“I have heard the name,” A’bbni replied. This did not surprise him at all with the lavishness of his surroundings. Lord Arvay’s ferrying business was the main source of transportation for any of the nobles or merchants who needed to travel across the sea to the elven continent and back, and the more common people as well. Based on that alone, A’bbni could deduce that the Arvay family was extremely wealthy, even without Kella’s luxurious suite saying so.
“I am the third son of Lord Arvay. I have two older brothers, and three sisters. Only my second brother is aware of my association with the goblin resistance.” Kella crossed one ankle over the other as he leaned against the desk.
“May I ask you why?” A’bbni asked curiously.
“Why I am a member of a goblin revolutionary group?” Kella asked with a small smile. When A’bbni nodded, he said, “I do not have to be a goblin to know that both slavery and the crown prince, excuse me, the Emperor, are repellent.” His smile turned a bit sad. “My family was involved in the slave trade, years ago, before I was born. I cannot make up for the mistakes of my ancestors, but I can do my best to make things right in my time.”
A’bbni gave Kella a small smile. “You are wise beyond your years, Lord Kella.”
Kella gave a soft chuckle at that. “I hope to remain so. Do you know of the rebellion?”
A’bbni shook his head. “I only heard about it when we were rescued from the prison.”
Kella frowned, not seeming happy that the information had been withheld from him. “The idea, from my understanding, has been that your Father would continue as Regent, your Cousin would be forced to renounce his claim to the throne’s succession, and the Regent would then name one of you to the throne, as your age of majority is coming up.”
“One… one of us? You mean, Shi’chen or myself?” Kella nodded again. “Why did neither of us know about this?”
“I do not pretend to know your Father’s mind,” Kella said. “I only listen and report back. But if I had to venture, I would say you were not informed because of a situation like this. If you or your brother were captured and interrogated, knowing nothing would keep those involved in the rebellion safe.”
A’bbni frowned down at the dark liquid in his glass. “That certainly seems to be something that we should have been able to decide for ourselves, seeing as it is our lives that were the most endangered by it.”
“I do not disagree with you on that,” Kella said. “I can only speak for myself when I say that I am truly sorry for what happened to you and your brother, and your Father.”
A’bbni was silent for another long moment. He looked up into Kella’s ocean-deep eyes, then flushed as his stomach gave a loud growl of protest.
“Oh, forgive me, I have been a truly ungracious host,” Kella said, pushing himself off the desk and moving over to a nearby pull rope. “I am sure you have not had much to eat in the last few days.”
“I am sorry for any imposition,” A’bbni replied.
“None at all,” Kella said, waving his hand as a door on the side of the room opened, emitting another porter, with his almost white-blond hair piled on top of his head. “Please have lunch for two brought here. Whatever is ready now, we do not wish to wait.”
“Yes, my lord.” The blond elf gave him a quick bow and disappeared again.
Kella turned back to A’bbni. “My apologies, Your Reverence.”
A’bbni shook his head. “No, please, there is no need to apologize. And, if you wish, please call me A’bbni. Reverence is only a title, and I certainly am in no position to maintain it.”
Kella gave him a small smile. “But you are royalty, and still a scholar, whether you are in your home or not.”
A’bbni tried not to laugh. “Please. While I am in your grace and away from my home, I would enjoy not being royalty for a time.”
“As you wish, my lord,” Kella said, changing to the less formal address.
“If… if I may impose upon your goodness further,” A’bbni said, bowing his head, his fingers toying with the wine glass uneasily.
“Yes, my lord,” Kella said, giving him a kind smile that almost brought tears to his eyes, but he forced them back.
“Do you have a physician on board?”
“I do.”
A’bbni felt his face go scarlet, his ears dipping a little as he replied, “While we were imprisoned, I…” He wished more than anything Shi’chen was with him right now, holding his hand for support, having the courage to say the things that he did not. “That is…”
Kella’s eyes softened. “Someone hurt you,” he said, in the same tone that A’bbni used when at the bedside of a patient.
His ears drooped more, and A’bbni nodded slowly, raising his eyes to meet Kella’s own, feeling like he at least owed him that much. Kella moved over to him, suddenly kneeling next to his chair to look up into his face. “I am so sorry, my lord,” he said, laying his pale hand on A’bbni’s arm lightly, which surprised him. Elves were much less physical than goblins tended to be, especially when it came to strangers. But the kindness of the touch sent a small spark of warmth through him, and he looked into Kella’s eyes that appeared just a little bit wet. “My physician is at your disposal, for as long as you need. Let us get some food into you, and then I will send them to your rooms.”
“I am grateful,” A’bbni said, giving Kella a weak smile. “I apologize for the imposition all of this must be causing you.”
