Pleading eyes

‘How are you feeling?’ Kira said while crouching down, helping Edward put on a pair of shoes as he sat in a chair.

‘I’m fine.’ He replied, fidgeting. ‘I’m sorry I can’t do this myself.’

Kira took Edward’s hands and examined them, flipping them from one side to the other. Edward tried to pull them away, but Kira squeezed tighter. Edward winced. ‘Keep still,’ she said.

She was full of concentration, her face less than a foot from Edward’s. A few strands of strawberry blond hair framed her cheeks, her skin, smooth and slightly pink. Her hands, conversely, were rough. He could fill the texture of them rub against his fingers and palms. As he watched her, his muscles relaxed and a shiver ran down the back of his head, along his neck and down his spine. Edward could have sat there for hours, almost in a trance. Were the herbs the Mother Healer had provided starting to work?

‘The redness has faded. How bad is the pain?’ she asked.

Her question jolted him back. Those bright emerald eyes stared at him, unflinching. Not for the first time, he found it hard to keep eye contact, yet all the same he was drawn in. It waslike a skydiver at the door of the plane, terrified of jumping yet mesmerised by the little verdant fields and rows of green trees below.

‘They’re ok, just a bit numb. You don’t have to worry, I can take care of myself.’ He mumbled.

‘I hate to tell you this, but at the moment you can’t.’ Kira said as she stood back up. ‘Come on. Do you need help standing up?’

Edward took Kira’s hand and got to his feet. She’s tall, almost as tall as me, and she’s strong. She carried me out of that frozen room like an infant. And she was also right; Edward had to admit. So much had happened and it had only been one day. In this world he was a danger to himself, and he didn’t even understand how. He needed to get home.

‘Listen. This meeting we are going to, you should be aware that it might get...difficult.’ She said, full of pauses as if trying to find the right words.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Just that Alderman Atlestan is a very important and influential person, because, well, he is a very important and influential.’

Edward furrowed his brows as her tried to piece together that together ‘I think that was even more confusing.’

Kira smiled and apologised. ‘I’m trying to say that he has a lot of power, and he will choose to use that power as he sees fit.’

‘I think I understand.’ Am I going to have to win him over to my side? That is a concern. I’ve never been good in an argument.

‘I hope so. Let’s go.’

*

The lodgings where they were staying were quiet. As were the gardens and paths that led to the main palace. The afternoon was pleasantly warm, and a cool wind took the edge off the sun’s heat. The waft of flower scent permeated the warm air. Kira hoped the temperate weather would be of help Edward.

The first person they saw was a young girl in a uniform too big for her, pacing back and forth on the path ahead. Hep lips were moving as though she was practicing lines.

‘Rosna, is that you?’ Kira called out. ‘You’re not wearing your school uniform?’

‘Erm, no. I was asked to help the High Office of Summoning for today. They gave me this uniform. I am afraid it might be a bit too big.’

That’s an understatement, Kira thought. She hadn’t quite realised how young Rosna was the night before. Her fingers had been poking out her sleeves like the tentacles of a feeding coral. Now that she had closed her fists, her fingers had vanished, as though frightened by a predator.

‘Edward, you might not remember, but Rosna was with us last night. She also speaks English.’

After exchanging some short greetings, Rosna asked them to come with her. She took them away from the main palace towards a rarely used area out of the way of the main grounds. Her pace was quick, but the taller Edward and Kira had no difficulty keeping up. Kira asked where they were going.

‘To a small building owned by the High Office. It’s closer to the Great Hall and Galdminster. We are expecting to be joined by representatives from both and it’s out of the way of all the celebrations at the Palace.’ Rosna said.

Kira thought her answer felt rehearsed. The question must have been expected, but by who, Rosna or someone else? They were led down a flight of wide steps. As they approached the bottom. A greying man walked out from the shade, dressed in a long tunic, all black except the gold badges on his collar and the red velvet cuffs. Alderman Atlerstan. He called up to them as they got closer.

‘Ms Raedwynn and Mr Edward. Thank you for coming.’ He bowed as they got closer. ‘Rosna here will be translating for me. I don’t want to keep you Ms Raedwynn. I’m sure that Rosna can take it from here. I would like to thank you again for your service.’

Rosna and Kira stopped. Rosna, a few steps in front looked back and up at Kira, wide eyed. Edward, confused, also stopped as he looked from one to the other.

‘Rosna, if you wouldn’t mind, please translate for Mr Edward. We don’t want to leave him in the dark.’ Alderman Atlestan said.

As Rosna fumbled with her words, Kira stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. Realisation started to dawn on Edward’s face. He turned to Kira. ‘I thought you would be staying? I thought you were going to help me?’

‘I never said that. I was asked to help. I have my own duties, my own life, and they aren’t here.’ That wasn't what she wanted to say, but the right words wouldn’t come to her. She hadn’tmade a decision, and her doubts slipped out.

‘I feel the same! But I don’t have a choice. I’m here whether I want to be or not.’ Edward said, his voice’s volume raising.

‘I know, I’m sorry Edward. That’s not what I meant to say.’ How could she explain this to him. Her words had been robbed from her. She dared not say what she truly wanted to. Not here, not now.

‘Captain Raedwynn, I don’t think I am experienced enough for this.’ Rosna, in Halvesdonian, chimed in.

Edward stood staring at the sky with his hands on his head. Rosna was playing with sleeves of her oversized uniform, head down and face red. As she watched the two of them a few steps below her, all Kira’s resistance was thoroughly pulled down. Alderman Atlestan waited in silence, observing each actor in the scene in turn.

‘It’s ok, both of you.’ Kira finally said. Unable to say the words; unable to give Alderman Atlestan the satisfaction.

Two sets of hopeful eyes locked on Kira. Rosna clasped her hands together as if in prayer. ‘You are going to stay as Edward’s supporter?’

‘Sorry to interrupt, but there seems to be a lot of excitement. May I ask what is going on?’ Alderman Atlestan asked.

‘Captain Raedwynn says that she wants to stay as Edward’s supporter.’ Rosna offered up enthusiastically.

‘Is that so? I thought you intended to be a guardsman, Ms Raedwynn?’

Kira cursed her foolishness. 'Alderman Atlestan, if it would be convenient for you, I would very much like to carry on serving as Edward’s supporter,’ Kira bowed her head and added,‘While he is in the capital.’

‘Are you sure, I wouldn’t want to put you under any undue influence, Captain?’ the Alderman said, his face fall of concern, although Kira thought she caught the faintest glimpse of a smile.

Kira responded only with a short nod. She then bent down onto her left knee and said to Edward, ‘If you will have me, I would like to serve you in any way I can as your supporter.’

‘If that means you're staying with me, I’m all for it.’ Edward said, relieved.