Page 92 of Emylia

“Are we allowed to visit Olag?”

My mother looked between Sebastian and me. “Thrainn said that as long as you have Sebastian by your side, you can go anywhere inside Ophelia, but not a step outside. Guards are patrolling our border.”

“Excellent.”

“But remember, only if Sebastian is by your side,” she reminded.

She knew me well enough to know that telling me at least three times was required on all rules, and even then…

“Don’t worry, I’m not about to shirk off my shadow.”

Before we could leave, two balls of flaming red hair shot towards me, bombarding me with gigantic hugs.

“Emylia you’re here, you’re here.” Stephanie and Rebekah, the twins, sang in unison.

It was crazy to think they were already five years old; I remembered how small they’d both been when they were just born.

“You two have been busy! I haven’t even seen you since I got here!” I exclaimed.

The twins wore identical blue dresses with their normally vibrant red, curly hair plaited in two piggy tails. They squeezed me in an intimate embrace, and I hugged them back, holding them longer than I needed.

I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed them until this moment. Now that they were in my arms, I felt guilty for not visiting sooner. It was just so hard to see all of them when they reminded me so much of my father and what we were missing.

Their family was whole, happy, and carefree, while my family was in ruins, both my mother and I broken.

“I’ve missed the two of you.” I meant every word.

The girls smiled in unison, their features identical. What was with twins running in our family?

Both of the girls took one of my hands and pulled me further into the living room. “Mother! Mother, can we play with Em?”

Triska looked up, a smile spreading over her face as she stroked a stray strand of flaming red hair behind her ear. Without hesitation, she pulled me into a warm embrace.

“Emylia. I barely spoke to you in all the chaos last night. And I certainly didn’t get to hug you.”

I instantly melted. “Hi.”

She smirked at me. “I heard you caused some trouble last night.”

I pulled out of the embrace, giving her one of my most angelic grins. “Me? Never,” I said innocently.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” she said with a mischievous smile.

Bending down, I cupped a hand to each of the twins’ faces, before smiling. “I’ll be back soon. Okay? Then we can play.”

Both girls smiled, nodding enthusiastically before running back to their room.

ChapterTwenty

The sky was devoid of any clouds, a perfect watercolor blue. I stopped only a few feet outside Uncle Thrainn's front door, taking in a mouthful of fresh air. It was so beautiful out here.

A brisk walk carried Sebastian and I through the streets of Ophelia, as we headed toward the center of town. Olag usually told his stories from the same place every day; a small rock wall in the middle of town, next to the apothecary.

Usually, the air was coated in a muddle of different herbs, today was no different. Rosemary smothered the air, itching the inside of my nose and making me sneeze.

As I rounded the corner I was inundated with a throng of children, sitting around a wiry old man, who had started to grey and thin out on top. He had a small frame, wrinkled with age and doubled over in a hunch.

Every child who sat around him was wrapped in every word from the old storyteller’s mouth. I came to a stop behind them, grateful that I hadn’t missed him for the day.

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