Deciding Skies (Fate's Intent Book 2) (17 page)

They looked around at each other.

“I’m not really sure.” Ruby answered.

“I really hate to say this—” I sighed because it was true. “But you should probably confide yourselves to a room just so you stay out of trouble.”

“Okay!” Jaylyn smiled, hooking her arm through Troy’s. “No one should want to disobey that order!”

I sighed again. “I’m leaving.”

I turned and Zayden immediately followed. “Right behind you.” We went back upstairs to his room and got back in bed. “You all right? You seemed a little stiff walking up here. Are you worried?”

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“Of course not. You get to stay for now.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not over yet. Something could still happen when he makes his choice.”

Zayden smiled and kissed my head. “Stop worrying and go back to sleep. I don’t think you got enough.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I knew I didn’t get enough but still had this fear burning inside me. I didn’t know what was going to happen now that we were being forced to stay here longer. No one knew, not even the King.

Zayden wrapped his arms around me and my thoughts just melted away. I no longer felt worry but peace and was able to fall back asleep in his arms where I knew I’d be safe but my dreams soon led me into a worry of another kind.

It was bright. The sun was shining on the gleaming waterfalls in the background and their sounds carried in the mountains. I stood in an open doorway, looking outside. My eyes shifted and focused when sounds of another kind echoed around me. “Hey! That’s not fair!”

It was the training ring like the one from back home and he was there, Seth, standing adjacent to another boy, each holding a wooden practice stick. I didn’t seem as surprised this time and watched them fighting back and forth. They were good for ones so young. Blocking and swinging their practice stick around, they made it look effortless.

“Hey, mother.” Seth glanced towards me with a smile while he blocked a hit from his opponent. He really did have Zayden’s eyes.

“Hi, Seth.” I waited, seeing how long my dream would let this conversation go or if it meant anything at all.

“Heard any news?”

I was confused and squinted my eyes. “What news?”

“From father. You said we would in a few days about when he’s returning.”

Breathlessness hit deep in my chest.

Father? What did this mean? Zayden? Was it true? Could it be? My thoughts spiraled around all of these questions and left me in a lost stare. I didn’t know how to answer, not knowing it myself and just stood still.

“Mother?” Seth stopped fighting with the other boy and the three of them all looked over at me.

“Adele?” The brown-haired boy asked. Him speaking to me had only shocked me more. His hair was brown but he had those bright green eyes that were very familiar to me but I still couldn’t speak. “Adele?” His voice was getting lower and my vision was blurring. I couldn’t see them anymore but the voice remained and began to change into a female’s voice. “Adele? Adele?” My eyes finally opened and Jaylyn was leaning over me with her curls draping over her shoulders. “Hey. Wake up, sleepy. We have to get you dressed for another lovely dinner.”

I looked towards the windows at the darkening sky. “Oh, great. Already?” It felt like I had just fallen asleep, not that I’ve been here all day.

“Yeah.” Ruby sighed. “We know.”

“Don’t be like that.” Zayden said. “Act happy and things will—hopefully turn out happy.”

I met Zayden’s eyes as I sat up and I was just in wonderment. Images of my dream were still with me but the words that I heard were ringing even louder in my head. I wanted to tell him with every ounce of my soul but I just couldn’t. Something was stopping me. I didn’t want him to become too hopeful that he was right. Without knowing the King’s true decision, I didn’t want to fuel the hope of something I knew I could never have.

Instead, I just smiled and replied with a joyless tone. “Again, not easy to do.”

“Be glad that he’s taking time to think about it. A quick judgment could have been a lot worse.”

I sighed and stood in front of him with my hands on my hips. “Well, expect me to go like this? Look at them. They looked dressed.”

Ruby and Jaylyn just smiled while they stood by, wrapped perfectly in simple shades of copper and rose silk.

“Don’t worry.” Jaylyn said. “There’s a dress for you.”

Zayden looked to the door and Darius picked up a box sitting by it, walking it over to me. “Kathryn brought this for you. It should do.”

I quickly flipped the cover back and revealed a dress shining in purple silk threads. It looked perfect as always. “Where did he get her?”

“What do you mean?” Zayden asked.

“Kathryn.” I said, taking the dress out of the box. “She’s amazing. If we stay here any longer, I’m not going to be able to go on without her.”

“Unlikely that she would go back with you but if you wanted, I’m sure you could give it a shot.”

“I’ll be right out.” I brought the dress with me back towards the bathhouse.

“Don’t be long. We’re running out of time.”

Like I needed to hear that we were running out of time. It was something I always knew.

Chapter 24

Jaylyn

The dining hall was empty. The King had yet to arrive for dinner and we found ourselves there first.

“Well, I like this.” Adele said.

“Don’t get your hopes up.” Darius laughed. “He doesn’t have to get here first.”

“Take a seat.”

We sat in the exact seating order as we have the previous night and silence overwhelmed the table. No one spoke. We sat still like statues, waiting for the King.

My eyes were on Troy across from me and it was as if we were speaking without words. I was worried. Troy merely looked at me with confidence, trying to convince me to do the same but my eyes were denying it completely. How could I stay confident about being here, knowing the King was about to pass his judgment on us any time, perhaps even tonight? Staying calm was just something I couldn’t do. I couldn’t leave here without him.

Echoing of a steady pace forced me to look away. The doors both opened together and the King walked through. He wasn’t looking at any particular thing but his expression seemed less than happy nonetheless.

“You’re late.” Zayden stated a little sarcastically.

