page 207 (a teaser chapter from published novel)875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5oRgWVcYm
"Now don't you just be a pretty one, sailor man!" A wispy young girl of indiscernible age swiveled seductively about Rhynn as he stood in a swab's costume Nicoli managed to rummage together off a closet's shelf pressed among masquerade masks and harlequin jackets, glittery fairy wings and furry-trimmed tulle gowns. Rhynn stared at the girl.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIfdl1K5BR
Sailor...so the disguise works875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZrYmrlWsI
"But you don't smell of salty air or boiler room sweat." The girl's nose brushed across Rhynn's back and her breath tickled his ear. He shuddered. His scalp sweated icy chills beneath tattered gingham kerchief tied in knots at his temples. "Maybe you swab topside the king's pretty yacht, is why you smell so...different."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVVETdVAkv
How can you tell what I smell like, girl for this hovel smells of soapy ammonia and stale potpourri in a poor attempt at disguising the base scent of grime and man!875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL7RoKMj7t
Cigarette smoke wafts in the air creating ghostly apparitions in candles' dim glow. Voices spoken softly and low as muffled grumbles rise and fall farom long chaises scattered about the room's partitions. Laughter evaporates as cheap champagnes' bubbles in thick air as response to a comment just as quickly forgotten. Maroon damask tapestries shut out day's light keeping the mood of nighttime in and absorbing all secrets to woven silence.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj39FebyqDM
Time is money to you, after all. But my time is wasting!875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsEbFkKXHj
Rhynn grasped the girl's fluttering wrist as her hand rose to tease at the kerchief's knot. The thinness of her bones shocked him and her skin looks sheer as vellum and feels fragile as rice paper. He fears her brittle fingers might shatter in his grasp as balsawood sticks splinter.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTGoTZM2kR
The girl gasped feebly and stiffened.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pTJjaFMU8
"Stop dancing!"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQROm8lux7U
Rhynn gentled his command to a whispering plea, "Take me to a room."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKjjwhNFfP
"Ah, sailor-man gets right to the point, I see." Rhynn did not let got the girls' wrist for he intended to examine the dermis binding muscle and tendon or if any tissue at all should lie along such a porous shaft. But he needs light.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U50bLdc4J
Daylight875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJQB2qNE5h
It took some moments for Rhynn's eyes to adjust to the darkness as he followed the cat-eyed girl haltingly at first letting his free hand sweep the wall as their feet swept carpeted hallway past doors shut tight against sport misconstrued as romance-in-dance.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA6EGeEH6E
The door closed. And latched shut with a snick as bolt fell into bracket. Rhynn blinked, searching the darkness for furnishing, candlelight, or window where curtains might hang waiting to be swished aside letting sun in exposing all.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAuL8GXvPG
"It's dark in here!" hissed Rhynn. Then remembering the root of his task spoke more gently to working-girl. "Take me to the window, Miss...what is your name pray tell, so I may treat you properly as a well-named beauty should be treated just as beautifully?" Rhynn's lips brushed her temple feeling a fine pin-feathery tendril tickle his nose.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6oumolWhC
Ah, sailor-man speaks flattery but his hand hurts my bone...why is he clasping as one hungry?875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz9PG2bazE
"Tell you mine if you tell me yours!" teased wispy breath against stubbly cheek.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFJNHlHNtm
"Jaguar"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWFAozAi4u
"I am Lilli."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6uJxAnKOm
In that moment shady frames of a shabby iron-frame bed feebly supporting sagging springs standing next a small vanity came into dim view. A simple childlike drawing depicting sheep grazing in pasture hangs by a wide ribbon from a hook in the wall. No chairs occupy either side of the bed but a little tufted stool sits apologetically before a mirror seeping its silver. Rhynn counted to five the number of vessels containing turpentine-based chemicals camouflaged as Cologne Splash lined up in gouche glass bottles topped with pewter screw-off caps.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOQzHQYg69
Pathetic...so not Mother's gem-encrusted-sphere-topped-bevel-chiseled crystal decanters holding Stephan's oils so purely ethereal875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNnZRMRy5O
Rhynn smells musty cloth. 875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvHyHCM2sQ
In one swift step he pushed Lille against the windowsill holding her there with his thigh firmly pressing into her back so as to ensure no escape. Lilli's eyes grew startled and searched Rhynn's face for a leading expression as to where this encounter might go...and end.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH7M0NL5rJ
