A Forest of Stars - Kevin J. Anderson [200]
“I can ogle you as well, my King, but at least I’m being a bit more discreet about it.”
Before Peter could answer, OX operated the machinery that opened gates beneath the bubbling salt water in the pool. Bursting out like playful otters, three dolphins swam through, sleek gray torpedoes that splashed and cavorted. In search of playmates, they thrust their bottle-shaped snouts up into the air, chattering, whistling. Estarra gasped with delight.
“Come on,” Peter said. “The water’s warm and the dolphins are friendly.” He turned and dived cleanly into the pool.
Estarra was more cautious, easing herself into the water as if tentatively feeling her way, and then pushing from the wall. The dolphins swam around her, bumping her legs and bouncing up to splash her hair and face. Estarra giggled. Peter held on to the dorsal fins while the two dolphins towed him around in circles.
Standing at the edge of the pool, OX watched patiently. Some of the horseplay sprayed water up at the compy, but the water droplets ran off his metallic skin; he didn’t seem to notice.
“You must have oceans on Theroc?” Peter asked.
“Yes, but we live far from them in the heart of the worldforest. Sometimes I could find swamps, streams, small ponds, but nothing as large as this. Once, I went with my brother Reynald to a village by the Looking Glass Lakes, and I went swimming under the stars.”
Peter was treading water next to her now. “I can’t compete with that.”
“I don’t expect you to compete—just make an interesting memory of your own with me.”
He swam forward and quickly kissed her on her wet lips, surprising her, but he darted away before he could see her reaction. When he looked back at Estarra, her eyes were dancing with amusement. His heart fluttered.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, languidly drifting in the shallow part of the pool. “This was just what I needed. I’m not feeling nearly so much tension anymore.”
Guiding one of the dolphins, Peter showed Estarra how to hold on. They rode together, side by side, as the playful aquatic mammals reveled in their exercise. Letting go, Peter swam under the water and grabbed Estarra by the feet. She kicked at him halfheartedly, and when he came up for a breath, she was laughing.
Peter couldn’t remember the last time he had let himself just…relax and play. But it was his wedding night—ostensibly the start of a honeymoon. There was nothing wrong with enjoying himself.
When next he looked toward the edge of the pool, he saw the Teacher compy standing there with two large, plush towels. Peter had no idea how late it was. “I think OX is giving us a hint,” he said, and Estarra looked up.
“Then I suppose we’d better take the hint.” She surprised Peter by kissing him this time, a bit longer and with slightly less clumsiness than his initial attempt. She climbed out of the pool, looking like an exotic purple-and-turquoise fish, dripping and glistening under the chamber’s lights.
OX handed her a towel, and she wrapped herself, looking at Peter, still in the pool. “Well, come on—or do you want to keep me waiting?”
They changed into dressing robes, thoughtfully provided by attendants. When they emerged from the swimming area with OX leading, the royal guards were still there, showing no impatience about the couple’s erratic behavior. Peter and Estarra felt much more comfortable with each other now, and as they approached the royal wing, they even held hands and entered the chambers they would share from now on…
OX departed, sealing the doors behind him. Finally, in the privacy of the royal suite, there were no distractions,