Chapter 43
Lor
Istalked down a spiral staircase, due shortly to spar with my brothers and royal guards.
I’d invited Aoife as well. Hoping that she could teach our royal guards more of tachika kan. I’d ordered everyone to meet in a clearing out by the cottages in the forest—not our regular training area so that Aoife would feel comfortable, not forced to confront painful memories from her past.
I arrived at the bottom of the stairs and turned to my left, walking toward the doors that led outside to the back of our castle.
Barty and Tal stood on either side of the doors.
“Your Majesty,” Barty said, bowing his stone head.
Tal mimicked Barty’s movement.
The gargoyle on the left reached out and opened the door, and I stopped, staring ahead.
“What?” Barty asked, frowning and revealing more of his pointed canines. “What’s wrong?”
Tal sighed. “I told you that you should let me open the door.”
“Why would I let you open the door?” Barty asked. “It was my turn.”
“Because you clearly didn’t open it correctly. Why else would the king be standing there like that? He’s horrified by your door opening technique.”
“My door opening technique?” Barty echoed. “My door opening technique is perfect, I’ll have you know.”
Tal’s wings spread out behind him and he crossed his arms. “Clearly not. You have a lot to learn from me.”
I barely heard them as I walked toward the doorway, which didn’t lead outside like it was supposed to. It led to a room. One I didn’t recognize, but clearly Castle wanted me to go in there. Why else would it have put it there?
“A lot to learn from you?” Barty bellowed.
I started walking toward the room, curiosity getting the better of me. I had no idea what was inside or why Castle wanted me in there, but I was going to find out.
“Hey, Your Majesty, where are you going?” Tal asked. “I can close the door and reopen it for you. Properly.”
“See?” Barty pointed a talon at his twin. “My door opening skills are just fine.”
“I still think you need to work on your technique,” Tal muttered as I stepped into the room.
Their bickering faded as the door closed behind me.
The entire room was white stone with two big stained-glass windows, the outer panes maroon and gold.
Sun shone through the windows, and I had a perfect view of the forest behind the castle, a perfect view of my brothers, my guards, and Aoife.
They were all training, learning the ways of tachika kan.
I didn’t understand what was happening, why Castle wanted me here and not out there training.
Though it didn’t seem like anyone needed me.
Everyone was doing great, following Aoife’s movements, learning the ways of the Fair Folk.
She looked so beautiful, standing among the trees, barefoot and wearing a skirt that swished around her heels, a sleeveless tunic that showed off her thick arms as she moved them forward.
Her black hair was in a braid that fell down her back.
She was an amazing queen, an amazing leader, and I was sorry it had taken me so long to see it.
I’d just needed to get out of her way and let her lead the way she wanted to.
Not the way Arthon would have wanted her to. Not the way I would’ve wanted her to. Maybe that was why Castle lured me here, so that Aoife could have a chance to shine.
Golden magic swirled in front of me, and I stepped back, alarmed for a moment until the magic faded to reveal a blank canvas placed on an easel.
That was strange. Very strange. A stand unraveled from thin air, placed next to the easel with an empty tin can.
Sparks of magic appeared again, this time, crackling and popping. With each pop a paintbrush dropped into the can, all different shapes and sizes.
“What in the . . .” I murmured right as a wooden palette appeared on the stand, filled with paints of all color.
I stepped forward, mesmerized by the entire thing. It had been so long since I’d painted or sketched anything, but why would Castle . . . My thoughts trailed off as my gaze lifted to find Aoife, now engaged in hand-to-hand combat with one of our guards.
She was the only person who even knew about this hobby of mine.
The only person I’d talked to about it recently.
She’d done this for me. My heart started beating harder in my chest as I tried to work through what this meant, but I could only hope for one thing: that it meant she returned my feelings and this was her way of telling me. Her way of showing me.
Aoife’s voice echoed in my mind. Everyone needs a reprieve from their responsibilities. Everyone needs time for themselves. And you deserve that.
A wooden stool grew from the ground like a flower sprouting, and I sat down on it, staring at the blank canvas, wondering what I should draw. My gaze once again landed on Aoife, and I had my answer. I grabbed a paintbrush and started to paint.