“What did you call me?” Sol asked, wondering if his ears had heard her correctly.
A quick look at her sparkling eyes and he realized she had called him a different name on purpose.
He closed his mouth, exhaling a long breath. “You were jesting,” he said.
“Isn’t your name supposed to mean ‘sun’?” she asked, her voice still teasing. “You seem more morose, like rain. Not light and happy like the sun.”
Sol momentarily forgot the letter in front of him. That was how she saw him?
Her mouth curved into a small smile that she tried to hide.
“Light and happy,” he said, repeating her words thoughtfully. At least he hoped it sounded thoughtful. If she could jest, then so could he. “You perceive these traits as weaknesses, and therefore see the sun as weak?”
“Weak? No—” she started to respond, but Sol cut her off.
“The sun provides warmth, yes, but it also sends its rays down in relentless heat. It guides the path of the moon, balancing the darkness of night. It gives power to the earth, causing plants to grow and cultures to survive.” Sol found his voice growing louder as he convinced both himself and her of his point. “The sun is not weak. It is the anchor upon which all life is dependent.” He paused.
Meena had stepped back, her mouth hanging open.
“So, yes. I suppose if that seems weak to you, there’s nothing I could say to change your mind.” He turned to look up at her, a smile of victory playing on his own lips.
“Sol.” Meena looked thoroughly impressed. “Are you jesting with me?”
“Yes, rainy Meena mine,” he said. He pushed his chair to the side, making room for her at the small table.
“I’m not yours,” she said, sitting down on the corner of the bed and leaning forward. “I’m mine.”
Sol smirked, appreciating her play on words.
“How do we read this?” she asked, her voice serious.
Sol leaned back over the table, explaining the code for the different symbols. Since he was more accustomed to deciphering, he found most of the letters, but she helped speed up the process by writing them down on the fresh sheet of parchment.
S,
New information. G is aware that a member of the Iseldan royal family is in Falqri. Watch your back. You are under suspicion. He expects treachery since he moved his special project there.
Sending N to aid you. He insisted.
Confirmed ally in Falqri whom I have been in contact with for some time. N will make contact first to confirm. Too risky to reveal your identity.
A and C send their love.
Stay well.
R.
“Who could ‘N’be?” Sol asked Meena after skimming through the missive a second time. He recognized the rest of the names—G for Gareth, A for Aizel, C for Celesta. “None of your brothers have an ‘N’ name, right?”
Meena shook her head. “I have no idea. Robin seemed to think you would know. She said ‘he insisted’ which she assumed would mean something to you.”
“Neven,” Sol said. “Another Majis who was taken from Istroya with me. I helped him escape when Robin came for us.”
“It will be good to have another person here whom we can trust,” Meena said. “And he could be more useful on the ground than Sophie.”
Sol pondered her words for a moment. He didn’tnottrust Neven. But he had just shared more secrets with Meena in a day than he had with anyone else his entire life. “I don’t know how helpful he can actually be,” Sol said slowly. “He is more of a follower than a leader.”
“You give the orders then, and we will follow. We can use all the help we can get.” Meena’s inherent trust grounded him.
