Between the Veil and Crown

Arvek 13

            After lunch, Lord Talith felt it necessary to take the princes on a tour of the manor, explaining everything in detail. His wife did not join them in the tour, saying something about retiring to her room.

Arvek politely pretended to listen, only catching words here and there enough to ask about something more, to continue the illusion. Instead of devoting his attention to learning about the significance of the bulls present in an ebony goblet displayed in the second parlor that was shipped all the way from across the see, he tried to commit to memory the layout of the building.

Certainly Talith wanted him to remain as the estate, as it would mean less trouble for him when the king arrived. Arvek couldn't imagine Talith just letting him walk out, even if his attempts were more passive. Even so, Talith had no real authority over Arvek. All he really had was the hope that Arvek would listen to Masitof's orders.

He defied his father once to pursue Selim. What made Masitof think he wouldn't do it again? Especially if he gave Arvek no reason to believe that their conversation would be in any way productive?

As soon as Talith left him alone, Arvek resolved to find his way out, choosing the path of least resistance to avoid conflict. And whatever dramatic performance Talith would pull.

Cor, on the other, seemed enraptured by all that Talith had to show them. His questions were certainly more in depth than Arvek's, and it kept Talith distracted long enough for Arvek to take his time in memorizing the room.

They had not finished the very detailed tour by the time dinner was served, so Talith occupied them with describing everything else. During the dinner, Arvek felt a great rush of sympathy for Talith's wife. She was not quiet because that was how she was, but rather because that was how she had to be.

When dinner was finished, Talith brough them to his library, taking about an hour to brag about it -though it honestly was not as impressive as the royal library back at the capitol- before lowering himself into an armchair next to the fire and drifting off into sleep, leaving the brothers to look around at all his titles themselves.

It was an opportune moment to leave. But after days of travel and eating what could be bought or found, and nights spent on hard beds and hard ground, Arvek looked forward to the prospect of sleeping somewhere comfortable that night, and perhaps something good to eat in the morning. For all of Talith's chatter throughout dinner, it was no matter given how well his cook cooked.

Arvek did not do a good job of hiding his thoughts from his face, as Cor picked up on what he was thinking rather quickly.

Setting the book he was browsing down, Cor sighed and came over to Arvek's side.

"Don't do it," Cor said, his tone tired.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Arvek answered coolly. He moved away, pretending to take interest in a book that he was certain he had already read before.

"You know what I'm talking about," Cor said, following after him. "I think we should listen to our father and wait for him here."

Arvek felt his lip curl in disgust. But he made no response.

"I know you're concerned about Selim, but if you leave, Father will take it out on Lord Talith," Cor pointed out.

"I have more care for Selim than I do Talith," Arvek said, opening the book and scanning the pages. He had read this book before.

"Probably not the best approach for someone in line for the throne," Cor reminded him. "You will have to deal with him when you're king one day."

Arvek hated that he was right. He hated even more that Cor was pointing out something he didn't want to acknowledge: He was becoming so very careless about his position. A gripe he often had about Selim.

Knowing he didn't have an argument with a lot of weight, he kept quiet, staring intently at words he struggled to comprehend.

"If Father comes all the way out here for you, then perhaps you could convince him to do something more about Selim," Cor said. He was a little tentative, a little surprised that Arvek had not yet said anything. "After all, at that point, he'll have little to use against you. He'd already be in Chester, and the Veil is only a day or two away. He would have no reason to at least do the bare minimum of sending soldiers. And that is if he actually intends on stopping you from continuing yourself."

"Of course he intends to stop me," Arvek scoffed. "He wouldn't come out this way just to tell me of what is new."

Cor saw there was no point in pushing the issue. Sighing, he left Arvek alone to go to another shelf.

It was frustrating to know that Cor's words had had impact. Before he had been quite content with just letting Talith take the fall for his actions, but now that contentment was replaced by the sting of guilt. Also, it wasn't a good strategy. Cor had made a fair point that Arvek didn't consider.

Or didn't want to.

He didn't want to consider the idea that his father would actually help, now that Arvek had come this far. It would certainly ruin the image he currently held.

He slowly closed the book he held.

It was a good thing that Cor came along, if only to make sure Arvek remained grounded.

And to think he accused Cor of just wanting an adventure. Seems he was the one who wanted it all along, not Cor. Instead of looking further into the options that would appease the king by keeping him at the capitol and also set his and his mother's minds at ease with knowing someone was looking for Selim, he had chosen to go out himself. He had chosen to find Selim.

But that was not a role for him. His role was to wait at the palace, handling problems that threatened the kingdom in the meantime.

He slid the book back on the shelf. Inside himself, he felt something deflate, robbing him of will and energy.

His fingers trailed off the spine of the book. When wood met his fingers, he slowly turned and headed towards the great fireplace. He stood beside it, staring into its depths as he tried to figure out where he went wrong.

He did not know how long he stared at the fire. If a clock chimed to let the manor know of the time, he did not hear it. It seemed like an eternity of reflection. But the period of reflection was marred when Lord Talith jolted awake and looked around.

"Oh, my deepest apologies!" he said, with the same dramatic flair. "I do not know what came over me. I would suppose the two of you would very much like to retire for the evening! Where are my manners . . . ."

He jumped out of the chair, calling for Cor and gesturing for them to follow him. Arvek took one last moment to give the fire one last deep stare before following after him.

Talith was not as chatty as he led them to their rooms for the night, though there were a couple of occasions where he stopped to call attention to some carved decoration in the bannisters.

When they arrived on the floor their rooms were located and placed in front of the doors, Arvek turned to Talith. "Lord Talith," he began.

For a second, Talith didn't respond. Arvek wondered if he had gotten the name wrong. Then Talith started, realizing that Arvek had been speaking to him.

"Oh, right, yes!" he said with a little too much enthusiasm.

Brushing by it, Arvek asked, "You wouldn't happen to know of any healer who uses magic by the name of Lia, would you? She would come from the Veil."

Talith shook his head. "There are quite a few healers with magic from the Veil. I know none of them by name. Never had to deal with them."

And with that, any of hope of Arvek himself finding Selim died.