Chapter 15: A Game

Lyonis's cheek seemed to tingle where Cordelia had touched him. Her sudden hint of affection shocked him, and he resisted the urge to gather her in his arms and bury his nose in the crook of her neck. Her soft hand was so gentle and comforting that he felt like he might've melted under her touch. How dangerous this woman was.

"I was just about to head to the St. Vincent Inn." Cordelia's chest heaved slightly as she looked around the dock, her face filled with quiet contentment.

"Really?" Lyonis didn't think that Cordelia would've come to him.

"Oh yes. I needed to drop off a gift to someone. Apparently, he's the impatient type and I shouldn't leave him waiting any longer." Lyonis enjoyed how she teased him ever so subtly with her words. She nodded towards the basket he carried for her. "It's nothing special, just more tea. You seemed to enjoy the last batch…." He watched her ears grow a little redder as if she were embarrassed by her choice. "I wasn't quite sure what you'd like… this is really all I could offer."

"I doubt that…." The words left his mouth involuntarily, and he cleared his throat, looking away from her for a second. Cordelia looked at him curiously, and he was grateful she didn't seem to catch the suggestive meaning in his words.

"Now that you've found me. You still owe me that date…." Lyonis could feel her slightly tense up at the words, but she quickly relaxed and laughed. "Have you eaten dinner yet?

"How could I forget? No, I haven't had dinner yet." She glanced up at him.

"Excellent! I know just the place. This way." He turned down the road, and they walked arm in arm down the street. He waved down an open-air carriage and helped Cordelia climb inside. He got in and sat down next to her, placing an arm on the seat behind her. He was careful not to touch her, but in the tight space of the small carriage, he couldn't help but be close to her. Not that he minded, but he was trying to be respectful of her space.

"Take us to Bienville Street, please. Towards the end of the market." Lyonis spoke to the coachman, flicking a few coins to him, who bowed before clicking to the horse pulling the small carriage, urging it forward down the street.

"We could've walked, Lyonis," Cordelia said as she looked around the passing shops.

"Not a chance. If a certain red-haired dragon discovered I let you walk so far, I'd be burnt to a crisp."

A gentle laugh left Cordelia's lips as if she enjoyed the thought. "She's rather fiery, isn't she? Damas will have his hands full with her." Her smile turned forlorn as if the thought of her apprentice getting married made her sad. "How have you liked Ville Marais so far, Lyonis? Hopefully, you've been able to explore a bit." He noticed her change the subject.

"I was hoping you would've shown me around. So far, my only company has been stuffy, old businessmen and government officials. All they want to talk about is money and look at warehouses…." He pushed the hair out of his face as a gust of wind fluttered past them.

"Hmmm… I'm rather busy, but I think I could possibly fit you in sometime." Cordelia glanced over at him. Her eyes glinted with a certain mischievousness. She paused a small moment, and her eyes looked far out over the water. The sad look returned to her face. "How long do you think you'll be in Ville Marais?"

Lyonis hadn't wanted to think about that, but he supposed it was better to have this conversation now rather than later. If he told her, maybe Cordelia would prioritize her time to fit him into her schedule more often. Or maybe it would push her away. He doubted she wanted to get involved with a man who was only around for a short time. He groaned at the thought.

…

Cordelia didn't know if she wanted to actually know, but she figured it was inevitable, so she may as well ask. She reminded herself to keep her expectations reasonable.

"We're going to stay for the festival and then possibly for another month after that. It all depends on how fast we conclude our business arrangements. We wanted to be on our way before hurricane season. After we conclude business here, we'll be heading back to Gresas."

Cordelia watched as Lyonis's face went stoic. There was less than two moon cycles before he traveled to the other side of the world. "Ah." She couldn't help but feel a little sad. "I'm glad you're here for the festival. It's truly a wonderful experience…. It's my favorite time of the year."

When Cordelia had arrived all those years ago, it had been right as the festival began. She remembered feeling as if she were thrust into a whole new world. It was absolutely terrifying and exhilarating. She remembered walking the cobblestone streets, being greeted by strangers, and watching people hug and kiss and dance openly around her as music filled the air. Her whole life was nothing but suffering and pain, and yet she had stumbled upon something beautiful.

