Chapter Six
Allura looked at her watch, noting that it was fifteen minutes after she was scheduled to meet with Lotor in the dinning room. She wondered how long it would take him to hunt her down but she had no intention of making the situation easy on him. She was at her station in the soup kitchen, handing out bowls of stew made with the new supplies that he had supplied.
Allura had to admit that she was surprised by the vast array of foods that he had supplied. She had expected past dated space rations but there was livestock for the slaughter, crate upon crate of fowl that reminded her of her of chickens, barrels of fresh milk, large blocks of yellow cheese, casks of ale, and large drums of fresh water.
As she had checked in the supplies she noted that there was a second scheduled shipment of seeds, ranging from fruiting trees and bushes, to grains, gourds, legumes, berries, and tubers. He had planned for everything she was able to think of to get Altair and ultimately Arus fully healed and able to sustain itself.
It made her all the more suspicious of his actions.
Allura heard the commotion and didn’t bother to look, knowing he was approaching. Her people were not accustomed to seeing Drules walking among the populace as they did now. She knew that he was standing behind her as the poor young man she was handing a bowl to went wide eyed and all but blubbered his thanks in favor of fleeing the line.
“This is hardly work suitable for a princess,” Lotor grumbled from behind her. He was standing alarmingly close but did not lay a hand on her.
“I am a public servant, Lotor,” Allura replied not looking back to see his face. She could only imagine that he was glaring at her, judging by his annoyed tone. She expected him to place a hand on her, to turn her around and demand his time of her. She had promised him two hours of committed time between the two of them each evening before the marriage ceremony.
Lotor made no reply for a long while. People passed by Allura’s station, taking soup from her as she served it, all cautious as the large Drule hovered behind her. Still, she dared his temper with out so much as a nod to him.
“You there,” Lotor called after a moment, addressing the kitchen head chef. The middle aged portly man looked up in surprise and looked to Allura then Lotor. “Get me an apron.”
Allura started, and turned to him.
She was greeted with his all to practiced smirk and mask of self confidence as she looked up at him. She was also startled to see what he didn’t wear his signature military uniform. He had opted for a more casual pair of black slacks and button down blue dress shirt. It was very Arusian, she realized. Perhaps he had planned to lull her into a sense of comfort if he hadn’t warn anything overtly Drulish?
“Take a break,” Lotor almost snarled at the poor volunteer who was handing out rolls to the line. The kid jumped off the line immediately, letting Lotor take his place. The apron was offered and Lotor pulled it over his head and tied it around his waist, all the while everyone was stopped and staring. He pulled a pair of plastic gloves from the box set between Allura and the next station.
Allura had to hold back a giggle as he pulled the flimsy plastic glove over his hand and the seems came undone, his hands much to large for the things. Lotor seemed only minorly perturbed and looked about him, finally grabbing a pair of tongs from the station over. He tonged a roll and set it on the tray of the next person in line, grinning like had just discovered the equation for cold fusion.
Allura snapped herself out of her daze and returned to dishing soup into plastic bowls and handing them to her citizens. They seemed weary of Lotor but still accepted the rolls he placed on their trays. At least her people weren’t above showing courtesy to the Drule. She looked around then and noted that Lotor was not alone, he had his own guards waiting in the wings. They looked ready to pounce at the first sign of commotion.
Allura had no intention of breaking the silence between them. Especially not with the audience they would have. She had hoped that he would have been his usual forceful and demanding self. He normally couldn’t keep his hands off her when he had tried to capture her before. Now he stood beside her, serving her people.
After an hour, the line slowed down, the dinner rush quelling. The tables that were set up for people to dine were filled but most of the seats were away from where Lotor stood. If he noticed, he didn’t show it.
“Your highness,” ventured the chef, addressing Allura a lot more formally then he normally did. “Thanks for your help, we are going to close up the kitchen now.” He even bowed as he stepped away, weary that Lotor had turned to look down upon him.
Lotor took off his apron and set it on the table, looking at Allura expectantly. She couldn’t delay and took of her apron as well, left only in her pink jump suit. Normally, she spent her evening doing paper work. Or, on the rare occasion, reading in her room away from everyone. She couldn’t hope to pull herself free of Lotor to read another chapter in the novel she had on her nightstand.
“Why don’t you give me a tour of the castle,” Lotor suggested, still standing too close to her but not touching her. She could smell him, either it was his cologne or just his scent but it reminded her of sandal wood and musk. It was very masculine and overpowering. She mentally chided herself for enjoying the smell of him. She hoped that he didn’t notice the breath she took.
“Of course,” Allura replied, not able to think of an excuse not show him around. He would be a resident, after all. She strode away from the serving table back into the castle, intending to start her tour in the servants quarters and maintenance rooms. Lotor kept pace with her easily, reminding her that he towered over her where most men had to look her in the eye. Her height had been an advantage just as the pink that Nanny made her wear was a disadvantage. Most belligerent men liked to look down on their prey and most couldn’t look down on her.
Allura noted that his entourage followed him into the castle. She didn’t think that he would need his guards anywhere on Arus but she didn’t want to initiate a conversation with him about it. Her people wouldn’t try to harm him, even though he had been the source of their persecution. She had signed a treaty with him, her people would respect that.
Allura stopped at every door in the servant wing, naming each person by name. Lotor just watched her, taking every opportunity to stand close to her but not to touch. He didn’t show any sign of annoyance at her thorough tour. She was tempted to go through the cabinets when they reached the kitchen but decided that even that was pushing it.
Lotor actually asked questions when they were in the maintenance areas. Asking about the heating and cooling systems. She wasn’t able to answer his questions though, mechanics not being her forte. She made a mental note to ask Nanny why, with a father like hers, she had been denied that kind of training. She suspected that it would be more of the ‘not a proper thing for a princess’ rubbish.
“This is the royal wing,” Allura said as they stood before the long corridor that housed her rooms and the royal suite she was going to have to move into in a week. She couldn’t help herself, she stifled a yawn. Lotor looked at her oddly then. She had never seen him yawn.
“Are you tired? Lotor asked, his golden cat-like eyes searching her face as she recovered from the embarrassingly large yawn.
“Yes,” Allura admitted, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze. She looked at her watch and frowned to note that she had gone past the scheduled two hours she had intended to share with Lotor.
“Let me walk you to your room then, Princess,” Lotor said, smirking. He offered her his arm.
Allura looked at it in annoyance.
“Good night, Lotor,” Allura said flattly. She didn’t bother to look at his expression or worry about how rude she was being, she stormed down the corridor to her room. She listened for his pursuit but none came. She was safely locked in her room before she released the breath that she didn’t know that she held.
Her world was upside down and inside out.
Lotor had been a complete gentleman and he made it seem effortless. She had been rude to him and he took it. He didn’t seem on the verge of reverting to the old Lotor once during the evening. What was going on?
