The Past

Back on the ship

Oh Kinheal, how could you be so stupid?

It was over a week later when I finally returned to the ship, worn out and disappointed. I had searched over a dozen caves, honing in my earth abilities to see if I could feel anything out of place, and hoping that I could sense the Mirror's magic if it had been nearby, but it wasn't.

"Kinheal! You're back." Paves wrapped me in a tight embrace the moment I set foot on the dark wooden deck. One glance at my sullen face told her all she needed to know.

"It's okay, Nea, there's still the whole world left to search, we weren't likely to find it in the first place we looked."

"I know, I know." I looked over her shoulder at Teirr, Remor, and Athern. "I just want to rest now."

I passed by the boys and grabbed onto Remor's sleeve, beckoning him to join me.

After a pointed glare at Athern, Remor and I headed straight to my cabin.

"Hey kitty," I said to little Anya, who had clearly been overfed while I was gone.

"She's missed you," Remor said, smiling, letting his expression drop when he met my eyes.

"Remor, I don't know if Athern explained things to you, but I should like to. He had a magic card, one which I burned, that allows him to take the form of someone else."

"He told me. He then used this card to take your appearance, so I would be convinced to let you journey alone, and he took my appearance, so you believed it was me whom you travelled with."

I told him of the conversation Athern and I had in the cavern, and of the accusation he threw out.
"I didn't believe him, of course-"

"You should have. I'm sorry, Kinheal, but Athern is not a good man. I wanted you as far away from him as possible." He averted his eyes, staring at the ground and refusing to look at me. "I am sorry."

"So, what you mean to say is, Athern has done nothing wrong?"

"That would be an overstatement," he snapped. "He's done plenty wrong, but you're correct that he isn't a spy."

"Well, thank you for your honesty, and for watching out for me. I'd like some time alone to rest now, please."

He nodded and walked slowly out of my cabin, head weighted by shame.

After he left, I walked over to the water jug and bowl on their table and heated the water in the jug. Shedding my clothes, I funnelled the now-warm water where I wanted it, to wash myself for the first time in a week. I felt beyond disgusting.

After as lavish a wash as I could give myself, I put on a clean outfit and spent half an hour brushing every knot out of my hair. Pulling the bag out from under my bed, I began to search for my powder and rouge, so I could once again feel like a proper lady.

Just as I was ready, and about to leave the room to see if Cook had any bread, a knock sounded at the door.

"What do you want, Athern?" I asked, pulling the door open to find a tall, blonde deity standing in front of me.

"I come bearing gifts." He held up a small basket that held a variety of bread and sweets, two mugs, and a bottle of white wine. "I realise you may be unhappy with me–"

"Oh really, I wonder why?" I backed away as he stepped into the room and set the basket down on my desk. "Was it perhaps the lying? Or stealing my identity to trick Remor? Or stealing Remor's identity to toy with me?"

"That wasn't my intention... I only wanted some time with you." He wasn't a spy, so why couldn't I trust him? Well, Remor didn't trust him, and I trusted Remor. "Just share this with me, and see if you're willing to get to know me a bit."

After all, it had been his presence and not Remor's that I so enjoyed while we journeyed to the caverns. "All right, but only because I'm famished."

I took the bread straight out of the basket and began to munch, mouth watering at the smell of freshly baked and properly leavened bread. A week in the wild had reminded me how fortunate I was to never lack anything. "Thank you for this."

"I figured you'd be hungry."

Despite once being harsh and distant, Athern was currently being quite kind.

"Why do you care? I am, after all, a half-breed," I remarked pointedly, stuffing another piece of bread in my mouth.

"I would like to apologise for that as well, it was crass," Athern admitted, pouring wine into both glasses. From one sniff, I could tell it was of a high quality. A small sip confirmed the thought.

"Yes, it was." I took another sip. "Your apology is accepted, but only because this is very fine wine. And also because I can see the effort you are putting into gaining my favour. I thank you for that."

"I do not mean to come between yourself and Aeremordus, I swear it." He leaned closer to me as we both shared this small feast, sitting on my bed. "It is true that I have interest in you, perhaps in a less formal way than he does. He values the mortal ideal of marriage, whereas I could not care less for it and would take you to bed if I had the chance."

"That is beyond improper of you to say!" I exclaimed, nearly choking on my most recent sip of wine. I noted that my glass was already near-empty. "You're correct in assuming that Remor is much more formal, considering he hasn't your interest in defiling me."

"I assure you, Princess, he does have interest in defiling you." He refilled my wine, suppressing a grin. "He simply doesn't think of it as defiling, because he plans to be wed to you when he does it."

"Of course you would say such a thing. I thought your plan was to gain my favour, not lose it?"

"I believe my plan is working. You're on your second glass of wine and your face bears a smile." His face bore a smile as well. "That was all I could have hoped for."

"You're boorish," I stated plainly.

"And you're snobbish. Any more remarks?"

"Yes." His face was mere inches away from mine. "You're a prick."

"And you're a narcissist."

"Well, you're a fool."

"You're errant."

"You're gorgeous," I said, knowing perfectly well he'd have no reply.

"Now who's the fool, Princess?" He downed the rest of his glass before pouring himself another, proving me wrong.

"I am."
I was an absolute fool.