“Aurora here was training to be theHeartshire’sroyaltrokavback in the North. I thoughtit’dbe beneficial for her to see how things are done here in the South, and where the miracles happen.” I wiggled my fingers atChessas I spoke the wordmiracles.
“Oh, wonderful!It’sa fantastic specialty to have, isn’t it?” Chess asked, his voice light and welcoming toward Aurora.
“The best,” Aurora agreed with a nod.
“Let me show you around!” Chess exclaimed as he threw all formalities out of the window, looping arms with Aurora and tugging her deeper into his infirmary.
Aurora looked back at mehelplessly, butallowed herself to be led away. I chuckled, tagging along behind the duo.
I watched asChessflitted around from one part of the infirmary to the next, explaining to Aurora not only what it was for, but also relating a brief memory ofhisto each space. My personal favorite had been when he recalled an encounterhe’dhad with his mentor. Chess had been much youngerand had wanted to get out of an elixir test at the time.In order todo so, he used hisziriliumto force a specific plant on the ceiling to grow fasterthan it should have—a plant that just so happenedto drip its nectar into the elixir base for the test. It combusted right as his mentor picked it up, as the movement had caused the base and nectar to mix. Chess knew that this specificplant’snectar was only used for extreme ointments, and in small doses, butwouldn’tcausetoomuch harm.Apparently, hismentor had been so taken aback thathe’dpostponed the test in favor of figuring out why his elixir base was acting up.
Icouldn’thelp but smile broadly asChessrecounted the memory, his eyes lighting up as he spoke and his breathing coming out short as he laughed. He was my age, and though I knewhe’dexperienced grief and hardship, hedidn’tlet it define him. He still did his best to not only strive in his trade, but to behappy.
I could only wish that Aurora had caught sight of that, too.
That joy was within her grasp.
As the three of us wrapped up our round of the infirmary, we found ourselves near Chess’s workstation once again.
“This was a fun visit. You’re welcome here anytime—bothof you.” Chess’s gaze bounced between Aurora and me as he spoke.
“Thank you,” Aurora responded softly.
Perhaps shewas finally warming up to the idea of the South.
“I have to go make my patient rounds now, but it was great showing you around!” The royaltrokavwaved as he walked backwards a few steps, then turned and retreated deeper into the infirmary, toward the direction of the private beds.
After bidding him farewell, I glanced towardAurora. I smiled a bit when I realized she was looking around in wonder at the different sections of the infirmary thatwe’dbeen shown.
“You could be a part of all this, you know,” I said, stillobservingher.
“Pardon?” Aurora asked, shifting her focus back toward me.
“You could make yourself useful here,” I expanded. “You could find purpose again.”
At those words alone, her expression shifted from awe toresignation. She appeared almost pained at the thought of whatI’dmentioned, but I trulydidn’tunderstand why.
“Aurora,please. Just tell me whatyou’re thinking. Let mein,” I begged, taking a step toward her.
I watched as she hung her head, that emotionless mask back in place thatshe’doftenhad onbefore today.
I couldn’t grasp it. She’d risked everything to come to Cairnyl—to warnme. She’d been with us for months now. What else was there to do besides begin to find her place there? To start over, to build a life?
I was missing something; I was sure of it. I justcouldn’tfigure out exactlywhat.
“I don’t know what I did, but whatever it was, Aurora,I’m sorry.” I claspedmy hands together,anxiously picking at the skin around my nails.
She took a deep breath before lifting her head again and peering at me. Ever observant, she placed a hand on mine, making me pause my movements.
“Can we go for afly? Like old times—except just us this time,” Aurora asked, briefly looking sad at the mention of it being just the two of us.Maybe whatIhadn’tconsidered was how she missed Dimitri—but if that were the case, why wouldn’t she express that? Surely that was something we could relate to together.
I nodded, forcing the thought of my twin out of my mind before he was all I could think of.
“Of course. We can even visitEden, ifyou’dlike,” I offered, moving toward the tall doors.
“Yes, I would like that,” Aurora responded, though therewasn’ta hint of any true emotion inher voice.
“We can have dinner together later, too, ifyou’dlike. I promisedEzraI would help him with Margo’s studies this afternoon, butI’dlove to meet with you again later,” I said as we exited the infirmary, keeping my voice light. Ididn’twant her to know that my nerves were eating me alive trying to figure out what I was missing and why she appeared so unhappy.
