"So will you be going to help with diving?" Minstrel asked me conversationally. He chuckled, ignoring the glare Ellia was giving him. "It is not a sight to be missed. Should you have seen our brave Princess, doing it for her first time, you might have guessed that it is a more frightening bit than standing at the top of Uldin Keep itself."
Ellia seemed as if she'd been intending to yell at him, but at these last words, switched very suddenly. "It is more frightening than being at the top of Uldin Keep. I've told you, we have walls there, and it's not as if we ever leapt about them."
"Still such a long drop," Minstrel mused.
Ellia put her fork to her plate, but she didn't take a bite of anything, she only stared down—so that I wondered if we weren't thinking about the same thing.
I swallowed. "So when you teach the diving," I broached carefully, "You jump from high up?"
A question, was good I'd learned, for getting Ellia to talk. Minstrel gave a short smile, watching me, and though I didn't understand what it was for, it seemed a supportive sort of gesture.
"Yes, of course," Ellia said. "Off the platform, into the water. It's to practice jumping off of a chimera, as Warriors are sometimes required to do. Also we use it to practice jumping onto our chimera, which is even more common. But that can't be done until you've your own, and the ones I'll be working with today are trainees, so they won't."
She was actually sitting right next to me, so when she looked over, it meant that her face was very close. She didn't stay looking for long.
"Why would you need to practice jumping in the water?" I asked.
"There are a number of reasons," Ellia sighed. "The most common is that a chimera can start to tire over far distances. In the case of rain or sudden snow, the Warrior might need to dismount in flight to allow them to rest. Especially if the chimera is carrying more than one person."
"Isn't it cold in the winter? The water, I mean."
Ellia looked at me frowning. "If a Warrior can't handle the temperature here near the land where the water is warmer, they certainly wouldn't be able to last long out in the ocean would they?" She snapped this, but then sparing a glance at Minstrel, she added. "It isn't cold though. Because of the volcano, the waters around the Isle stay warmer. Not freezing at least..."
"And so there are also hot springs in the jungle," Minstrel added. "The lady has taken me along to them on one occasion."
Ellia nodded grudging agreement; but it trailed off as she considered me, pausing at last on my hand, then she stared off completely in the opposite direction, and I did the same, reminded too readily of all her recent attempts to touch me—or rather successes, since I never stopped her from it. Even when it felt wonderful, even when it was painful; usually one meant the other.
I wasn't sure looking away was the relief it should have been though. As I glanced across the pavilion, meaning to see only sky, my gaze landed on a woman in a long silver gown. It was simple in shape, but its material wasn't; made of a silky sort I'd seen hardly anyone in Yanartas wearing, not even Ellia, which had led me to believe that it was frowned upon for Cirali Warriors to wear dresses on the Isle. But this woman was wearing one, and she was a Cirali Warrior as well. Her hair was braided back so similarly to the way it had been the night she'd yelled at Molec in the Akadian palace that I swallowed. Her expression was sad, her jaw was set, and she was beautiful to me—because just as I'd thought then—she somehow resembled Ellia.
So here when I'd just been trying to think of how to bring up Nain in a casual sort of way, I was faced with the person that I would have, second to Ellia, have to make my most sincere apologies to. I'd killed this woman's son. I'd killed her son. How could I ever apologize for that?
"That's quite a way to be staring," Ellia said, drawing my attention back reluctantly.
I didn't like looking from one care-worn face to the other.
I glanced at Minstrel for reprieve, but to my dismay, he'd gone, and I hadn't even noticed.
"I would have left you, except I'm uncertain whether you don't know your way back down to the lower levels, and Minstrel made me promise.... well, he's invited you to come to dinner. He thinks you should see the Warrior's Chamber, since you're from forestland; it's hollowed out from the inside of a tree. I wouldn't have agreed, because it's unconventional—but I don't like to rob someone of the chance to be reminded of their homeland.... So would you like to come or wouldn't you?"
