One Half of a Whole

Chapter 3: Talking Back

Kamara

The ceremony goes like all of the others. In this case, it's a new school that is opening near the kingdom's castle. My parents thank the workers who spent all summer building it and then I say some words about how happy I am that these kids get to further their education and how important it is. My parents and I are standing on stage the whole time while the servants are standing off to the right. There are several guards present that I can see, but I know there must be at least a dozen that are not visible.

After about an hour, we are back in the carriage and driving to the castle. I am still in my fancy purple halter top dress I wore to the ceremony when a carriage pulls up. I smile because I know exactly who it is. Running out of my room, Mary chases close behind me. By the time I make it to the foyer, Jordan is already inside talking to my parents.

I run to him, giving him the biggest hug. Jordan hugs me back and I notice the look of annoyance on my parents' face, but I don't care. When I pull back, Jordan remarks, "Wow you look great today."

"Thanks," I say quickly.

"As we were saying," my father says loudly, interrupting us, "We are very proud of you, Jordan, the negotiations seem to be going well and you are fulfilling your duty to the kingdom." Jordan looks pleased with himself, and I am happy for him. But I can't get an itching question out of my head: When can I do stuff like that? When can I fulfill my duty to the kingdom?

"When can I fulfill my duty to the kingdom?" Crap. I didn't mean to say that out loud. My parents turn to me, looking shocked.

After a few moments of awkward silence, my mother responds with, "You are fulfilling your duty." At that, something inside me snaps.

"How? When Jordan was 15, he started to travel to other kingdoms and pass laws and negotiate and plan important things. But I have never gotten the opportunity to do anything like that. All I do is sit here and go to the stupid ceremonies and show the people I exist. I want to go out in the world. I want to do something for my kingdom, and I am doing nothing for them now." During my little outburst, several people begin to turn their heads and listen. The foyer is not the most private place, with many guards and servants running around, helping to unload my brother's carriage and the like.

"We will talk about this later," my father says, disappointment seeping through his voice like water through a strainer. As my parents walk away, they motion for my brother to follow, leaving me behind. I realize I should probably not just stand here alone, so I go back up to my room.

"Wow - that was kinda crazy," Mary says, trying to lighten the mood while we walk back upstairs.

"Yeah," I mumble.

"I didn't know you felt like that...but I understand. Is that why you were acting so...off today?"

"Yeah," I lie. If she thinks that, then the suspicion she had earlier will be put to rest.

*****

A few hours later, it is dinner time. I wear the same dress that I did to the ceremony because I had no intention of letting Mary discover the papers hidden in the fabric as I changed. Plus, now it will be all too easy to sneak them back out again and give them to Jordan. As I walk into the formal dining room, I see my parents sitting next to each other at one side of the table. Jordan is seated across from my mother, and I sit myself down next to him. Several butlers come out and serve our dinner. The silence at the table is deafening, so I decide to break it.

"It is later," I say, receiving several confused looks from my parents and the butlers standing by the walls. "You said we would talk later about how I have not been given opportunities to help my kingdom like Jordan has." My father puts his fork full of spaghetti down on his plate with a small clink.