“So here goes nothing,” I mumbled, extending my arm, readying it for my mouth.
But my arm froze. I just couldn’t.Ghhh!
Why did this always happen?
I closed the lid—with it, closing the doorway to the Seer.
Today.
Today, I will tell him everything.
Today, I will bleed my heart out.
I bathed, smiling and chewing on my lip, as the memories of last night came in burning flashes—the promise he made me. Mytoes curled, knowing how he always kept his word. Pity he didn’t propose a bargain—healwayskept his side of those.
Then I lay myself on the blanket, facing the beamed ceiling. I let out an intense huff as I went through and categorised all that I wanted to tell him. For some reason, I waited there, for him, thinking that he would come. But perhaps he had to further heal his injury; maybe he would need to replenish his powers again. And so I headed back to the castle.
I enjoyed how his warding powers enveloped my hand, allowing me to open his door. “Aegir?”
He wasn’t there.
I knocked on Eldric’s door.
No response.
Maybe they’re somewhere discussing yesterday’s flaming event.
It seemed that I was right, as the moment I turned around the corner, I saw Nadya. She came running towards me, her face tense.
“Delia!” she hissed. “Where have you been? We’re expected on the third floor.” Nadya hushed her words as we hurried upstairs. “The king has summoned Lord Hailin for an urgent meeting. Farah told us not to enter the meeting room but to stay in the foyer in case we are needed. The king has already asked for water and bread. I served the two of them earlier.”
Water and bread? King Belzari was in mourning. I only nodded at her.
We finally made it into the foyer. I looked up and around. A smile grew on my face as the calming scent of warm florals hit me. Grand lavender bouquets occupied each corner of the foyer. Their soft purple hues brought with them a sight of radiating elegance, and their welcoming scent created a serene ambience. Even Nadya smiled at me as I took a seat on the side bench next to her.
“Today, I’m a sad king, Prince Hailin.”
Nadya and I snapped our heads at each other. Our eyebrows leapt simultaneously.
“I’m sad because this afternoon we will cremate a dear friend of mine. A true, loyal servant…until he took his own life. May Amfir redeem his soul. And then I hear about what happened on my Land. So I’m just going to get straight to the point with you.”
Our gazes shifted towards the door and we looked at its window vents. That’s when we noticed that the right upper one was cracked open. We faced each other again, silent, both understanding that we had the opportunity to eavesdrop on the meeting, which I was sure was confidential. Although the words wafted like echoes, vibrations from afar, we could still make them out. We didn’t interrupt the meeting to inform them that the window was ajar. No, instead we surreptitiously listened.
“I’ve been hospitable to you for how long now, Lord Hailin? Four months? And every encounter with you, every event, every dinner, every meeting, you pressed me for an alliance. An alliance that, truth be told, I did not intend to agree upon…until yesterday…a Naari, the Phoenix, entered my Land, wreaked havoc at the School of Dunes, and traumatised my youngest children. My sweet Ira and Yuri. My godsdamned eight-year-olds! We were promised no harm would come upon us if we remained passive, and yettheydare harm my children. My blood! Amfir’s blood!” I had never heard King Belzari sound as furious.
I stood, knowing that Nadya shouldn’t be hearing any of this, but she pulled me by my hand and shushed me. The king’s next words stoked my curiosity, so I surrendered without a struggle.
“My first and only attempt to negotiate with Silch was ten years ago, Lord Hailin, when I sent a plea to your mother, Queen Akaterina, who conveniently refused to replenish the Wellspring Oasis. And so I have remained passive and held my patienceas I witnessed the oasis become nothing more than a puddle.Wellspring no more.” His last few words were raw and raspy. “I had to enforce stringent ration laws on my people. We will soon have to start depleting the Dunehaven Oasis.However, now, the guarantee that harm will not come upon us, upon my people, stands no more, and I will not stay idle, risking this precious Land. I heard that you, Lord Hailin, and your second, were the ones who brought my children to safety, and for that, I am now compelled to come to an agreement with you. A negotiation.”
A negotiation. A bargain. King Belzari was speaking Aegir’s language.
The king continued. “Nonetheless, Prince, I do not forget. I don’t forget the unanswered plea. Therefore, ournegotiationmust benefit my people justly, and I will not proceed with discussing my offer for an alliance if the Wellspring Oasis remains parched.” His tone was firm yet calm.
A small smile appeared on my face when I finally heard his voice. “Unfortunately, King Belzari, that was the decision of my beloved parents; I’m sure their negligence was purely out of fear. That it would have been seen as retaliation against Naar, which could have led to the deaths of our people, our sacred Water Priestesses. But my brother, King Ryvar, and I have a different opinion from our parents. We’ll find a solution to your water shortage.ThatI promise you.” Aegir’s words seemed careful, also spoken with a certain calm.
“I’m glad to hear that you are promising what was denied by your parents, and therefore, I will now proceed with the proposal that I’m going to offer to you. But first let me ask you this, Lord. Are you married?”
“I am not,” Aegir replied, his tone slightly dipped in confusion, just as my thoughts now were.
