Chapter 16:
The Sapphire Legacy
"Wait!" Alexa’s voice echoed through the opulent chamber. "Come back, I—oh, forget it." A wave of disappointment washed over her face. Noticing her friends’ questioning gazes, she sighed. "What? I never get a say in what I do while I’m in Remira."
"I could arrange something," a quiet voice offered from a corner of the room. It was Galano.
A brilliant smile transformed Alexa's expression. "You could?" she asked, her spirits instantly lifting. "Because I still have no idea what I want to do. Well, I suppose I could—could I see the centaurs' home? See what your life is like?"
"Yes," Galano said, stepping from the shadows. He looked utterly spent, with deep lines of exhaustion etched around his eyes. "Erebos and I will be returning to Elara in a few days. I would be glad for you to accompany us."
"Ooh, thank you!" Alexa exclaimed, more animated than she had been since their arrival. "That would be amazing!"
"Come, let us find lunch," Cirus interjected, motioning for them to follow him from the throne room. "Galano, you are welcome to join us, of course."
The centaur stifled a great yawn. "I would be glad for that, Cirus. I was up all night discussing certain matters with Erebos. We were so absorbed we didn't realize how late it was until sunrise."
"That isn't healthy, you know," Nikolai remarked as they navigated a long corridor toward the dining hall for servants and guests. "Humans require at least eight hours of sleep per night. Is it different for centaurs?"
"I assume so," Galano replied, deftly maneuvering around a servant rushing past with a load of clean linen. "Centaurs are more robust than humans; it is likely we require less rest."
They entered the dining hall, a large, bright space with six long tables. Many seats were already filled with people enjoying food brought out by a bustling kitchen staff. While Galano remained standing at the head of a table, the friends found seats near the end.
A plump, kind-faced servant woman approached Wells. "What can I get for you, dear?" she asked. "Today we have chicken, turkey, freshly caught fish, fruits, and vegetables, along with a variety of drinks."
"Uh… some chicken and water, please," Wells replied. "If it's not too much trouble."
A warm smile crinkled the servant's face. "Of course not, dear," she assured him. She bustled away through a set of swinging double doors and returned within minutes, carrying a wooden plate and a matching cup.
"Thank you," Wells murmured. As the others placed their orders, he examined his meal. It smelled like chicken, but it didn't resemble any he'd eaten before. He was surprised to find cutlery—a simple but functional fork and knife made of some black metal. He hesitantly cut into the meat, took a tentative bite, chewed, and swallowed.
"Well?" Aidan asked. "How is it?"
"Normal," Wells said, slicing off another piece. He took a sip of water, which tasted exactly like the water from Harrow Haven. "We could be at a medieval-themed restaurant back home."
The others laughed and began to eat. Across from them, Cirus and Galano were deep in a low-toned conversation. When Wells glanced over, they simply smiled and fell silent, but not before he thought he heard his own name mentioned.
Nearby, Juliana and Aidan were discussing the king. "He seemed alright," Aidan said around a mouthful of turkey. "Not what you'd expect from royalty, like Queen Elizabeth or someone."
"He was better than alright," Juliana replied dreamily, a faint flush on her cheeks. "He was gorgeous."
Aidan laughed, accidentally spraying Juliana with a fine mist of food. "Are you serious? He’s like twice your age."
Juliana's flush deepened. "That doesn't mean he can't be gorgeous!"
Meanwhile, Vance and Nikolai were reminiscing about home. "I'm looking forward to a nice, hot shower," Vance said. "And maybe a can of soda."
"I just wish I could have a normal lunch," Nikolai lamented, looking down at his salmon with disdain. "I wouldn't mind a sandwich right about now."
At that moment, Wells felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. "Wells?" It was Alexa. He turned to face her. They hadn't been close enough for a private talk since entering Tor Alian, and he noticed now how much she had changed. Her hair, normally sleek, was a mess of tangles, and like Galano, she looked profoundly tired.
"Yeah?" he answered.
"How long will you be gone? Do you know?"
"A few months, I think," Wells said. "But don't worry, I'll be back as fast as I can so we can all go home." He offered a reassuring smile, but it didn't seem to calm her. "What is it?"
"It's not that," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. "It's just… since we met, I don't think we've ever gone more than a week without talking."
"Yeah…" Wells said, a hollow feeling in his gut. "It's going to suck."
"Yeah," Alexa agreed. "But—but you'll hurry back."
"I will," Wells promised, trying to sound optimistic. "And I'll tell you everything. I won't leave out a single detail."
"Thanks," Alexa whispered, her fingers brushing his hand as she drew back. A thrill shot through Wells from the simple contact, and his stomach did a dizzying flip.
