“You believe me?” she breathed, hardly able to believe it. Someone believed her. Finally.
She was getting ahead of herself.
“I’m not sure, if I’m being honest. Eira, you’re barely nineteen. I remember how sure I was when I was your age and how little I really knew in retrospect.” He sighed softly, eyes growing distant. “But, I remember when I was your age and the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Taking on tasks far beyond what I should have even thought about. Moreover, I do know that the princess told me you had good instincts and I should heed them.”
“She did?” What was Vi playing at? Just a few hours ago the princess was refusing to believe Eira. Unless it was an act…but why would she have done that? Something to figure out in the future. For now, her uncle. “Well, of course she did. Because I do.”
He chuckled.
“If you’re going to stay then you must be careful. If you give the Pillars the chance, theywillhurt you.” She swallowed thickly. “The Pillars know I’m fighting against them. They know who I am and you came here under your real name so they’ll be able to figure out that we’re connected. They might hurt you to get to me.”
“Eira, I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can, but this isn’t Solaris. You don’t know all the nuances here.” Eira bit her lip. Even if he said he was trying to believe her, he didn’t look like he was taking her nearly seriously enough. “Promise me you’ll keep your ears open, and let me know if you see anything suspicious.”
“If I do, will you focus on winning the tournament for Solaris?”
“Of course.” It wasn’t a lie, nor was it the whole truth. She was going to try to win, just as much as she was going to try and kill Ulvarth. Eira was confident she could do both.
“Very well. I’ll be careful and on my guard.”
A weight was lifted off her shoulders and Eira felt like she could breathe easily for the first time since seeing her uncle. It wasn’t much, but that tiny, minuscule vote of confidence in her, backed up by his actions, was all she needed. It was enough to almost give her hope that maybe, somehow, someday, there’d be a path forward for them to begin repairing the damage that had been done to their relationship over the past year. Maybe he was truly sincere, and there were no other motivations behind his presence.
Fritz went back to bandaging her wounds.
“Is Uncle Grahm here?”
“No, someone had to stay back to watch over the Tower of Sorcerers…and you know I wouldn’t trust just anyone to do it. With so many people in our leadership coming here we need good hands still on the reins back home.”
“He’s still cross with me, too, isn’t he?” Even if he gave other, valid explanations, Eira could hear it in the way her uncle spoke of his husband.
“He is.” Fritz smiled tiredly, staring through her wound. No doubt seeing his love back in Solaris. “You know he can be stubborn sometimes.”
“I wonder where I get it from,” Eira muttered.
Fritz snorted. “You get it from multiple sources. Stubborn in the Charem name. But Grahm has been through a great deal. He’s seen things no man should ever have to see and lived to see peace and prosperity on the other side. He can be sensitive when things disrupt that tranquility he’s fought so hard for. Some wounds can’t be mended with simple ointment. Some wounds require much more time than flesh and bone to heal…if ever.”
Eira knew her uncle had lost his arm in the war with the Mad King. But that had always seemed like it happened in the faraway pages of history books when, in actuality, it was only twenty-four years ago. Solarin was still recovering in some of itscorners from the scars, and the hearts of the people who lived through it would never be the same.
“I can understand now,” she said softly. Her uncle arched his eyebrows, leaning away from her wound. “Not to the full extent. I know how much Uncle endured…” Eira gripped the bed. “But I’m not the girl I used to be. I know now how fragile peace is and that it comes with a cost most aren’t willing to pay. How quickly it can all come crashing down and never be the same, ever again.”
Her time in the Tower, learning and being carefree. Marcus. The perceptions she had about Meru when the tales of it only existed in stories she read far across the seas—how perfect it could seem. The woman she was before the pit.
None of it would come back or ever be the same.
“Perhaps you and your uncle should talk when you return,” Fritz said gently. His gaze was thoughtful. “I think you might have new and meaningful conversations.”
Eira nodded. “I’ll do my best.” She met his eyes. “Though I’m not sure if I’m ready for heart-to-hearts; I’m still wounded with how you all treated me.” The words were calm, simple. Eira surprised even herself with how easily she could confront the hurt.
His eyes widened a fraction, but the surprised expression quickly vanished. He nodded. “There’s mending we all need to do.”
Fritz stood and began putting away the salve and potion box he’d been working from. Eira tried to force herself to relax. She had so much more she wanted to say. All the words would come to her the second they were apart, she just knew it. But there was nothing now.
Yelling at him now wouldn’t solve anything. It wouldn’t help her understand his previous actions better. It wouldn’t change them or encourage him to see her as more of an equal. Therelationship that they had was yet another thing she could never get back.
But perhaps there was still a chance for them in the future. Perhaps they could find a new balance between them should all his words and actions now be sincere.
“You should head back. The game was almost over when I came in, so I’m sure it’s ended now. Solaris was in the lead last I saw, so hopefully you’ll be returning a victor.” Fritz smiled.