Rhynn reached for the swag and in one swift grip of his hand yanked at the babric dangling from tin rod resting in tin brackets ripping the entire ensemble from the wall. Bits of plaster and dust flew to the floor following the clatter and clang of cheap hollow hardware bouncing upon old burnished plank.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcIlnO0xDH
Lilli gasped.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkwkYQEnDd
Rhynn stares.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFU9mHnjYp
The room remained in darkness for a sheet of black tar paper nailed to the wall shuttered out sun's brilliance trapping darkness inside.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpO5PolePv
"Do you know what day looks like, Lilli?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8jRe4zhO6
"I don't know what time it is...what means...how you say...day?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBSxWzQqOK
"Look closely because you are about to find out!" Faster than light travels Rhynn freed the pane of its tar paper captor exposing a blast of dazzling sunlight, sheer high-noon-blue skies, wispy angel-hair clouds and green trees hosting songbirds trilling unabashed and free on branches.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHO2gqViSd
Lilli blinked. Then she gazed out at a whole new world with eyes wide in utter wonderment.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YiyXALiTV
Rhynn studied Lille.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2q6OmA9zM
You are young, girl, and your skin is transparent, nearly clear showing veins barely trickling heme-leached plasma seeking oxygen in pure-air-starved lungs. Your eyes show as boiled yolks floating in pale albumin. Your bones are fragile as thin glass for no sunlight is allowed on your skin. I will rescue from deathly deficiencies but I need something from you in trade.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKsqltv5lm
Rhynn looked out the window and saw far off to yard's distant side three fat women in brown aprons with their heads bound in scarves fastening laundered sheets on lines with stout wooden pegs. Nothing but sheets hung from wire lines facing sun's warmth. Lines yanked along squealing pulleys roll out bleached sheets hanging to flap in day's floating breezes.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtgMMypW1K
And hundreds of sundried sheets washed-clean of secrets exhaled in passions' selfish feast stuff rattan baskets hauled inside to unload...and load875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUrmRufD3x
"Lilli? I need something."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05x100bwV3
The girl stilled her breath as if standing on the brink of a spell about to be broken.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HG06wpdbe
"Would you happen to know of a man named Ravenz?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ4tYulB7b
"What?" Lilli's face registered disbelief and surprise at Rhynn's obtuse question. "What should this Ravenz man look like, if perhaps he wasn't as generous as you in telling me his name?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wRZPRENVD
"He would look exactly as me, if one of us were to look in the mirror seeing his duplicate reflection looking back."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CyquzUaQ7
Lillie simply looked at Rhiynn's face with a passive expression of her own not giving away any hint at all of having engaged any such person.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsgQ2tHgoT
The girl is good, mused Rhynn, and she plays her role well keeping the characters as just mannequins bouncing through their pitifully-sad dramas upon her narrow stinking stage keeping time to the squeals of tired springs' protest...unceasing...875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZo9Ekgs5i
"Jaguar?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tPgJULduN
Rhynn bent his head closer to her face in a pretend-effort meant to encourage forthcoming admission.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh0fkeUjQu
Who are you, Jaguar man, with your sailor eyes of such hue as I have never seen in any face in all my living hours? It will be this memory of your face looking at me as I behold it now that I will transpose over all others coning after.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAGQndhHbm
Lilli laughed. Out loud, loudly laughing as a baby giggles just discover its toes. As clear as glass bells tinkling does honest pure laughter ring in the room rounding all walls filling ceiling's every crack.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCU9JWi4Xg
Rhynn did not blink waiting where he stands before window holdg his pose pinning Lilli where she laughs.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IZb2PWlZu
Sobriety follows hilarity eventually.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW1ZSYgs4N
"No, Jaguar, sir, I have not seen this man, Ravenz whom you seek. A man reflecting identical beauty as you display in your singular self has no need hiring my services for he is far blessed in the way of getting all this for free."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFztKDaKcOd
Of course, she must be right in this thinking. If Ravenz is in me as my father believes then why in Heaven's name would I seek anwers in a place such as this...unless...there are two of us...but then, as she rightfully states, "why?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCFUbpG3ji
Time has come, Lille." Rhynn softened his grip on the girl's wrist but not his capturing stance. Instead, he tenderly massaged the red marks his fingers imprinted on her frail wrist and thin palm holding her hand in his as if precious rare bisque rests there.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROMrPatUnV
