“Oh, my beautiful soul.”
They were both crying.Zane’s tears splashed on Talon’s hair as he pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
“I’m so sorry, Tal.I’m so sorry that you suffered so much under my care.If I had known—” Zane’s voice hitched.He couldn’t finish the sentence because, truthfully, back then, he wouldn’t have done anything differently.He had felt he had no other choice but to follow his father’s directions without question.It was the only way he had been able to survive and escape Uther’s wrath.
“No, Zane, no.”Talon peeled his face off of Zane’s shirt and took his face in his hands.“I don’t blame you for anything.I know that, if anything, you suffered more than any of us did.”
“Still, I—”
“No, Zane.You wonderful, selfless idiot, listen to me.”Warm thumbs brushed the drops away from Zane’s face.“We all have scars.We all have regrets.I carry mine here”—he tapped his temple—“whereas most of yours decorate your back.It’s in the past, and now we move forward.”
Zane hated the reminder of his mutilated back and thanked the gods that it was somewhere he didn’t have to see every day.In fact, he could mostly forget they were there unless someone saw them.And he’d made sure nobody saw them—until Talon, of course.
“Let me pay the cost,” Zane whispered.It was the least he could do after all Talon had sacrificed for them.
Shaking his head, the fierceness that was just in Talon’s gaze dimmed.“Don’t you see?I’m the only one who can pay it.It’s my burden to bear.I figured it out a while ago.”
“What is it?”Fear suffused Zane.He almost didn’t want to hear the answer.
“It’s living having known a sliver of peace.It’s existing in this cruel, cold world instead of staying in the warmth and love of the Everlands.Living is so, so hard sometimes, Zane.Altea doesn’t need to add another cost when this one is already so high.”
Talon lay his head back onto Zane’s chest.
“Sometimes it feels insurmountable,” Talon whispered.
Not knowing how to respond, Zane threaded his fingers through Tal’s hair and wrapped his arm tight around his waist, pulling him even closer.They lay like that, silently weeping for the things they had both lost, until sleep overtook them.
Theirconversationseemedtobe a cathartic release for Talon—the next morning he appeared lighter.His eyes were brighter, his hair shinier, and his lips quicker to smile.
It took half a day to cross the Sea of Stars by ferry, and the change in climate when they stepped off the boat was drastic.Zane had never done this trip during the heart of winter, so going from snowbanks to a desert was jarring.
The emperor of Athusa briefly lamented the fact that his part of the continent was the only one that ever dealt with a real change of weather.
Kaz had also perked up once they hit Istorian soil.She’d never been to Istora before and was excited to see the sights.Which, turned out, was a lot of red rocks and green cacti.On and on into the horizon, where heat waves distorted the sky.It didn’t take long for Zane to remember why he didn’t like to visit the desert unless it was absolutely necessary.He was drenched in sweat within minutes.
Iyana, though, was nothing short of giddy.The several days it took to ride to Istoria only made her more excited until she was practically vibrating in the saddle.Emmeric appeared both amused and uncomfortable at the same time, and Zane and Talon shared many laughs at his expense.
“I’ve never been to the capital before!”Iyana said, bouncing in her seat.Emmeric grunted behind her, then clamped an arm around her waist to keep her still.
“From what I remember, it’s beautiful,” said Zane.
The Aztia turned to him with wide eyes.“You’ve been?”
“Once as a child, with my mother.”
That had been a fantastic trip.Zane had been six years old and his father hadn’t joined them.It was the most time he’d been allowed alone with his mother, and it was the freest he could ever remember feeling.They had stayed for a couple of weeks, meeting with the queen and prince consort as well as touring the Istorian capital.Gods, it had been so great to see his mother smile and speak with complete freedom, without fear of repercussions.
He remembered there weren’t many children to play with back then, and the queen was likely in her eighties now; Zane wondered who would be next in line for the throne.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the city, they were all exhausted from multiple days of travel through the desert.They had tried to ride mostly at night, but before they had used the stars for navigation and with them missing, it was easy to get lost.That created a need for some daytime travel in order to orient themselves with the sun.
As they got closer, small stone houses began to appear around them, and, just as Zane remembered it, suddenly they were in the midst of the city.It seemed to come out of nowhere—the red-brown stone buildings blending in seamlessly into the surroundings.Istoria was similar to Nyr, in that there was no ‘poor district’ like the outer ring of Athusia.Everyone appeared to prosper with roofs over their heads, ready access to food, and proper clothing.The sounds of the city surrounded them—shouting, haggling, children playing—and they walked past several food stalls that had Zane salivating.He also remembered the seasonings and local cuisine to be absolutely divine.
Zane steered Ryunn closer to Emmeric and Iyana to be heard over the noise.He pointed off to their right.
“That’s the palace, there.”
It was red rock like the rest of the buildings, but this one was built directly into a cliff face.It soared higher and higher, and while it appeared to be smaller compared to Nyr or Athusia, Zane remembered there were many deeper levels that delved further into the rock.Iyana let out a small gasp, and Zane found himself smiling at her enthusiastic wonder.As someone who had grown up as royalty, he often forgot how awe-inspiring a castle or palace could be.
