Page 150 of The King is Dead
She nodded like a child. “And Gall,” she breathed, and I was reminded all at once about Harris’s suggestion that she and Gall be allowed to cohabitate. My sister lookedveryyoung now, and so fragile. How could she be ready forthat?
“I’m sorry I was away yesterday, Izzy. I had a very important meeting away from the Palace and—”
“I heard that they crowned Melek,” she said in a flat voice.
I nodded. “And we got to meet some of Gall’s friends as well. We’re all going to travel together, so we’ll be very safe.”
I knew that wasn’t entirelytrue, but I also knew Istral wouldn’t know the difference. Not that it mattered. Her chin trembled again and her face crumpled.
“How long will you be gone?”
“I’m hoping it will be much shorter than last time,” I said carefully, not wanting to make promises like I did last time that left her so worried for me when I didn’t keep them.
“But how long?”
I sighed. “Izzy, I’m sorry, I don’t know. And I don’t want to be wrong so that you worry if I’m not back in time. All I can tell you is that I’ll be with Melek and Gall and many of the others. They’ll all protect me.”
“But it’s still dangerous. They are dangerous men, Lani!”
I frowned. “I… what do you mean, they’re dangerous? Has something happened with Gall? Did he hurt you?”
“What?! No!”
I was surprised to see my sister’s tears fade into anger at my suggestion. “Gall wouldneverhurt me!”
“That’s… that’s good. No, no, I agree with you,” I said hurriedly, because my sister suddenly lookedfierce.“But you said they were dangerous, I just wanted to make sure—”
“Dangerous to other people. They fight. They are…” she looked carefully back towards my room to make sure Melek and Gall weren’t close enough to hear. “They’re brutes, Lani. You must have noticed? They fight quickly, and threaten violence to anyone who would hurt us. They are truly dangerous. I think they’ve killed people before!” she hushed, scandalized.
I didn’t quite have the heart to break it to her that I had done that too, so I just nodded and patted her arm.
“But, you see how they only turn that, er, brutish nature against those who are wrong, or dangerous? That means they can be trusted.”
Istral nodded, but she still looked miserable. “I know, but Gall’s going to leave with you and I’ll only have Harris again and… I don’t want to be scared all the time. I’m scared when you’re gone. And when… when Gall is away,” she said with another glance back towards my room.
I blinked. “Istral… you know that the guards here will protect you, and—”
“It’s not the same!” she hissed frantically.
“I know, I know,” I said quickly to soothe her. She was so rarely aggravated or angry that when it did happen, if her feelings overwhelmed her, it took a long time to calm down. “I only meant that we have many people who love us and they will take care of you while we’re gone. And then we’ll all return together. You, me, Melek and Gall… that will be nice, won’t it? If we can all be together—”
“But we are together now! You’re all leaving but I have to wait. It’s hard, Yilan! It’s hard to stay here when everyone else goes and might not come back!”
For the two years after losing our parents, Istral had panic attacks whenever I left the Palace. For a time I had to avoid letting her know when I was traveling unless I would be gone for days, taking quicktrips and having Harris keep her busy so she didn’t figure out I was away. But as we’d grown and matured, she’d become a lot calmer.
My last absence had been hard on her. Clearly harder than she’d admitted.
And now she was feeling reliant on Gall, and he was leaving too.
I chewed on my lip, looking back towards the room and Melek. Did Gall really need to come? But then I remembered Melek’s assurance that Gall was his heir. Among the Nephilim that was an important rank—and one that would provide a certain amount of protection to Gall. I was proud that Melek would make certain Gall had that recognition.
I sighed and stroked my sister’s hair. “Istral, I’m sorry this frightens you. I do understand. But this is one of those moments I spoke to you about—do you remember?”
A small pucker appeared between her brows which meant she wasn’t sure. I stroked her hair again.
“Remember when I talked about the difference between scary feelings, and things that are worth being scared for?”
Istral’s knuckles were white on the mug. “Sort of.”
