(eng) P. S. Broaddus - Unseen Chronicles 02 by Nightrage Rising

Author:Nightrage Rising [Rising, Nightrage]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

I

keep slipping my hand in my pocket to feel the gem during supper. Tig is only slightly distracting, muttering unrepeatable things at me under his breath. He may leave a hairball on my pillow for my fleas remark earlier. Since Illiana has joined us tonight Tig snubs me and sits with her. Oh, well. It was worth it to hear him choking on surprise.

After we’ve stuffed ourselves with as much sage rubbed chicken, roasted potatoes, and creamed carrots as we can hold, one of the kitchen staff brings in a steaming dish of fruit and biscuit cobbler. Tig gives a happy groan as Dad serves a generous portion for each of us.

That’s when Mom spills the news to my best friend. “Illiana, we’d like you to join our family. We want you to come live with us.”

I turn a grin on Illiana, waiting for it to register, followed by the scream of excitement. The clink of Dad serving and passing continues for a moment, but then he stops. The room goes quiet.

“Only if you want to,” Mom hurries. I turn to Mom and Dad, then back to Illiana, confused.

“Excuse me.” Illiana pushes away from the table, her voice tiny. Her footsteps hurry through the entry, followed by the slam of our front door.

I rise, halfway out of my seat. Dad clears his throat. “Give her a minute, Brightstar.”

I turn towards my parents, bewildered, hoping for some explanation. Nothing. I take off after Illiana. I pause on our threshold, listening for her direction in the stillness. It’s Dad’s low rumble my ears catch. “She doesn’t listen to me. I tell her to wait. She doesn’t wait.”

Mom lets out a quiet laugh. “Now there’ll be two of them.”

I shut the door and breathe in the stagnant evening air, still too warm from the day. This courtyard traps the heat, and it takes half the night for it cool. A shuddering breath comes from a group of trimmed shrubs at the edge of the stone square. I trace my fingers along the rough rock, following the circumference around to where Illiana has taken refuge behind a neat hedge. I suddenly feel like I should have listened to Dad and given her another minute.

“Sorry,” she says.

“What happened? I mean, what’s wrong?” I drop down beside her, pulling knees up and leaning against the tower behind us.

“I miss them, Ess.” She lets out a breath, steadying herself. “My family. Especially Mom. I don’t remember my dad so much—I was little…” She absently flicks pieces of gravel out onto the cobbled pavers. “The queen gave Mom his badge. I remember the ceremony. They do that if you’re killed in the line of duty.”

I let my fingers look for pieces of gravel and join Illiana in flipping them across the cobbles. The door to our quarters opens, but no one comes out. After a minute it swings shut.

“You’ve been my family since I came here…but making it formal…” She stops again, and we spend a few more minutes with our pebbles, giving the street cleaners something to do in the morning.

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