Our munching drew Cinnamon’s attention and she moved our way, nostrils widened. I fetched one of the two remaining bones and handed it to Aegir, gesturing towards Cinnamon. He placed the bone on his palm and offered it to her. She nickered, ever so curious, then grabbed the bone between her teeth and bit down. Liquid gushed all over Aegir’s palm, but he quickly froze it, forming a palmful of flavoured ice. Cinnamon snorted with excitement—just like those many children from the market—and gave his hand a good lick.
“What flavour is it?” I asked.
“It’s also apple.”
I grinned. “She loves apples.”
That night, as I lay in bed with a smile spread across my face, I realised that when Aegir used his powers a mere inch away from Cinnamon’s face, I wasn’t afraid…I wasn’t afraid at all.
CHAPTER 19
Come morning, Aegir asked me to have breakfast with him. I politely refused, but he kept persisting, up to the point where he started threatening me.
“If I don’t see you eat at least two items from the tray, I am not going to let you leave.”
“So much for a bargain,” I replied complacently.
“Really, Cordelia? A bargain for sharing my food with you, in exchange for what?”
He was right, I shouldn’t have suggested a bargain, that was selfish of me. But instead I told him, “Well, it comes with risks, you know?”
“Clever.” Then he narrowed his eyes at me, his expression quickly changing, and with an assertive tone, added, “But no.” Then he threw an apple at me and ordered me to eat it.
“Thank you, Aegir,” I said, looking at him from beneath my lashes before taking my first bite.
For the next few days, he threw fruit at me. For a few more, I stood next to his tray and took two pieces of whatever there was. But I never risked sitting down—not even for the brief time Aegir spent at the table, before being summoned away by King Belzari.
On the rare days he wasn’t swept away, Aegir would often sit at the work desk, sorting through papers, scrolls, and maps. He often caught me off guard, asking me some random question. Sometimes he asked me about things that I had no idea evenexisted, like he thought I was smart and had all the answers in the world.
Sometimes I did have answers, though.
I never thought I would be using any of my knowledge from the history and geography teachings, yet here I was, discussing the waterways with the Lord of the Vanguard of Ice. The complex transportation system that was destroyed more than a decade ago. The underground waterways were used to transport filtered water from Ilma to the Earthen Lands, whereas the overground waterways were used for the transportation of goods across the Elemental Lands. Well, except for Rih and Naar. Those were alwaysindependent.
The Rihans—the Air Wielders—vanished into the heights of the tallest mountains, immune to the thinning air they commanded. Whereas the Naaris—the Fire Wielders—set out to bring chaos and destruction. One people, and a destructive ripple that carried across its neighbouring Lands.
It felt strange, discussing the ration laws that King Belzari had implemented on the people of Ramel. The mere mention of them reminded me of the “peace treaty” that every Land in Lyrantheia conceded to and conveniently signed, even Silch. No one fought for Ilma. The thought saddened my heart, and I may have spotted a mirror of my sombre expression on Aegir’s face. His, however, seemed tainted with a little freckle of guilt. Because the Hydrans were once one people, until one abandoned the other.
I wished to ask. I didn’t.
One morning, I found him leaning over his desk, inspecting some document. I noticed that he was wearing the same clothesfrom the day before. My gaze shifted towards the bed. It was still made.
“Cordelia,” he murmured, flipping over the parchment. He turned to the window as if to make himself aware that the night had passed and that the sun was already blazing down on whoever dared its rays. “I—I lost track of time.”
“I thinklost track of timeis an understatement,” I commented, resting the tray on the dining table. Aegir scoffed in agreement and moved closer. He reached for a piece of fruit. A peach. He took one big, juicy bite out of it, then set it on a side plate.
“Wait for me. I’ll take a quick bath, then join you for breakfast.”
Out of habit, I was about to go make his bed, but remembered that he did not sleep in it last night. He did not sleep at all.What had him up and running all night, I wonder.
My silent steps approached his desk, and I casually peered over the papers that were sprawled haphazardly on the worktable. I couldn’t understand much of what was written, some numbers—the number eighty thousand underlined—and words that didn’t quite make sense to me. I lifted the edge of the parchment he’d flipped, just enough to peek. The hairs on my neck bristled. I let it fall back into place, my hand quickly at my side. I swallowed.
What I saw was a map. A map of Naar.
What are you up to, Lord Hailin?
I absentmindedly paced around, my brain fogged with spiralling thoughts that clouded my head. The many whats and whys that sprouted. And before I knew what I was doing, I found my mouth bursting with the sweetness of ripe peaches. My heavy-lidded eyes snapped open.
What the fuck is wrong with me?I replaced the peach on the puddled plate.
