Chapter 21 #2
Mariswen sits me down next to her and pours me a glass of something pungent and clear. “You must be starving,” she says, before shoving a plate in front of me.
I realize, suddenly, that I am. I eat, grateful, and the others do the same.
It’s not food that we’re necessarily accustomed to, and the flavors are certainly different, but it’s not bad.
Alaric devours the fish like he’s been starved for weeks.
Gareth tries the liquor, coughs, then pours himself another.
Lucien pokes at a fish, sniffs it, and takes a bite so delicate that I have to try not to laugh.
Sevrin is the only one not eating. He’s looking at me, at his family, at the room. His face is open, unguarded, and happy.
I smile at him, and he catches my eye. Leaning over, he kisses me gently, and I get the feeling he’s happy. And proud. Glad to both have us meet his family, and have his family meet us.
Princess Isaris plunks herself down on my other side, bouncing on the bench. “So you’re a dragon rider,” she says, eyes huge.
I nod, mouth full.
“A girl dragon rider?”
I nod again, because, well, clearly I am.
“Are the dragons really as smart as people say?”
I swallow. “Smarter.”
“Can you actually talk to them?”
“Kind of,” I say, and explain, as best I can, what it’s like. Isaris listens, rapt.
Princess Aeralyn interrupts. “What’s your plan, little brother? I’m guessing the fragile Dravari don’t intend to stay here, so is the plan still the same? You spend most of your time there, and I run things here?”
Sevrin doesn’t hesitate. “We’ll be heading back to Dravari lands right away. Our task here has been completed.”
Princess Aeralyn picks at the fish on her plate. “The dragons have bathed in the waters?”
“Yes. And I’ve brought the peace treaty documents, so you can see our new Dravari lands and create a party of soldiers to visit it first and start to get things set up before we officially build another town there.”
“Hopefully one they don’t take from us,” she says, eyeing Lucien, who I have a feeling she doesn’t particularly like. Not that she particularly likes any of us.
Queen Mariswen puts a hand on Sevin’s. “You did well, son. Better than we could have hoped.”
He looks away, embarrassed.
Gareth raises his glass. “To King Sevrin. The bringer of peace.”
Everyone toasts. The air shifts, warmer and friendlier.
Alaric leans in to all of us, voice low. “I didn’t think they liked us…”
Queen Mariswen hears him anyway. “We don’t,” she says, deadpan. “But we’re willing to try.”
Princess Aeralyn grins at that, and Lucien laughs, and even I feel the knot in my chest loosen.
We eat and talk, and for a while, I forget why we’re here.
I forget about the peace treaty, the dragons, and the constant, gnawing fear of tomorrow.
Sevrin’s sisters and mother tell stories of him growing up in this strange place.
And even though I didn’t feel like I could love him more before, I do now.
After dinner, Queen Mariswen leads me out to the back garden.
The air is cooler here, the ground dirt instead of ash and lava rock.
There are more plants, beans, squash, and something with purple flowers.
The space for gardening here isn’t exactly plentiful, but they definitely use the earth they have access to.
She kneels and starts pulling weeds and putting them in a basket, hands quick and sure. “You like my son,” she says, not looking up.
“I do,” I say. “Very much.”
“He’s never been a man who falls in love easily,” she says. “But I guess he imprinted on you, so the fates destined you to be together.”
“I guess so. Luckily for me,” I say, and she laughs, a low, rich sound.
“He likes you too,” she says. “I can see it.”
I look at my hands, unsure what to say.
Queen Mariswen adjusts the weeds in the basket. “Don’t ever let him be lonely, Queen Harper. Not even for a minute. Remember that he’s giving up the life he knows, his friends, and his family, for you, and for peace.”
I swallow. “He won’t ever be lonely with me.”
She nods, satisfied, and goes back to her work.
When I return to the hall, the others are sprawled on the rugs, drinking and swapping stories.
Princess Aeralyn has somehow convinced Gareth to arm wrestle her, and he’s losing, badly.
Lucien and Princess Isaris are playing some game with colored stones, and Alaric is debating strategy with one of the Hollowborn men.
Sevrin catches my eye from across the room. I walk to him, and he grins, lopsided and shy.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Better than okay,” he says. “They adore you.”
“Adore might be a strong word,” I tease. “But they’re not unhappy about us being together, which is enough, for now.”
He laughs, pulling me into a hug. “I love you,” he whispers, fierce and true.
I squeeze him back. “I love you, too.”
Closing my eyes, I hold on tight to this incredible man that I was lucky enough to find, and my gaze moves over my princes in the room. We might have a long journey back tomorrow, but for today, it’s nice just to all be together.