Page 29 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
KALLIE
Kallie had gottengood at goodbyes quickly.
Well, perhaps she hadn’t become good atsayinggoodbye, for that would have required her to say the word. In reality, she hadn’t uttered it once, her mouth refusing to form the syllables. But when Medenia pulled Kallie into an embrace the moment she arrived, Kallie didn’t pull away.
"Don’t be so surprised," Medenia whispered as she threatened to crush Kallie’s ribcage.
"Surprised? I’m not?—"
Medenia gently slapped Kallie on the back. "You hug as if you are made of ice," the princess said before releasing Kallie. Medenia’s ink-soaked hair was twisted into a thick plait that wrapped around her crown. Thin wisps floated around her porcelain face. Taking a small step back, she folded a stray strand behind her ear and gave Kallie a sad, knowing smile.
Kallie wrapped her arms around herself and shrugged. "I’m just not used to physical affection," she admitted. Kallie wasn’t even sure when the last time someone had hugged her, let alone someone she could call a friend.
"Or having friends, it seems," Medenia added.
"That too," Kallie mumbled.
"You have many friends, Kallie. Many people who care about you. Just look around the room," she said, squeezing Kallie’s arm.
As if to prove Medenia’s point, Ophelia inched closer, placing her hand on the small of the princess’ back. The warrior wore slick leather pants that were only marginally more formal than her normal uniform. Her blouse was made of a pretty silk fabric that draped over her curves as if spun by the wind and dipped in a bucket of rose petals.
Beyond the two women, people crowded the room, several finding their seats before the dinner started. More people than Kallie had expected were in attendance. Initially, Kallie had assumed they were there either by order of the Queen or to see the others off. But before Medenia had arrived, the first people to swarm Kallie were the healers who had spent day-and-night taking care of her during those first couple of weeks.
While Kallie wasn’t quite friends with all those gathered in the dining hall, there was a sense of connectedness. Yet, as she continued to scan the faces, a heaviness pressed down on her shoulders, forming a knot at the base of her neck. Kallie might not have known everyone’s names, but she did care about them. She cared about their survival and the lives they had yet to live.
Pinching her eyes shut, Kallie inhaled a deep breath. The subtle floral notes of Medenia’s perfume filled her senses and grounded her. She allowed herself one second of panic before she squashed it. She placed her hand atop Medenia’s. "Thank you, Medenia, for everything."
The princess chuckled. "For everything? All I did was offer you kindness."
"You have shown me kindness when I was undeserving."
Medenia tilted her head, confusion drawing her dark brows together. "You are a living being, are you not? Everyone—everyperson, every animal, every living thing—deserves to be treated with benevolence. We are all on this world together, and if we cannot offer each other that, then we are no better than those we fight against. Kindness costs us nothing, yet has the power to save many." Medenia squeezed Kallie’s arm, her smile turning sad as she did. "Anyway, it is I who should thank you."
Kallie’s eyes widened. "Me?"
"I am beyond grateful for your friendship, Kalisandre." Medenia smiled and dropped her hands. "Now, I have some choice words to say to Ellie about a bet before she tries hiding from me." Medenia spun on her heel, the silk fabric of the bottom of her dress flying around her ankles.
Ophelia gave Kallie a quick nod. "Be safe," she whispered before following Medenia.
Kallie wrapped an arm around her stomach, suddenly feeling more alone than she had previously.
Across the room, she spotted Graeson talking to Emmett. She might have been alone, but she did not wish to attract Graeson’s attention. Ducking her head, Kallie weaved her way through the crowd. She only had to get through the next few hours and then?—
Kallie crashed into someone. She hurried to steady them before they both fell over.
"I’m so sorry, I—" They both started before snapping their mouths shut as they faced one another.
Sweet, wide hazel eyes blinked back at Kallie. Long eyelashes fluttered across pale, freckled cheeks.
"Sorry," Myra mumbled, taking a step back.
"Myra?" Laurince called out, stepping to one side of Myra as Rian stopped to the other. "Is everything all right?"
"Oh, yes, we—Ijust ran into her. I didn’t mean?—"
"You do not need to apologize, not for that," Rian said, interrupting Myra. "She ran into you. She should have been paying better attention."
Myra seemed to want to say something, but she held her tongue.
