“Okay, you’re right, but you should tell me anyways.”
I snort as I look away and stare at the rather colorful painting on my wall. It depicts an old phenomenon called a sunset, and it has beautiful shades of orange, pink, red, and blue all blended together over the horizon. It’s breathtaking. Oddly enough, it’s one of the only things that has always motivated me to keep going on my mission. Especially on days when I’ve felt like I want to quit, throw away all my research, retire from the library forever, and enjoy my uneventful, boring life. The painting anchors me to my dream of breaking this curse and one day setting my gaze upon a whole new sky, awhole new world. A painting of a starry night sky hangs next to it, giving me the same kind of motivation.
Is she right? Am I the one with all the secrets? Either way, I’m not ready to tell her. I wish I could, but I simply can’t until I know where she stands in this matter. It’s too important to compromise by telling too many people.
“I went to the Ellyar inn. With Daegan and Raef.”
Her eyebrows crease. “Who the fuck are Daegan and Raef?”
I can’t help but laugh, throwing a hand over my mouth. She’s confused. “You’ve met them. Twice. The two dragon shifters from the ball. And from the library the other day. And Daegan is the one who was accused of murder, as you just reminded me a moment ago.”
Realization dawns on her face. “Oooh. That’s right. I couldn’t remember his dumb name for the life of me.”
Another laugh slips out of me.
“I’ve got to stop smoking herbs,” she comments, shaking her head. “Anyway,” her face turns serious again as she focuses on me with her brows pinched. “What the hell were you doing outside the castle walls with just the two of them?
“I was planning on going all alone when I ran into them. Or… they ran into me. And then I just mentioned it and invited them along. Trying to show them more of our land, you know? It was all very impulsive of me,” I finish with a proud grin.
She looks at me even more confused than before.
“Okay,” she replies, shaking her head. Then she pulls out some rolled up herbs. “Who am I kidding. What else would I do with my time in this boring castle?”
“You could come to the library with me?”
She looks at me like I just offered her a plate of dirt.
“Pass. I’d rather go party with the same elves I’ve been partying with for five years. Which sounds so thrilling, I know.”
“Well, Adrian recently said he would help train me when he can. I think I’m ready to start. You could join me.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “I’m sorry. Train you?” Why?”
“Yeah. I don’t know. It’s something new to do.” As young elves, we train the basics of our elemental powers during our schooling hours. But as we get a little older, anyone with any real talent or passion for battle begins taking separate training courses for that. To be trained for our army. Adrian did. There are more males than females, but all are welcome. It was never an interest of mine. Or Meela’s.
“Sounds like I’d get really sweaty doing that. I don’t think so.”
“Well then, I’m all out of ideas.”
She shrugs and finally lights the end of her rolled-up herbs with a swish of her finger. “Mind if I…?” she asks even though it’s already lit.
I shake my head.
We spend the rest of the afternoon discussing castle gossip. An elf broke up with another elf, that sort of thing. Nothing that really interests me. But I sense that Meela wants to stay and keep me company, so I indulge her, grateful for a friend.
I suppose I’ll be skipping that nap.
My mind can’t help but wander to our quest, though. And to my two new allies. I still know so little about them, and I need to know more. Perhaps I can pester them tomorrow for more information. Raef should be easy, but Daegan… he’ll take a little more work.
It's probably for the best that Meela doesn’t want to join me for any of these activities, as much as I’d love for her to. The closer she gets, the more suspicious she may get.
The stakes feel higher than ever, which means I need to be more careful than ever.
Chapter 20
I planned on having dinner alone in my room tonight, enjoying a relaxing bath then cozying up in bed for a long night of sleep.
I managed the dinner and the bath, but sleep has eluded me. There are so many thoughts running through my head, I simply can’t quiet them. So many that it feels like they are overflowing from my brain into the rest of my body, making me restless. I toss and turn and twitch until finally, I can’t take it anymore.