I hesitated, and then I asked, "Would it bother you if I did?" I didn't sound positive about my chances. And the pitiable tone annoyed even me. But it was worth it if it meant avoiding ruining something that Ellia didn't want me to be a part of.
"I don't see how that's the point," she said impatiently.
Then she just stared, waiting for me to respond.
"I'll come then," I agreed.
"Fine. You might as well follow me along to training, in that case. It won't be worth going back down to collect you."
I nodded as she rose to her feet. Then I joined her, standing and gathering up my empty plate as she did hers. Only I paused to look back at Amalia, who was still standing at the edge of the pavilion speaking with a Yanartian.
"That's Lucian's mother," Ellia said unexpectedly. "Her name is Amalia Denathar. Her line is descended from the original Cirali Warrior, Marius Denathar.... She hasn't had an easy life, so don't bother her alright? I don't want to be responsible if you offend her."
I looked back at Ellia. And then I nodded.
ELLIA:
I was beginning to feel bad about my behavior.
It wasn't as if—after all—Cole had done anything wrong. He'd come to the upper complex just as I'd asked, and he'd been helpful and kind as always, and once we'd finished lunch, he'd come to help with diving lessons and been helpful as well—despite how much I'd snapped at it him earlier on.
It hadn't exactly been ideal, the way Lucian and Estrid had happened upon him, if only because of the attention it had drawn. But really it didn't matter—that was the whole point. It didn't matter. Especially with Nain coming, and all this entailed, I had no business being wrapped up with concerns past or present.
After the trainees left, Cole and I only had to wait on the platform for Nain. The wind was blowing fierce, especially since the sun had set, and I expected that was why Cole had his arms crossed. He stood a few yards behind me, while I watched the sky.
"Um... princess?" his voice came over the howling. There was hardly anyone else about; likely all gone on to dinner which would have already started—or safely indoors somewhere else.
"Yes, Cole," I answered simply.
His voice came again after a pause. "Is this Nain you're waiting for the same Prince Nain of Karatel?"
I didn't know why, but I was infuriated by this question. As if anyone shouldn't know the identity of one of my most prized gifts; who else would I wait out in the cold for? "Yes, Cole," I forced myself to answer calmly.
"Are you friends with him?" he asked after a pause.
My features glazed over and I looked back. From what I could see of his eyes, they appeared unguarded. And it made me realize that he should have no way of knowing how his question upset me. In fact, it shouldn't have upset me. How should Cole know what Nain meant, and why would I expect him to? But I did. I didn't know why, but I did. It wasn't as if everyone in all of Yanartas realized that Cyric had freed the behemoths and freed Nain and freed Tarful because he was wonderful and good and because he loved me. I never expected them to. So why should I feel Cole would know?
I looked back at the sky without answering—hoping he realized he should stop asking questions.
Before long Nain arrived, then he, Lyrie, and I all headed for the Warrior's chamber, with Cole trailing behind us and never having been given a proper introduction.
But he should have felt privileged, I hoped, because he got to sit close by me for the meal, only just across, beside Minstrel. The chamber was very full, since, in the winter months this was where all of
the Warriors ate their dinner, and not only for graduations; each night since the dining pavilion was much too cold. Otherwise, many Warriors ate in their own cabins as well.
I glanced him over as we sat, enough to tell whether he was appreciating the view around, then concentrated on Nain, who was a few seats down speaking with Lucian and a few of the first-order Warriors.
It wasn't as if they could speak on anything important in the crowded meeting chamber, but I still frowned when it became apparent that I wasn't going to be able focus on anything with Minstrel and Cole chattering across from me.
"Knowledge, ingenuity, and dexterity," Minstrel was saying, ticking the attributes off on his fingers, "Dexterity, for the warriors, has to do with all the jumping, such as you must have seen training earlier. Then the bit with ingenuity... our good friend Estrid Larke is especially skilled with that. And so she has always been. You've heard she is a captain, I should think? But shall I tell you how the lady Ellia and I first happened upon her in the portside town of Loone?"
