Mara nods and limps after the guard, following him out of the room.
Aria's anger from earlier had dwindled, mostly due to the way Lex had treated Mara. He was a lot kinder than she had been expecting.
"As for you," he began, turning to face Aria. "Remember what I said earlier. Your people can do as they wish, do not try to control them. And next time...don't interrupt. You are not the queen, just yet," he said, his voice cold.
Her anger returned. But she knew better than to try and argue, so she just nodded. She focused on channeling all of her rage into her eyes, hoping he'd get the message. He only rolled his eyes and left.
She stormed away, going back to her room. She laid in bed, thinking about Mara. And Grace. And Lex.
She was still angry once lunchtime came around, and although she was hungry, she stayed in bed. At some point, she fell asleep.
Eventually, one of the girls she shared her room with woke her up.
"Hey, it's dinner time. I figured you wouldn't want to miss it since you weren't at lunch," the girl said.
"Oh, um, yeah. Thanks."
The girl leaves the room, and shortly after, Aria followed, still a little groggy from her nap.
She sat down at her usual spot and looked around. She noticed Mara sitting at the very end of the table, so far from where she usually sat at Aria's side. Mara's face was already bruising her one eye almost swollen shut. Aria tried not to feel hurt by the distance Mara had put between them, but she was.
Ben took Mara's seat at Aria's side.
"Hey, where have you been? We missed you at lunch."
"I was taking a nap," Aria said, filling her plate. She was starving at that point.
"Oh," he said. They ate in silence for a little while before he spoke up again. "So, Mara and I had a fight last night."
"I heard," Aria said. She didn't really feel like talking.
"She says it's because I never loved her....like I love you," he said, looking at Aria.
Aria didn't know what to say to that, how to reply. So she remained silent.
"She's right, you know," he said, lowering his voice.
Aria looked up and saw Mara looking at her, just for a second, before her eyes dropped.
"I don't care, Ben," Aria hissed.
"You don't mean that...."
"Yes, I do. I mean it. I don't care. So please stop," Aria said, her patience lost.
"But Aria, I-"
"Stop it. If you don't stop talking right now, I'm going to get up and leave."
He sighed but thankfully didn't say anything else.
Aria stayed at the table for a little while, talking to the others. A few of them chatted excitedly about going into town the next day—a few spoke of their training progress.
Eventually, Grace walked towards them with a cup in her hand. She walked beside the table and stopped when she reached Mara, who looked up a little wearily, a little angrily.
"Here," Grace said, handing Mara the cup.
"What is it," Mara asked.
"A cup of our finest wine. Reserved for the king and his family. But I figured you deserved a little after the ass-kicking you took today," Grace said, smirking.
"Oh, um, thanks," Mara said, looking surprised.
"You're welcome. Come to the training area tomorrow after you eat. We can begin your training. I promise to take it easy on you this time."
Mara nodded, and Grace walked out. A few people looked to Mara, admiration in their eyes.
A short while later, Aria decided to head to her room. She bid the others good night and walked out of the throne room. She heard someone coming up behind her, and anger made her clench her fists. She turned, expecting to see Ben, preparing to yell at him, but she stopped short when she realized it wasn't Ben. It was Lex.
"Can I walk with you," he asked like he'd actually give her an option.
She nodded.
"I will be leaving in the morning before you wake. I need to visit the other villages. To let them know of our agreement and to invite a few people to our wedding," he said, his trademark smirk making its way to his face.
"Okay," she said. She still felt angry about how he'd talked to her that morning.
"I'll be gone for five days, perhaps a little longer. My sister will be in charge. If there's anything your people need, if there's anything you need, go to her."
Aria nodded, and they walked in silence the rest of the way to her room.
"One more thing," he said. "This evening, one of my guards let me know that a weapon has gone missing from the training area. It was there this morning, but now it’s not."
Aria's stomach dropped.
"Naturally, I assume it's one of yours. And well, frankly, I'm not threatened by a knife. I've seen your people fight. I'm more concerned about what will happen once I find the culprit," he said.
"Are-are you sure? Maybe it’s been misplaced...or maybe someone else has taken it?"
"Do you take me for a fool," he asked, narrowing his eyes at her. Heat in his gaze.
"No...I-I just don't think that anyone in my group would do that...I-I don't see why they would," she said, hating herself for stuttering. It made her seem guilty or afraid.
"I can assure you that it isn't any of my people. I'd be willing to stake my life on it. Can you say the same thing for yours?"
She didn't say anything. She knew how it looked. They arrive, and suddenly a weapon goes missing. She'd be thinking the same thing if she were in his place. But why would any of her people do that? Why would they risk it?
"Talk to your people, Aria," he said, "I expect the knife to be in the training area by the time I get back. If it isn’t, whoever has it will have to answer to me. If you'd like to avoid that situation, talk to them. I won't tolerate disobedience or theft. That's not who we are. If your people can't accept that, then you do not belong here."
And with that threat, he stormed away.
