by Rae Brooks
“Mother!” Alyx snapped. “We can’t do this! You have no idea what they will ask of us! You ought to tell him not to go! Stop him, Mother!” Her voice was shrill, panicked, beyond anything Taeru had ever heard from her. Even the moon she had been cornered by the nobles, she had not seemed so wound up.
Juliet’s eyes moved to her daughter, and they continued to hold their calming, reassuring quality. She could have that effect on anyone should they let her. “Alyx, we ought to let Kilik leave here with at least one reason to rest easy. I could not stop him. I want to, but I know that I cannot.” Taeru nodded to reaffirm this statement.
“Kilik,” Alyx choked, pleading, “don’t go. Please, don’t go! I beg you. I would rather die than think of what they will subject you to. How do you know Calis can be trusted? I know he seems to like you. What if they made a bargain with him, though? They may have threatened him with exile.”
Taeru was fairly certain that if that was the case, that Calis would have informed the guards of his presence when he’d snuck into the castle. Surely, Calis could have come up with some story that made it not look like his own fault. No, Calis was trustworthy, and Taeru was sure of that. “I trust him,” Taeru said simply. “I love you, Alyx. Your concern means so much to me, but Juliet… you will stop her from being foolish?” he asked hopefully.
Juliet nodded with quiet confidence. Taeru offered a weak smile to her. He hadn’t the slightest idea why this felt like such an assured goodbye. Perhaps Calis would betray him, but then, why couldn’t he bring himself to believe that?
Stepping forward, Juliet put her arms around him. She spoke into his ear with the softest voice he’d ever heard her use. “You’ve saved our lives more times than you realize, Kilik,” she whispered. “Please, try to remember that. If I never see you again, I love you. But, do try to come back.”
“Even after all these theatrics?” he asked teasingly. This earned him a smile, and she nodded to him. Releasing him, she stepped back and regarded him with obvious fondness. There was a resolution in her eyes, and he trusted it.
Turning, he moved to Alyx and brought her into a reluctant hug. To his surprise, she returned it, whispering her words of disapproval into his ears. “Be careful, Kilik,” she said softly. Her voice was a warning, and he nodded. There were tears in her eyes when they pulled apart.
Lastly, as Taeru stepped away from the house, he glanced to the blond boy still playing in the front of the house. Only Juliet would trust her little boy to stay out past dark to play outside. Aitken turned to Taeru and offered a wave. There wasn’t any reason to involve Aitken in the situation, so he smiled. He walked to the boy, and surprised him, by yanking him up into a hug. “Be good, Aitken,” he said softly, as he sat the boy back down.
“Where are you going?” Aitken asked with wide eyes. He was smiling, though, obviously appreciative of the hug.
Thinking for a moment, Taeru offered the young boy a quick smile. “I’m going on an errand. I might be out for the rest of the moon,” he said thoughtfully. The child seemed a tad frustrated with this. “You’re a brave boy, Aitken,” he finished. “And you pick up on sword fighting better than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you, Kilik! You’re a pretty good teacher too!” Aitken cheered. He seemed so happy, and as a child, he was able to take the words as the compliment that they were. He didn’t stop to analyze why Taeru would choose this moment to tell him these things. He simply appreciated that they had been said. Oh, what Taeru wouldn’t have given to be a child for another moment.
With another nod, he started away from the house. He had to go see Aela, and he had spent more time with goodbyes here than he had originally intended. He wasn’t sure why, as he ought to be optimistic about this. The items in his pocket felt as though they were about to burn a hole in his pants. “Goodbye, Kilik,” Juliet said.
He glanced back at her, as he hadn’t realized that she’d followed him outside. She ushered for Aitken to come in, and he obeyed her immediately. Taeru waved to her once more, and then he couldn’t allow himself to look back again. If he did, he was sure he’d give way to his emotions.
