Both of us stop immediately and we look at each other before looking down.
Our feet are frozen to the floor. Small shards of icicle-like vines wrap around our boots and the vines lead to Naxa. I drop my hands. She stands there with a look of terror on her face.
“If you are constantly fighting each other, you can’t focus on the journey we must make.” She turns around and huffs loudly. “And can someone please find a way to remove this cuff? Siphonie and I are tired of wearing it. We’ve tried taking them off, but we can’t figure out how. The material keeps rubbing against my skin and feels like it’s burning. I already have a permanent brand. I don’t need another.”
She turns and walks away as if nothing happened, and instantly my feet feel free. Looking down, nothing is there.
I thumb at the black bracelet, trying to see if I can get it off when I notice there is no longer a latch like there was when I put it on.
“Once they are on, my father is the only one who can remove them while inside the Shaston border. They can be removed on their own when you leave the kingdom — but it shouldn’t beburning,” Ereon says as he walks to her and picks up her hand. “Let me see.”
He turns her wrist back and forth. “It’s red. We will add some ointment to the chaffed area. I would ask my father to remove it, but it would be pointless. I’ve asked many times for myself, the answer was always no. I grew up wearing one, so it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’m sorry, I didn’t tell you. I should have. It’s our kingdom’s expectation.”
Carnaxa nods her head and he kisses the inside of her wrist. She turns her attention back to Siphonie.
Ereon walks over to me. “Something’s different with her ...”
“Obviously. She’s never been this outspoken in public.” I want to roll my eyes. “Something like this” — I gesture to where our legs were frozen — “happened in the pass.”
“I remember. Let’s get things figured out and then I want you to talk to her.” Ereon runs a hand down his beard. “She might not remember, but I do. She needs you just as much as she needs me.”
A soft knock interrupts us and Anara peeks her head inside the door before she slips through. Her bruises have gotten better, the white of her eye is almost fully visible. I’ve been bringing extra rations with me at night. She was so thin when I first met her, but she’s slowly starting to look better.
“Anara, why are you here?” Ereon and I echo each other as she approaches us.
She smirks. “I’m her handmaiden now. I was coming to help her prepare for the trip.SacheAtaiun says I’ll be going along.”
I reach out and grab her upper arm, lowering my voice as I ask, “Did he hurt you?”
Ereon glares at where I touch her. Good, now maybe he will understand.
Anara shakes her head. “No. I’m fine.”
She walks around us and goes to Carnaxa and Siphonie.
“Are you two finished? Because Carnaxa is right, you have to stop fighting. I thought we had all gotten past this,” Rhenor says as he shakes his head while looking at Ereon. “We’ll figure out the messy bits of the relations later, right now, we have very few we can trust. Despite who your father is, I believe we can trust you.”
Can they trust you?
“I’m finished if he is,” Ereon says before he walks back to the map still spread across the table.
“I know things are rough right now, Thylas,” Rhenor says. “But we have to keep our heads on straight. Atlas would love nothing more than to divide us even further. He knows more than he lets on. Don’t let him fool you, and stop letting your emotions rule.”
“I know ... he asked about my parentage earlier. Says my father is at the outpost in the north and my mother is dead. I think he knew who I was before he asked me.”
Anara’s voice catches my attention. She already has Siphonie giggling about something. A mystery she is, always seeming to make everyone around her calm. Anara stops and looks at me, a faint smile flickers across her lips.
“I found Lelfait, Thylas,” Rhenor beckons my attention. “He and the others are safe, but restricted, just as the King told you. What are we going to do?”
“I’ll request they accompany us on our journey … If he’ll give me an audience,” I respond and run an arm up my shoulder pressing against the tension there.
“I doubt he will see either of us, he expects us to leave as soon as we can,” Ereon offers. “I knew they were to be kept elsewhere, but haven’t thought about your soldiers since we arrived.”
“It’s been a rough couple of days, and they aren’t your responsibility. They are mine.” I sit down in the chair next to the table, rubbing my temples. The men are safe, but restrained. Carnaxa isn’t acting as she should, and now we have to prepare for the northern journey. I let out a frustrated sigh, so much to do and yet my mind only swirls with thoughts of her.
“Naxa, can I talk to you ... please?” I jog up to her as she walks with Anara back to her room.
Carnaxa looks back at me before nodding to Anara. “I’ll be there shortly. Go on without me.”
