Page 28 of The Silent Mountain
“Hm,” she hums.
We work in silence before I eye her curiously. “You know Favian and Elio well, don’t you?”
Maggie gently taps her chest where her heart is located. “Elio is like my own,” she admits. “When the king, back then, the young crown prince, asked me to flee with his little brother, I didn’t question if I could do it or not; I knew I had to. So, Theodor and I did it, ready to give our lives for the child.” She lowers her gaze, her eyes pinned to the knife in her hands while she is peeling potatoes. “He was so sad, crying for his family for days, maybe weeks. Theo and I told him stories and tried to distract him. My poor Elio. So much time that he lost, and so much family. He should have been able to be here and play with other little dragons, spend time with his siblings, to learn and flourish. It was all taken from him.”
“But he also gained something within this sadness,” I say. “He had you and Theodor, and he survived and became strong, thanks to you. He was crucial in saving the kingdom, and he was only able to do it because of you.”
“I know what you want to say,” Maggie smiles. “There is no going back; we can only march forward. Oh-“ She drops the knife. “Silly, clumsy me,” she mutters.
I bend down to pick it up for her, but when I want to put it back into her hand, I notice her right hand shaking. She clasps it with her left hand, biting down on her lip as if she can make the shaking stop. Eventually, it does, and she takes the knife back. For a moment, our eyes meet. “Don’t tell them,” she pleads.
“But-“
“My body is giving in, every day a little more,” she says. “But as long as I can, I want to help and be with my two boys. Being confined to the bed won’t help me anymore, my young Warrior Princess.”
I swallow hard before I nod, deciding to respect her wish, though my heart is filled with sadness. Ludwig and Barbara hinted that her health was deteriorating, but she is so close to Elio. I’m not sure how he will handle losing her.
We continue our work in silence, both of us following our own trail of thought, when the door opens once more. I know instantly who it is, as his aura calls to me like no other could, my wolf longing for his presence. I feel the hair on my skin stand up in anticipation when I see his shadow approaching. “Hello,” he says in his velvety voice.
All hell breaks loose in the kitchen when the staff realize they have been too preoccupied to notice that their king in person was so close.
“Calm down, ladies,” Maggie chastises, not without amusement bleeding into her voice though.
“Listen to the old lady,” Favian says seriously. “Or she will grab one of the kitchen spoons and make you listen.”
Maggie looks seriously scandalized at Favian, suggesting she would hit anyone with a spoon. “I never raised my hand against anyone,” she grumbles. “Not even against your little brother when he put himself into unnecessary danger.”
The maids giggle at her words and her annoyed expression while Favian smirks. He bends down, peeking over my shoulder, his close proximity sending a shiver down my spine. I’m almost a bit shocked. It’s the first time my body has reacted to him this way.
After Ita, I thought my body would never long for anyone, and that my heart would be frozen, but it seems the Dragon King has his very own charms.
“We…” the head of the kitchen staff clears her throat. “We are preparing food for the brave warriors who are going to guard the shore,” she mutters nervously.
“I know,” Favian reassures her. “Stefan told me about it and said it was Princess Alana’s very own idea. I just didn’t expect to find these two ladies here, although Stefan warned me that my princess is unpredictable.”
“Actually, I am very predictable,” I argue.
Favian smiles. “Not always,” he says.
I look up at him, surprised, smiling when I meet his gaze. Only when the others around me giggle softly do I remember that we are not alone. My cheeks flush when I turn back to the task at hand, feeling embarrassed by how they all look at me like they witnessed an intimate moment.
Maggie, meanwhile, gently nudges them to go back to their work.
“Well, if you are all busy, I guess I will attend to my little brother,” Favian says quietly when the others are distracted.
“Is something wrong?” Maggie asks, instantly worried.
“No, but he struggles with some of his studies,” Favian says.
“Please be patient with him, my king,” Maggie begs.
Favian’s expression instantly softens at her words. “My little brother doesn’t need to fear me,” he reassures her.
“I will finish this and then come and help you,” I say.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he answers, grabbing my onion-stinking hand and kissing it.
How he doesn’t grimace or gag is beyond me, yet I can’t help but relish the tingling his touch leaves.
