28 Demands and Secrets (2/2)

She pushed past him opened the door. The attendant stood nervously in front of her. Taller than her but only slightly and portly with close cropped brown hair and brown eyes. He bowed low.

”I am so sorry for the way you were treated by my Lady. Please do not take offense, it's the child, her uncertain future. Please continue to be gracious with her!” he begged.

Does he know she raised her magic against me a second time, Isilla wondered opening her book.

Can you read,she wrote before tapping him on the shoulder.

”Yes,” he responded.

It's fine, she wrote, Thank you for coming here. Will you be staying with her?

He nodded, ”I was appointed by her father.”

Isilla beckoned for the man to follow and sat down on one of the chairs outside her bedroom, motioning for him to take the other. Nervously he sat, Ilun sniffing at him as he passed to join Isilla at her feet.

Did she send you here, she asked.

He shook his head, ”No, she's having lunch in the sun room.”

This is very bold of you, why did you come to apologize for her?

”I know you stopped her execution before and I am hoping that you can continue to protect her, she doesn't understand what she's doing!” his words came out in a great rush.

She tilted her head to the side, a slight frown on her face. Are you the father of her child, she wrote.

The man's eyes widened and he blushed, red crossing his cheeks as he shook his head. ”No! She's my, I mean, no.”

She's your what, Isilla asked slightly taken aback but the man's lack of composure.

He sighed and closed his eyes. ”She's my sister,” he answered quietly, quickly. ”I'm a bastard. My father appointed me to stay with her, to watch her and keep her out of trouble but she's stronger than me.”

You know who the father is then, Isilla asked.

He nodded, guiltily.

Don't tell me, it's not really important. You must care for your sister, she wrote.

”It's not that,” he said, ”It's bad for our kingdom to be so shamed. You seemed like someone who would be more forgiving.”

She considered his words. What's your name, she asked finally.

”Vil,” he said, ”Just Vil.”

Isilla smiled at him and patted his hand. I'm sure there's more to this than I understand but for now this is alright, she thought to herself.

It's fine, she wrote, I understand that she's upset. In a few weeks she'll calm down, I'll do what I can to help.

Vil smiled at her and stood. ”Thank you,” he said bowing low before he left the room.

Moments later Sele appeared with her lunch. Without a words she swept by and left it on the table for her, leaving as silently as she had come.

I have to be careful, she thought, people are very ungrateful here.

She stood and made her way to her table. She sat down Ilun's plate, a half cooked roast before sitting at her own table.

Another knock on her door drew her attention away.

”Miss?” Julen called, opening it without waiting. His face popping inside nervously. ”Oh, you're eating! Arren said you might be. He said he wants to see you after you're done, in his office.”

She nodded.

”Do you need me to wait for you?” he asked.

She shook her head and he closed the door, leaving her to her meal.

”I guess he knows I'm better and it's time to talk about you,” she said poking Ilun with her foot. And ask him why he hesitated when that woman attacked me, she thought as she began to eat.