Lilli's eyelids softened their wide-open tight muscular hold to that of dreamily-gazing one might interpret in any other as longing.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0sebD5mdQ
A silver coin glinted before Lilli's eyes briefly shattering the edges of a dream forming.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRLVjhqfml
"What's that?'875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXNVb1XWQF
"It is fair payment for truth, is all."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqfHlaf94e
Lilli reached for the coin proffered by Rhynn's hand. Her eyes studied each side front and back and all around the engraved circular edge as if never seeing such an object ever before.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSYm4dzQWy
"This is my first time seeing this thing you name payment-coin." Her entranced voice trailed away to a feathery whisper barely audible.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyAMlZktXa
"How so, Lilli? You work here, right?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJXRSNDg6q
"Clients always pay the man sitting in the closet at the entranceway, from sidewalk steps coming up from outside."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi04DJrUeo
Rhynn pressed the coin into Lilli's palm enclosing her bony fingers about it one by one. Clasping this balled-up sickly fist in his, Rhynn steered the meek girl free of his capturing pose to cross filthy bedchamber floor through doorway down hallway past others locked, through front doorway into brilliant sunlight so blinding to Lilli's weak eyes that her body slumps the length of his sliding straight to stone portico threatening a tumbling and clattering of all her bones to heap at steps end.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNavN3BJPMD
Rhynn swept down catching Lilli up in his arms. Her head dangled backward and bobs lifeless showing knotty bones in her white skinny neck. Slender pale arms hang like chicken bones at her sides. Nubby knobbed knees point skyward. Her feet turn in not particular direction at all but flop to the rhythm of Rhynn's steps as leaves flutter down a street in afternoon breeze.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqDSslpHpg
Dubai sits waiting patiently in Kings Carriage strumming an old mandolin he spotted hanging on a merchant's wall. It had taken some doing to finely tune its tatty strings but soon enough the instrument's voice rang clear and true. The king's driver is lost to a state of poetic music-making when a door burst open and calamity happening on the stoop splinters his trance.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdX93MOPwlX
"Good gracious, Rhynn! What is the meaning of this? You insisted I bring you to this place in disguise and now you run out the front door with...with..."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNU4z61byT
"Lilli just fainted in the sunlight, is all. Her eyes are weak from lack of seeing it! Make way for her in my father's coach, good driver! Don't argue!"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pocbj3YUI
Dubai race to the king's side even before the pretend-swab's sandals reached the bottom step. Quickly gathering the girl's arms to cross her chest he reached to steady her bobbing head in his hands.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmqrc817DK
Dubai's heart lurched at the sight of Lilli's wan face.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpohkvT6iV
"What goes on here , Fhynn I mean..."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs04CjjgOe
"All the wrong things go on here that will come to a halt by hour's end! It is the meaning of my first order of business in the office I've inherited as is my intent of carrying forth Father's...King Breretyn's great reconstruction plans. Now, open the carriage door and listen carefully to my words! Follow my instructions exactly as I give them! Understand me so far, Dubai?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxhEPOS6U6
"Of course! I hear well! Now tell me, what am I to do with ...with this girl?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEWir67Fo7
"Take Lilli to Mountainwing's west side and carry her from carriage to the chamber of Lady Constance. Lady Constance is to draw Lilli a bath foaming with oils poured from vials only she knows where to find. Then seek Lady Penelope, a seamstress needling in tailors' north quarter as she has dresses hanging-in-wait. Request two or three! With lace! Stop by the kitchen on your way back fetching broth from middle steaming cauldron. And take a spoon!" With a final fling of the old gingham kerchief onto the carriage floor Rhynn ran his fingers over his scalp tousling scrunched wavy curls to life.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDoJAMzn5e
"Now, go!"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjH8G7Aauf
"But what about you, Rhynn, Your Maj..."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxjEonMhNF
"I've got something to find yet for it wasn't in this place . But Lilli's life could end here if you don't hasten! Rhynn slapped at the team's hinds causing a whinnying response in horses' turn-away to the highway leading to ultimate farytale castle on magnificent green hilltop.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VAjwbD9YR
Lilli slowly came unto wakefulness in cooling shade of the carriage's canopy feeling the gentle jostling of wheels turning on gravely roadway wondering at the meaning of this dream she floats in.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu8zEuMakL
