“If you want.” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Eira nodded and left his side.If she wanted… What did she want when it came to her family? They had wounded her. They had left her out in the cold.
They had also been the ones who had literally taken her in from the cold when she was a baby. They had been there for her. Pushed her. And yet also let her down more than anyone else.
Thoughts of family shifted as she heard another familiar voice from one of the nearby pavilions. Yemir laughed loudly, carrying on with some of the other dignitaries from Qwint. Of course, Lavette and Cullen were both present, along with some of the other competitors from Qwint.
Curiosity got the better of her and Eira took a turn around the gardens, swinging behind the pavilion to get a better sense of what they were discussing.
“…you must come when the blue tide swells in the summertime,” one of the nobles from Qwint said to Cullen.
“It sounds lovely,” he replied.
“It really is nice, a true staple of Qwint’s unique natural charms.” Lavette’s words felt as manicured as the hedges next to Eira.
“Perhaps you can have your wedding at the coast with the blue tide glowing around you both?” Lavette’s father suggested. “A wedding truly befitting of a future High Minister.”
“No one knows who the next High Minister will be, save for the people themselves when the time comes to vote.” Lavette looked as uncomfortable as she sounded. Was she not excited? Or did she have her own tensions with her father surrounding this wedding? Then again, her remarks weren’t even about the wedding.
“I’m sure we’ll find a place and time we can all be happy with,” Yemir said, patting Cullen’s back. “Isn’t that right?”
Eira slowed her steps and held her breath. This was his chance. Cullen could stand up here and now. He could say something—anything. Even a small act of defiance would be a step in the right direction or a sign that the claims he’d made to her were true.
“Ensuring the happiness of those I care about is my number one priority.” He used the voice she’d heard him implement as the Prince of the Tower. The detached and formal way of speaking that, for so many years, Eira thought was the only side to him.
She resisted making a noise of disgust and carried on. Time was precious and she’d wasted enough of it today worrying about Cullen. Let him sort out his wedding with his family and soon-to-be family. He had told her he’d been working to fall out of love with her, hadn’t he? Well, she would wish him much success in the endeavor and then focus her time on getting to know the peoples from faraway lands like she’d always dreamed of.
“Ducot,” Eira said to announce her presence as she approached. He was talking with Arwin and a man Eira didn’t recognize.
“Good to see you again, Eira,” Arwin said warmly. It sounded like she meant it. “Ducot is telling me you’ve done a good job looking after him like I asked.”
“See, I can’t escape her.” Ducot motioned in Eira’s direction. “I turn and,bam, there she is.”
Eira chuckled. “Ducot is the one who looks after me, out of everyone.”
“I didn’t want to earlier in the arena,” he said.
“You were just being annoying.”
“He’s good at that,” the man at Arwin’s side said. He was another morphi.
“I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Eira Landan.”
“Oh, I know who you are.” The man smiled and Eira quickly tried to determine if he was on her side or not. “For someone from Solaris, I’ve heard your name on the lips of a lot of those from Meru lately.”
“Is it a good thing my reputation precedes me?” She likely already knew the answer. But the morphi seemed like they’d formulate their own opinions, at least.
“I think that depends on your definition of ‘good.’”
“I’m sorry for him.” Arwin rolled her eyes. “My obnoxious paramour here is Fallor.”
“Nice to meet you.” Eira dipped her chin. “I’m afraid your reputation didn’t precede you at all.”
“Not even one mention of me? I’m wounded.” He gasped at Arwin, who just smirked.
“I’d like to know what other mentions you’ve heard of me,” Eira persisted.
“That you’re Adela’s heir, or the pirate queen reborn again. That you’re an enemy of Yargen. That you’re Raspian’s second coming, set to doom us all.”