She had met Babette and Edouard during that festival. Babette had fallen, breaking her wrist, after a rowdy gang of drunk out-of-towners bumped into her on the street. When Cordelia told them to apologize, they spit at her feet and laughed. So, Cordelia tossed them into the ocean with a flick of her wrist. After that, she fixed Babette's wrist, just like she had fixed Lyonis's. Babette and Edouard were beside themselves with gratitude and had forced her to stay with them. She spent the entire festival under their care. They housed and fed her, and for the first time in her life, Cordelia felt what true kindness was.

She smiled at the memory.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'd be honored if you showed me around." His manly voice was gentle and quiet, almost a whisper as if he only wanted her to hear.

"I'd be happy too." She felt Lyonis's eyes on her as she continued to look out over the water. The small cramped carriage forced the two of them close together. She felt him shift in the seat next to her, and his arm rested behind her. He was careful not to touch her, though she was sure he had picked this particular carriage due to its cramped space.

The carriage slowed to a stop in front of the path. Bienville Street a narrow street that ran perpendicular to the main street along the dock near the market. The two of them got out, and Lyonis threw another coin at the coachman.

"Have a good evening, Sir. Madame." The coachmen nodded and tapped the reins urging the horse forward once again.

Lyonis offered his arm to Cordelia again, which she took readily as he lead them down the quiet street. Cordelia felt like in all her years in Ville Marais, she had explored every nook and cranny of the Central Quarter, but yet, there was always something new that she hadn't discovered before. People came and went, and that meant there was a revolving door of new restaurants, bars, shops, bakeries, and cafes coming and going.

Lyonis steered them towards an inconspicuous brick building. It was painted all black and had large windows and a big wooden door with a gold handle. A carved wooden sign hung above. It had a wreath of flowers and leaves carved into the surface. Underneath, the words "The Wreath" were carefully transcribed into the wood. A single oil lamp was attached to the outside near the door. Inside, Cordelia could see some patrons seated at small tables and waitresses moving carefully around. It seemed like a quaint and quiet place, not quite a pub, but not quite a fancy restaurant either.

"I spotted this place earlier today as we were walking around. I was planning on stopping by to try it out. A lot of the locals recommended it to me. Have you been?"

Cordelia shook her head. She rarely went out to eat at restaurants. She had her favorites, like Cafe Lavigne, that she would visit regularly, but she preferred to eat in or with friends in their homes.

"Excellent!" Lyonis looked pleased with himself that he had discovered something new to her. He opened the door for her, and she stepped inside.

It was a cozy place. The dark atmosphere gave off a lovely romantic feel. Lyonis walked to the hostess, leaned in and whispered to her. The young brunette blushed at the sudden invasion of her personal space. But she simply nodded and motioned for them to follow her. A couple of customers had noticed Cordelia and began whispering among themselves. It was nothing new, and she ignored them. Lyonis placed his hand on the small of her back and gently lead her forward while following the hostess. They climbed a set of stairs along the back of the restaurant. It opened up onto a second story, and they followed her out a back door onto a narrow patio overlooking a wide courtyard with a fountain in the middle. From the balcony hung ferns and cascading plants. The hostess motioned towards a secluded corner of the balcony at a small table with two chairs. A small oil lamp was placed in the center of the wooden table. It cast delicate shadows and filled the space with a quiet light.

"Is this to your liking, sir?" The hostess asked Lyonis, and he shook his head yes.

"This will do nicely, thank you." He pulled out a chair for Cordelia. The hostess left a small menu at the table for them before slipping out of sight around the door.

Cordelia suddenly felt self-conscious, like she didn't quite know how she was supposed to act in this situation. Sitting in the romantic setting made her very aware of the man who sat across from her. She felt awkward and out of place sitting at the same table as him. He exuded such confidence that those around him couldn't help but feel inferior in his presence. People on the street readily moved out of his way walking down the street, and those he instructed followed his commands without question. It reminded her of how people acted in the presence of royalty.

Cordelia stared at him for a long time without realizing it, her hands were placed quietly in her lap, and she sat still as stone. She seemed to get lost in a trance as the shadows danced across his handsome face. Her eyes followed his as he read the menu. His amber irises were filled with quiet knowledge and wisdom she hadn't seen before. His wavy brown hair fell over his forehead as he looked down at the menu, obstructing her view of his eyes. She wanted to reach across the table to tuck the loose strands behind his ears. He had leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs out in front of him as if he had no cares or worries.

