Page 17 of The King is Dead
Harris had gone over to the door and was now ushering a pink-faced Istral towards us. One moment she’d beam. The next she would blink and her smile would falter.
As they moved closer Istral hung back from Harris’ arm, but the wonderful woman just patted her and murmured to her not to be afraid.
When they were just a few feet away, they stopped. Istral stared at Gall, who gaped back like he’d been smacked over the head with a blunt object.
“Gall,” I said carefully. “This is Istral. She’s… she’s a Princess.”
Gall blinked and finally looked at me again. I raised my hands to reassure him. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Izzy,” I said. “This is Gall. And he’s a dear friend of mine from… another country.”
“Hi,” Istral said immediately. And then she waved, even though I could see she was nervous because he was so big. “Hi,” she repeated.
“Hello,” Gall said.
“H-How are you?” Istral asked, because she had manners and that’s all she knew to use when she was off-balance.
“I’m well,” Gall said, but then he looked at me and his forehead pinched.
“I don’t think so,” Istral said. And even though she was still hugging Harris’ arm, she stepped up beside her instead of hanging back.
“Me either,” Gall said, raking a hand through his hair. “But you seem nice.”
Istral beamed at him. “Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
They stared at each other, and I almost wept with happiness.
Harris met my gaze and we both smiled, though hers was bemused.
Please, please, please let them understand each other…I prayed.
“Are you hungry?” Istral asked suddenly.
And, as if in response, Galls’ stomach growled audibly. His cheeks reddened, but Istral giggled.
“I know the cook and she’s nice. I can get you some food.”
“I’d like that,” Gall said, though he looked a little alarmed when he glanced at me.
I nodded and patted his arm. “She’s nice, Gall. And you are too. I think you two could be very good friends.”
His expression grew worried. “Girls don’t like me though. Because I’m so big.”
“You are really big,” Istral said promptly. I wanted to groan.
But Gall swallowed and looked at her, hunching his shoulders a little in a way that made me want to cry.
“I was born like that. I didn’t get to choose.”
“What would you choose if you could?”
Gall frowned, taking the question as seriously as Istral had posed it. My heart fluttered with hope.
“I think I’d be normal,” he said finally.
Istral nodded like that made complete sense. “Me too.”
