Amalee took the seat on her mother’s left while Grave took the seat on her right. He pulled out the chair next to him and gestured to me, but I walked around and sat next to his sister instead. Fisher took my intended seat, looking no happier about the arrangement than the king.
“Oh yes, only a visit. These days, my son is too busy to see his mother often,” Athela joked and pushed a rogue thick strand of chocolate hair behind her pointed ear. “What time did you get in?”
“We came straight here.” Amalee’s eyes widened as two attendants carried plates in their arms. “If I had to go another minute with my stomach in shambles, I might’ve found the nearest piece of flesh to bite into.” She grinned at Fisher, herdiamond teeth flickering against the candlelight. The guard sneered, which she met with a chuckle.
Plates were placed in front of us, and I immediately sighed at what stared back. Three purple roasted heirloom carrots, a scoop of rice, a minuscule serving of what looked to be beef—though I’d find out for sure after I’d eaten the two bites worth. And to my disappointment, half a fillet of fish completed the meal. Even a thousand miles away, I couldn’t escape the salty creature from haunting me.
“It seems my children forgot their manners and failed to introduce you,” Athela directed her attention to Fisher.
“Fisher, ma’am.” The guard dipped his chin.
She waved a hand. “We use first names around here, call me Athela.”
Grave stabbed his beef and forked it onto my plate before plucking my fish away. His mother and I eyed him.
“Would you rather have the fish?” His brow rose.
“I didn’t say that.” I blew out a breath. “But don’t you want your beef?” Not risking the juices from the fish touching it, I pulled the meat to the side of the plate.
“It’s venison, and I’m fine. Eat.” Grave poured wine into his mother’s glass before filling Amalee’s. He gestured to my cup, and I nodded. Carefully, he filled mine and then his own before setting the bottle next to Fisher’s plate.
Athela placed her portion of meat onto Grave’s plate and motioned her fork in my direction. He looked at his mother, but she narrowed her eyes at him and flicked her chin at me. He did as instructed and brought the portion to my dish.
“You don’t have to.” I gestured with a timid hand. “If I want more, I’ll ask.”
“You have only half a dozen bites there, take them, please.” Athela cut into her fillet. “Our resources are limited, and we have learned to adjust to the needs of those around us. There’s no need for you to walk away with a hungry belly.”
I looked over the bare table, realizing the absence of overflowing food-filled dishes. I’d assumed the meal was pre-plated for service rather than pre-portioned with all the food available. Fisher pushed his venison from his plate onto mine, and I put up a hand while I chewed a mouthful of rice.
“Call me selfish all you like, but I’m eating mine.” Amalee bit into a forkful of venison. “Unless you want to fight me for it.”
“Does your family eat fish?” Athela directed her question at me. “With such an accessible coast, I figured the entire kingdom consumed it as their primary source of food.”
“My parents tried to make me eat it for years—made me try all different kinds, and though some weren’t as bad as others, I just couldn’t get past the taste,” I admitted before taking another bite.
“Do you live with your parents?” Grave’s mother pressed. “Or are you on your own?”
“I live with my father in the capital.” I smiled and filled my mouth, hoping to dodge further questions.
“Until you’re married.” Grave huffed.
Athela’s eyes shot to the large ring on my finger and then to her son; he only shrugged and kept eating. “And your mother? Do you see her often?” Her thin fingers set the fork down on an already-empty plate.
Drawing in a deep breath, I contemplated just how much I wanted to share. It wasn’t hard to say she was dead; it was navigating the questions that always followed that was difficult. I hated lying, but admitting how she died would be worse.
Grave watched me for a breath and then stood. “I want to take you on a tour if you’re done eating.”
Staying would only force me into a conversation I wasn’t ready to have. Though being alone with him wasn’t ideal either.
“Just so you can get to know your surroundings.” Grave shifted on his feet.
I glanced at my plate, stuffed the last heaping forkful of riceinto my still-chewing mouth, and offered his mother a tight smile. I pushed back my chair and set my cloth napkin on the table.
“No,” Fisher said, standing, “not without me.”
“If I wanted to invite you, I would have pulled out your chair, sweetie,” Grave mocked.
“I’m fine.” I placed a hand over my mouth and moved around the table. “Stay. I won’t be long.”
