Page 38 of The Awakening of Essensia

Jurah cleared his throat. “Of course it is. Please, sit.”

She stepped into the dining room and lowered herself into the chair to his left, it’s high back and straight angles forcing her spine stiff. She edged forward slightly, trying to give herself more room to slouch.

A panel on the wall behind Eli swung open, and a girl in a spotless apron stepped in, balancing three plates on a silver tray. She placed one in front of Eli.

“Ladies first,” he snapped.

The woman flinched. “Apologies,” she murmured, head bowed as she retrieved the plate.

Vaelira’s eyes narrowed. He was being cruel, and she suspected it was her fault.

Eli exhaled, his voice softening. “I’m sorry, Mildred. It’s been a long day.”

The woman served the plates and slipped quietly back through the door. Vaelira stared down at the small roasted bird before her. No one spoke.

The woman returned with two larger trays heaped with potatoes and carrots, glazed figs, and more roasted meat.

“That’s plenty,” Jurah said gently, offering the woman a small nod of dismissal.

Eli helped himself. Jurah followed. Vaelira reached for a potato and a single carrot with its green top still attached.

She cut into the potato, steam curling up into her face. One bite and her eyes closed, a quiet moan escaping before she could stop it. Someone cleared their throat and she opened her eyes. Jurah was looking at his plate and failing to restrain his smile. Eli was cutting into his bird, seemingly oblivious.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted. A pause. “I was stupid today. I made a mistake.”

“Mistakes,” Eli said, laying his cutlery down and crossing his arms. “Plural.”

She frowned. “I know I messed up with the raiders. But if I remember correctly, I’m the one who killed the demon.”

Eli let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Your horse killed the demon. You just made it angry.”

She met his gaze, her voice even. “And I was riding that horse.”

Jurah gave a slight tilt of his head. “If I remember correctly, I’m the one who took its head.”

Eli shot him a look.

Jurah cleared his throat. “She makes a fair point.”

“No.” Eli said, not looking at his commander. “She doesn’t. She disobeyed orders. Twice. And she still thinks she doesn’t need more training?” He scoffed. “If any Royal Guard had acted the way you did today, they’d have been stripped of their crest on the spot.”

The words hit her like a slap.

“It was one minor demon,” he continued. “We had it under control. You complicated the situation. You risked your life, and the life of that horse you are so fond of, for nothing.”

Silence fell. She hadn’t thought of the commands they gave as formal orders. Not in the heat of the moment. Not when so much was happening.

Jurah spoke softly, but the warmth was gone now. “Eli is right, Vaelira. There’s a reason we follow the chain of command. In battle, orders matter. Coordination saves lives. You must have learned this already?”

Her face burned. Of course she had. She had seen her father live by his commands. It had been drilled into her long before she had started training. She’d been so focused on what she wanted that she had acted rashly and forgotten her place.

She rose abruptly, pushing back her chair. “You’re right,” she murmured, eyes on the table. When no one spoke, she turned to leave.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Eli said. “You need to eat.”

She turned back to him slowly. “I’m not hungry,” she said, each word clipped. She looked to Jurah. “Thank you for the meal.”

Jurah nodded, pity softening his weathered features.