The Past

The Failed Card Game

So I have a scene I've already written for later on and I'm really excited to write the scenes leading up because I think you guys will love it

We were heading south, that much had been decided. We had stopped at the first island we passed, six weeks ago. Time on the ship went by slowly and dully. 

I was writing a lovely story about a princess (definitely not me) who fell in love with a prince (definitely not Remor). I was writing about something I had never even had: a romance.

Aside from the story, the kitten, and sitting around with Paves, there was nothing to do on the ship. I wasn't cleaning, manning the sails, or doing any manual labour, of course, so there I was, sitting in a small parlour room above deck, near the captain's cabin. Paves was there, Teirr was beside her, and Remor was across from me.

Athern typically helped the cook by using his abilities to catch a steady supply of fish.

"We be reachin' a right real port soon, in a week, then headin' on tuh Little Iska," the cook had mentioned to me, struggling a bit with the word 'little' as he said it.

"She's getting chubby," Paves commented, about little Anya. She was definitely bigger now, but that was just because she was growing.

"She is not chubby!"

Well, perhaps she was a bit chubby.

Paves's straight blonde hair shone in the light that streamed in through the small, crooked window. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but was abruptly interrupted.

"Hello everyone, your day is now less dull," said Athern as he sauntered in the room and flopped himself beside me on the small chaise. He had been making a point of being with me since I had seen the letter he had. We hadn't discussed it, though, because both of us were going to have a hard time explaining things.

Perhaps it was time we did.

"I'm not quite certain there's truth to that statement," was my response, under my breath.

"I will teach you a game." He was nothing if not brute, as he slammed a deck of cards onto the rectangular table. "Aeremordus, you know the game."

"There is no need to call me that, and you know it."

"Ah yes, you feign humility for your mortal bride-to-be." Athern's voice came out a bit strained just then.

Paves and Teirr made a wise decision at that moment, one I wished I had made myself; they got up and left, followed by Anya.

"Can you both be nice to each other?" I took the cards Athern dealt me and watched as Remor refused to do the same.

"If you'll excuse me, Kinheal. I have no patience for his games."

Remor lightly put his hand on my shoulder by way of farewell as he walked to the door.

"Well the game does require three," Athern commented dejectedly, meeting my eyes and holding them in what was like a firm grip. It gave me an odd sentiment, to feel as though I were being physically forced to look at him, when really it was just a compulsion. "What is your plan, Kinheal."

My stomach tumbled, remembering the way Hathe said my name. They both terrified me.

"I don't know. I've been reading through hundreds of scrolls about the Mirror, but I can't place where it is." Remor had provided me with all of the writing in Orion's palace library, to help my search. Among them was a leather-bound book, an incredibly odd and thick thing, at least four times the width of my little journal. This book contained magic the likes of which I had never even heard of.

The only rune I knew was Zetha's rune, the rune of messengers. This book contained runes and spells with the power to do any sort of thing, but the book contained warnings as well. This wasn't like the elemental  magic I had, or that the other royalty had. It wasn't earth, water, air, fire, or healing. This magic took a toll on the user.

I was too afraid to use it, and I told Athern as much, and about my findings.

"Interesting... but among these spells, you think one could help you find the Mirror?"

"Yes..." I hesitated, unsure of giving him too much information. He was a spy, after all. "But I won't do it, this is blood magic. I won't carve a rune into my arm." That was what many spells required.

"Kinheal, I know you are wary of me. That letter you read is not why I am here. I want to find the Mirror as well. We've been trapped in this Realm for over a thousand years, and it is time we left. Only Alarithe has the power to travel between Realms without the Mirror."

"Right, of course, how could I presume you're a liar and a spy?" I stood from my chair. "There are caverns near the port we are stopping at, and I will go out to search them with Remor. I haven't gotten much information on the Mirror, but one thing is certain. A mortal man hid it in a cavern somewhere, a thousand years ago. You will stay on the ship."

"Of course, Princess. As you say."

I could feel his eyes still on me as I left the room, and I wondered if I had told him too much.