“Not at all,” I said. “In fact, if you tried to introduce a lot of these ideas in other societies, people would probably get pissed.”
“They’d be… angry?” Eddie seemed mystified.
“Oh, yeah. Some jackass would say that the world doesn’t need to cater to sick people and that we should be grateful for whatever minor help the ableds are willing to dole out,” Ava spat.
“Very rude,” Eddie commented. “At any rate, it’s not like that in Ilamanthe. And I would like to say that although you may be in a wheelchair, princess, and master, although you may be blind, these aren’t things the Elves talk about much. Disabilities are just seen as something thatis, not something that makes you different.”
It was revolutionary to think like that. “Thanks, Eddie. I wish all people thought that way.”
The mall was bustling by now, and although our security team kept people at bay, we still heard a lot of cheers as people took pictures of us roaming by. It was around lunch time, so we made our way to the food court. Eddie must’ve been carrying twenty bags, and they kept bumping against me while we walked.
“Do you want me to take some of those, Eddie?” I asked.
“Oh, no, sir,” Eddie said brightly. “I’m more than happy to carry them.”
“You should see the smile on his face. He’s having a blast,” Ava snickered.
Eddie knew a couple of people here at the mall, which wasn’t odd— honestly, he knew everybody, and could strike up a conversation with a complete stranger without batting an eye. He’d managed to befriend some random guy in the food court within five minutes, and was chewing his ear off about everything and anything.
“Quite a lot of bags you’ve got there,” the Elf said. I knew he had to be gesturing at the mountains of bags Eddie was hauling around.
“Oh, yes. I wronged the princess badly in the past, and deserved to very much so be punished,” Eddie raved. “But she is so merciful and kind, and therefore, sentenced me to a lifetime of carrying her bags whenever she went shopping as justice! I am happy to serve this sentence with pride!”
“I only told you that because you wouldn’t shut up about it,” Ava grumbled.
I had to laugh. In previous months, Eddie kept carrying on about how guilty he felt that Ava had gotten hurt in the Infernal Underground when we’d been trying to save him. To shut him up, she’dsentencedhim to be her personal shopping assistant whenever she wanted to go for the rest of his days. I didn’t know who enjoyed this more, her or him.
We ordered noodles at a place Eddie swore was the best in Ilamanthe, then took our trays to find a table.
“Hey!” Eddie exclaimed. “There’s Alistair and the others.”
We went to sit with them. Ivy, Chancey, Alistair, and Ez sat around a big table.
“We heard you’d be around today and decided to stop by,” Ivy purred. “Your security team played nice and let us through.”
“Only because you have the princess’sbrotherwith you,” Ez boasted. “What does that make me, anyhow? A duke or something?”
“Mind if we join you?” I asked.
“Pull up a seat,” Chancey said brightly.
I sat down, and Ava pulled up her chair beside me at the end of the table. I noticed the edge extended longer, so that she could fit her chair easily.
I’m going to splash in the fountain, Oberi said bluntly.Peace out!
Water sprayed against my face as she changed into a narwhal and jumped in. I took a bite of noodles. They were so good and slathered in a creamy sauce that burst with flavor. Why was everything so delicious here? I hadn’t had a bad meal yet.
“What brings you to the mall today?” Eddie asked the others.
“Ivy and I are shopping for… things I probably shouldn’t say out loud,” Chancey said. “Alistair had to tag along as soon as he heard.”
“Ooh, what’d you get?” Eddie asked him.
Alistair leaned over and whispered something I couldn’t hear, and judging by Eddie’s laughter, I was pretty sure I didn’twantto hear it.
As we kept on eating, Chancey scooted closer to me. “So, how’d you like the ring?”
“Shut up,” I said harshly, but thankfully, I didn’t think Ava heard. “It’s not time yet.”
