little concerned over my lack of eating, she by no means slowed her own.

“Do you not like it? I had asked them to get stuff you like,” she said.

“I actually do. I particularly like those fruits,” I said, pointing to the bowl that was already half empty.

“Oh... well those are mine,” she said, pulling the bowl closer to her.

“Are they now?”

“Well I asked for those...”

“And I bought them. Or rather the tree they grow from,” I said.

With that being said, I decided I was indeed a little hungry. Hungry for the food she liked the most. Or rather, the food she wanted to eat at this moment.

Reaching over, I slid my hand in-between hers as she tried to block me. Easily picking out the largest piece, I proudly pulled it back and showed it off to her.

Plopping it into my mouth, I barely noticed its sweet taste, and instead noticed the way she glared at me.

“If you have the tree, then you should share. You get to eat them all the time then,” she argued.

“Not my fault you don't have a tree,” I said with a shrug.

“A good husband would give it to me. As a gift,” she then said.

“The whole tree...?” I asked, shocked by her.

“Yeah? What else would you give?”

“Most women would just ask for the fruit, or what's left in the bowl... least in this situation,” I said with a point to said bowl.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Then they're dumb. Especially since you probably have more than one tree anyway.”

I flinched at that, and wished I did indeed have another.

“What? You don't?” she asked in surprise.

“No... I had three, but only one lived. The other two withered. It was tragic,” I groaned, hating the memory.

“Oh... Indeed. That is tragic. I'm sorry,” she said, taking another bite of the fruit.

Rubbing my eyes again, more so thanks to the annoying woman than the painful memory, I was surprised to open them and see a piece of fruit.

Being extended across the table, she was offering what looked to be one of the last pieces to me. And doing so with a rather stern face.

“You really don't want to share it do you?” I asked.

“No. I don't. I've never eaten anything like it, and might not ever get to again,” she honestly said.

For a brief moment, I studied her, and then waved her off. “You can have it,” I said.

A brief, but happy, smile showcased itself on her face before she went ahead and ate it.

She didn't even think twice about it...

The young woman swayed a little as she chewed the fruit, and I recognized it from the last night when she had been enjoying my most expensive spirit.

So it hadn't been the alcohol, but simply her mannerisms. Something she did when she was in bliss, maybe?

I didn't smell any alcohol on her breath, or in the room, and the only bottle of it... at least that was accessible by her, was still firmly sealed and on the table.

Taking that into account, I realized that she had indeed waited to eat... for me.

She had empty plates before her, and empty plates on my side when I had entered. Then she filled them.

Was it just gentle courtesy, or was it her culture that was engrained into her, I wonder?

“These are good too,” she then said as she took a bite out of the fish.

“So I've heard,” I said.

Reaching over, I grabbed the bottle of wine and readied it. I poured her a small glass first, then myself.

Staring at me as I filled the glasses, she seemed unsure as I even went so far as to reach over and place her glass right next to her. So she wouldn't have to reach over the table, and near the candle.

“Thought you didn't want me to drink?” she asked.

“Heard that?” I asked.

“Sarley told me.”

“You can give it back if you want,” I said.

“No way,” she quickly said and took a small drink.

As she did so, I watched her face as she studied the taste... and I enjoyed watching her decide if she liked it or not.

“Not as good as the other one, but it's real tasty. Why does it taste so...” she stopped speaking to take another drink.

“This one's made from fruit. It's more... fruity,” I said, and hated how silly that sounded. That made no sense.

“From fruit? Like this stuff?” she asked as she pointed to the nearby bowl.

“Kind of. Not from that particular one though, one tree doesn't make enough for that,” I said.

“Ah... that's too bad. I bet it would have tasted amazing,” she said as she took another sip.

“Yea... it would have,” I agreed.

A few minutes passed as she ate. She ate quickly, almost to the point where in some circles she would have been seen as uncultured... but I knew it wasn't because she had no manners.

She ate fast, because she really was hungry. And to top it all off, was enjoying what she was eating.

Right now, at this moment, the young woman in front of me was both happy to be alive... and excited for more.

Although there was a full plate of food before me, I only ate sparingly. A part of me wanted to eat more... but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was more interested in watching her satiate herself, than my own hunger.

“What's your name by the way?” I asked her.

A piece of meat that just got put into her mouth only got one full second of chewing before she stopped.

“Huh?” she mumbled with food in her mouth.

I waved at her to finish, and she quickly did. Wiping her mouth off with a napkin she, I watched as she then glared at me. “You forgot my name?” she asked.

The way she asked it told me she wasn't just hurt... she was annoyed.

I had interrupted her for such a stupid reason? Her annoyance at it was written all over her face.

“Telleya,” I said.

She blinked, somewhat surprised. “Oh. You didn't. Then why ask?” she asked as she went back to cutting more meat.

“Don't you have more? To your name? Or is that it?” I asked.

“More? You mean Derri?”

I shook my head and wondered if maybe to her people, last or extra names were just whatever their Houses were.

“So you're Telleya Derri,” I said.

She nodded as she took another bite.

Expecting her to keep on eating, I was surprised when she decided to put her utensils down and focus on me instead.

“And you're...?”

“Noth. Just Noth. Noth of the Front-Line, if you want to get technical,” I said.

“So you're like that too? Why ask then?” she asked.

“Not everyone is like us. There are many people here who have very long and technical names. Ask Yevin his full name one day, you'll see what I mean,” I said.

If he'd even tell you.

She smiled, happily amused. “Speaking of names... did you choose the name of your Line yourself?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Why the Front-Line then?” she asked.

“What's wrong with it?”

“Well... Nothing I guess. I just don't get it. I've heard the other Lines are called differently. Like the one that frequented us was called Tempest,” she reasoned.

