Where the Land meets the Sky

Chapter 10 Amelia

The royal dining hall is exactly how I remember it: A large windowless room with a giant log table in the center. A giant light fixture made of animal horns dangles from the ceiling above.

There's already a three-course meal laid out at the table, along with three place settings. It looks like I'm the first to arrive for dinner. Neither Samson nor Kiraleth are here yet. There isn't a servant in sight either. Probably because Samson wants us to speak freely with him.

I hate to admit it, but I feel overdressed. Wendy put me in sparkling yellow ball gown. It took her hours to curl my hair and pin it all up in a royal hairstyle. I look like my mother.

The door opens to my right.

"Amy!" I hear Kiraleth's breathless voice beside me.

She's dressed in black leggings, a puffy white undershirt and a royal blue vest. Her hair is carefully tied back in slender pony tail.

I don't think I've ever fully appreciated how tall and slender Kiraleth is. Her large pale blue wing is folded upright behind her back. Her broken left wing is stretched out at it's full length. A splint is firmly secured around the broken joint.

That pulsating gem in the center of her chest ebbs and glows beneath in her vest. And those tall spiraling horns jutting out of her head, make her look just like a smaller Xerxes.

I blush at the sight of her. She nearly looks...handsome?

I shake my head and clear my throat.

"Amy, I was so worried about you." Kiraleth steps beside me and takes my hand. I turn away from her as she brushes the bangs off my forehead.

"You aren't hurt are you? I heard you were fully recovered but I wasn't sure and I--"

I flick her hand away and cross my arms. "Stop worrying." I say. "I'm fine."

Thankfully, my gown is heavy enough that Kiraleth can't see my tail twitching from anxiety.

"Listen, before my brother gets here, I need to warn you about something."

"Oh, I already know about the whole, gender-thing." She laughs nervously and rubs the back of her neck. "I-I get it, I won't say anything."

"No, not that."

"And I guess everyone here thinks that we're already married? I didn't tell them the truth or anything. I guess that's just another lie I have to maintain, right?"

"No, you're not--" the doors across the room from me swings open. A human servant stands in the doorway.

"His Majesty, King Da'Irleth is now entering the dinning hall." The servant bows his head and shuffles backwards out of the room.

Samson looks exactly the way I remember him. Like me, he's a bronze draconid with short scruffy blond hair and fair amount of baby fat clinging to his waist. He wears a fluffy red and white cape, but underneath it he wears plain black clothes.

There are bags under his striking blue eyes. He looks tired and hunched over. The moment our eyes meet, his whole demeanor brightens.

The servants close the door behind him, and at long last the three of us are entirely alone.

"Lia!" He exclaims.

"Samson!" I see him lurch toward me and I can't help but jog into his embrace.

I hear a laugh rumble from his chest as he holds me and we rock from side to side. He pats me on the shoulder as we back away from each other.

"It's a miracle." he says softly. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Neither did I," I answer, holding back a sniffle.

Kiraleth watches closely from behind. I can feel her intense gaze on my back. She must feel so clueless, since she doesn't have any concept of families or siblings. I shove aside any last thoughts of Kiraleth and focus on my brother.

"Are you well?" I ask.

Samson purses his lips and nods. "For the time being, it appears so."

My brow furrows slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Come! Let us eat. I suspect you have far more to tell me, than I have to tell you."

"Of course."

The three of us take our seats at the table. This table can seat up to 24 guests. The table is set for Kiraleth and I to sit across the table from Samson. I feel like I have so much to tell Samson that I can barely keep my mouth shut long enough to eat. He and I share some small talk as we help ourselves to the meal. I watch Kiraleth pick out the meat in her meal and cast it aside. I remind myself to explain how rude she's being later. Right now, there's more important things than manners to talk about.

Once we've all eaten our fill, Samson interlocks his fingers and rests them on the table.

"It's not that I'm unhappy to see you, Lia, but why are you here?"

Kiraleth and I look at one another. I feel as though she's asking for permission to speak.

I clear my throat and face forward. "It's quite a tale, brother." I proceed to tell Samson the story. I tell him about Xerxes's sudden death, the council's disapproval of the alliance, our half-baked scheme to visit Da'Irleth for information.

Samson presses his lips together and hums. "King Xerxes has passed away? That is quite shocking to hear."

"Yes," Kiraleth bows her head. It's the first time I've heard her speak since my brother entered the room. She's not her usually bubbly self. I wonder if something happened to her while we were separated.

"The Sky Council wishes to disband our alliance," Kiraleth adds. She folds her hands on the table and looks my brother in the eye. "Unless I can prove to them that it is necessary for our mutual survival."

"And you had to come here, to do that?"

"Unfortunately, I can see no other way," Kiraleth answers. "I've exhausted every other option. And I'm running out of time."

"Samson," I lean forward. "Is there anyway you can help us?"

My brother rubs the bottom of his jowls and hums. "I'm not sure. What exactly would help you win over this Sky Council?"

"I was hoping there would be a copy of the original contract our father signed with Xerxes. Surely, there has to be some form of written agreement between them? If such a thing existed, it might have details that would help us convince the council."

It might appear as if my brother is in deep thought to anyone else, but I know better. To me, he looks overwhelmed and perplexed.

"Brother, all I ask of you is that you allow us to search Father's library."

Samson keeps his lips pursed. "As much as I would like to," he pauses.

"Please, allow me this one favor. We could consider it a wedding gift."

Samson's shoulders relax and he releases a deep sigh. "I can give you a fortnight in the library, but no more. The seven lords are convening here for an urgent meeting. I can't have them knowing I let foreigners into the royal library."

"Thank you, Sam!" I clap my hands and smile.

"But, just so we're clear, you may only enter the library at night, while the custodians sleep. I don't want any rumors reaching the lords's ears."

"I understand. We can keep quiet, right Kiraleth?"

Kiraleth stares at me blankly. I can tell by the look in her eye that she doesn't understand a word that's been said. But that's perfectly fine. She can just stay in her room and heal. I'll do all the leg work.