Gallel's Heir

Chapter 7: Gently Sleeping

Sleep is a wakeful death,
Temporary and bittersweet.
Nightmares terrify, and we stir relieved at dawn;
Pleasant dreams give us hope,
Only to be dashed to pieces at the rising of the sun.
—Anath shen Sorrel Albandor of Yambisey

Two days later, Canúden stepped irritably to Gallel's north gate, which was hidden behind vines. He had spent his day off drawing and taking care of Ma, and would find little time to draw while working. A long day loomed ahead of him. Dylin's garden through the gate settled him as he noticed color and shape. Sunlight glanced on autumn leaves that shimmered red and gold and purple, like nothing untoward could ever happen. He considered how he would shade one leaf, obscure that line, brighten that corner to translate life onto paper.

He entered Gallel through the north servants' entrance. Any time he saw one of the kels in the corridor, he turned aside as casually as he could manage. Still, kel Sinclair gave him a warm hello, which Canúden returned and then hurried down a narrow passage that led to a staircase near the library. 

Treasurer? Where had that come from? Dylin had once told him that Tutang sometimes had random whims, sometimes dangerous, like when he had purchased the meanest dog he could find in Galia just to see what kind of hunter she was. Unfortunately, the dog had to be put down after it was found that she enjoyed hunting children as much as she did rabbits and fowl.

Canúden  would gladly leave all the pomposity, if not for Gallel's books. Nowhere but in Gallel could he have access to such a variety and quality of books.

And now, Dylin.

She was in the villages often enough. Perhaps he could leave a note for her, and they could meet somewhere. She could bring him any book he wanted. That might be a little less awkward than meeting anywhere in Gallel surrounded by pretentiousness.

He stopped at the landing where Anath's statue stood. She had actually spoken to them, claimed to hear their prayers. Emotions from that vision, of flying over the ocean, of joy and love, filled his core and he continued up the stairs to Dylin's rooms. They lay nearly at the top of the palace, on the north side, where she could overlook her gardens. Only the storage attics stood above them. She probably preferred the seclusion this far corner offered, away from the pomp of the other sans, away from Tutang. The Kel and his other wives situated their chambers on the south side of Gallel, with balconies overlooking Vishall, where the royals could stand above the people of the city and glory in their own greatness.

Sunlight filled the final corridor through large windows overlooking the Amethyst Mountains to the left, long white lace drapes hanging open. The décor here was relatively simple as compared with the rest of the palace. The pale marble floors were the same, but the long rugs were plain Neran wool, deep indigo with sea green flecks throughout. Rather than gilded moldings and gold-threaded tapestries, wood-framed watercolors and oils of landscapes graced the walls under dried flower garlands. Fat white candles stood atop polished silver lamp stands. It felt fresh and comfortable, like what Ma might put together.

As Canúden progressed down the corridor, something affected his eyes, coming on gradually so that he was unsure when the stinging began. The corridor smelled itchy, like something was burning that shouldn't be. By the time he reached Dylin's door, he could not keep his eyes open. He paused before knocking. It was foolish of him to present himself in such a state. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and blew his nose.

After returning the handkerchief and wiping his hands distractedly on his pants, he knocked. Silence answered. His heart skipped, and he glanced out the corridor's window. He knocked again, then tried the door. It opened. His eyes burned.

The table was set for four, with flowers in a vase at the center. Something bubbled in a cauldron in the fireplace, the source of the itchy fumes. White lace fluttered from the breeze of an open door behind it. Fresh air led him outside, where he found himself on Dylin's balcony.