The walk to the inn where Leif and Aela were staying did not take long. He moved into the small room at the entrance, which consisted of a clay counter, where a young woman was tending a small vase of flowers. Taeru, knowing that the woman wouldn’t acknowledge him unless he requested her attention, kept moving. He headed up the stairs towards the small door that he knew would lead him to his sister. An amused thought crossed his mind as he remembered the last time he’d showed up to Leif and Aela’s room unexpectedly.
This time, though, he quietly knocked on the door. He only knocked once, and then he waited patiently to see if they would respond. A few moments later, the door knob turned, and Aela—or Aelic, rather—stood facing him, and her eyes flashed when she saw him. “Oh,” she said, and then she collected her thoughts, “Kilik… come in.”
She gestured with her head, and he entered the room. She closed the door promptly behind him. Leif was sitting on the bed, curiously going through one of the many books about the Magisters with waning interest. He glanced up, and his eyes brightened upon seeing Taeru. “Oh, this is unexpected,” he said.
Taeru envied Leif. He always seemed so composed, despite the fact that he couldn’t have been comfortable in Telandus. Taeru had taken years before he’d finally adjusted to the feel of Telandus. Before that, he had been a constant ball of nerves. He was sure that people had noticed, though no one had ever commented. Leif, though, seemed entirely at ease. “Yes, I have news…” Taeru glanced to A Hero’s Peace lying on Aela’s desk.
“What happened?” she asked, with a harsh voice. She was worried, most certainly suspecting that Calis had finally tried to murder him. She wasn’t going to be happy with this turn of events. He would have to play this off to her, and then perhaps he could get a moment alone with Leif to explain things more thoroughly.
His lips pursed as he regarded his sister, dressed as a very unconvincing male. It was a wonder that she’d managed to fool anyone. “Nothing happened, Aelic,” he said cheerlessly. Their eyes narrowed when they found one another. It was astounding how their relationship had remained so casual, varying between angry and loving, as though they were still children, despite the years that had come between them. Taeru appreciated that fact about Aela.
“But you said you had news,” she pointed out, and there was a slight pout to her lips. She didn’t enjoy being wrong. Taeru was sure that she was still smarting from the sun that she had stormed up to Calis and him—and accused Calis of lying to him. She had been quite embarrassed when she’d realized that Calis had not lied at all.
He offered a quick smile. “I do,” he assured her. “But that doesn’t mean anything has happened. It’s about the future.” Her eyes flickered with suspicion, but she moved across the room to sit down at the desk.
“So what is it?” Leif urged him onwards.
Taeru met Leif’s eyes for a moment, trying to convey that this was a matter best discussed while Aela was not present. Leif, though he remained blank for a moment, had a flicker of realization. “I’m going to meet with Calis shortly,” he told them both truthfully. He had to make this sound more casual than it was to Aela. Could he tell her he was going to tell Calis the truth? She’d never let him go. As long as Leif knew, she would be prepared.
“Why is that surprising?” she asked dryly. “You see him every moon. And every sun. Perhaps you should start informing us every time you take a piss, brother.”
“I can do that,” he offered thoughtfully. Her eyes flickered with irritation, and he could see that she fought a smile at his response.
Taeru let out a breath. He could at least inform his little sister about some of the situation. He, after all, may never see her again. No—he would not think like that. He couldn’t. This could not turn into a goodbye with Aela, and he knew that. She was not Juliet, she would not let him go—and she would know if he was at
tempting to get in a subtle goodbye. So soon after they had reunited, the pain tugged at Taeru’s heart. “It isn’t quite that casual, though,” he admitted. “Someone was spying on Calis and I… they found out about our relationship at the castle.”
A sharp inhalation of breath followed, and his eyes met Aela’s terrified ones. She swallowed hard, and then she shook her head. “No. No, what are they going to do? Is everything alright? Are you sure he didn’t tell them? He’s a rat, Taeru. I promise you.”
“He did not,” Taeru returned irately. “I trust him, and you ought to trust me. But, they know—and he managed to prevent them from pursuing the issue. I am meeting him this moon to end the relationship, you will be happy to know, sister.” His words were more venomous than he intended, mostly because the thought of leaving Calis was vile.
