“Someone got a full night of sleep,” Meena said, blinking her eyes open to adjust to the sunlight. Her body attempted to snuggle further into the bed in protest, but Celesta’s smiling face quickly drove away any remaining remnants of sleep.
Grinning down at Meena, Celesta held up a rolled piece of parchment.
Meena grinned in return. She’d managed to hide the treasure in a better location before the conversation with Sol. Then she’d promptly forgotten about it. “You found a treasure map?”
Celesta nodded. She pointed to Celesta, to herself, and to the door.
“You want to go treasure hunting with me? Right now?” Meena clarified.
Celesta nodded again, her large eyes wide and sparkling.
Meena clutched the blankets a little tighter, slowly pulling them over her face to jest with the younger girl.
Celesta placed her palm flat on her chest and made small circular motions. Her eyes opened even wider.
Meena instantly recognized the hand motion as a polite way to make a request. “Yes!” She nodded enthusiastically in response. “Let’s go find the treasure!”
Lifting her covers, Meena threw them over Celesta’s head and jumped out of the bed.
Celesta scrambled out of the tangled blankets, smiling and brushing the tousled hair from her face. She slid off the bed and grabbed Meena’s hand, pulling her toward the door.
Meena dug her heels into the ground. “Wait.” She gently tugged back, asking the younger girl to stay in the room. “I need to get dressed and eat first.” She gestured to her night clothing and her mouth as she spoke.
Celesta shook her head in disagreement.
“Yes,” Meena nodded. “Food and clothing.” She twisted her hand away from Celesta’s grip and dashed toward the wooden closet which held her dresses.
Celesta waited until Meena glanced back toward her, then the younger girl made a dramatic show of rolling her eyes and putting her hands on her hips.
Meena laughed. “Fine, fine. I’ll hurry as fast as I am able.” She pulled out a dress that was simple enough to put on without a maid’s help and slipped her feet into it. “Quickly, quickly, quickly,” she sang to Celesta as she tightened the front laces, weaving them through the last few holes and tying them closed.
By the time she was finished, Celesta had unrolled the parchment and was studying it closely.
Realizing it was her turn to wait, Meena put her own hands on her hips and tapped her foot until Celesta looked up. “Hurry,” Meena waved her hand in small, tight circles.
Celesta rolled her eyes again and dashed toward the door.
Once in the hallway, Meena instinctively turned to her left.
Celesta grabbed her hand, pulling her to the right.
“I need to go break my fast,” Meena explained, rubbing her stomach.
Celesta held up the map, gesturing down the other direction of the hall with her head.
Meena tried to stop the smile that came to her lips. Celesta could read the map after all. But Meena wasn’t ready to give in quite yet.
Celesta dropped Meena’s hand. She opened her eyes even wider as she stared up with a small pout on her lips. She held up her hand, circling her fingertips in the same swift motion Meena had used moments before, urging her to hurry.
“Fine.” Meena rolled her eyes. “I can eat later. Let’s find that treasure. You have to lead the way.” She pointed to Celesta.
Celesta nodded, opening the map in front of her as she walked slowly down the hall. When they got to the stairs, she continued to hold the map in front of her as though afraid she would lose her way without it.
Rather than tell her to put the map down, Meena gently grasped the girl’s elbow to ensure she didn’t fall down the stairs.
Celesta paused for a moment at the base of the staircase, comparing the options available to the dotted line on the hand-drawn map.
Meena patiently waited while the girl deciphered its meaning and correctly guided them outside to the back courtyard.
