Chapter 11: 7b

"I command you to speak," the lord said. She opened her mouth, displaying her tongue, and then with a shrug of her shoulders closed it again. "She appears to be a woman of noble birth," the young man said, though a bit hesitantly. "Were you separated from your clan?" This question he directed at Ilumi. She did not want to take her eyes off the lord. He reminded her of a rabid beast. The moment you turned your back, he would strike for the kill. But just like taming a savage beast, she would stand her ground. Once she defeated him, nothing else would stand in her way of doing as the witch bid. She turned to the young man, keeping the lord in her peripheral vision, and nodded slowly. The lord scrutinized her. His dark sharp eyes skimmed over her from top to bottom. There was challenge in his expression. If she had her fox fire, she would have used some of her magic to transform him into a salamander just to knock him down a size. As it was, she felt the loss of her connection with her powers as if she'd had a limb cut off. "What clan do you hail from?" the lord asked again. "Are you from the Torihara clan?" the young man asked. She shook her head. If I answer too quickly, they will think I am lying. "Perhaps the Akahana family?" Rizuma asked again eagerly. She shook her head again. "Bulan? Saruyama? The Nishimoris?" The last name struck her; the meaning, though lost on the humans, was perfect. The west forest. She nodded her head and clapped. "You're a Galia?" Rizuma confirmed. She nodded again, smiling. The lord narrowed his eyes. "Lord Galia has three daughters, though I do not know their names. I never heard any of them were mute." Ilumi shrugged as if to say What can I tell you? She was fortunate the clan had any daughters at all. With her luck, he would only have sons and then she'd really be up a creek. The lord turned and walked back to his seat on the platform. He planted himself on his cushion and folded his hands in front of him. "Lord Galia is a cousin of mine. I will send word to him that we have happened to discover you." He had yet to take his eyes off of Ilumi. She felt as if they were locked in a battle of wills. The first one to look away would lose. "I'll show you to your room." The young lord jumped up. Ilumi rose as gracefully as possible. If she was to pretend at being a human, she would need to work harder to convince the lord. The lord's gaze flickered to his son. A mild look of disgust crossed his features, but when he realized Ilumi had noticed, he wiped it away. She bowed to him before following Rizuma out into the hall. The servant was waiting for them in the hall. He had straightened his clothes and hair. The young man dismissed him, and the servant nodded stiffly before scurrying away. When they were alone once more, the tension from the audience chamber melted off of the young man. He smiled at her. "I must apologize for my father's behavior. He has been under a lot of pressure lately." Ilumi moved closer to him and touched him on the shoulder. Tell me more, she wanted to say. She had been given a gift when he found her in the forest. She knew he recognized her, but he had yet to mention it. He was the son of the lord, which meant getting closer to him would help her in her task. Who better to teach her human ways and with it how to exploit them to ruin their treaty. And if she was lucky, she might have a bit of fun along the way. Her sisters had told her stories about the humans they had seduced over the years. She had never done it before, but with someone as handsome as the young lord, it might not be so bad. He tensed when she touched him, however, and sidestepped away. I get the impression the humans do not welcome casual touches. Every time I brush against him, he acts that way. That will make my job more difficult. He led her down a series of hallways and the easy atmosphere they had shared before suddenly became charged. She suspected this was normally a servant's duty, to show guests to their chambers. Is he expecting me to invite him into my bed? She looked him up and down. He was handsome, tall and well formed. She would not mind seeing what lay beneath those layers of silk. They stopped along a veranda; a few rolling doors had been pushed back. Beyond was a sitting area and, partitioned off in the back, a sleeping area obscured from view by a reed curtain. He stopped with his back to the sitting area and faced Ilumi. "We've prepared this room for you. If you need anything, the servants are on hand." He leaned against one of the sliding doors. She smiled and arched a brow. He waited a few more moments, not meeting her gaze but lightly gripping the door frame. She tilted her head and nodded backwards, trying without words to invite him in. "I failed to mention before, my name is Rizuma." She smiled. He picked at the wood and did not meet her gaze. "I suppose you cannot tell me your name." That is what got me into this mess in the first place. But she supposed she could tell him; it would make things easier. She waved her hand in front of him so he would look up. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled. He frowned back at her. "Is anything the matter?" She shook her head and tried something different. She wrapped her arms around herself and pretended to shiver. "You're trying to tell me your name?" She nodded. A smile transformed his face and lit up his eyes. "Let's see, cold… and angry?" She shook her head. Next she tilted her chin upwards in a snooty pose. He tapped his chin in thought. "Cold, arrogant?" She shrugged, close enough. She nodded and waved her hand for him to keep guessing. He thought for a moment, staring past her down the hall. She wished she knew the human character so she could write it down for him. Then he gasped. "Is it Ilumi?" She clapped her hands together, delighted he had got it in one guess. "Ilumi." He said it again, rolling the syllable around on his tongue. "It's pretty." She touched his sleeve, tugging on it. Now that they had been introduced perhaps they could get to know one another better. He opened his mouth as if he were going to speak before he snapped his mouth shut. "I must be going, good night." He pulled loose from her grasp, turned and left. She crossed her arms over her chest. Perhaps she had been a little too forward. But the sooner she got him into her bed, the sooner she would be back to her old self. She shook her head. This may take all my charm and wits.