Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(68)

And Mikki was sincerely enjoying the company. The handmaidens were tired after another long day, but they didn't whine or complain. Instead, they talked about the work they'd done in their separate areas and asked Mikki countless questions about rose care. Already plans for tomorrow were discussed. The fertilizing would continue, but some women would begin deadheading old blooms or blossoms that looked like they were too far gone to ever open. Mikki agreed to show the Elementals examples of both in the morning.

"I think we've conquered the hardest part of what we need to do to coax the roses into recovery. Most of the fertilizing will be finished tomorrow. Then we'll focus on the deadheading and cutting off of any useless canes. After that, we just keep an eye on them and wait."

"How long before they begin recovering?" Gii asked.

"It doesn't take long for a good fertilizer to start working, especially if all that's wrong with the roses is that they needed to be fed. We should see a change in them soon."

"And if we don't?" Floga asked.

"Then I try something else. I have more tricks up my sleeve." She raised her wet, naked arm and wiggled it around, causing the young women to giggle.

"Perhaps you should cast a health spell for the roses," Nera said.

"You know, as you would if one of the women of the realm asked you to cast a spell to rid her of a persistent ague."

"It is a good idea," Aeras said.

"It certainly couldn't do any harm," the Fire Elemental said as she nibbled at a fig.

"And it might very well do a great deal of good," Gii added.

Feeling totally out of her realm of experience, Mikki wished desperately that her new job/destiny had come with an owner's manual.

"It would be like the self-initiation ritual. The four of us will be there when you cast the sacred circle and then you simply follow your heart." Gii's smile was filled with kindness. "You'll know what to do, Empousa."

"You may as well begin with a spell for something you know as intimately as roses; it will be easier that way. And anyway, it's only a matter of time before the women in the realm begin coming to you for the typical love spells and such," Floga said.

"She's right, Empousa," Gii said.

"Love spells and such?" Mikki sputtered.

Aeras sighed wistfully. "Love spells . . . it has been so long."

"Too long!" Floga said.

"Actually," Nera began hesitantly, "I have been wondering. If perhaps - well, if you might . . ." The little Water Elemental paused. She looked nervously at the other handmaidens, who nodded encouragement. She sank a little lower in the steaming water, as if drawing strength from her element, and then she finished in a rush, "I wondered if you might agree to cast an invitation spell for me and, well, a few others."

Mikki noted the pink flush that colored the Elemental's cheeks, and she didn't think it was from the warm water.

"I'd be happy to cast an invitation spell for you - and your friends. But what are we inviting and where?"

"The what is men," Nera said shyly, her cheeks turning from pink to red.

"And the where is here," Floga purred.

"Huh," Mikki said. "I was going to ask about the absence of men."

"There are no men in the Realm of the Rose," Gii said.

"You mean except for the Guardian," Mikki said.

Gii frowned. "The Guardian is not a man. He is a beast."

Mikki opened her mouth to protest, but Floga was already speaking. "There are no men in the realm because they can only come here if the Empousa sends an invitation spell to the ancient world. There has been no Empousa in the realm; hence no men have been invited."

Mikki stared at the Fire Elemental. "Are you telling me that for as long as the Guardian was banished and the Empousa gone you have been here without any men?"

"Yes," the Four Elementals said together.

"How long has it been?"

For a moment no one answered her. Then Gii whispered, "It has been a very long time, Empousa."

And she thought her love life sucked. She was queen of romance compared to these girls.

"Then I'll definitely do an invitation spell. A big one - right away."

Gii laughed. "Tomorrow will be soon enough, Empousa. Tonight we are too tired to have the invitation be of much use to us."

"Then tomorrow it will be. How about we only work till midday and then I'll cast a circle and try a little spell work?"

"Just don't make my invitation little," Floga gibed. "Little men do not interest me, even after all this time."

Nera giggled and flicked her wrist at the Fire Elemental, causing water to spew from her bath all over Floga. Gii called her too hot-blooded, and Aeras joked that if Floga needed a breath of cold northern wind she could certainly provide it for her. Mikki smiled and watched their good-humored play, but her mind was not on the handmaidens. She thought instead of bronze skin, a deep, powerful voice, and how candlelight looked glinting off ebony horns.

Would she always be nervous before she called him? Mikki looked around the balcony, for the zillionth time checking that she was alone. The table was ready. It was set with a pitcher of wine and two goblets. She hoped he had not waited to eat with her. She hadn't asked him to. Had she? No - no, she remembered asking only if he would come to her - not come to her and have dinner again. She ran a hand down the soft material of her chiton. This evening it was made of some kind of fabulous material that hugged her body like silk, and it was the exact green of her eyes. She knew it flattered her, just as she knew Daphne had brought it to her at the baths because she had been wishing for something beautiful to wear. She wanted to look beautiful for him. For Asterius . . .