36 sI Think Yousre Wrongs (1/2)
”Why wouldn't I? I was never going to find a husband at court. I'm a third daughter. The only thing I can do is find a good husband and without that I thought, why not an adventure? That was the prince? He doesn't look like his portrait,” Haribit hooked her arm through Isilla's and began leading her through the garden as she spoke.
It's not the same prince, things are complicated. Did you leave right away that day, she wrote, her letters messy but still legible.
Haribit nodded. ”They pushed us right back into the carriage and turned it around. Someone met us at the border and took us the rest of the way back home. It took about a week of nonstop travel and almost as soon as I got back, the letter came from the prince for you to receive new maids. I only just arrived here a few days ago.”
Days? Why are we just seeing each other, she scribbled.
”Calm down!” Harbit laughed. ”I had to be shown your new rooms and learn all the duties of a Lady in Waiting. I guess I'm not really a maid. I'm supposed to accompany you to formal events and help with minor duties like picking out jewelry. Which sounds like a maid but with less work.”
Isilla laughed as they leafy awning. Servants were placing dishes the table that waited under it, the smell of the meal making Isilla's stomach growl.
Haribit sat at the table, Isilla next to her.
”Tell me everything, starting with that thing,” Haribit ordered pointing at Ilun.
Ilun sat next to Isilla, patiently waiting as the servants finished their work. One of them lowered a large tray filled with eggs and meats onto the ground for the animal, slightly away from where the woman sat. Ilun nearly bounced as he trotted over to it and began eating.
He's a nightmare and my pet, Isilla wrote.
”A nightmare? From where?”
Isilla watched as the servants left, leaving them alone. I have a lot to tell you but you have to keep it secret, she wrote.
”Of course,” Haribit said picking up her fork, waiting.
Isilla began to write, explaining the change in her marriage, the strange powers. She started from the point where she had last seen Haribit and tried to lay everything out in order between bites of food.
Haribit nodded as she read, asking questions here and there but following closely, taking it all in.
”So that's the Prince's younger brother. Who is also the Lord of All Shadows who our nannies have been telling us scary stories about since we were old enough to walk,” Harbit asked as Isilla took a bite of her food.
Isilla nodded.
”I thought he would be older,” Harbit said.
He's older than us, Isilla wrote helpfully.
”He would have had to do all that stuff when he was, I don't know, eight?”
Five, she corrected.
”He's not as handsome as his brother,” Haribit said changing the subject.
Isilla thought about it, comparing them. No, I suppose he's not. But his brother isn't as, I don't know, honest? Yes, Lehan is not very honest, there's something false in him. Arren is very honest.
”So you like him then? What of the man who wrote your letters? What if you like him as well?”
Isilla blushed. I don't know, she wrote. I thought I knew, that my feelings were clear but lately Arren has been, her pen stilled, the words escaping her, different.
”Let me fix your hair. Different how?”
Isilla sighed as Haribit began to remove the pins that held her tresses back. He was very cold to me at first but now, he is not, all the time, she wrote, her words slightly disjointed as she tried to piece together an explanation that Haribit would understand.
”You've seen him, in the dreams, yes? What is he like there?” she asked, practical and to the point.
Like he was today, Isilla answered.
”Then that's how he is, you know that. It hasn't even been two months in this place and you're already losing your head!” Haribit scolded as she pulled the last of the pins and began to unbraid her hair.
I'm happy you're here, she wrote.
”I'm happy too,” Haribit's smile in her voice. ”I brought you some gifts as well but I can give them to you later. What about the man from the letters?”
Isilla shrugged, I haven't given up on him, I don't think, but he hardly seems real and he might turn out to be someone more like Lehan.
”Well, there is no rush for now, I suppose,” Haribit said, finishing off the simple, loose braid, letting ithang over Isilla's shoulder. ”When you kissed him it was like he forgot how to talk for a moment,” Haribit giggled at the hot blush that ran to Isilla's cheeks. ”Is he a good kisser?” she asked, shifting the subject to something simple
Don't be so crass! We've only kissed a few times and I told you, it won't go further than that, she wrote.
”Well? What is it like?”
He is very gentle, she paused, choosing her words carefully. When he kisses me it feels almost like when I read those letters.
”Do you think he wrote them?”
She shook her head, I did for a little while but no, it wasn't him.