Mine (Book 1 )

Part 7

Hal

"There's news from Lyska" Iverynn lets me know at the war tent. He hands me a scroll and I see my brother's handwriting scrawled over the paper letting me know that he has secured the Lyska and Ayra border and has ensured Djolna's men have been sent back to the Capital. Djolna was no fool. He was the most cunning of us all. He was a genius who had been influenced by greed and power and had completely leaned towards greed for more. 'May Devra watch over us all. Kal', he ends the letter. 

It was the Ayrian Candle Day today and everyone was prepping for the lantern lighting at the end of the night. Growing up I thought the Ayrian Candle Day was the most beautiful spectacle in the world, till I lived in Gaia and I saw real beauty. The Ayrian lights are what made Ayra beautiful while Gaia was beautiful even without the distraction of light and the lanterns that lit up the Gaian sky only accentuated its beauty. 

"We're okay" I say to Iverynn. "Go enjoy the Candle Day today. Feast and drink a bit" I pat his back "I know its not home but it comes close" I shrug and leave the tent. Iverynn had watched me grow and alongside Uncle Liev and Uncle Kerrigan had been my teacher and guardian. I watched the kids run through the cobbled streets laughing in excitement holding onto their unlit lanterns for the night. Each of them greeting me in passing as they run towards their destinations. The market was bustling and the vendors greet me as I walk past them. 

"Hal!" I hear Uri call and turn to see him running towards me. He pants as he stops when he gets to me and hands me a scroll. "It's from the Capital" he scrunches his eyes as he catches his breath. It was from my mother. I furrow my brows as I read about the Divinando and Luka's descent on earth. The last time the God's fought was millennia ago and it had led to the extinction of an entire kingdom. 

"Give me a match" I ask the nearest vendor and he searches for a match in a hurry and hands it to me. I burn the letter and ensure its in ashes before handing the vendor a coin and going back to the Palace. "Kryffa!" I call out and he comes quick as I beckon him. "I want an audience with the priest at the Domus Dei here" 

"Yes, Your Highness. When would Your Highness want to meet with her?" he asks. 

"Today" I say through gritted teeth and go to my quarters. I pace the floor once I am inside trying to compose myself. I hear a knock after a while and irritatedly open the door about to yell at the person on the other end but calm down when I see her face. "Lexie" I say in surprise. 

"I brought you your tea" she holds the tray up. I take it from her even though she resists. She enters the quarters and I close its doors. "I can't stay for long" she says "Kyrr wants to make sure our lanterns fly as high as lanterns can" she smiles. 

"Have tea with me" I insist and she blushes slightly and agrees. "What did you do today?" 

"I finished reading Irava" she smiles as she takes a seat. 

"You did?" I ask and she nods. "What did you think of it?" 

"I loved it" she says. 

"Wait here" I say after pouring her tea. I go into my chambers and to my library and find the other book by Rivv Olorr I had. I pick it out from the shelf and go back to her. "Thessara" I hand the book to her "It's better than Irava" 

"I couldn't take this" she pouts. 

"You're not taking it. It's not ours to take. It's my father's. I'm giving it to you to borrow" I say and her eyes widen. 

"I...I.." she shakes her head slightly. 

"Tell me what you think when you finish it" I cut her off and she looks at me and purses her lips.