The light from the rising dawn outside made its way through the small slits in the stone tower just often enough to become annoying as it repeatedly blinded me. Squinting, I continued up and up andupthe steps of the towerI’dfoundMother injust a few days ago.
Val and I had stayed inNeokelllonger thanI’dintended, and now I was paying the price. My advisors back in Hollis had sent word through a series of messengers over the past few days, practically demanding me to return home. It seemed the longer I allowed them to stew over our recent loss in the war, the more they wanted revenge.
Not that Iwasagainstplotting our next moves—I just had other things that needed my attentionat the moment, too.
The stairs leveled out below me as I came to the small landing before the ornate door at the top of the tower. I looked down at the tray in my hands, which was nearly overflowing with different fruits and pastries and meats. Iwasn’tsure Mother could even make it down to the bottom of the tower in her condition—she was beyond thin and weak—let alone the journey back to Hollis,ifshe chose toaccompanyme.
Keeping my steps light, I approached the door. With the tray in one hand and the keys in the other, I realizedIshould’vebeen excited to see my mother again, wholaidjust on the other side of the door.
But instead, I hesitated.
In that moment, I wished Father were still with me.He’dlikely havean explanation as to whyhe’ddone this to his wife.
Instead, I was being forced to navigate the situation myself—with Father’s vague, mostly irrelevant journal entries to guide me, and nothing else besides my wretched heart.
Steadying my breathing, I slipped the key into the door.
Stepping intothe space, I used the heel of my boot to crack the door behind me. My eyes adjusted to the dim light inside, quickly spotting Mother sitting against the far wall.
“Good morning,” I said, feeling a tad awkward.
“Dimitri,” she responded, though she made no effort to draw closer.
Cringing internally, I slowly made my way over to her. “For you,” I said as I placed the tray of foodon the cold groundbefore her.
When she hesitated, eyeing it suspiciously, I sighed and sat in front of her.
“This is the food Iwas servedthis morning. I brought it straight here—ithasn’tbeen tampered with.” I leaned over and plucked a berry off the tray, popping it into my mouth. “See?”
Mother waited another moment before also picking up a berry and biting into it. She groaned as the flavors hit her tongue.
“I see they bring you the best of the lot,” she said, picking up a slice of meat next.
“Iwould hopeso. I am their king, after all.”Afaint smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“Of course,” Mother agreed, and we lapsed into a semi-comfortable moment of quiet while sheate toher heart’s desire.
“You know, I thoughtI’dscaredyou away for good.It’sbeen a few days.” Mother gently pushed the tray back a bit, signaling thatshe’deaten her fill. Ithadn’tbeen much, butif we were going offhow skinny she appeared, then I imagined shedidn’tget fed as often as sheshould’vebeen in her time locked up.
It would take time for her to adjust.
“I just… needed a little time to think, is all.” I ran a hand gingerly through my hair, pushing it back.
“I hope that helped,” she said, sounding genuine.
I nodded, but didn’t say anything more.
“Have you considered my offer? To train you?” she asked after a moment, her tone as gentle as I’d always remembered it being.
It was difficult, trying to convince my mind thatthis was the same female whosometimes visited my dreams at night. She spoke and acted how I remembered, but she looked worse for wear. Not to mention, there had to be a catch at some point.She’dbeen locked away and forgotten about fornearly adecade and a half—there was no way thathadn’tbegun to affect her after a while.
Despite my skepticism, she was still my mother, though. And some bonds were not so easily broken.
I had totry.
It wasn’t like I had anything more to lose, anyway.
“Yes,” I responded, “I have.”