She frowned, and to his surprise, she looked a little woeful at the prospect. “Oh… does he know that is going to happen?” she asked warily.
Taeru took note that Leif was remaining steadfastly silent about the entire conversation. He wondered what the other man was thinking, and whether or not he understood that the two of them need to speak without Aela. For now, though, Taeru focused on Aela. “Not exactly,” Taeru said. “But, I know he will understand.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. “He seems rather… smitten with you. I mean—this is only if he isn’t a rat that hasn’t orchestrated the entire event. If he is… Taeru…”
Taeru moved forward, bringing his sister to his chest in a quick hug. He let her go quickly, though, so that she did not get any ominous vibes from the way he held his body. “Aela,” he said swiftly, “do not worry.”
“Why are you ending it?” she asked. Though, she obviously still held reservations about Calis’s intentions. Taeru thought idly that she must have trusted the young man to a degree, though, as she wasn’t insisting that Taeru not go.
A million reasons flashed before Taeru’s mind, and he wondered why she would even bother to ask. Even if she did trust Calis, she had to realize that there were more reason that Taeru and Calis should be apart than together. “Many reasons,” he answered, echoing his own thoughts.
She seemed to agree to this, nodding briefly. There was sympathy in her eyes, though, and he wanted to make her stop regarding him like that. “I just wanted to update you. I doubt anything will come of it. But I needed to know that you two were informed.”
“Obliged,” Leif said. “Taeru… I need to speak with you on another matter, privately.” His eyes flashed to Aela, who looked positively livid that he had dared to imply that she ought to leave the room.
Her brown eyes flickered with irritation, and she remained where she was. She looked as though she would drop dead before she would leave the two of them. “I am most certainly not going to let the two of you have a conversation without me.”
Leif let out a hard sigh, and he glared at her. “I just need to talk to him about something private! It isn’t anything relevant, Aela. Will you just give me a few moments? Please.” Oh, Leif was giving her a look. His eyes were smoldering with a silent plea, and Taeru could see Aela starting to soften. He had to work to keep his jaw from dropping. Aela—undermined by her own tricks!
She squirmed uncomfortably, as if she too was aware that she was being taken down by tricks that she had invented and implemented a hundred times. “I… are you sure that it isn’t important? And… I must leave?” She seemed flushed. Taeru grinned. Perhaps she thought that Leif wanted to talk to Taeru about her. That wasn’t an unfair thought, though, as Leif was obviously interested in her.
“Please,” Leif repeated softly. She just sighed and then nodded her head. She held up two fingers to indicate that they did not have long. Leif nodded his head, agreeing to her exit being brief. Then, she eased out into the hallway without further complaint.
Taeru stared at the door for a moment. “Well, consider me impressed,” he said lightly. A smile pressed at the corners of his lips. Leif returned it, though, his was more of a smug smirk, and he crossed his arms. “You fancy her.”
“I—well, you ought to know that.” Leif’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and he stared at once at the walls in the room. “Is this-is this what you were wanting to speak with me privately about?” he seemed horrified.
Taeru laughed. “Ah, no. I will leave you to that, my friend.” Leif relaxed at once, and a smile returned to his lips. “But, what I am about to tell you—you have to understand why I do it, and that Aela cannot know until absolutely necessary.”
Dark, blue eyes clouded at his words, but Leif nodded understandingly. He was glad to know that he had people in each of the social groups he’d formed that he could thoroughly rely upon to be reasonable when emotions ran high. “What is it?” Leif asked softly. His words sounded breathless, as though he were holding his breath, waiting for the information.
Electing to be straightforward, Taeru didn’t bother to ease into the issue. He said it outright and confidently. “I am going to tell Calis who I am. His father demanded that his wedding be held at sun up. Calis says he isn’t going to attend. I tried to… cut ties earlier. But, he wouldn’t have any of it. I am going to tell him my identity, in an effort to make him understand the impossibility of our relationship.”
