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Chapter 11 – Green Thumb
Luella
I watched more droplets fall on the soil with both fascination and horror. My eyes followed each droplet as it plummeted on a rock or the earth. Did it mean that it was over? Perhaps, whatever was plaguing the continent was gone, and the witches had regained their powers.
Yet, a wave of disappointment washed over me. I pushed stray thoughts to the back of my mind. Those thoughts included a tall, broad-shouldered man in braids. I reined in my sense of logic, digging for other, more palatable reasons I was feeling, well, displeased at that moment.
Of course, it made sense. I liked having everything planned out for me ahead of time. When a plan changed course, it often devastated me. I tried to keep my feelings in check, but the surge from holding the dam up worsened it.
“Keep it going!” Farmer David cried, opening his mouth to the sky like a starving little robin.
Francilia made a game of catching the droplets, revealing just how vivid the drizzle looked to each of them, as well. While she was occupied with her childlike reaction to the rain, I surreptitiously bent to touch the soil. Of course, it was wet. What was I thinking? That it had suddenly formed a shield to bounce off the droplets?
As I straightened myself, I turned to observe the Arrowspear trio. Razuku seemed faintly amused, his arms on his hips as he gazed at the darkening sky. He was probably calculating the days he would still have to remain in Queenspell. Eli looked as disappointed as I was. He was young. So, it was probably an adventure to him – one that would be drawing to a quick close. Cora had her arms folded in front of her chest. She looked deep in thought. I was probably right about the alliance’s benefits to this other young woman. She did not seem happy.
But was I?
I did not have time to contemplate my feelings about the rain because it stopped as suddenly as it began.
There were groans of frustration among the local farmers as the sky became clear again. The Arrowspear men scampered towards me as if they were eager to share their thoughts.
“Your Highness, does it mean we are going home?” Eli asked, his brown eyes imploring me. He did not want to go home, this one.
“Because of a few droplets?” I asked. The words just flew from my mouth.
“I see your point there, Your Highness,” Razuku said with a smile. “…but I am afraid Prince Metheus might have seen the dark clouds at sea.”
I frowned. What did that have to do with anything?
“So, if he saw the rain clouds, what would it mean?”
“Oh, I – I,” Razuku stammered, one hand scratching his head.
“Well?”
“He might try to get away from the arrangement,” he admitted, his lips turning a little pale. He seemed afraid that Metheus would find out that he had revealed a little too much about the prince’s possible frame of mind.
“Why would he do that?”
Razuku looked at me with a recognition that made me uncomfortable. He knew that I was not happy about the rain. It made me feel exposed. He should not make assumptions about my reasons, though. Ire spread through me, flaming my cheeks red. I moved back away from him just in case.
“Well, his father sent him here.”
“I thought he was not opposed to it.”
“He was not, Your Highness,” there was a pause, “when he heard about the drought.”
As we parted, my heart constricted painfully. Metheus would not feel much of a hero being here without the drought. Marrying a woman he did not love would become more like a chore – than it already was.
I stalked away from the fields, with Francilia following me in bewilderment. I did not even bother to say goodbye to Farmer David, who seemed anxious to check the soil for any development, anyway. He should have just asked me. I could have said, “Well, Farmer David, it was wet.” Would a few droplets of rain make a difference at all?
I headed straight for my mother’s study, becoming a regular pattern for me. I used to stay away from that room as much as possible. The maze, the library, and the solar were my preferred places. I was not the studious type like Caro, but I had been searching for possible cures to my affliction. Otherwise, the leather-bound books bored me to no end.
“Well, you are back early. I almost thought you were planning to take over Metheus’ role,” my mother said drily, her eyes still on a few documents. My father dealt with accounts, but my mother received every correspondence letter.
“It rained,” I said simply.
She looked up, her eyes almost dancing. I could not blame her. She was probably hoping it would rain. It might mean they would all be getting their powers back.
