Once there, however, Celesta finally let the map drop to her side.
Meena looked up to see what could have possibly distracted the girl away from her map.
It was not a thing, it was a person.
Sol stood in the courtyard, his arms crossed, staring out past the gate toward the forest.
Celesta immediately ran toward him, grasping his elbow as a greeting.
Sol looked down at her, a smile immediately softening his features. Perhaps it was the gentle crinkle of his eyes, or just the full morning light of the courtyard, but Meena thought he looked far less menacing than he had the previous night.
She approached them at a more leisurely pace. Would Sol smile at her if she grabbed his elbow? She pushed the thought out of her mind. She had no reason to go around grabbing people’s elbows.
Although Meena was only a few steps away, by the time she joined them, Celesta had already handed the map to Sol and was engaging him in an animated conversation with her hands.
Sol responded in kind, the soft smile still on his face.
Meena could not follow their movements fast enough, but she grasped that they were discussing the map and she saw Celesta put her palm on her chest in the gesture for a polite request as she had earlier.
Meena stepped into their circle of communication, not wanting to feel left out even if she did not fully speak their language.
“Princess Philomena,” Sol flatly welcomed her after a few more interactions with Celesta. He briefly lifted his face to her. It still held remnants of the smile he had freely given to Celesta.
“Sol,” she responded. It felt odd to call him by such a short word when he had said her full name and title. “I see you’ve been invited to join in our adventure?” Meena asked, guessing at the meaning of their conversation.
Sol raised his eyebrows a small fraction of a space. “I have.” He looked down at Celesta again. “Though I am surprised that you could understand as much.”
“I was thinking the same of you yesterday. You must have been very close to Aizel and Celesta to be so fluent in their language.” Meena felt a twinge of jealousy in her chest. Aizel and Celesta were her friends, too, and she wanted to be close to them.
“It is a language all Majis speak,” Sol responded. “We must have a way to communicate when our magic is silenced.” A shadow returned to his eyes.
Meena instantly regretted her petty jealousy. “I’m sorry.” The words felt empty, but it was the only thing she could think to say.
Celesta took the map back from Sol, drawing his attention to her as well.
Sol began to shake his head.
Celesta took a step closer and placed her other hand on Sol’s arm once again. Her face transformed into the same wide-eyed expression that had gotten Meena out of bed moments before.
Sol slumped his shoulders in defeat. “I guess I’m following this map with you,” he said.
Meena smiled at him, glad to see that Celesta had successfully wooed someone else into her early morning adventures.
Celesta happily slipped her empty hand into Sol’s. She reached out her other hand toward Meena. It took her a moment to realize she was still holding the map in that hand, and her brow furrowed in disappointment.
“I can hold it,” Meena offered, taking the map in one hand and gripping Celesta’s with the other. She positioned the map so her fingers held it open and low so Celesta could still see it.
The young girl looked at the map, then glanced around the courtyard, as though reorienting herself with their mission.
Meena followed the young girl’s eye movement, feeling as though she could read exactly what Celesta was thinking. Smiling with an excitement of her own, Meena glanced up at Sol to see if he had noticed the same thing.
Sol’s eyes were watching her over Celesta’s head.
Meena’s smile faltered slightly.
His expression was guarded. His eyes were clouded as they seemed to be studying her. He blinked his gaze away quickly as soon as he noticed her looking at him.
Meena shrugged and turned her attention back to Celesta. He had chosen to join them on this venture, and she wasn’t going to let his complicated eyes stop her from enjoying it.
