章 12: Welcoming Arms (2/2)

Later, when we arrived at the palace, we kneeled before the king. I felt relief that his wife was not present. At least now, Aestos could lift his head.

"Nevian," the king addressed, meticulous with the way he stripped me of my former princely title. "I received news that you have brought many people with you."

"Yes," I answered. Dipping my head only once. "I am sorry to have done so suddenly. I did not expect any of my people to survive."

He waved his hand. Dismissive and flaunting the bright metal circling his fingers. "I predicted something like this might happen. I already said you and your people are welcome."

"We are skilled," I offered. "And willing to work to contribute to this nation. Please treat us well. At least until we rebuild ourselves enough to move on."

"You do not need to beg. I have repeated that you are welcome three times now. Welcome to stay here. Welcome to grow here if you and your people would like," he chanted almost boredly. "Our population is declining due to the lack of tourists and visitors. Rumors of the horrors on our beaches have touched every island and country in this hemisphere. So, I should thank you for the men and women you've brought. Housing will be arranged for the lot of you near the edge of the city. But you may choose to live near the palace if you'd like."

I politely refused. "I will share a house with my sister."

The prince made an uncomfortable noise behind me. I considered him over my shoulder, where he leaned against yet another pillar.

"What is it?"

He picked himself up and frowned. "Your sister is a mature woman. She should have a private residence or commune with other women. Others might believe it is…inappropriate to dwell alone with her."

"She is my sister," I stated, and the prince said nothing else.

The king hummed, stealing our attention once more. "That can be arranged. And it is custom to host a festival for newcomers, since we rarely have them. You can expect the same in a few days. Now—" The king sat forward, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "You were a prince in your land, and I am sure you were greatly respected. However, here, you will be regarded by everyone else as an ordinary citizen. Your people are required to be loyal to me first, before you. I am the king. I am your king, now. I expect there won't be issues with your people abiding by our laws?"

Indignation tipped over and spilled through me, soaking my limbs with stiffness and reluctance. I gave my best effort to ignore it. "Yes."

This king I needed to be grateful to. He had provided Aestos with a ship and my people with resources. I could resent his attitude, but not the man himself, although I was skeptical of his charitability.

I lowered my head once more. Because I needed to be polite. "Thank you for your hospitality and—"

The king had already moved on from me. Addressing Aestos, he said, "I suppose now is my time to fulfill my obligation to you. I do not know why you and so many others want to journey to Hethonious. The dangers far outweigh the rewards," he rambled, as though he had forgotten we were here. "You know, your father begged me to let him go. He was curious about the rumors his comrades shared. I warned him, but he left anyway and, well, you know the story."

He sighed and resumed a comfortable position in his seat. "How many men and ships will you require? Be mindful, I will only send men who are willing."

Aestos did not need to consider. He'd had the logistics planned for a while. "One ship, two hundred men, and a year's worth of provisions."

If the request was exorbitant, the king did not mention it. "Give me a week to put it together."

Aestos nodded. Like last time, he did not display much emotion. I wondered if he knew how to be gratuitous. I had never heard him say thank you.

"You have not told me what you wish to see that city for, and I do not care to know, but if you stumble upon gold, be good and bring some for all the trouble I am going through for you."

What trouble? For the size of this city, the population was indeed too small, but it was functional. Thousands lived here. There was plenty of everything for everyone. And more. Two hundred men and a year's worth of medicine and food would not dent the king's resources.

Again, I felt irritated at the man before me.

But Aestos was nodding, and I could not say anything that would risk the banishment of my people before they had even settled themselves. "I will bring Nevian with me," Aestos stated. This, he would not ask for. He knew it would happen.

The king looked at me. His posture was affected by strange interest. "I am curious to see if you will be the same man when you return." He smiled like the idea of my ruin fascinated him. "You may go."

Aestos and the king had given similar forewarnings. I did not know what Aestos saw in me that he feared would break—or what the king predicted in me would be ruined, and I was festering with curiosity about Hethonious. About this deceitful city and the hideous journey to it.

Aestos and I followed the prince out of the palace. He had insisted he would deliver me to a place I could stay, and I had wanted to say that Aestos would be living with my community, too, because he had not spoken up for himself.