“I’m never late.” Izin replied, his voice seeming just as stern as his look while walking to the head of the long table. “And your attempts to make yourselves appear early is displeasing.”

“That was never our plan, father. I expected you to be here already.”

“Then you expected to keep me waiting? Not a very good turn on your road of salvation.”

No one said a word.

Three servants came from the kitchen with a cart full of silver covered trays. It was wheeled to the table and a tray was first given to the King and uncovered for him.

Adele looked next to her at Ruby and lightly shook her head. Ruby was a little confused at first until Adele’s tray was put in front of her, cover lifted and Adele didn’t reach for a utensil. Ruby’s eyes widened a little more just from what she was insinuating and quickly turned her head towards me just as a tray was set in front of me. I didn’t like the look of that at all.

The cover was lifted on my tray but I couldn’t touch it. The smell of delicious food rose up in steam, hitting my face, just causing me to want it more. It smelt so good.

Ruby had to nudge me with her leg just to make sure I understood Adele’s concern which I did but I wasn’t happy with it. My hands gripped tightly in fists to hold back my disappointment and I settled them down on my lap so I wouldn’t be tempted to eat anything.

Others at the table began to eat and it was torture for me to even watch.

“So, any interesting news today?” The King asked to start conversation.

“No.” Darius answered. “I think you know all of it already.”

Izin let out a smug laugh just to himself. “I suppose I do.” There was a pause and he began to notice our still behavior. “Is there a problem with your food ladies?”

“I’d prefer not to find out, your majesty.” Adele said.

Izin laughed again, this time sounding more amused. “Look at this, boys. They don’t even trust us enough to eat our food. Not a very respectful way to start your stay here, is it?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Zayden said.

“Pardon my disagreement, your majesty but you are in no position to accurately know that.”

“Father, tell them there’s nothing wrong with the food.”

Izin met Adele’s eyes and he just smiled. “I could say that but it’s not in my power to have her believe me. They are free to make that choice for themselves.”

“Oh, if only that were true.” I muttered with a groaning sigh, staring down at my plate.

“Fine.” Adele sighed. “Do what you wish with the food, Jaylyn but don’t blame me.”

I laughed. “Adele, you know this won’t kill me, right?”

“Shush! I’m aware! Keep that kind of talk to yourself. If there’s going to be talk, it should be about what you’re going to do with us.”

Her head turned to the King and Zayden quickly shook his, muttering softly. “Adele, no.”

“Is it?” Izin asked with a curious smile. “You in such a rush to leave us already, Adele?”

“I just don’t like being strung along which is exactly what you’re doing—your majesty.”

Izin paused long enough to wipe his mouth with his napkin. “That’s too bad because honestly, I haven’t thought about it all day.”

“Really? I doubt that.”

“Or you just don’t want to believe that I could have. I’m well aware that you’re a pretty impatient woman.”

Oh, no. Adele’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know me.”

“You don’t think so?”

“You knew my parents. You don’t know me.”

“I know you look just like your mother but were unfortunate to inherit your father’s unruly behavior. It just proves to us how difficult Kalu’s future Queen will be to deal with.”

Adele’s eyes widened just the slightest but she tried to act as if she wasn’t surprised. I had to do the same thing.

“So, of course, I know you.” Izin went on. “And yet it’s sad to say it’d be an improvement over what’s crowding the throne now, a useless, empty soul too scared of the world to even leave the walls of the palace.”

“Wow.” Ruby said with true wonderment. “How did you even know that? That’s Arianna exactly! The selfish witch!” She hit her fist down on the table and her golden eyes filled with red anger just thinking about the Queen back home.

“Ruby, calm down.” I whispered with words from behind my teeth. “You’re getting angry.”

“It’s all right, Jaylyn.” Izin smiled. “I know she could kill us all if she was mad enough.”

“What are you talking about?” Adele asked, trying to pretend as if she truly didn’t know.

“Come now. You can’t expect me not to know. Possess a gift long enough yourself and you can easily identify any other with one. I know all about your little trip to see the Enchantress.”

“You’ve seen her?” I asked. “Is that how you got yours?”

Izin shifted his eyes next to him at Zayden for brief contact with a smile. “It is. It was a long time ago back when it was just Aleks and myself.”

Troy looked across the table at me and I looked back. We were both curious and the King didn’t sound angry while talking about it. We wanted to see how long he would that way and how much he’d reveal.

“What do you mean?” Troy asked.

“In the beginning I only met with Aleks. It was that way for the first few weeks. He kept insisting that we let others know and join us but I always said no. He was persistent, determined that I meet a certain someone. Imploring that it would be good for us so I finally just gave in and said yes.”

“Who was it?” Darius asked. “It’s not going to shock us, is it?”

“It shouldn’t. Aleks is the one that wanted me to meet him so you had to of guessed that he’s Kaluian.”

“And important somehow?”

“I understand how that could be confusing but he really was. Probably the most important one Aleks could have me meet.”

“Is this going to be a guessing game?” Zayden asked. “Because we don’t know anyone besides them.”

“I bet we could guess.” Ruby smiled.

“There is no guessing.” Everyone turned their heads towards my blank stare at Izin. I knew exactly who he was talking about. It was clear to me.

“Of course you would know. Your father was a great man.”

“If only everyone thought that. Then he’d still be alive.”
“Jaylyn, not now.” Adele said.

“It’s all right, Adele.” Izin replied. “She has every right to be upset about it yet whether or not the world knew how great he was, there would always be someone that would want him dead just because of it. The inviting Bryce to join us changed everything. Things started to seem more real about what we were doing.”