Peace For Now

The laughter lingered long after the joke had passed.

It filled the corners of the private chambers and settled into my bones like warmth after rain. I stayed seated long after the table was cleared.

I watched my parents talk over each other, reminiscing about the mundane, filling the space with light stories. It wasn’t for the history books or what have you, but it felt just as important, if not more. They told me what the trio of Magnus, Tincy, and Nams were up to while I was gone. How they came across the fox twins.

Some comments were brought up about how Mother, at first, tried to keep my childhood room fresh and spotless every day until my return. Eventually she got unwell to the point of being unable to walk, so it was up to the three men to rotate and take cleaning duties. They made it light and funny, but I got sad hearing about it.

After seeing my reaction, they changed the topic to more educational things. Mother shared a story about the other kings my father had to work with. All of them were apparently deathly afraid of him, save the ruler of the Rukk. Roc?.

What I gathered from my parents’ combined description was that this Roc race’s mythical form was that of ginormous eagles. Around the size of the door, as Mother pointed. And that door was seven meters tall. I couldn’t imagine how long their wingspan would be.

Mede is still probably bigger and more gorgeous.

Father said his own people, us lion dogs, and these eagle folk got along so well that there were many inter-racial couples, giving birth to griffons.

Now that makes a lot of sense! Griffons are half eagles, half lions. Turns out some creatures mating can result in a mix like that. This is going to be a very interesting thing to learn.

Mother reached across the table and brushed her thumb over my knuckles.

‘You don’t have to do anything today. Or tomorrow. Or the next,’ Mother said.

Father nodded. ‘If you wish to study, we’ll arrange it. Public lessons, like before. You’ll sit with others. Listen. Ask questions. No pressure to perform.’

‘Thank you, Father. I’d like that.’

He smiled after hearing the word father and patted my head. ‘You always learned best that way.’

‘I can start soon.’

Mother stood and pressed a kiss to my hair. ‘I’m going to rest a little. Don’t disappear too far.’

They both crowded me with love and affection. I shrank into my seat as I took it all in.

‘Hihi… I won’t,’ I promised.

Father rose as well, but his gaze lingered. He studied my face like he was memorizing it. Just to be sure that I existed.

‘One step at a time, Ina,’ he said.

Ina, huh? Not Raiona?

I nodded as I stood up too. Mother glanced between us.

‘Don’t keep her too long. She’s still recovering,’ she warned.

Father inclined his head. ‘Of course. Ina, come.’

I smoothed my dress and followed him toward the balcony doors. The sunlight outside had softened into late afternoon gold. It was still daytime, yet the planetary ring across the sky of Meu shone brilliantly.

I will never get over how beautiful this planet is.

We stood side by side and looked out over the scenery.

‘I won’t ask anything of you yet. But I want you to see how things work. How decisions are made. Who speaks. Who listens,’ Father said.

I tilted my head. ‘Observation duty? Or something like that?’

‘Precisely.’

‘Council meets tomorrow afternoon. You may sit beside me. You do not need to speak. You do not need to agree. You may leave whenever you wish,’ he continued.

Right.

‘And if I don’t go?’

‘Then you don’t. Nothing changes,’ he said simply.

So really, no one is rushing me. Then why was Celphi’s information about me “take over the throne”? Who gave him the wrong idea? Hmmm…

‘I think I’d like to watch,’ I eventually said.

I’d find out more by observing.

Father nodded. ‘Good.’

We stood there a little longer in silence. The wind lifted my hair and carried the distant sounds of the city. Children laughed and ran. Bells rang in frequencies I’ve never heard back in earth.

Behind us, mother called, ‘Ina?’

I turned to look at her and saw her standing fully and unshaken. She looked different from when I first saw her. It’s only been five days since I returned, and she had already gained weight. Still underweight, but not as horrific.

‘Rest today. Learn tomorrow,’ she smiled sweetly.

I smiled back and went to her side.

Some truths waited for the right moment. I would discuss Celphi and Marik with mother only when I could, when her health allowed it. As long as they were both safe, there was no rush. For now, I had a planet to learn, a kingdom to observe, and a new life I was trying to come to terms with.

Outside, the palace moved on. Unfamiliar footsteps passed. Wings flapped. Voices murmured. Life in Meu continued at its own steady pace.

Study. Observe. Learn the shape of this world again. If I was going to choose anything, duty, honor, worlds,… men, it would be with my own hands and with my eyes open this time.