Leif’s blue eyes widened, and he gasped, obvious shock taking hold of his form for a moment. Taeru wasn’t sure if he was going to recover, but then, he closed his eyes and nodded his head. Surprisingly, he offered no argument, but one. “You trust him so completely?” Leif asked.
“I do,” Taeru answered, without hesitation. “Calis wanted me to tell him earlier this sun, but I insisted that we meet in Dark District. He is worried that he might be followed. There is a chance that this could get… bad. I need you to promise me that you will look after Aela, and that you will keep her safe. People talk—they know that I associate with the two of you. They will seek you out.”
Leif nodded his head, and his shock seemed to be disappearing in favor of a more logical expression. He was thinking through what he would do in this situation. “She will be…” Leif’s voice trailed off, and pain became him. “So soon after we found you again. This is… Taeru, I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Taeru was surprised to hear so much emotion in Leif Firenz’s voice. “We were friends before, and we are friends now. I missed you while you were gone. I wished I could have gone with you.”
“I know, Leif,” Taeru whispered. “But I have to do this. Despite knowing the risk that this poses to my stopping the war, there is something inside of me that is saying that I have to do this. I don’t have a choice. It feels like leaving Cathalar. I know this is what I’m supposed to do.” Leif accepted this without question.
With a quick breath, Leif nodded, and this time, confidence took control of his features. His jaw was clenched, but aside from that, he’d removed the pain from his face. “I will protect her, you have my word. But… be careful. Calis loves you—I don’t think he’d let them… well, I just hope he will protect you as I intend to protect Aela.” His words were wistful. So strange coming from Leif, though Taeru respected him for it. “Be careful.”
“You too, Leif,” Taeru said gently. The two of them continued to look at one another. Taeru tried to find something he could say, as Leif’s mind was clearly a mass of confusion. There was nothing, though—no words could stop the inevitable.
Then, there was a clearly annoyed knock at the door. “This is taking a very long time!” Aela snapped from the outside of the door. In spite of himself, Taeru smiled as he glanced towards the wooden door.
“Alright, brat,” Leif snapped, “you can come back in.”
She did so, immediately. As soon as she was on the other side of the door, she was inspecting the two of them. She seemed to think that they had participated in some rigorous physical activity that would be visible in their forms. “I am not a brat,” she finally said. “How was your tête-à-tête? Did you enjoy gossiping like little girls?” she asked irately
.
“Very much,” Taeru offered cheerfully. “Thank you for asking, mademoiselle.” Her indignation only increased at his clear mockery of her.
Spending as much time as possible with the two of them, Taeru tried to drag out the moments to the best of his ability. He kept the conversation light, for fear that his mind might get the better of him and frighten Aela. For his part, Leif did a remarkable job of pretending that nothing important had transpired between the two of them.
At last, Taeru stood up. “I promised to meet him soon,” he said thoughtfully. “I should not keep him waiting. He is, after all, the crown prince.” He pursed his lips in thought at that.
“You’d know all about how important it is to please a crown prince, wouldn’t you, brother of mine?” Aela asked sweetly.
With a quick gesture, he placed a hand in her short, but growing, hair and tousled it mercilessly. She ducked her head away from the hand, glaring up at him with daggers for eyes. “Perhaps,” he said idly, “your hair is getting long again, Aelic. You might even be able to manage to pull it back.”
“I can,” she whispered conspiratorially. “I checked. It’s a little stub, but it’s there!” The amount that this pleased his sister was endearing. He laughed and then kissed the top of her forehead very gently.
Oddly enough, she made a sound that was almost like a gasp. “I’ll see you soon, Aela,” he whispered as he started towards the door. “Leif.” He offered a quick nod in the direction to the man that he’d burdened with his information. He always seemed to be placing the burden on someone else’s shoulders.
“You… haven’t done that… since you left,” Aela choked the words out. Taeru realized, with a flash of horror, that she was going to cry. “I missed you!” she nearly shouted the words as she leapt towards him, throwing her arms around him.
