Page 24 of The Stolen Kingdom

Cai nodded aggressively before bowing. “Yes, of course, I- I am not saying otherwise…”

“But?” Maris tried to hide her amusement at Cai’s nervousness.

“Nothing.” Cai glued his gaze to the ground just as Melvian opened the door.

“Hello, Maris,” Melvian grinned. “Hi, Cai.”

Cai greeted Melvian as Maris walked towards her best friend. Just as she was about to close the door, she stuck her head out and stared at Cai. “You are going to stay there, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Maris rolled her eyes. “Cai, go play. That’s an order.”

“I can’t, Your Highness, please forgive me.”

“I can’t believe I am already dealing with insubordination. Can you believe this, Melvian?” Maris asked, turning towards inside the house.

“Pretty much,” Melvian chuckled, waving her hand at Cai and closing the door. “But don’t feel too bad. I mean, look at Valda. She had an entire coup.”

Maris’s upper lip twitched as she pulled a chair from the dining table and sat down.

“Too soon, right?”

“Yep.”

“Yeah, I shouldn’t have said that.” Melvian tutted and patted her hands on her waist before giving Maris a rueful smile. “So, I know you have been studying.”

“I have,” Maris said proudly. “Ask me anything.”

“Can you recite the entire Asclepius worshiper pledge by memory?”

Pouting her lips playfully, Maris closed her eyes and effortlessly recited the pledge.

As an Asclepius worshiper, I promise Iwill,to the best of my ability, serve humanity—caring for the sick, promoting good health, and alleviating pain and suffering. I shall never intentionally do or administer anything to the overall harm of those who seek my help. I will let the grace of Asclepius, his sons, anddaughterscourse through me, bringing forth the needed knowledge to assess and ease the suffering of the sick and injured.

In the morning hours before going to Melvian, Maris would read the oath repeatedly, repeating each word in her head as if it would somehow lead her to believe she was making the right choice. The oath at the beginning of the book, which was written in gold, burned in the back of her head all the while. It was hard to imagine if she could follow those words.

Could she help the enemy if they came asking for help? If they were injured? Would she have the heart to let them die, or would she follow the way of the worshipers and heal them? She still wasn’t sure, and if she were honest with herself, she would only decide when the moment allowed her to do so.

“Wow, well done.” Melvian’s little condescending praise struck a nerve, but Maris let it go as soon as she noticed her friend’s smirk.

“I’ve been working hard.”

“There is no doubt about it!” Melvian chuckled. “Hopefully, if you keep it up, you might get the blessing,” Melvian said, grabbing a bag from the table. Instead of placing the strap over her shoulder, she closed her eyes and scoffed. “I really need you to be blessed.”

Maris frowned. “You said it yourself…Hopefully.”

“I know what I said,” Melvian whispered, absentmindedly fidgeting with a decorative button from the bag. “Listen, Maris, I need to know you are doing everything you can to be blessed.”

Maris blinked, surprised by the sudden shift of emotions. “Melvian, I can assure you—”

“I know you are going through a lot of things, and I get it, believe me! But… Gods, Maris, I either teach you enough to be blessed or maybe…” Melvian rubbed her swollen stomach. “I can teach him… or her! I am still not sure if the baby will be a boy or a girl, it’s been really hard to determine and—”

“Hey! Hey! Melvian!” Maris shook her head and jolted to grab Melvian’s hands. “It’s fine, alright? You are fine, I am fine, the baby is fine. You are worrying too much.” Maris tilted her head, trying to lock eyes with Melvian. “You are anxious.”

“I miss Isen, yes, but I keep telling myself that the real purpose of this separation is because a blessed worshiper will come from this. It will either be you or the baby, and I swear I will not rest until I meet a blessed worshipper.”

“And you will. Iamtrying my best.”

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