“Tempest does sound like a cool name,” I agreed.

“So why Front? Front what?”

I shook my head. “That's just it. It is the Front. The front Line. It doesn't mean anything else,” I said.

She frowned, disappointed.

“Yep, sorry,” I said.

“Can you rename it?”

I coughed, and nearly had to take a drink. “The Line? Heavens no. Impossible.”

“That's too bad,” she said, and took a drink herself.

“Bad,” I grumbled.

“I'd have named it something neat. Like Sandster, or the Sand of the Line... Line in the Sand?” she said, amusing herself.

“And what will you do when you leave the sands?” I asked.

“What will you do when you're not in the front of the rest of the Lines?” she asked back.

“Get to the front I guess...”

“Just as I'd get back to the sands?” she argued.

I had to pour more wine into my glass, since she had caused me to drink it all.

“Don't I get more?” she asked.

“Your glass isn't even empty,” I said.

“But it's not full either.”

Shaking my head, I reached over and poured some more into hers as well.

“Thank you. And so, why did you let your people vote on our marriage?” she then asked.

“And who told you that one...?” I groaned.

“First? Sarley. After that? Well... Yevin, some random child, then a pair of women... and,” she actually started to recount them all, but I just put my hand up and surrendered.

“What's wrong with letting them vote?”

“They voted against you, for one,” she said.

“So if you had been the Lord of this Line, you'd not have allowed them a vote?” I asked.

Her eyes went a little wide, and she suddenly sat up straight... as if I had just asked her a question that made her doubt her entire being.

Spending far longer than normal to think of an answer, she coughed when she finally found one. “No. I might not have,” she said.

“I see.”

“But! But...” She coughed again, and took a drink. Had her throat gone dry? “Not because I wouldn't value their input... but because I would have been me. And you would have been you. If you had been a son of Derri, and I a daughter of the Line... I'd... I'd not have wanted to. I would not have been willing to risk it,” she said.

It was my turn to sit in silence for a moment, as I pondered her words.

“I see,” I finally said. “So you're saying I should have said no, because you're too dangerous?” I asked.

She shook her head, but then eventually nodded. “Kind of... but a man... A son of Derri? He would have been cruel. They are cruel. Why would I willing put myself in that position, when I wouldn't need to?” she asked both herself and me.

“True. The world possesses different dangers for women than it does men,” I said.

She only nodded, saying nothing more.

“Quite a thought isn't it,” I added.

“Thought...?”

I pointed to myself, then at her. “You're thinking what it'd be like being the owner of the Line, aren't you? It's definitely one that gets the brain going, isn't it?” I asked.

“Oh... yes. It is. That easy to tell?” she asked.

“Everyone does it. Even Yevin did it once,” I said.

“What'd he say?” she asked.

“Make the hallways bigger,” I said.

She had to put her glass down as she laughed, and the way she did it made me smile. It took all of her effort to do so, and she only barely succeeded.

While she snickered away, trying her best to calm herself, I realized that in moments like these she was somewhat adorable. It was too bad she was such a thorn in my side.

It was too bad I already decided to pity and hate her. I could have even come to like her, otherwise.

Finally collecting herself, she released a deep and pained sigh. “He definitely would say that,” she agreed.

I nodded, and decided to not describe the face he had made at the time. She'd only spill her drink from laughing harder.

Staying silent as she took a drink, I waited for her to calm herself down completely before I went ahead and asked my next question.

“How old are you?” she then asked before I could ask my own.

“Probably not much older than you. Old enough, but still young I guess,” I said.

“That's a horrible answer. I'll just ask Jamthi,” she said.

“Go ahead.”

She frowned, but dropped it. “Are you good with magic?” she asked.

“Isn't it obvious?” I asked back, gesturing to the Line around us.

“Where'd you get the Front-Line?”

“I found it,” I said.

Her frowning continued, and I could tell she wanted to know more, but probably knew better than to ask... Or realized, even if I told her, she'd not know where it was anyway.

“How many languages do you speak? Or read?” she asked.

“Several...?” I asked back.

That was an odd one. Not many people needed to learn or study other languages anymore... not with the Lines able to translate for them. Or the fact that everyone who doesn’t live on a Line doesn’t need to learn more than one anyway.

“Do you know how to sing?” she then asked.

Now that one gave me pause, and she happily smiled upon noticing my hesitation.

“You're asking a lot of personal questions,” I said.

“You started it.”

“I only wanted to verify your name, in case I had to formally introduce you to an elder or something,” I corrected.

“And if I'm to be your wife I should know these things. Shouldn't I?” she asked back.

“Why should you? By the time it matters this will all be done and over with, and the Front-Line will be long gone,” I said.

Although I had been speaking realistically... I had also not meant any ill-will behind my words.

Sadly however, it seems she had not taken it that way.

“So... I don't get to choose if I can leave with you or not?” she asked softly.

A long moment passed as I stared past the candle, and into her eyes. They looked sad... almost hurt, and even though I knew some of it was the mood, and the alcohol, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

“You're not my slave. I don't care what your elders say. You're free to do as you please,” I said, and stood from my seat.

Putting my glass down, I gestured to the table. “Thank you. It was good... Have Jamthi or someone clean it up, and then I suggest you get some sleep. Elders from the House of Brillo and Markith will be here in the morning,” I said.

Telleya said nothing, only stared at me as I turned and headed for the door.

Leaving the Office was easy... but walking past Jamthi and Sarley, and their weird smiles, without letting them see the trouble I withheld on my face wasn't. “Clean it up and get her to bed,” I said to them.

“Your bed or hers?” Jamthi teased as I passed.

Although normally I would have glared at him, or at least teased him back... I instead had to keep walking.

I had to.

I couldn't allow them to see how troubled his words had made me.