She took his statement as a yes and let out a small sigh as the last of the tension that had wound between her shoulders was unleashed. When she spoke again, it was no longer in the drawn out way of nobility, but the simple phrasing she’d use for Jax, Ellene, or Jayme.
“I think I have as much to apologize for as you do. I could’ve—should’ve—been nicer to you from the start.” Vi gave a small huff of laughter, mostly at herself. “You know my brother even told me you were important, and I think that, with all I’ve had going on, I botched it.”
“I wouldn’t say that…” Andru said slowly. His eyes drifted to her letter box. “Romulin said I was important?”
“‘More important than I could imagine’,” Vi answered delicately. She studied his face, trying to read the expression that lingered there.
“Did he ever write anything else about me?” Andru asked in a small voice. He’d never spoken so plainly around her. Perhaps having a shared near-death experience was what they both needed.
“No…” He hadn’t. Vi blinked slowly, realization dawning on her. “He never really wrote about any of his friends.”
Andru seemed just as shocked as she was. “What did he write about then?”
“Books he was reading, mother and father, the court, news of the South, advice for how to manage things…”
“All very useful nuggets of information. Romulin’s terribly savvy.” Andru smiled.
Vi tried to smile back, but her mind was preoccupied for the moment by musings of a similar vein to what she’d thought around Andru before. How much did she really know about her brother? Vi had always imagined they were close… but what sort of music did her brother enjoy? What hobbies filled his days when he wasn’t in his lessons? She was certain she’d written about those things.
“Your brother was actually the one who encouraged me to take this post,” Andru continued, oblivious to her moment of turmoil.
“He was?” Vi tried to shake her discomfort. She was merely overreacting due to exhaustion, seeing things that weren’t there.
“Romulin wanted me to help prepare you, and I don’t think I’ve done that at all.”
“You saved my life, surely that counts for something?” She gave him a small smile and his eyes darted away.
“At least I did that… Otherwise I might be in trouble.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know if I’m doing my job well.” He folded and unfolded his fingers, eyes darting back and forth, not quite making eye contact with her. “Ineedto do my job well.”
“Isn’t your father head of Senate? Aren’t you basically set for life?”
He laughed bitterly, a sound Vi recognized because she’d made it herself.
“Wouldn’t that be nice?” Andru shook his head slowly. “My father is more of an ass than a donkey, and far more stubborn. You’re not the only one he has high expectations for.”
“At least you’re not an ass, then.” Vi sunk farther back into her pillows, ignoring the ache in her jaw from speaking so much.
“You don’t think so?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, that’s a relief.” He let out an audible sigh, bringing his gaze back to her. Perhaps it was all in her mind, but Vi would swear he was beginning to look her in the eye more.
“There’s something else I wanted to ask you…” Vi hadn’t been planning on the conversation taking this tone when she first summoned him, and though she was glad it did, she needed to find out the truth.
“Which is?”
“On the bridge… did you see him?”
Andru went very still. He said nothing, hardly breathing.
“You did.” Vi let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t expect having someone who knew even part of her secrets to be so relieving. Nor did she expect that someone, out of everyone, to be Andru.
“I don’t know what I saw.” He shook his head. “It was… It was like—”
