page 207 (a teaser chapter from published novel)867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3KUtTsOQR
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7sOFRQC5v
Sailor...so the disguise works867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zTHA67Gte
"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."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2T3rF4DrJ
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!867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5vsjsxlR2
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YhTm2rgxI
Time is money to you, after all. But my time is wasting!867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hdUQfpR36
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oZ3lOaub1
The girl gasped feebly and stiffened.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AybkPQBj2
"Stop dancing!"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxWMbLAI4v
Rhynn gentled his command to a whispering plea, "Take me to a room."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDoVMSJ5BY
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaY2pkGgrb
Daylight867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfzyj7xk98
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA5sNaIL2I
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKB2Q2oieO
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrrLzTZ5YY
Ah, sailor-man speaks flattery but his hand hurts my bone...why is he clasping as one hungry?867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlNPE7pg3x
"Tell you mine if you tell me yours!" teased wispy breath against stubbly cheek.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KXpSNp3vt
"Jaguar"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGYyZM5RfL
"I am Lilli."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yqj0Sv3cv
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbVOyk3F3x
Pathetic...so not Mother's gem-encrusted-sphere-topped-bevel-chiseled crystal decanters holding Stephan's oils so purely ethereal867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckG3CGMEPf
Rhynn smells musty cloth. 867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1350YbeMc
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUW6bppyZn
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXUuZY9QxC
Lilli gasped.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSokljIRKul
Rhynn stares.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw8khW7i99
The room remained in darkness for a sheet of black tar paper nailed to the wall shuttered out sun's brilliance trapping darkness inside.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvB0R8dl3M
"Do you know what day looks like, Lilli?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpK44Rv5n5
"I don't know what time it is...what means...how you say...day?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtkoe3jZGO
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatDrebBXdO
Lilli blinked. Then she gazed out at a whole new world with eyes wide in utter wonderment.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmPQD2Wbh5
Rhynn studied Lille.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvLAYXgrqR
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuV5njSIGh
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGsCOcun9d
And hundreds of sundried sheets washed-clean of secrets exhaled in passions' selfish feast stuff rattan baskets hauled inside to unload...and load867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6nHhcZcAk
"Lilli? I need something."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BG83yonzD
The girl stilled her breath as if standing on the brink of a spell about to be broken.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4fGnO8nCM
"Would you happen to know of a man named Ravenz?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdey588WGd8
"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?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp714veWysR
"He would look exactly as me, if one of us were to look in the mirror seeing his duplicate reflection looking back."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNqPakiUYD
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTUdklBA2Y
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...867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb9DwqZpTL
"Jaguar?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWGP1FDcCJ
Rhynn bent his head closer to her face in a pretend-effort meant to encourage forthcoming admission.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1VATSxoOv
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0VW3uythZ
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwZplsFL4n
Rhynn did not blink waiting where he stands before window holdg his pose pinning Lilli where she laughs.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TQEhNAbyp
Sobriety follows hilarity eventually.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsot5CXOvn
"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."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbBVaEccJ3
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?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ0mNCTKQo
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kK2iFbDyI
Lilli's eyelids softened their wide-open tight muscular hold to that of dreamily-gazing one might interpret in any other as longing.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhOPzIKhLP
A silver coin glinted before Lilli's eyes briefly shattering the edges of a dream forming.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx1Ag2eeox
"What's that?'867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hslCbfxSQ
"It is fair payment for truth, is all."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xHrq5T13b
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7E1qqeUE1
"This is my first time seeing this thing you name payment-coin." Her entranced voice trailed away to a feathery whisper barely audible.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKEad3wn0C
"How so, Lilli? You work here, right?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT6i2qSpew
"Clients always pay the man sitting in the closet at the entranceway, from sidewalk steps coming up from outside."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv1eqpizwF
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo9RNIhTjj
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gSeobMUIc
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo08MLIdF8i
"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..."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBHeTsx9OB
"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!"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Wl9IXteu
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYkvoF8Yu0
Dubai's heart lurched at the sight of Lilli's wan face.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8YRZ3aECv
"What goes on here , Fhynn I mean..."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Uo6gGUX0N
"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?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzalfX4mD7y
"Of course! I hear well! Now tell me, what am I to do with ...with this girl?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIRC2GnrGs
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEOUXdiNfd
"Now, go!"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJs1KAChU8
"But what about you, Rhynn, Your Maj..."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGJJbNP3E2
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZVj1V35xs
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSA28wT2nH
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuhdPUSi5E
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPHL3PcNYI
Guiding horses!867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0eR3k4V49
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh85vRqNWQ3
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOZgg6Lgmc
Dubai stares.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAMmJSvpwY
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWinoUv6epZ
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!867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnmyF6AHXA
"What is this mountain place and who is Madam Constance?" demanded Lilli, sitting more forward on the royal carriage's deeply tufted velvet seat.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciMLFwiuuD
"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."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOdE4vhxTj
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUFgWhkcpu
"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!"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLYafqq8eM
"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."867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN2y2jVpjX
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw4xMxtZDW
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoVmKtKCBl
We've stopped?867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs168MoAK8t
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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVEEE6aTNN
"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?"867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklBub1ylji
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,867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tn50L3gXj
"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.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUJ1YbRkOQ
A candle...a bottle...oleoresin spilling...a flame igniting...torching tapestry and sheet, mattress and rug867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHGevRasEk
Rhynn emerged onto the road looking up the deserted gravel way seeing nothing but earth meeting sky at horizon's enigmatic horizontal line.867Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1R0FFEN1b
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and then Add to home screen.