Across the ocean Book 1: On the run

Chapter Nineteen : Murders Of Honour

Mayen sat at the rosewood table in the social room of Soren's wealthy house. The grains were really beautiful, though he got bored of it rather quickly. Three days had passed already. Now, it was more the tapestry and the library which flirted with his attention. The scenes of battle were inspiring. The riders who had both green and blue on their kite shields were the "good guys," or so Mayen wanted to believe, whilst those with the tower shields were the baddies. Of what Eliadoriss had told him, this was the unification of Mios-Nolis and how they had finally repelled from their shores the last king of a foreign nation. He enjoyed watching them, but at the same time he was also drawn by the full bookshelf behind him. It was filled with books. Even after three days the curiosity could not be quenched. What could be learned from them? What historical battle could be revived? How must it feel like to see the past through words flattened on a page? He was jealous. It felt like magic, a world of wonders. Soren and Eliadoriss could read, if only he could as well.

-"Well, now that we are alone..." Olicia had her hands on her hips. "How many girls did you just simply look at?"

-"I am truly sorry about before yesterday—" Just like his thoughts about the tapestry and the books, his reply was cut short.

-"Everyone is always sorry about this day or that day, always the days."

Mayen scratched his head. The worst truths were always those which could not be said despite being, in a most annoying and frequently ill-timed manner, the only defense against accusations. He had not looked at any girls lewdly. That was easy to say. He had been terrified. Of what, that was a detail better kept for himself. To be unable to clear his name was, by far, a better option than to disclose the fear still tickling his hearts at night. That said, Mayen was not willing to receive unjustified blames without trying to convince Olicia otherwise.

-"Look, I simply spoke wrongly, and I apologized. I did look lewdly at girls before. I am no better than what I have accused you that time all right? Just do not jump to conclusions, please?"

For a moment, Mayen considered revealing his infatuation for Ilyanna. Ironically, he refused to say it due to not accepting it. He sighed.

-"Ok—kay... How about you spit it out?"

-"I wish men would be as accountable for their words as we are." Closing her eyes, she gently said some strange words with a melody. "And flowers will turn away from you, young man."

-"Wait—what?" His face was leaning to one side and confusion left his upper lip raised to show his teeth.

From behind Mayen, some flowers turned to face elsewhere. When Olicia opened her eyes, she only was slightly taken aback. The truth was that she had been expecting it. She sniffed haughtily.

-"I have chores today, unlike you."

-"Olicia, I truly am sorry for what I said. Can we please consider it past?"

Mayen felt the slap of an invisible hand on his cheek, the kind which came from a cold shoulder received as a payment for patching things up. Although he knew she was bitter still, he failed to understand that she had been expecting him to acknowledge her contribution to his success with the girls at Melina's Well. No, he had not even thanked her for a single advice given. In a way, she felt as if she meant little.

-"Rea-lly..." he thought as he placed an elbow on the table. "Can this girl ever be more like Laurissia? One wrong word and it is all she talks about. Why can she not let go? Why do girls never let go? Even mother. Oh God of my Ancestors... Please have mercy on me when it comes to whom I will marry."

His eyes went back to the tapestry, where the invaders were boarding ships and sailing away. He would see the open sea one day, it was part of the prophecy. Jemeryon had said he would be on the run, then adrift, and after that in exile. That made him wonder if the next tapestry would be picturing him amongst those boarding hastily vessels to get away. Not a glory day. He grimaced and went to see Mulette in the stable.