"Are you alright?" Janice asked from his left. He looked over to see her sitting up, watching him. She blushed, "Sorry, I heard you wake."
"I'm alright," Sean said, "Just thinking about Valishna, I guess."
Janice reached over, giving his arm a comforting squeeze, "I know how difficult it must be, without your uncle and sister. But you're going to be alright, Sean. I promise."
Since they'd arrived in Valishna, Janice had refused to leave his side. Sean was glad for the company, though. Her presence was something stable in the ocean he was adrift in, something to hang onto.
"I know," he said.
"Do you want to go get something to eat?" Janice asked.
"No," Sean said, "I think I left my appetite back in Valishna."
"Well, you're so skinny," Janice said, "It's a wonder that you haven't disappeared already with how little you eat."
Sean gave a wane smile.
"Come on then," Janice said, standing up. She brushed off her pants, and then her robe. Despite how torn and damaged it was, she insisted on wearing it. When they'd stopped at a stream on the way to Westwood, she'd rinsed it, managing on getting most of the blood off.
"I'm really not hungry," Sean said, getting to his feet. "I'll keep you company though."
"I'm not really hungry either," Janice admitted, "Let's go check with the housing people. Maybe we've been assigned rooms. It'd sure be nice to get off the ground. Not that I might sleeping on the ground. But you know... it'd be nice."
"Yeah," Sean agreed, "It would."
He followed Janice to where the woman who'd collected their names when they entered the city was stationed.
"Can I help you?"
Janice offered a large smile, "We were just wondering if we could check and see if our names had been assigned to rooms yet."
The woman sighed, "Full names, please."
"Janice Akins and Sean Sweeton."
The woman took a few minutes to flip through the notebooks before finally looking up. "Both of you have," she said, "At the hotel. You're in room C3 and you, you must be Sean, you're in room D7."
"Thank you," Janice said.
Once they'd moved away, Janice smiled at Sean, "We've been assigned rooms, hear that? Well, at least it's not together. I wouldn't want them to assume anything."
Sean laughed, "Yeah," he agreed, "Wouldn't want them to assume we're always together, right?"
Janice blushed.
Sean smiled, "Really though, we're going to have a lot of time to spend together. Let's go see our rooms."
"We'll check out yours first," Janice offered.
Sean nodded, "Sure."
They both looked out at the city as they walked, and Sean marveled out how much it had already changed since their arrival. Barricades had been built to protect the city from an attack, and soldiers had begun to pour in, making it even more crowded than before.
The hotel towered over them when they neared it. It wasn't as tall as some of the buildings in Valishna had been, but still prestigious in its own right. "Welcome home," Sean murmured as they let themselves in.
The man behind the front desk gave them copies of their keys once they'd introduced themselves and offered to show them to their rooms. Janice turned down his offer, insisting they'd be fine on their own.
"Are you sure you don't want to check out your room first?" Sean asked. "I don't mind."
"Well... alright," Janice said. They climbed the stairs to the right floor and hunted around for the right door number. Once they'd found it, Janice slid her key in, unlocking it and pushing the door open.
She gasped when she saw who was inside. Penny, Matilyn, and Eldrin were sitting on one of the beds, chatting.
"What are you doing here?" Eldrin demanded.
Janice glared at Eldrin, "What are you doing here? This is my room. I was assigned to it."
"So were we," Penny said, "Well, Mattie and I. Eldrin was just hanging out with us. Why would they put us all together?"
"Space," Matilyn said, "We're sharing a bed which means there's an extra. That's your space, Janice. It's good to see you."
Janice gave Matilyn a fleeting smile but it quickly faded, "I didn't realize we'd be sharing rooms," she sniffed.
Penny turned back to Matilyn and Eldrin, "So yes, Eldrin, they confirmed there's definitely a war. They're starting recruitment. That's why the soldiers are here."
Sean glanced over at Janice, seeing how her jaw flexed in anger. She stepped forward, "You know," Janice said, "My father was an officer in the Arinford Guard. They're recruiting all the officers back to the field. Anyone who was once active duty."
