Page 16 of Six Burning Candles

“I’m just wondering who you are and where the fun-hating cleric who begrudgingly let me drag her all over the kingdom yesterday went.” I arched a brow.

Keida cleared her throat, bending over the top of the well. “I do not hate fun.”

“Yes you do!” I huffed, throwing my arms out to my side. She proceeded to ignore my outburst while drawing runes into the inside of the well with the sharp edge of a crystal. It dug deep into the stone over last year’s magic, and the year before that.Because magic, especially blessings like this, do better over the bones of older magic.A warming charm, to ensure the deep belly of the mountain didn’t cool down too much under Avaris’ embrace. Papa preferred to summon water above the ice cap, giving us water to draw from even in the dead of winter. But that was just how the two most important people in my life differed. Leonardo was bountiful and overtly generous. Keida was sensible and grounded.

“Every year you loathe going out to the festival with me,” I grumbled. I folded my arms under my chest for extra emphasis. Unlike yesterday, I did give my current outfit more forethought. A thick, cotton under blouse that ruffled up around my throat laid under one of my thicker gowns, the kind where the sleeves were wrapped around my arms to trap in heat. It was a simple maroon dress with autumnal colored accents like the olive green embroidery, the gold lace, and black sash that looped my hips. Not that anyone could see my perfect fall gown with Keida’s cloak around my shoulders.

“I do not loathe it. I feel the festival is a waste of our time. And every year without fault, you get into some sort of trouble. Just as you did this year.” She straightened, dusting off her gloves on the outside of her cloak.

“I wouldn’t call that trouble,” I snorted, leaning closer so only she could hear, “That was a lesson, remember?”

Her lip quirked up at the edge as she narrowed those blue orbs on me. “I was speaking about the fool I was forced to pummel on your behalf, Troublemaker.”

A hot blush burned across my face. For no reason except out of habit, I brushed my hair back from the sides of my face, tucking it behind my ears. Keida held still, observing me as I glanced away. The words fell out of my mouth, “Well, you didn’t have to break his nose.”

“Yes, I did.” She nodded once as if that was final. She stepped away from me swiftly, headed to the next well in the kingdom to bless it as well. “And I’ll do it again.”

“Ah,” I gasped, trying to get back any sense of control I had. “And you wanted to say that our kiss meant nothing,” I glared.

Her body lurched, boots clicking hard against the stone. My eyes darted to her in anticipation for some answer.An explanation—‘ah, my apologize Melrose, you surprised me with that ultimatum and I choked. I’ll make it up to you’.Anything that would make it make sense.

Keida glanced at me quickly before licking her lips. “Your father entrusted me with your care. You are unmarried and unprotected. He asked me to see to your well being.”

I rolled my eyes at the marriage conversation.Once again, people trying to pressure me to just marry a man like that ever kept any woman safe!

“Ah, so it’s my father’s fault your magic is currently curled up in my guts?” I retorted.

She chuckled, shaking her head. “No…no it’s not. He would behead me for that…will behead me for this.”

And that’s when it clicked. I hesitated to follow her out of the courtyard. My heart physically stopped mid-beat.I am such a fool.“You’re afraid of him.”

“Pardon?” Keida whirled around like I’d slapped her upside the head.

A befuddled laugh bubbled up through my chest and spilled out of my lips. “You’re afraid of my father…that’s why you don’t want to be with me. It’s not that you don’t care for me enough. Youfearhim more.”

“Wha—Melrose!” She glanced left and right before rushing up to grab me by the arm. I ripped both of them back and away from her.

“That’s it, isn’t it? That being with me will ruin your career? I’m not worth risking your position in the order?” I arched a brow.I did this to myself again.I let myself hope, let myself pray and beg and plead, that she may feel for me what I felt for her.And my heart was never going to be enough to sway her.Once again, people fearedhimmore than they loved me.

I could never escape his shadow or be my own person, for it would only ever be abouthim.In that moment, I loathed Papa. I couldn’t even get a girl to like me in fear of his retaliation.I will never marry…so long as any match would use it for power. For their gain. Instead of love for me.

“It’s more complicated than that,” she hissed through her teeth.

“What is it about me that makes it not worth the risk?” I blurted out, voice raised an octave and bouncing off all the building in its frenzy. Snow trickled around us. It spun in the air and danced on the soft breeze that licked up the side of my face. Keida turned to stone in front of me and for the first time, I used my actual magic. I made sure she felt it too as I broke the blessing she bestowed on me. Her gaze dropped to my skirts as I stomped a hoof against the cobblestone. Littlesnowflakes fell out of my dress and melted around her boots as I dispelled her magic.

“You’re still a coward, Keida,” I snarled, shaking my head. “You’ll only be with me when he’s not here to take your title? Or are you still pretending this meant nothing?”

I didn’t wait to hear what she had to say.You want me to go to my lessons so bad? I’ll go early.

Chapter Ten:

~Keida~

Icouldnothavehandled that worse…no. I could haveabsolutelyhandled that worse, I could have told her that she was right.Melrose was right on all accounts. I was worried about my position in the order. I was worried about her father’s approval. I was worried about me…me…me. Not about the woman I’d been toying with while I convinced myself the goddess approved.

I hung my head, raking my fingers through my hair, not paying attention in the slightest to the clerics currently discussing tasks within the kingdom. My mind, for the last five hours, was back in the courtyard. It spun around in a circle, like broken spokes on a carriage wheel. I replayed the look of betrayal on her face, the words, and worst of all, the sudden snap of my magic over her. While it’d been a silly cast, knowing she let me keep it on her right till she called my bluff…that she was capable of rebuffing my desires at any time? Showing me she knew I was notworthy of her?It stung. I shouldn’t have expected anything less, and yet there was a selfish part of me that hoped I might get away with it.Having my cake, my position in the order, and eating it too.

“What do you think?” Cleric Ramone directed at me andI finally perked up.