Page 18 of Vathia
I get up from my spot and hug him, letting him take comfort from me, but he never answers. After a bit, we go back to having a tea party and I try to take his mind off whatever is bugging him. I know he will tell me when he’s ready.
He always does.
I FINISH PLACING the last blanket over the table in the library and crawl inside where Killian is laying on his stomach reading a book. Collapsing onto the pillows next to him, I grab the book of fairy-tales, one my mother sometimes would read to me before bed.
Killian is my quietest friend and this is our favorite place to hide when things get too tough for him. When he wants to be alone, but not actually be alone.
He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “What are you reading today?” he asks quietly and I smile, showing him the cover. He nods and closes his book, scooting closer to me. “Can we read yours today?” he whispers shyly.
Scooting closer so our shoulders are pressed together, I lay the book in front of us. But when I lean into him he hisses.
Rolling on my side, I face him. “What’s wrong?” I ask, keeping my voice low. “Did I hurt you?”
He shakes his head and murmurs. “You could never hurt me Mae. My father took training a little too hard yesterday. I’m okay.” His eye twitches and I know he’s lying. He always lies about how he was injured. He’s only four years older than me but even the other heirs aren’t nearly as scarred as him.
“Can I see?” I ask.
Killian hesitates and then nods.
I sit up under the table and he does the same, having to duck his head though as the space is too small. He pulls his arm out of the sleeve and then slides it out of the tunic showing me a massive wound, running from the top of his shoulder down to his elbow.
A sharp gasp leaves my lips as my dainty fingers tremble over the bloodied bandage. “Kill…”
He dresses quickly and adjusts his tunic. “It’s okay, Mae. I’m here with you and that makes everything better. I love our reading time together.”
I stare at his arm where I know that wound sits, along with older scars. I know he won’t want me to worry, so I do the only thing I can. I grab the book of fairy-tales and curl into his side and begin reading about a fae who is searching for a great stone of power. He places his arm around me and we read long into the afternoon, giving him all the comfort I can offer him.
TODAY IS ONE of the few times a year where all the Lords and their families come to the castle. to celebrate the winter solstice—a time where we give gifts to the ones we love and treasure. At least that’s what mother says, although I don’t know how accurate that actually is because she gives gifts to the Lords of Damorleia and I know she doesn’t love them. Tolerates yes, but not more than that.
When I asked one of my fathers why that is, he pulled me into his lap, tickling me. “Because sometimes we have to be nice to people who don’t like us, to keep the peace. The realm isa delicate ecosystem and sometimes you need to do things you don’t like to keep everyone else happy.
It makes sense, but also, why? Why do things you don’t like? Shouldn’t your happiness count for something?
Dragons roar, shaking the windows of the castle and I jump up, running down to the courtyard.
“Maeven, my jewel, please don’t run inside,” I hear my mother yell as I barrel down the hall at full speed.
“Sorry, mother!” I move to a fast walk until I’m around the corner and take off again, laughing. They’re here! They’re here!
Jesper makes it to the courtyard first and I fly into him. The others follow: Talyn, Aemon and then Killian. For a ten-year-old he towers over all of us and I pout. It’s not fair that I’m the shortest one. Just wait. When I’m all grown up, I’ll be even taller than all of them.
“How was your trip here?’ I ask, bouncing on the tips of my toes. “I have so much planned for us before the celebration tonight!”
They look between themselves before glancing back at me, all of them with sad expressions etched on their faces, but it’s Talyn who speaks up, the unofficial leader of our little group. “I’m sorry Mae, we won’t be staying until the celebration. Our fathers wouldn’t tell us why, just that we are here to pay our respects.”
My face falls.
Talyn panics, whipping out a small bundle from his jacket pocket, hoping to stop my tears before they fall. “We didn’t forget these, though.”
I sniffle, taking his gift. “But we aren’t supposed to open presents until after dinner. All your gifts are still in my room.”
Jesper takes my hand, laughing. “Well, want to race up there? I bet we can get there before these lugheads. If we do, I get to open my present first.”
With the tears temporarily forgotten, I squeeze his hand and take off. Jesper stays at my side, his grin wide and toothy as he laughs carelessly as we tear through the castle. The others are right on our heels and just as we reach the hall my room is located in, Killian overtakes us all, but not before Aemon uses the shadows to blink ahead of us and just walk into my room.
I huff, crossing my arms. “You cheated again. Killian gets his present first.”
He raises a pale brow at me. “You didn’t say anything about not using our magick.”
