Page 59 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
“Me too,” Kilah agrees.
We walk to the dining room in silence. It’s almost empty now with just a few warriors having a late lunch. Caelan makes us sit down and mind links the kitchen chef to bring us something to eat. It’s a hot stew with lots of potatoes and cabbage, and I feel like I can devour three bowls of it.
“What else are you going to do today, Azadeh?” Kilah asks me.
“Oh, Endellion invited me to take the horses and show me the forest later this afternoon,” I smile, already looking forward to spending my evening with Endellion.
“So, you are free after lunch?” Kilah shifts around.
“Yes.” I look at her expectantly, but when she remains quiet, I continue to pry. “Did you have plans?”
“Eibhlin and I will go dress shopping for the masquerade,” she says. “And, I wondered if you’d want to join us.”
“That’s actually a good idea. I don’t have a dress fitting the theme.”
Kilah beams. “I will help you find one. I’m good at that.” Once the words have left her mouth, she shrinks back again, almost as if she is scared I will belittle her.
“I’m not too bad at it either,” I tell her. “I like picking out dresses and I like to dress up for events.”
“Really?” Kilah looks at me in pure joy. For the first time since I met her, she truly looks joyful and like a normal young woman. “I… I wanted to ask Alana, too.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
“I just don’t know how… so I thought… maybe… could you ask her?”
“She wouldn’t decline you,” I tell her.
“I’m not sure.” Kilah frowns and looks into her bowl gloomily.
“I can come with you to ask her,” I offer. “As emotional support.”
A smile curls the young princess’s lips and she nods.
“And, I’d like to take Simin along, too,” I say, wanting to involve my best friend. We have been so busy recently that we don’t spend enough time with each other. But, we try to make time every day before we go to bed, hanging out in one of our rooms and just chatting.
“Of course,” Kilah says promptly. “She is so cute, and I’ve heard she is great with fashion.”
“She is really good,” I agree.
“So, this afternoon it’s fun, and tomorrow, training again.” Kilah says. “And, I have to up my studies a bit and learn more about politics.”
“Kilah,” Caelan interrupts us. “There is more to it, though, isn’t there?”
“What do you mean?” she asks nervously.
“To all of this.” Caelan eyes her thoughtfully. “To you joining our training, to you trying to make up with Alana…”
“It’s stupid,” Kilah protests.
“I doubt it’s stupid,” I say. “But you can talk to us if you want to. We won’t laugh.”
Kilah looks at us sadly. “I still don’t have my wolf.”
“But, this isn’t unusual,” Caelan says. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“It is something to worry about,” she blurts out. “And then, I thought maybe it’s the goddess’s way to punish me for being a bad sister and for not doing anything wolves normally do.”
“You are not a bad sister,” Caelan objects.