Aria leaned against the door to her room, trying to control her breathing. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She thought about who would have done something so reckless...so disrespectful. Immediately, she thought of Ben. Could he have done this? Risked the safety of the entire group for a knife? She’s sure that he would.
She stayed awake the entire night, contemplating how she should go about the situation. Eventually, her anxiety took over, and before she knew it, she was shaking Mara, telling her to get up.
Mara looks a little pissed, but she follows Aria out of the room. Aria looked down the empty corridor, making sure they were alone. She tells Mara about what Lex had told her.
"Shit," Mara said, running a hand through her hair.
"But what if- what if it's not one of us," Aria asked a little desperately.
"Stop kidding yourself," Mara said, rolling her eyes. "You know as well as I do that it's one of us. That fucking idiot," she half-yelled.
"What do we do?"
"I don't know; I guess we'll hold a meeting tomorrow. You're the leader, so it should come from you. Make them understand what's at stake. And hopefully, they'll return it before the king gets back."
They stand in silence for a while.
"What do you think he'll do," Mara whispered.
"I don't know," Aria answered. And she honestly didn't. They go back into the room. She still can't sleep, so she just sits on the end of the bed. She can hear Mara tossing and turning, and she figures. that the same thoughts must be running through her head as well. What will he do if the knife isn't returned? Throw all of us out? Send us back? Go around and search every single one of us? Kill us? Really, the possibilities were endless.
The next morning, Aria called the group to attention and told them to meet her in the dungeons after eating. She waited until everyone was there to begin.
"The king came to me last night, inquiring about a knife missing from the training room. I'm not even going to humor the idea that someone from outside our party has taken it because we all know that isn't true," she said
, looking at Mara. "We should all just be glad that the king came to me first, allowing me to talk to you guys. He's going to be gone for a few days, but when he gets back, he expects to find that knife back where it belongs. I'm not going to ask how or why whoever has taken it did it; that isn't important. What's important is to return it immediately."
A few people began to murmur, looking around at each other.
"To whoever has taken it, please, please do us all a favor and return it. We are doing OK here. They've given us shelter, food. That's more than any of us could have hoped for. They are willing to live with us in peace. A knife is not worth everything we'd lose if it isn't in the training area when Lex gets back."
It doesn't feel like enough. They knew the risks, they still took the knife.
"And if that knife isn't returned, I will personally go to the king and let him know that he is free to search both us and our rooms when he gets back. He might just throw us all out. But if he doesn't, if his men tear this place apart until they find whoever has taken it, I hope you will understand that the rest of us will not stand with you. If he catches you, you will face the consequences by yourself with no protest from me. Or anyone else, for that matter. I hope you know that."
There. That felt threatening enough.
The next few days pass faster than any others have, but perhaps it only seemed that way to Aria. She'd barely slept the past few nights. Her anxiety was at an all-time high.
She'd been by the training area every morning and every night since Lex had left. Hoping, praying that the knife would appear.
At dinner on the day of the king’s return, they go directly to the throne room. Too afraid to stop by the training area to check for the knife. Aria felt like her stomach was in knots, making it hard for her to eat. But Mara sat beside her, told her to eat. So she tried.
About half an hour into the meal, the door opened, and Lex walked through. Everyone's quiet. Aria's heart rate speeds up, fear courses through her veins. She curses herself for not checking for the knife before dinner.
He walked to the front of the room and turned to face them. People get up and bow before him. Aria and the others do the same. She peeked up at him, the temptation making it too hard to stop herself. He looked a little tanner, like he'd spend a lot of time outdoors. He was clean and dressed in his dark clothes, the shiny crown on his head.
He caught her staring only a few seconds after she looked up. Her eyes dropped to the floor. His face looked impassive, emotionless as usual.
"Rise," he said and then sat down in his chair. Someone brought him food and drink. Aria kept waiting for him to say something. But he didn't. The longer he sat there, the more nervous she grew. The anticipation was making her sick.
Grace had joined him at some point. She and Lex were discussing something, their voices low, and their heads bowed. Aria strained to listen, to catch a single word, but she couldn't. Not with all the chatter going on around her.
Lex looked up and caught her staring again. She quickly looked away, but she heard him get up. He was at her side before she knew it. Everyone at their table went quiet.
"Take a walk with me," he said, putting his hand out. Aria didn't want to take it; she didn't want to get up at all. But she figured that she didn't really have a choice. So she put her hand in his.
Chapter 9
His hand was rough, his fingers calloused. But it was warm. He let go a second after she rose to join him.
They walked in silence, and this time he led her through the back doors and into the garden. It was dark, but the moonlight was bright enough to light up the path.
"Did-did you have a nice trip," she asked, mostly because she didn't know how else to break the silence. To her surprise, Lex smiled.
"I did," he said. "And did you have a nice week without me?"
She tried not to roll her eyes. "Yes, I did," she said, looking straight ahead.
"I figured you would," he said. She could feel his gaze on her.
