“So what’s your name? I can’t just keep thinking of you as the red-headed female.”
She smiled.“My name is Josira. You may call me Jo, if you wish.”
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Jo. It’s been all testosterone since I arrived, and not a single one of them has any concept of proper footwear.” I gestured to my chucks that looked wildly out of place against the black breeches and oversized pale yellow tunic. “They tried to give me boots with a two inch heel. Like I’m going to walk around all day in uncomfortable shoes. Hard pass.”
I glanced down at Jo’s feet. Peeking out from under her dress were a pair of the slim, feminine boots much like the ones Dey had offered me.
She giggled at the embarrassment on my face.“You become used to them over time. Perhaps we can go shopping and find you better ones?”
I scuffed my shoe in the dirt. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I kind of almost died last time I went into town.”
She frowned.“Yes, we all heard about that. Perhaps another time then. After you have been introduced at the King’s Council.”
I really didn’t need any reminders about that. I was still uneasy about mingling with the people who tried to kill me yesterday. Knowing that I was the king’s daughter didn’t change the hatred that lived in these people’s hearts.
“You should give them a chance,”Jo said. “People only know what they are taught. It takes someone new with new ideas to help them grow and evolve. You could be that person.”
I sighed. “Honestly, I’m not going to be here long enough to try and change the Rivellans. I told my father I’d separate the ley lines, then I’m going home.I’m not the kind of person who changes the world, Jo. I’m just trying to survive as best I can.”
She scrutinized me for an uncomfortable amount of time before the cool breeze of her words flowed into my mind.“It does not matter what I think you are capable of. You must choose on your own to be more than what life has offered to you. I can feel what is in your heart, Raynella. You want to be more.”
“Call me Rain,” I said, not wanting to even address the rest of what she said. People around here really needed to stop thinking so highly of me.
Beside me, Jo stiffened.“You have company coming.”
Sure enough Sin barreled through the door seconds later. He scanned the room, and once his eyes came to rest on me, made a beeline in my direction.
“There you are,” he barked out. “Dey said you’d be in here. I gotta say that—” He faltered when Jo brushed aside a cluster of hanging ivy, making her presence known.
I rolled my eyes at his abrasive entrance. “Hello, Sin. Nice to see you too. I hope you had a lovely morning. I’m sure you’ve met Jo.”
“Yes,” he gritted out. “I have.”
He didn’t elaborate, but I heard Jo’s voice back inside my head.“I must go, Rain. Sin needs you. Will I see you at dinner this evening?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I said, as she stood to leave. “And thanks for the offer to go shopping. I hope we get the chance to go someday.”
She gave me a wink and exited through the diamond doors.
I glanced back to the bench, to her drawing. I scanned the two crude yet obviously female stick figures holding hands, one with long hair and one with short curls, and smiled.
Turning back to Sin, I said, “Okay, let's go train. Any chance you’re planning to help me this time? Not just laugh at how weak I am?”
He smirked. “What can I say? The truth hurts. You are weak, and nothing I do will change that.” He spun on his heels and headed out of the Sylvarium leaving me behind.
I quickly untangled the two crescia that had been lounging in my hair, ignoring their sad keening chirps as I placed them on the bench, and tried to reign in my anger at Sin’s barb. ThoughI wasn’t sure why it even mattered to me if he thought I was useless. Sin and I were never going to be friends so why bother trying.
That thought still didn’t stop me from chasing after him, though, determined to set the record straight.
Chapter twenty-two
“Hey!” I shouted as I caught up with Sin.
He ignored me and hooked a left down a dimly lit hallway, not pausing until he reached the door at the end.
“What?” he snapped, finally acknowledging me.
“Do you have to be so rude?” I panted, out of breath from chasing after him. “It’s not like I signed up for any of this.”
