Chapter Seventeen
Vonetta
The crowds that line the streets of Nerine are packed with men, women, and children.
They wave their arms in the air as our great carriage passes through them.
Men hold young boys and girls up on their shoulders to peer over the crowds and wave.
Children dash close to the wheels, and their mothers haul them back into their arms. Their excitement for the next leg of our journey is palpable.
Chiron and I wave to them all as their faces fly past us.
The energy inside the carriage is another thing entirely.
Wren sits pressed into the corner of the booth.
His left foot rests on the seat, and his arm is wrapped around his knee.
His nervousness about being in this confined space with us is evident.
Chiron’s charming smile delights the crowds wherever he turns.
He is a Prince of his people, and they love him for it.
When he turns back into our space, his smile fades.
He relaxes back into the man, the prince disappears as the city grows smaller behind us.
The ride to the mountains will be long—two days’ time.
The first leg will take us through Trinity forest, a dense woodland north of the capital.
“We’ve left early in the day, so we’ll pass through the trees before nightfall.
We can stay there this night. We’ll take the hills tomorrow,” Chiron says, pointing out the journey on Wren’s map.
The tension between the two is thick, and I wish to break it.
Wren is quieter than normal today. We have not spoken much since we talked last night.
A few polite words were exchanged as we made ready to leave, but not much more than that.
I clear my throat quietly, and they both turn their faces to me expectantly.
Nervousness vibrates under my skin. I am not unaccustomed to dealing with contention amongst the novices at home, but this is entirely different.
Somewhere along the way from the Isle to now, I have grown to care for both of these men.
We have a duty to our people to find a way past this fissure. I must try to right things between us.
“I wondered if we might speak. About…about all that has occurred between us,” I say to them, looking from one to the other.
Wren’s eyes are those of a cornered animal, narrowed and ready to bolt.
But he has nowhere and no way to go. Chiron’s jaw hardens, but his eyes remain soft on me.
I know that he feels Wren’s secretive nature the hardest. I believe that if he were to hear Wren’s story, he would soften to him as well.
Prior to coming to the city, Wren and Chiron had an easy friendship. Chiron respected Wren’s need for space and allowed him to lead when he wanted to. Chiron speaks first, his voice level but with bite to it.
“There are many things that we should speak of. The mountains will not be kind to us. I cannot imagine that being fractured, as we are, will serve us there.” His eyes fall on Wren, leveling him with a glare so full of heat I almost look away from them both.
“I had my reasons for wanting to stay on Caelestis. I had reasons to search out the duties of the Trinity. As I have said, I am sorry for doing so without you, both of you.” Wren says, holding Chiron’s eyes with his own. But he does not elaborate.
My hopes for this conversation fall quickly. Chiron needs to know what happened with Wren, with his family. But it is not my place to say it—nor my responsibility.
Before I have a chance to interject, Chiron responds, “None of us asked to be in this situation. Vonetta left her home, too, Wren. You do not see her going off on her own, trying to leave. That’s called integrity.”
Anger rises in me at Chiron’s words, and my own move swiftly through me.
“Do not use me or my circumstances to imply you know what really happened with Wren, Chiron. That’s unfair, and I can speak for myself.” His face goes slack, losing all of his previous malice.
His eyes are wounded, but I do not regret what I have said.
I take a deep steadying breath in, and start again.
“Wren, Chiron. Please understand me now. We cannot continue on this way. Wren, you know what you did and why you did it. Perhaps, if you tell him, he will understand too?” My eyes are pleading with him.
But his eyes are full of hurt and fear. I cannot understand him.
Why does he rely so heavily on the silence to keep him apart from us in the light of day?
“I do understand. Wren feels like he doesn’t have a choice. Wren feels like running—’’ Chiron is cut off mid-sentence by Wren. His voice is deep, and his face is red, angry in a way I have never witnessed.
“YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME.” The carriage goes quiet in the aftermath of Wren’s outburst. Shock freezes me in place. Chiron cannot see past his own understanding, his own hurts.
My heartbeat races in my chest for long minutes before settling. They both look hurt and ashamed of their behavior and look out the windows into the evening. I do not bring it up again, and no one speaks for the rest of our ride.
…