Between the Veil and Crown

Arvek 20

A cool breeze blew across the balconies of the castle, speaking to the first signs of the coming frost. Arvek sat tucked into one of the chairs placed out on his balcony, feet propped up on the banister as he watched the quieting city below.

If had looked down at this view only thirty hours prior, he would have viewed it as one preparing for his reign. It was going to be his kingdom, and the responsibility for caring for it would soon rest on his shoulders. But now, after the conversation with his father, it was hard to see it that way.

He couldn't even comfort himself with the thought that when he took the throne, he would be able to rule the way he saw fit. Masitof had set in place, and still was setting in place, lines and boundaries he expected Arvek to follow. As though Masitof hoped to reign beyond the grave.

He thought he heard a faint knocking at his door, but he decided to ignore it. Perhaps whoever it was would assume that he gone to sleep already and leave him alone.

It turned out to be a vain hope. He heard the door creak open and someone softly step in his room.

"Arvek?" He recognized the voice to be Cor's. He didn't respond. Cor was going to find him anyways.

The patter of steps came closer and Cor stepped out onto the balcony. He paused at the doorway, seeing if Arvek was going acknowledge his presence. When Arvek continued to ignore him, he cleared his throat.

Still not getting a response, Cor finally said, "So. Didn't actually get the chance to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials." He maintained an even tone, neither showing disdain or excitement over the matter.

Arvek may have grunted something, but he wasn't entirely sure. He wasn't fully focused on anything Cor had to say.

"I suppose that will make things interesting," Cor said. "I do not know Princess Rovyna all that well, but she at the very least seems rather diplomatic. Though if she's here, that means that King Tyrovo is let loose, saying whatever he wishes to say."

Arvek didn't even smile at the joke.

Cor let the silence sit for a while before bringing up the real reason he sought out Arvek's company. "Where does this leave Selim?"

"What do you mean by that," Arvek said flatly. He didn't have the energy to put it in question form.

"Well, you only have a couple of months before you have to stand up at the altar," Cor said. "That doesn't give a lot of time to try to go back to the Veil and look for him."

"I cannot go looking for him," Arvek said. "Father said he sent a letter to the soldiers to keep an eye out for him, but not to take any action."

Cor stared at him incredulously. "Not to take action? You're just going to leave in the Veil?"

"What do you suggest I do, Cor?" Arvek said coldly. "Going to search for him the first time didn't bring any results. Just got us as far as Chester, and then we were taken back home."

"We didn't have to," Cor said. "We could have ignored him and kept going."

"Yes, that would have gone over well." Arvek shifted himself slightly in the chair, tilting his head away from his brother. "'Father, I am not going back home with you to meet with the king of Phrompt.'"

"I mean, you might as well have," Cor pointed out. "He apparently did not care if you were there or not at the negotiations."

Arvek glared at him. The comment stung more than Cor knew.

Cor just shrugged. "Do you want me to pretend that his actions today said that he thought you were important to the matter?"

Arvek continued to glare at him.

Cor narrowed his eyes in return.

"You wouldn't get it," Arvek snapped, turning his head away again.

"I don't get it," Cor confessed. "You were so anxious to see Selim home that you were willing to sneak out of the castle for like the first time ever, but now you're just alright with Father sending a letter to the soldiers saying to just keep an eye out for him? You don't have the desire to go after him anymore?"

"I have to stay here and play prince," Arvek said through gritted teeth. He wished that Cor would just walk out and leave him alone. Did he see that he already had enough on his mind? He couldn't do anything to help Selim now. "Wait for this marriage that seals an agreement I wasn't a part of and who knows if anyone will actually tell me what it entails. I can't go looking for him. Father doesn't want to bring him just yet. This was the compromise."

Cor crossed his arms. "Really? That's it?"

"You know what- you can go back out there. How's that sound?"

"So you've given up. One try and you're done?"

"It's not about failing or giving up. It's about not being in a position where I can do anything."

"Unbelievable," Cor muttered.

Arvek wanted to retort, but he had nothing in him at the moment. He was too bitter with his father to say anything more.

Cor was about to turn to leave when he stopped and walked over to the balcony. He peered down, his brow furrowed together.

Eventually he said, "Is that Veran?"

Sighing heavily, knowing that Cor would not leave until he looked himself, Arvek took his feet off the banister and stood up to see what Cor was pointing at.

There, near the entrance of the garden was a figure that looked about Veran's height. But from where they were and with the lack of light, it was difficult to tell who it actually was. Arvek leaned on the banister, trying to make out any features that would give away the identity of the person below.

"I don't think that's Veran," Arvek said after a while.

"I could shout down to him," Cor said. "Then we'll know."

As they watched, a second figure joined the first. This figure was obviously older, as it walked slightly hunched over. Its head was covered by a hood. The second stopped next to the first, and the two appeared to exchange greetings. After the greetings were exchanged, they entered into the gardens.

"It was probably just a couple of the servants," Arvek said. "Really no concern of ours."

"I'm quite sure that was Veran, though," Cor said. "But what would he being doing out at this time? He's usually in his own room making sure he's all set for tomorrow."

"If you're quite sure it was Veran, then why are you expecting him to do something so wildly out of his own nature?" Arvek pointed out. "Go on. It's time for you to be in your room anyways."

"Oh, can't do that now," Cor said, waving a hand dismissively. "My balcony doesn't overlook the garden."

"You're not staying here to spy on them," Arvek said incredulously.

"On the contrary, I am," Cor replied. As if to solidify his point, he leaned over the banister and stared intensely at the entrance of the garden.

"And what if I wish to sleep myself?" Arvek argued.

"We've shared a room before. One much smaller than this, not too long ago."

"That's not the point."

"If we've done it before, we can do it again. Especially in a room that's much larger."

Huffing in irritation, Arvek stalked off the balcony and to his bed.