"That's nice," Penny said, turning a shoulder to her.
"Do you think there'll be a draft?" Matilyn asked.
Eldrin nodded, "I think so."
"I don't," Janice said, interrupting again, "They'll want to use patriotism first and then draft when things get tight."
"She was asking us," Eldrin said.
Matilyn shot Janice an apologetic look.
"I don't care," Janice said, "Damn it. Why did I have to end up here? Of all places."
"There's nothing wrong with here," Penny said defensively, "We were just in the middle of a conversation."
"That I'm not a part of," Janice said, "As usual."
"You're always welcome to be a part of our conversations," Penny said, primly folding her hands on her lap, "You know that."
"She is?" Eldrin asked.
Matilyn sighed but didn't speak up. Sean looked back and forth between everyone present. He could almost feel the tension in the air. He considered for a moment before stepping forward.
"I don't know most of you," he said, "I'm Sean Sweeton."
"I think I've seen you before," Matilyn said, "Still, it's a pleasure. Matilyn Malevus, but my friends call me Mattie."
"Right, her friends," Eldrin said, stressing the word.
"And that's Sheldon Eldrin," Matilyn said, glaring at her friend, "He can be kind of a jerk. You get used to it, though."
"No, you don't," Janice chimed in.
"I'm Penelope Belmonte," Penny said with a lift of her chin, "It's an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance. And how do you know Janice?"
Sean looked over at Janice, "She saved my life."
"How?" Eldrin asked. "Please, tell us, I'm sure it's an enthralling tale."
"What's wrong with you?" Janice asked, "Do you ever know how to be a decent person, Eldrin?"
Matilyn sighed again.
"He's a decent person," Penny said, "He just has a mouth that doesn't quit. Come on Eldrin, be more polite. It probably is a good story."
Eldrin just shrugged.
"So are we sharing a room with you as well?" Matilyn asked Sean.
"No," Sean said, "I'm in D4."
"That's my room," Eldrin said, sitting up straighter and eyeing Sean, "So we're roommates. That's... something."
"That's definitely something," Janice said. "That's just great. You'll have plenty of time to tell Sean how boring and annoying I am."
"Why would I need to say that?" Eldrin asked.
"Okay, enough," Matilyn said, "We're all going to be seeing a lot of each other. There's no need for all the hostility. This is a different world we're in now, guys. We're not in school training. THere's a war going on."
Janice hesitated before nodding, "You're right. Sorry."
Eldrin looked at Matilyn accusingly but finally lowered his eyes, "Sorry, Janice."
Penny nodded as well. "You are welcome to join us," she said, sounding a bit more sincere.
"Do you want to switch?" Sean asked suddenly.
When everyone looked at him, he cleared his throat, "Eldrin, you could stay here, and Janice could come stay in my room. My family died back in Valishna, and Janice has been helping me deal with it."
Eldrin considered Sean for a moment, "And stay with Penny and Matilyn?" He glanced over at Janice's hopeful face and sighed, "It's tempting," he said, "But I'm going to have to pa
ss. I spent too long with Matilyn on the way here. She snores."
"I don't snore," Matilyn said, "That's a lie."
"You do," Eldrin said, "and loudly." He smirked at her.
Matilyn didn't smile back. Instead, she offered Janice an apologetic look. "I'm sure you'll still see plenty of Sean," she said.
"Right," Janice said, "Speaking of which, come on Sean. Show me your room."
Sean looked back at the three on the bed, eyes lingering on Matilyn for a long moment. Then he nodded, and followed Janice out.
Eventually, Eldrin went to his own room and Janice went out for a walk with Sean, leaving Penny and Matilyn alone.
"I wish Eldrin wouldn't antagonize Janice like that," Matilyn sighed. "He should have just swapped rooms with her."
"Yeah, well, that's sort of Eldrin," Penny said, "And I can't really blame him. She's not exactly easy to get along with."
Matilyn shook her head, "She's alright."
"To you, everyone's alright," Penny said. "But I don't want to talk about Eldrin and Janice right now. I got something earlier. I wanted to tell you about it but it was never quite the right time."