They walked in silence again. Once they got to the little bench where she'd sat a few days ago, he sat down. She sat down next to him but made sure there were a few feet of space separating them.
"So, the knife has mysteriously made its way back into the training area," he said.
Thank god.
"Whatever you said must have been compelling enough for whoever had taken it to return it before I got back."
"I guess so.”
The look on his face filled her with dread, though, something about it made him look terrifying. Dangerous.
"Even though the knife has been returned..." he began.
Her blood ran cold.
"This situation has made it clear that I can't trust your people. And by that extension, that I can't trust you," he said, looking over at her.
"But...but they returned it. They were probably just scared. And after what we've been through...can't you understand that?"
"Yes, I can understand that. But your people aren't in danger here. I'd like to think that I've been kind to you since you’ve been here. I've provided food, shelter. I'm not threatening you; I'm not hurting any of you. And despite that, someone took it upon themselves to steal a weapon."
She didn't know what to say to that.
"I'm not really sure how to go about the situation. Part of me wants to let it slide, chalk it up to what your people have been through. Their fear."
"Then you should," she said. Please, please let it slide. “I-I know it was a terrible thing to do, and I can understand why you aren't inclined to trust us. But I really do think it was done out of fear. After everything we've been through...it's hard for us to feel safe."
He thinks about it for a few minutes.
" I'll let it slide, just this once. But if anything and I mean anything, goes missing again...I'll act first and ask questions later."
She nodded. It was the best she could hope for.
And then his tone shifted to something softer, kinder. "I got you something," he said, looking over at her.
"What," she asked, surprised by the change in subject.
"A present," he said.
"A...a present?"
"Yes...is that another thing you don't have where you’re from? Marriage and presents," he asked, fighting a smile.
"Shut up," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just a little surprised, is all."
"You know...if anyone else spoke to me in that manner...I'd probably take their head," he said, all traces of his smile disappeared.
"I-I didn't mean it like that, I swear, it's just that," she began, fear rising in her chest, "I mean, I didn't seriously-"
But he cuts her off with a laugh. "I'm kidding, Aria," he said, the smile on his face making him look so much younger.
"Oh my god...you-" she said, shaking her head, "for a second, I thought you were serious." She put a hand on her chest, willing her heart rate to slow down.
"Relax. I don't take heads for things like that. You'd have to say something a lot worse for me to at least consider it."
She shook her head in confusion. Why was he acting like this? So relaxed? Like they were friends or something?
"So, what'd you get me," she asked, her curiosity from before returning.
"I've left it in my room," he said, getting up. They walked back in silence until they reached the doors leading to his quarters. He greeted the guards there and went inside.
Since he hadn't invited her in, Aria stood by the door, waiting for him to return.
He came back a few minutes later, and they walked down an adjacent hallway for some privacy.
"Here you go," he said, handing her something wrapped in parchment paper once they were alone again.
"What is it," she asked, looking at the present in wonder.
"Just open it," he said, rolling his eyes.
She fought the scowl she wanted to throw his way and opened the package.
Inside, there was a little book. The binding was leather, and she opened it to find thic
k blank pages—a small journal. And behind the journal, she found brand new pencils. Already sharpened and ready to use.
She looked up at him. "How-how did you know?"
"I asked around," he said shrugging. "Brent had mentioned something about you having been a teacher, but you were actually a writer, so..."
Aria looked back at the present. It was nice. Too nice.
"I can't accept this. It's wonderful, but..."
"Relax, Aria. It's a present. It's not a big deal," he said, shaking his head.
"Um...okay then. Th-thank you," she said blushing. She wasn't sure why he'd done it. Why he'd even thought about her long enough to get her something while he was away. Why he questioned Brent about her. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you're gonna get married, she thought, you idiot.
"I've had a long journey, so I'm going to bed, but I'll have one of my guards escort you back to your room, or wherever you'd like to go," he said, yawning.
"Okay, um. Thanks again. For-for the present," Aria said, feeling a little awkward.
He only nodded in response.
She decided to go to her room, not really wanting the others to see that she'd gotten a present. She still wasn't sure how she felt about it. Part of her felt weary. The other part felt flattered.
She put her gift under her pillow and went back to the throne room to talk to her people. She told them about what Lex had said, about this being the only time he'd be understanding of the situation. She told them about his threat, hoping that it would prevent them from doing anything like this ever again.
That night, she really wanted to write. It'd been a long time since she'd gotten the opportunity to do so, but she didn't want the other girls in the room to see. And besides, she wasn't sure what she wanted to write. The first entry had to be something special. It was a new journal, after all.
The girls said goodnight, and Aria finally felt the effects of the past few sleepless nights, making her eyes droop, pulling her towards sleep.
She was almost asleep when she decided on her new book's first entry: a poem about a man with dark, deep eyes and curly brown hair.
"Get up," the man yelled from above her.
She clenched her jaw in frustration, getting up. She'd been thrown to the floor for the third time that day, and she was sick of it.
Align Ourselves Page 6