Cole didn't nod precisely, but that didn't stop Minstrel from going on about it.
"It was..." He stretched his arms, in classic sense, "A day of strong wind and stormy gail. We had passed upon the town to find a ship for hire. We had gone through inns, past scorching rain. And all the while, we'd been denied. We searched the city, for a hope, but came up with none, until..."
Oh, he was really exaggerating it.
"At the bar of the inn."
"What bar?" Cole questioned, but Minstrel went on.
"There was a man with... a scar across his face, from here, to here, like a monstrous villain."
He'd been no such thing, I thought.
Minstrel claimed, "He offered the princess a trade of information for a drink. Of course he did not know she was a princess—neither did I at this time. No, matter. It would not rob from the excitement of it. For he led us to the great Captain Larke."
"Estrid?" Cole got out.
"The same, and what should we not be surprised to find that she was a female. Then, no sooner, did it matter, for she and she alone was brave enough to sail the high seas in the off season. Have you seen the waves, Cole? Should I tell you how they crashed upon the cliffs?"
"You didn't go out, while it was still raining, did you?" Cole asked uncertainly.
Minstrel latched onto the opportunity, shaking his head and arms, "Oh, the sky was raging. Billows of tempests and clouds."
I noticed Cole had ceased eating his food.
Minstrel went on, "And what should you think?" he asked. "But as the princess always does the best illustration, I will likewise show you."
So Minstrel picked his hand up, palm flat out, then mimicked the boat sailing over the edge, with his two fingers, then shwew, shwew, with the sound effects, crashing downwards, only to swoop back at the last second and catch the wave.
"Of, course," Minstrel added, picking up a bit of potato, "It wasn't as if the storm stopped when we landed. Then we didn't have true directions for the place. We were stuck at sea for days...." When he munched on his potato, Cole took the chance to speak.
"This all sounds very dangerous." His attention was bent solely for Minstrel.
"Do you think?" my gnome friend replied, "But I haven't told you about the giant arachnids; which was where the lady and myself first met. You see I was trying to charm them with my singing..."
"Charm the spiders?" Cole followed uncertainly.
Minstrel nodded, holding out his hands. "I had my lyre. And I was plucking it thus—but they had no interest in it and had fallen to hissing. That was when she'd come, my bold and fearless rescuer, from the top of a hill. First she called out, so as to bring their attention upon herself—all of this before I'd even been aware of her presence—then in a great show of ingenuity herself, she'd begun rolling their own webs down upon them. All but one, she frightened off this way."
"All but one?" Cole asked, with enough stress to his tone to make me wonder whether he was enjoying this story at all.
"That's so," said Minstrel. "It climbed the hill and almost had her when she used her—"
"Minstrel," I interrupted.
Both he and Cole's heads snapped in my direction. I eyed Minstrel meaningfully, and he lifted a finger. "Oh, yes, but never mind about that. Shall I speak more of our ride out of Loone? After we dropped clear off of the cliff, we were marooned for days without wind, the none of us knowing the way to the Isle, you see."
Cole was still watching me, but after I looked away, pretending to listen to Nain again, he turned back to Minstrel. "All of this happened on the way to Yanartas?" he asked.
Minstrel took his finger, and moved it from one point to the other as he spoke. "As the princess crossed, from Akadia, through Karatel, to the sea. Yanartas wasn't open to ferrying back then. And having just escaped from the wicked city, the princess was on her own until she happened across me."
I peeked back at Cole. But, as always, it wasn't as if I could tell his reaction with no expression to gauge. His head turned down as if he was disappointed with something, then he looked up at me, directly following.
My chest lifted on its own, but I covered it quickly with a scowl. "Didn't I tell you since Byako that I can take care of myself? Don't you believe me now? And I'll have you know Minstrel and I have faced, both separately and together, worse things than that since."
"Ah," replied Minstrel, "That is true, for we haven't even spoken of the princess's Akadian captures twice over."
"And we shouldn't like to," I added.
"And we shouldn't like to," Minstrel mimicked fluidly.
