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Still pouting, head low, Aurora turned her entire body into Areanel like she was trying to hide away by nuzzling into her chest. After a moment’s silence, the girl dragged her gaze to Rymedur, blinking up at him with innocent eyes. She cuddled her small body further into Areanel as she reluctantly said, ‘I is sowwy, Da.’ Then, she huffed heavily, like the act had taken all her energy.
A snort to her left sent Areanel casting a withering gaze at the others, who now sat leaning over the plush settee in the middle of the room, watching the exchange.
‘What?’ Lukas exclaimed, running a hand through his perfectly coiffed silver hair. ‘They’re laughing, too!’ He gestured wildly to his siblings, who sat behind him, avoiding eye contact but biting their lips as their shoulders shook.
From the corner of her eye, Areanel saw Rymedur soften. He reached down to take Aurora from her, picking her up and placing a gentle kiss on her puffed cheek. ‘Time for bed.’
‘Buts I—’ Aurora was already trying to wiggle out of his grip, reaching for Areanel like she would save her.
‘Aurora,’ Areanel’s tone held stern reprimand.
The girl stopped squirming instantly and sent Areanel a glare of her own. Oh, the girl would be trouble when she got older!
Knowing what she was trying to do, Areanel shot a glare of her own, and Aurora finally blinked, turning away. Exasperated, the little girl deflated in Rymedur’s arms, throwing back her head with a groan, and Areanel sketched a brow. The girl ought to be in a theatre troupe.
Rymedur’s shoulder shook with silent laughter, but Areanel could hear the chuckle in his voice when he announced, ‘She gets her dramatics from you.’
Areanel gasped, offended. ‘Excuse me.’ She couldn’t help smacking a hand over her heart as she feigned hurt, though the laugh they shared instantly brightened her mood. ‘Whatever do you mean?’
Chapter 19
Areanel
Distracted by her family, Areanel was running late. Over an hour had passed since she’d sent word via palace aide, and Areanel had no doubt that, by now, her brothers waited for her at the gates.
‘You’re late,’ Elmrynn’s steely tone travelled across the courtyard as Areanel dashed down the steps.
She ignored him, scanning the group to ensure they had all they needed: a unit of soldiers stood at attention with two horse-drawn carts loaded with provisions. Areanel did not recognise the soldiers; they looked young, new—fresh blood. Who had chosen this group? She had given explicit instructions; therefore, someone had not followed her orders. But whom?
Her gaze swept to her brothers. Nymlaris and Sevain stood closer to the soldiers, grins wide as they shared a laugh. Percival had begun to slowly saunter over after spotting her and Elmrynn, who stood as stoic and broody as ever, had his arms crossed against his fighting leathers.
‘Oh, leave her alone, Rynnie.’ Percival came up behind their older brother and playfully smacked him on the shoulder, recoiling only a moment later and rubbing his palm as though in pain. ‘Man, what does the kitchen feed you?’
Creases appeared along Elmrynn’s brow as his face pinched. ‘The same as you.’ He really didn’t know how to take a joke. His face slowly morphed into one of annoyance. ‘And how many times do I have to tell you, don’t call me that!’
‘What? Rynnie?’ Percival asked incredulously. ‘I think it’s cute. Don’t you think it’s a cute nickname for him, Rea?’ Areanel’s twin turned to her, gaze expectant as he gestured to their older brother. ‘Really brings out the teddy bear hidden deep, deep within that cold, murderous gaze.’
Areanel bit the inside of her cheek to suppress the laugh threatening to bubble out of her. Elmrynn was anything but a teddy bear, and when Percival teased him, that murderous look Elmrynn usually wore trained on him. Percival never seemed to care, though, always balancing on the edge of recklessness and pure idiocy. There was nothing sensible about Percival, and Areanel loved that about him. He always knew how to make them laugh.
Well, everyone except Elmrynn—who struggled to understand when they were joking.
But instead of snapping Percival’s neck like Areanel thought he would, Elmrynn spun on the heel of his riding boot and strode to the towering gates, mounting his horse—but not before knocking Percival’s shoulder (unnecessarily hard if Areanel was being honest), sending him careening sideways.
Areanel’s hands shot out to steady her brother as they both stumbled back. ‘Umph!’ A grunt escaped Percival as he collided with her.
With his feet securely under him, her twin turned to Elmrynn and shot a few choice words his way. ‘Asshole! It’s not my fault your brain is too small to take a joke,’ he grumbled.
‘I heard that,’ Elmrynn said, manoeuvring his mare to trot beside them. The soldiers, following his lead, quickly jumped onto their own steeds or the back of a wagon, ready to depart.
The action that made Areanel frown. She was the General. They should be following her orders.
‘You were meant to!’ Percival sent him a sneer, and when Elmrynn’s back was fully turned, he cursed him with a middle finger—like the action alone might harm him in some way. The childish act had Areanel’s resolve wavering. She suddenly forgot about the soldiers, and her shoulders shook with the laugh that burst from her. Let Elmrynn have his little victory. It was all he would get.
Percival shrugged, like he hadn’t started the argument, and Areanel shook her head at him, heading toward the palace gates and the forests beyond. ‘You shouldn’t antagonise him, Percy. One day he’s going to snap you in half like a twig.’
‘I can’t believe you’re taking his side. I’m your twin!’ His hand flew to smack against his chest in mock hurt, and for a moment, Areanel thought that maybe Rymedur was right; Aurora did get her dramatics from her. The thought made another laugh slide from her lips.
With Percival close behind, Areanel waited for the familiar screech of iron as the gates opened to the world beyond the palace. The high-pitched scrape reverberated through the air, sending an unpleasant and irritating tingle along her spine.