On the edges of streets, people bowed typically, adorning tender smiles to recognize their beloved Prince Jules. But their heads fell, as if knocked over, and their knees plummeted to hard stone when Aestos walked past. Mutterings skimmed the currents of wind, sounding more like whispers of the mentally disabled than greetings. Greetings, lord. Welcome, lord. Thank you for protecting us, lord. Lord, lord, lord.

I brushed Aestos' arm. Frustrated for him. "Aestos, if you are to live here comfortably, you need to correct this behavior. Tell them you are not a god. That you wish to be treated ordinarily, and they might listen."

"They will not," he muttered gravely.

I pulled him to a stop, and his eyes came to me slowly.

I softened at his gloom. "If you request it, they will listen."

"They will listen because they think it is a command. In that case, nothing will have changed."

"Then at least you tried," I declared. "Allow them to properly welcome you. Maybe they are only waiting for a chance to."

Aestos frowned, and that additional softness to him prodded my heart. "Will they not frighten if I raise my voice? If I rebuke them?"

I sighed, but then my mouth moved with a smile. "You are so meek, my friend. But that is good."

We stopped at a single-level house, and Prince Jules looked at me with an expectant smile. "What do you think of it?"

The house was simple. Made of new wood that had yet to be touched by enough rain to rot, and a sloping roof. The windows were small, but I could climb through them if I tried, and there were flowers, dainty and colorful, lining the short foundation. It was not what I was used to living in.

My palace had had many levels and many more rooms. I could choose a new place to sleep each night. A room facing the sea, where salt-soaked air tickled through my curtains. A room facing the sloping community, so I awoke to the smiling activities of my people. Even a room beneath the sky, and I could count the stars before sleep eventually took me.

But I was grateful for this. I would be grateful for less than this. After all that had happened, I would marvel even at trivial things. I was simply happy to be alive and living with my people again.

So I answered, "This is wonderful," with a true smile. "Thank you again for being kind and bringing us here."

Prince Jules nodded, and my sister appeared.

I took her hand. "Shall we enter, Nelera?"

She shook her head, and I was confused. "Too many of our children are left without parents. I will house with them over there with a few other women, and we will work together to raise them. I am not a queen in this land, Nevian. Nor are you a prince. We must get used to taking on ordinary responsibilities."

My hand, limp, slipped from hers. "Can you not raise them and also live with me?"

Nelera cupped my face then. I did not like how final it felt. She smoothed her thumb over my frown, but it remained. "Nevian, it is time you start needing me less. I love you, little brother, and that is why I must give you your space so you can grow."

I felt humiliated that she had needed to tell me this, and I could not realize for myself the amount of purpose I had placed in her. My happiness. My life. My music. Nelera pulled away, and it felt monumental. Disastrous. Like I had slipped over the edge of a mountain and had only mere seconds to decide what I should cling to. I was freefalling.

I panicked.

What did this mean? Did she no longer wish to take care of me? Would I lose my sister for good? My eyes blurred as I retreated into the trembling of my own mind.

Then a hand came to my shoulder. Abrupt and squeezing. Firm and grounding. And it felt like maybe my stomach would not jump into my throat. I looked at Aestos beside me as he considered me with something emotional I could not discern. But I was grateful to him for recognizing my anguish. For providing me comfort. I leaned into him, exhausted and grievous. He carried my weight.

Aestos was an exceptional friend.

And I—

Well.

I supposed it was time I started learning to survive without a mother.

When my sister left, my eyes followed her longingly. I wanted to go after her, and I believe Aestos held me, so I could not. He understood what I didn't. That this was necessary for me.

Prince Jules noticed me and attempted a smile. "If you are worried for her safety, do not be. Crime is low in Aspita, and I will station my most trusted men outside her home. She will be well watched over."

I sighed and sank further into my friend. "Thank you for caring, Jules."

Jules' eyes alighted at my acknowledgment. "No need to thank me. I hope as friends, there will be a natural exchange of favors between us. Let us count on each other."

The pain in my chest ebbed. "Yes. I would like that very much."