What of this scent...these smells...something like flowers in air so light and void of cigarettes' stale smoke and candlewax melting? And what is that sound like music's notes but not quite? It's like a song warbled but not by one's voice...I must see the cause of such sweet noise.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzT8BUT9hP
Lilli opened her eyes to see birds in joyful flight high above a stranger's head; driver Dubai sitting tall in the driver's seat holding reins so elegantly guiding horses.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4b6Seb1M2
Guiding horses!875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWNiW6mwVB
"Who are you and why am I here...lying in this thing? Where are you taking me and what happened to the sailor man, Jaguar I was with just then?" Lilli felt muscles' cramp paining her balled-up fingers so released their hold to reveal Rhynn's gleaming silver coin.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgL8TZPJjX
"I would be one going by the name of Dubai, Miss! I have been instructed to take you to Mountainwing's west suites where Lady Constance will tend to your immediate needs. You will be bathed and clothed in a new dress with lace, and nourished with a nice rich broth extracted from kitchen's steaming middle cauldron. Tiz duck today, I believe, Miss Lilli. Quite satisfying!" Dubai turned about on his seat to look back at the girl.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8gUnnNEAo
Dubai stares.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrkLhQwTex
The girl on the seat is a waif to be sure, starved to extreme thinness and milky beyond all shades of white at the lack of direct sunlight allowed most other damsels' peachy-pink cheeks. Yet her face shows true beauty hiding beneath skin so finely-smooth as does any maiden's fair beauty show in the gentle-way of growing up freely.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fhsf7YnrZ
But her eyes! What amazing eyes I have not seen in the face of any maiden...golden, they are...and shimmering just as the element, gold gleams!875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ4bSzu8NC
"What is this mountain place and who is Madam Constance?" demanded Lilli, sitting more forward on the royal carriage's deeply tufted velvet seat.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiam2usP1g
"Why, it is to His Majesty's castle I am taking you, Miss Lilli! And it is one Lady Constance who will minister unto you according to King Rhynn's command."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdkqIN37kR
Lilli's yellow eyes rolled away in their whites and her head slumped to the side as her hands went nearly limp except for the sake of the coin did she keep fingers' grip.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G9dbHX4De
"I have been teased by a...king? In a brothel a sailor-man...now you say, 'king'...visited me...but not quite visiting me...asking me things...and then...this! How am I to get home? I don't know where any of this is!"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNKxgq5FrX
"Oh, you are definitely heading home, if King Rhynn has his way! And he does, I might add, come from a long line of strong kings used to getting their way! The place you have been freed from will cease to exist after today. You are now in the king's care and it is to be in Mountianwing's suite your head shall dream tonight."875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqeZmrcuBl
Lilli gazed up into the kindest face ever to hover so closely to hers, except the sailor-man's, of course, and she feared to blink for fear Dubai might evaporate away as all others gone before.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10KNMsTns1
"Well, are you coming into my arms, or not? The king has ordered me to carry your loveliness from coach to suite by way of my arms as not one of your feet, or for that matter, must touch the ground till you have been bathed in royal fragranced oil and gowned in a dress of pure fine lace.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOePRi8YHeO
We've stopped?875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAHeHECUHG
Lilli peeked out from beneath the canopy shelter and beheld Kings Castle in magnificent splendor. Grand turrets pierce the sky. Twittering birds flock in flight from branches above fruiting trees to alight in limbs bearing blossoms so huge as to be one giant bouquet.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6ip53OvAn
"Such grandeur I did not know exists, nor air so sweet or time this pretty. All I leaned of was the way of ugly black night. Tell me, kind sir, does day end in the house of kings?"875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIgW9R1oM0
Dubai flew up stone steps under porch awning over threshold down granite hallway up stairwell across landing through sunlight beaming as Heaven's ribbons streaming through high arch window falling softly on white glassy marble echoing his swift footfall, gracefully stepping as a dancer's soft-soled shoes glide the whole while of the way calling,875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK5IDnIlBI
"Lady Constance! Lady Constance! Miss Lilli needs urgent care, Lady Constance, my Lilli needs tender...my Lilli needs...my Lilli" in rhythmic cadence quite as a lullaby's words falling like feathers in Lilli's ears.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpI75ysY69
A candle...a bottle...oleoresin spilling...a flame igniting...torching tapestry and sheet, mattress and rug875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHhQMlZO6F
Rhynn emerged onto the road looking up the deserted gravel way seeing nothing but earth meeting sky at horizon's enigmatic horizontal line.875Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb58pLDcQFK
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