Cordelia traced the length of his collarbones with her eyes, down the length of his strongly built arms. He was wearing a simple white tunic that was tucked into black pants, and they were held up by a dark leather belt. All his clothes, while simple, were expertly crafted. They clung to his body in such a way that accentuated his toned and muscular body. The exposed tan olive skin on his arms looked warm, and she thought that if she were wrapped up in them, she would feel safe. She remembered the feeling of him carrying her in his arms. The unfamiliar warmth she had felt crept back, blossoming from her navel through her entire body.

"Enjoying the view?" Lyonis glanced at her, his eye looking up from the menu to meet hers. She jumped as she was suddenly pulled out of her trance. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came to her. Her ears burned as the blood rushed to her skin.

Lyonis chuckled, "What are you thinking about, Cordelia?" When she didn't answer and averted her gaze, a smile grew over his face, and he leaned forward. "I bet I could guess…."

'What am I doing?' She thought to herself. To stare so unabashedly at a man and then be called out for it. The embarrassment was too much. She wanted to run all the way home and hide under her covers. Lyonis opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted as their waiter walked out onto the balcony. The young man, who was obviously nervous, never looked directly at either of them. He filled their glasses with water and asked if they had any questions about the menu.

Lyonis ordered a large steak and a bottle of wine for the table. Cordelia pointed to a chicken meat pie on the menu, "I'll have this, please." The young waiter bowed and scurried away.

The sound of patrons in the courtyard beneath them grew lively as more people showed up. Their happy chatter and laughter mixed with the sound of the water spraying from the fountain. Cordelia sighed and closed her eyes. She absentmindedly touched her chest with one hand. Her heart was beating loudly in her chest, and she felt slightly dizzy.

"So… you were telling me what you were thinking about…." Lyonis leaned back in his chair again.

"Ahh…" She laughed. There was no way he was going to let her off the hook, "I don't think I was, Lyonis." She looked out into the clear sky above them, the stars twinkling brightly. The moon was full and bright, and it cast everything with a silver glow. He raised an eyebrow at her. His expression encouraged her to talk.

She sighed and continued, "I was thinking about… a lot of things. I was wondering what your country is like and what you might've looked like as a child, the types of people your mother or father may have been, how you may have became the man who sits in front of me now… Lots of things." She forced her eyes to meet his, and he smiled at her. She knew he didn't really believe her. It seemed like the man could see right through her. He leaned forward towards her.

The young man had rushed back out onto the balcony, carrying a large bottle of wine and two glasses. Lyonis took them from him and waved him away, which the boy did eagerly. Lyonis popped the cork out of the bottle with the back of his teeth. He expertly filled each glass and placed Cordelia's in front of her. She grabbed it in her hands and swirled it around the glass, watching the maroon liquid grip the sides of the slick transparent goblet. She was grateful for the wine. She hadn't been able to replace the bottle she has broke on the docks a few weeks ago. She brought the glass to her lips and took in a small sip. The honeyed alcohol was strong, and it stung her nose.

"Why don't we play a game? For every glass you finish, you can ask me a question. For every glass I finish, I can ask you a question." A playful grin crept over his lips. "You have to answer honestly, and no passes. We'll play until the bottle is empty." Lyonis looked at her while taking a small sip of his drink. "If you say no, no worries. But that means no questions, from either of us, for the rest of the night. We can just enjoy each other's company."

Cordelia had loads of questions for Lyonis. Why did he have to go and make a game out of it? It's not that she didn't like her odds. Alcohol didn't really have an effect on her. She could ask a couple of questions, and he could ask a couple of questions. The innocent game seemed like a fun way to break the tension, and learn more about eachother.

"I understand if you're too chicken, Cordelia. But I didn't think you'd be one to step down from a challenge…." Lyonis teased her. She knew he was trying to get her to cave. And it was working. Hearing that playful tone in his voice filled her with silent competitiveness. She did not like being called weak, even if he was just teasing her.

"Fine." She downed her glass in one gulp, "I'll go first."