"What is it?" Matilyn asked.
Penny reached over to her bag, digging around in it. She eventually found an envelope. "A copy of the Teirford refugee list," she said, "I took one from the counter they were keeping them at."
"You stole it?" Matilyn asked.
"Shh," Penny said, "I didn't steal it, necessarily. It's just, the lines were so long and I didn't want to stand there and find things out from a stranger."
"You're terrible," Matilyn said, but she made a motion with her hand, "Go on then, open it."
Penny nodding, tearing off one end of the envelope and sliding the list out. She ran her finger down it, stopping at the B names first. "Woah," she said, surprised, "Robert's in Teirford. I'd have thought he'd still be in Valishna with my parents."
Matilyn peered over her shoulder, "He's the only Belmonte on the list though. The rest must have stayed."
"Right," Penny said, "That's what they told me they were doing. My father was so angry that I was leaving... anyway..."
She ran her finger further down the list, coming to the M section. "He's here," she said with a relieved sigh, "Look, Mattie. Nathaniel Malevus. Your father made it."
"Thank the Gods," Matilyn murmured, taking the list from Penny and sinking further into the bed, "I was so worried," she said, as she stared at the small printed name. "But he's alright. And he'll know I'm alright soon too, once the lists from Valishna make it to Teirford, if they haven't already."
"Come here," Penny said, reaching out and taking the list from Matilyn's hands. She folded it back up and stuck it on the night table. "This is the first time we've been alone since we made it to Westwood. You know, Matilyn, I was so scared."
"I know," Matilyn said.
"No," Penny said, "I don't think you do. If something had happened to you, I don't know if I'd ever be alright again. You know?"
"I know," Matilyn said, swallowing, "That's how I'd feel if something happened to you too, Penny. I knew you were alright, Eldrin told me, but I kept imagining the worst. What if the caravan was attacked again? What if you'd gotten hurt? What about sick? That girl, she ate the mushrooms, that could've been you..."
"I'm not four," Penny said, "I know better than to eat mushrooms off the roadside."
Matilyn laughed and shook her head. "You know what I mean," she said, as she wiped a tear from her face, "This is stupid. Why am I crying? We're both fine, and we have good news. Stupid really."
Penny laughed this time and leaned over, kissing Matilyn's cheek, "Probably because you never let anything out. It's hard to tell what you're thinking sometimes. Now, come here."
Matilyn listened this time, scooting closer to Penny. She glanced down, wriggling her fingers. The silver ring on her finger matched Penny's. They were promise rings that Matilyn had bought from the local jewelry shop months earlier. Matilyn and Eldrin had moved in together when they'd come of age, and Penny had made plans to join them. After Matilyn had given her the ring, they'd begun to start talking of their future life together.
"It's not quite the same," Matilyn said, sliding an arm around Penny's waist, "This room, I mean. It's not the same as the one we would've shared in Valishna. For one, we wouldn't have a roommate. And we had a window there, and a huge closet to share. And the colors would've been different. You probably would've painted."
"I probably would have," Penny agreed.
"But it's something," Matilyn said, "It's something, at least. We're together, Penny, and that's all that matters to me. I love you."
"I love you too," Penny said, pulling Matilyn in for a kiss.
Matilyn counted the freckles on Penny's nose, and then on her cheekbones, and then the freckles scattered around her eyes. Then she got lost in the deep blue of them, and for a time, the rest of the world ceased to matter.
FIVE
The Sword is Out
THE RECRUITER LOOKED OUT AT THE SEA of faces, "Joining the Arinford Guard is one of the highest services you can provide for your king and kingdom. There is no greater glory, no greater honor than becoming a soldier and protecting your homelands."
"Honor and glory," Janice scoffed from her spot next to Sean. She spoke to him in a low voice, "My father says that war is about stopping the bad guys, that's all. There's nothing more to it. When the war gets hard, that's what you focus on. Stopping the bad guys. Honor and glory won't keep you moving when you're cold and your friends are dead."
"Your father is a smart man," Sean said.
