“Plant girl, in her natural habitat,” he calls, gesturing with his arms. “I come bearing good news.” I turn to him with a blank expression, my mood clearly showing on my face.
“Unless that news is, ‘We opened the gates without our stupid magic butterflies, so you are free to go home,’ I don’t care.” I snap, returning to the notes which I’m not even sure why I bother looking at anymore.
“Stupid magic butterflies?” Kael repeats my words mockingly.
“Well, it’s stupid.”
“You, plant girl, need to spend less time with the High Warden. His sunny disposition is clearly rubbing off on you,” he says, eyeing me with mock concern.
“At least Rowan gets straight to the point whenever he’s telling me something.”
“You are in a bad mood, my friend. Seriously, it’s like you’re being forced to be here, against your own will.” Sarcasm drips from his tone, and it finally causes me to crack. I cackle out a laugh, which causes his face to brighten.
“Okay, you win. You said you had good news,” I offer, turning to face him now.
“It’s the annual Mourning,” he says with a wide smile.
“Does mourning mean the same thing to me as it does to you? Because it sounds like a funeral…” I trail off.
“It’s the annual banquet the King throws. Food, wine, music, dancing, more wine.” He says, taking a seat on the bench beside me. “It’s honouring the Greyhollow butterfly, which admittedly seems a little… misplaced. Given the current situation. But the King insists.”
“I’m failing to see why this is good news."
“Because,” he says, pushing me off my chair to stand. “You get to finally spend the night off drinking, dancing and not alone in your room.”
I actually wouldn’t mind another night in the library if I’m being honest.
“And the King has agreed to this?”
“He has. Everyone has to be there. I asked him myself. Don’t worry.”
“And Rowan?”
“Oh, he’ll be there. I mean, he hates it. Dancing, the whole public get together, but he’ll be there.” He grins.
“Why are you smiling at that?”
“No reason,” he replies. He’s planning something. I know it.
“Well, when is this… Mourning?” I say.
“Tonight. So finish up and get dressed,” he says, clapping his hands together. How he can be so happy when the rest of the kingdom seems in such despair, I will never know.
“Kael?” I ask.
“Yes, Elodie, I will happily be your date."
“What? No…I…”
“I’m kidding, relax. As if Rowan would allow it, anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you know, plant girl,” he says, winking at me. My face flushes red at his suggestion. I quickly change the topic, looking at the notes in front of me.
“I actually needed to ask you something.”
“Shoot.”