"Alright, Wells," Cirus said, pushing his tray aside and rising. "Are you ready to depart?"
Before his stomach could even settle, it tightened into a nervous knot. "Yeah," Wells replied, sounding far calmer than he felt. "Yeah, I am." With a pang of regret, he stood and faced his friends. "I'll see you all later," he said. "Take care of yourselves. Next time you see me, I'll be pulling rabbits out of hats."
"Have fun," Aidan said. "Don't do anything stupid while I'm not there to do it with you."
"You'll do fine," Vance offered with an encouraging grin. "I've got faith in you."
"As do I," added Nikolai. "If what they say of your Uncle Jonas is true, you have quite a legacy to inherit."
"Bye, Wells," Juliana said, jumping up to give him a fierce hug. "Don't forget, I'm going to be training, too!"
"That's right, you are," Wells said, hugging her back. "Good luck with that."
She laughed as she sat back down. "It'll be a cinch."
Alexa held his gaze. "Goodbye, Wells," she whispered. "Be careful."
"You too," he said quietly. "All of you."
"I have explained to Galano what I wish for you five to do for the remainder of the day; he will watch over you," Cirus announced. "When the time comes, Wells and I will return to Tor Alian to collect you. I have also arranged for two food packs to be sent to the stables for our journey." He smiled down at them. "It was a pleasure meeting you all. I will see you in a few months."
"And you as well, Wells," Galano said, extending a hand. Wells managed a small laugh and shook it. "I am glad we met. You will be a great and powerful sorcerer one day."
"You're flattering me," Wells said. "Thanks for looking after my friends."
"It is no trouble."
Steeling himself, Wells gave them all one last wave and turned away. He forced himself not to look back, fearing the emotions he was suppressing would spill over. He could already hear Juliana begin to cry, a sound that pierced him with guilt.
He followed Cirus back into the castle's main hall. "I'm proud of you, Wells," Cirus said softly. "Leaving one's friends is a difficult thing. You handled it admirably."
"Yeah…" Wells murmured, his head hung low. "So why do I feel like I just abandoned them? It's my fault they're here in the first place."
"It is not your fault, Wells," Cirus's voice was reassuring. "You had no control over your abilities. Besides, your friends are about to embark on journeys of their own."
"If you say so…" Wells muttered. "So where are we going?"
"The stables," Cirus answered. "I personally requested two horses from the king, which should be sufficient to get us to the village of Pelara. Follow me."
He led Wells through the castle's west wing, which was much like the other sections—gray stone floors and walls, heavy wooden doors, and tall, narrow windows. They soon arrived at a door that Cirus explained led to the stables.
"The stables have access to a shorter route out of Tor Alian," Cirus said, holding the door wide, "for when the royal family required a swift escape."
The air was thick with the deep, earthy scent of hay, leather, and horse. It was a smell Wells had to reacquaint himself with, but it wasn't unpleasant. There must have been forty stalls, each with a trough. Clean straw covered the floor, and a wide, open archway at the far end led to a bright walkway. Stable hands hurried about, some with cleaning tools, others with buckets of feed. Cirus beckoned one over.
"You, boy," he called. "Can you show us to Situs and Solea?"
The stable lad gave a sharp nod and, without a word, sprinted down the line of stalls, skidding to a halt about halfway. Two jet-black horses poked their noses over their stall doors, lazily observing the commotion. One was slightly smaller than the other and had a distinct white diamond on its forehead.
"Wells, this one here," Cirus said, pointing to the smaller horse, "is Solea, a direct descendant of the steed King Heron rode in the war that secured Anolin's independence. She will be your mount. The other is her dam, Situs."
Wells gently patted Solea's nose. The horse gave a short, questioning whinny, and Wells hesitantly drew back his hand. "Easy," Cirus said. "She is just sensing the myran in you. Animals are very sensitive to it. Give her a moment to grow accustomed to you."
He was right. Solea’s ears soon relaxed, and she calmed. "You can go into the stall with her if you wish." Cirus then addressed the stable boy. "Fetch us our gear, please." The boy nodded, vanished, and returned moments later with two other lads, all of them carrying saddles, bridles, and blankets.
"Wells, do you know how to tack a horse?" Cirus asked, opening his own stall.
"Uh, no," Wells admitted. "I've forgotten."
The stable boys were ruthlessly efficient. After handing Cirus his equipment, they practically dove into Solea's stall and began expertly saddling the horse while Cirus did the same with Situs. Before Wells could even begin to recall the proper procedure, they were finished. He shook his head in amazement.
"That's insane," he remarked.
"One day, you will have to learn to be just as quick," Cirus replied grimly. "We could be pursued at any time. Now, we only need our food, and it is on its way."
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