It made me smile a little as I glanced back at Cole, but before I could really get a look at him, my name was called down the table by Lucian.
"Here Ellia," he said, pointing across from him. "Nain was just telling us about the state of the Behemoths. Will you share it again, Nain?"
The Katellian prince nodded and looked my way. "Yes, sorry, Ellia. I thought you could hear."
I shook my head, dismissing him, and calling out lightly, "You've been scouting them again?"
"The Selkians, more than myself," he replied. "Because of the Scorpios. Apparently a herd of the behemoths took over the land around the Scorpio's northern oasis. They thought violence might break out between them, so some of the best riders went to inspect it. There was no fighting to speak of, but the behemoth's health, it was clear, had improved. Those marks and everything were gone; they say their horns are golden again."
I could feel my eyes tearing, but I'd expected it ahead of time so well, that I'd kept up a constant turn of blinking so that no one would tell. "Really golden, Nain?" I asked.
He nodded.
Then it was Lucian who spoke. "They said that they're hard to even look at in the sun, isn't that right?"
Nain nodded again, but I was still watching Lucian, who was smiling for me, and reminding me very much of his brother. I knew he could tell I was close to tears, but I was thankful enough that he'd made sure I heard the story.
Someone said something about how fortunate it was that they were no longer present in Akadia to help with their mining, then Nain went on to speak of the Selkian deserts, and how hot they persisted to be even through winter.
I looked back across the table, finally settled with my blinking, still wearing a smile.
But here my smile slowly fell. Cole was there, and he was already looking at me, but he was just blank. Just a blank black mask, that didn't and couldn't have been expected to know anything of the behemoths or what they meant to me.
But I wanted him to.
He persisted in being present, and he was easy to talk to, he won Minstrel's approval, and I thought of him as often as any of my other friends.
But he didn't know me at all. And I realized that I wanted him to. Not only that I expected him to, as I'd thought earlier. But I really wanted him to. It was a strange thing to realize when I hadn't been certain whether I would ever be able to care about someone that I
hadn't already cared about before I'd lost Cyric.
But my heart was very obvious about it.
I lifted my smile back and glanced at Minstrel, to see his reaction to the news of the behemoths. He was grinning of course. Then I looked back at Cole, and after a few seconds, of silence, even taking a bite between, I smiled a little wider, and told him, in case he didn't know, "The behemoths are Akadia's granted animal."
He didn't say anything; he just stayed very still, so that my mind was left to wander even so far as to the night I'd laid beside Cyric on his bed in Akadia, looking up at the painting of the behemoths, where he'd told me, even after I'd forgotten so many times, what I'd just told Cole.
When Cole finally nodded, I matched it.
And then I decided I would share the rest with him while I was sure I still had the chance to.
CYRIC:
I was about to leave.
And I didn't mind so much.
Neither breathing, nor standing, nor thinking were working very well for me. And there were so many reasons for it, that I wondered if I ever really had gone whole days in Akadia feeling next to nothing.
I had. I know I had. Cyric had. Well, I hoped he'd enjoyed himself while Ellia had been facing giant spiders, and oceans, and trials and diving.
"Cole," someone called.
I was so disoriented—standing just outside the Warrior's chamber, having just been left by Minstrel and now faced with the task of descending a nearly un-seeable complex—that I didn't realize it was Ellia until I turned around, and she was there glowing in the doorway.
She pressed her lips like she was reluctant to say something, then she had to move aside as someone passed her to exit the chamber. She bit her lip before speaking on. "Are you leaving now?" she asked.
I frowned. Why was she doing this to me? First naming the behemoths, now asking me if I was leaving? And what did I care if I'd gotten to see Nain tell her about the behemoths; it wasn't as if it had shown me anything. Had her eyes been watering? Maybe; I wasn't sure. The Warriors Chamber was stupidly dim. She'd smiled enough about it, but what did that tell me anyways? She smiled when Minstrel rhymed as well.
Fallen Warrior (Fallen Trilogy book 3) Page 21