A Thief of Nightshade(68)

having shoved far too much in to begin with. “Who?”

“Jullian. He told me once that he’d never liked lima beans.”

“Now that you mention it, yes, he hated lima beans.” Aislinn chuckled, perhaps

an

inside

joke

or

brief

recollection passing through his mind.

“What was he like when he was here?” Aubrey asked.

“He’s always been gifted at the arts,”

Aislinn said. “Not all humans are born with the ability to work magic, you know.

I can’t work a spell to tie my shoes, let alone anything that matters. In fact, Jullian was so good that he used to get into constant trouble with our tutors for it.

He’d have great fun at their expense.”

Aubrey smiled, thinking back on all the things he might have accomplished in her world by means of magic and wondered how much of it she had been unaware of.

Aislinn continued, “Jullian was the respectful

gentleman

in

most

circumstances, but he’s just as strong physically as he looks, or looked, rather.”

He grew quiet for a moment. “I haven’t seen him in ten years. I mean, I saw through his eyes, but that isn’t the same. I didn’t see him.”

Jullian wasn’t the type to work out a lot or care about his appearance any more than making sure he looked presentable, but he’d never really needed to. He and his brother were both substantial in size and build. “He did like to go running sometimes if I went with him,” Aubrey offered.

“Yet another thing we don’t share.

There isn’t much that could convince me to run. Anywhere.”

Given smiled and started to say something, but a grimace stole whatever words she had poised on her tongue.

Before Aubrey could ask, Given waved Aubrey’s concerns aside.

“Jullian rescued me,” Aislinn said, “from more than a few perilous situations.

These situations usually involved me not acting like such a respectful gentleman. It didn’t surprise me in the least to learn that he’d punched your brother. Grant is lucky that’s all he did.”

Aubrey felt like that day had just passed. She could still feel his muscles tense as he held her. She’d never seen him truly angry. Then, she remembered something. “We went to a fair once where everyone was dressed in medieval stuff.”

Upon seeing the blank look on all their faces, she clarified, “Knights and kings and princesses. Long story, anyway, Jullian picked up this huge sword like he’d owned it all his life. I couldn’t hold it, it was so heavy and he spun it around in two hands like he knew what he was doing. He just grinned when I asked him.

He did that a lot, avoided my questions with that charming smile of his.”

“We were taught weaponry and warfare, though the wars between the differing kingdoms of Man were before our time. There would still be a scuffle from time to time between various lords and such and being the instigator that I am, I would get us involved, much to Jullian’s chagrin. Jullian held his own with a sword. He was awful at archery though.

Just awful.” Aislinn’s playful features fell serious. “But he was always there for me.

And we won’t talk about how many times he pulled Merrial out of a gutter.”

“Merrial?” Given asked.

“My beloved wife, bearer of my children, crowning glory of my youth and my first love. Oh ... and vile adulteress, betrayer and nightshade addict.” He laughed. “Almost forgot that last part.”

“I’m so sorry,” Given said sincerely.

“Don’t be. Jullian warned me.”

Aislinn turned to Aubrey. “He was carefree before we learned the truth of things. But, despite his relaxed manner, he was still so certain. Committed. He never started anything without finishing it. Loyal, selfless, a dreadful speller, horrible singer—truly couldn’t carry a note— unlike yours truly, of course. I could woo the masses with my enchanting voice.”

While he spoke, Aubrey laughed hard. This was true and had been the source of much amusement for her brother Harry. She could remember countless nights when Jullian had asked her to sing to him. She’d never considered herself talented, but he did.

“He loves music, though,” Aubrey said.

“That he does. We used to sneak out of our rooms as children and spy on the grown-ups while they had their grand dinner parties. Jullian would always stay up later than me, just listening to the music. It was good music, but oh, the food.” He leaned down and whispered to Aubrey, “Someone else I know loves music, but she can carry a tune, whether she’ll admit it or not.”

What she wouldn’t give to go back and appease Jullian, all those times he’d begged to hear her and she’d said no. And though she’d known how deep his love for music was, somehow hearing it from someone else—his own flesh and blood— made her feel honored that he would request such a thing of her, such a plain and simple girl. When he’d had any song and any voice at his easy disposal, it was her voice he’d desired.

“His favorite song was Scarborough Fair,” Aubrey murmured.

“Was that what you were singing in the garden that night?” Aislinn asked.

She nodded.