"He is," Janice agreed, "He's going to be deployed soon. They want him over in Teirford. They're going to be sending the citizens to another neighboring town and using Teirford as a base. They want him to help lead some of the troops from it."
Sean nodded.
"My mother, she's heartbroken of course," Janice said, "But he's doing what he has to do. Everyone has their part in this war, that's what he told her. He said that he's just doing his fair share. He was an immigrant, you know."
"I didn't know," Sean said. "He's hardly got an accent."
Janice nodded, "He was though. From Rafix. When he came here after Rafix was freed by Arinford, he came here. He was still a teenager. He changed his name to Akins, so he'd fit in better and he joined the Arinford Guard. Then he met my mother and well, the rest is pretty obvious."
"How's Alexander taking his deployment?" Sean asked.
"He's alright," Janice said, "I mean, he's only nine years old. He doesn't really understand what it means. Not really. He will though. Eventually. But hopefully he'll still be alright."
"And what about you?" Sean asked, "Are you alright?"
"I'm worried," Janice admitted, "But I'm always worried. I'm a worrying person, I think. But it doesn't matter. He's right, he has to do what's the best for the Kingdom, and serving is what's best for the Kingdom."
Sean nodded. For a moment, neither of them spoke, listening to the recruiter again.
"Have you thought about enlisting?" Sean asked.
Janice blinked, "Why would I?"
"You've heard about the King's speech," Sean said, "Priests are being recruited specifically. You could be an officer as well, if you passed the training for it."
"I don't know," Janice said, "I haven't given it much thought, honestly. The things he said--about how we're the ones who will Cartharia out of the dark, how we'll provide shelter from the weak, I believe that. But do I believe the Gods have a direct play in this war? I'm not sure about that."
"Me either," Sean said.
"There's so much more the Priests can do," Janice said, "I mean, we're healers. There are going to be plenty of injured people coming back that'll need our help. I could do my part there, couldn't I?"
"You could," Sean said.
Janice sighed, "But then I think, well, they're recruiting Priests for a reason. We must be able to make a difference out there. My father said eve
ryone has their part to play. What if that's my part, Sean? What if I'm meant to be out there?"
"I don't know," Sean admitted. He swallowed, looking back at the recruiter. Even with Janice by his side during the day and Eldrin sharing his room at night, he felt so isolated, so empty. He wondered though. Maybe he was the one who needed something else, something bigger.
"I think I might enlist," he told her.
Janice blinked, "Really?"
Sean nodded, "Yeah. When his speech is over, which it seems like it almost is. I'm going to give it a shot. Play my part, like you said."
"I didn't really mean you," Janice said, "I didn't mean you should sign up for war, Sean. Not unless you want to, that is. I don't mean to peer pressure anyone into making a decision like this. It's not something you can take back, after all."
"I'm sure," Sean said, "I want to do this."
Janice nodded, considering for several long seconds, "I think I'm going to sign up as well," she said, "They need the Priests after all."
Sean looked at her. Despite the empty feeling in his chest and the hollow pit in his stomach, Janice meant something to him. He didn't know what, not yet anyway, but she meant something, and he couldn't bring himself to argue.
"Good," he said instead, "Come on then, Janice. Let's go find our glory."
"Lost your appetite?" Penny asked Eldrin. She gave him a sympathetic look.
"I'm just tired of potatoes," Eldrin admitted. He ran a hand back through his hair and sighed, "I know. You're not supposed to say stuff like that. We're supposed to be grateful we have food at all. It's just..."
Penny nodded.
"How are you holding up though?" Eldrin asked, "Your family is all in Valishna still, right? Are they alright?"
"I'm sure they're fine," Penny said with a bitter shake of her head, "Though not all of them stayed. Robert, he went to Teirford. The others though--my mother, father, they stayed. Can you believe it? I've never been so disappointed in them."
Eldrin grimaced, "You can't really blame them, Penny. It must have been a hard decision but the people who chose to stay, they stayed safe, you know? They were probably frightened."
The Warriors of Valishna (Cartharia Book 1) Page 5