Tides Of Bones

10. PICNIC

"You look well." Caleena jumps at the sound of her brother's voice.

He's wearing simple clothes; a pair of muddy boots adorns him. "I am sorry, I did not mean to frighten you." He grins.

She was brushing her hair in front of the window, eating her oranges when he'd come in.

"I feel well," she smiles, turning in her chair to face him. "And thanks to Zav, the doctor says my muscles have not suffered. I can walk, run, dress on my own."

"He would work your legs and arms while you slept." Cyrus nods.

"Do you need something, brother?" She asks, standing. She is wearing a blue dress, embroidered with pink flowers. Her skirts sweep the floor as she walks to him.

"I thought we might have a picnic, in the Gardens." He holds a basket up.

"You mean it?" She gasps, jumping up and down with joy. "Oh, I would love to! Thank you, brother!"

Cyrus laughs as she hugs him. "We must visit the bread shop first. I hear Mr. Tonkin's made fresh bread this morning."

Of course, Cyrus had visited him and requested his honey walnut bread for the Princess. "You are wearing my ring." She grins, taking his large hand in her small ones.

"I told you I loved it."

"Let me call for Zav? We were meant to see the fish near the brook."

"Zav is doing something for me. He said to tell you he apologizes, but you would have to reschedule. That is why I thought it a good day for a picnic."

"Very well, then." She sits to put her shoes on.

They walk to the bakery with their arms linked.

"Flower, how much did you hear, the other night?" He asks once they are further away from the castle.

"Just that the answer to my sickness is far away. And you will be making the journey." She picks a clear round rock.

"Sister, I am afraid I have news, it might not be well met."

"Then out with it, brother."

"I believe the King was not our father." He waits for a response but she does not show any form of surprise. "You do not seem to be alarmed?"

"I suppose you know of my powers, then."

Cyrus stops walking, alarmed. "You knew?" He turns to face her. They stand alone on the path, the sun seeping through the trees. It may be bright out, but the cold was seeping in.

"I did not wish to cause trouble. The King was a father to us in every way that mattered." She tells him, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "I did not want you denying him. And he did not know."

Cyrus laughs. He does not mean to, but it comes out almost like a bark. After everything, she still defended their parents. "I have no warmth towards them." Is all he replies.

"How sad, brother." She says, genuine. "They loved you."

He scoffs. "And your powers?"

"I have only ever used them on accident."

"When?"

"The first time when we were young. Accidentally, on Mother. I had been upset, she would not let me go to the Ball they held for you. I remember taking a deep breath and ever so calmly I told her she would let me go. She did, and the next day she asked you if you let me sneak in." She smiles. "You lied and said you had. Just like that. You never even asked me how I got in. Then I became sick. The second, Sir Peters-" She stops, shakes her head.

"Sir Peters?" Something about the way she said his name sends suspicion through him.

She says nothing, plays with the rock in her hand.

"Caleena, what about him?" He asks again.

"Do you remember when Father sent you and Zav to the village? To build the wall at the border of our land?"

Of course he did. His sister had woken up a month before, it had been the first time she fell ill and did not wake for months. Zav pleaded to stay and watch over her, but as usually her parents did not find her a priority. The building of the wall had taken a little over a week, even with his powers. When they returned she'd been back under.

"Sir Peters was assigned to me. Mother wanted to make sure I did not travel to you. At first he kept his distance but then, late one evening, he came into my room." She does not meet his gaze. "I stopped him, after he had ripped my nightgown off. Screaming had not worked nor begging. But after taking a breath, I told him calmly to leave my room. I saw it in his eyes that time...the way they fogged up. I felt awful, it did not feel right. I must have passed out soon after. I woke maybe three months later? I do not recall."

Cyrus's body completely goes numb. When they had come back, Zav had found his sister on the floor, her skin ice to the touch. They did not think she would live that time. "Caleena." He says, his voice steel. "Sir Peters, tell me this is not the same Sir Peters on the wall guard."

The wall guard only consisted of five men, who watched over the wall into the seas. They had build homes closer to the ocean for them, rotated them every few weeks. All but Sir Peters, who his father had promoted to Lieutenant, who over saw the guards.

"Cyrus-"

"Is. He. Not?"

"Father sent him there as punishment, I swear it. Mother told me so, please. Please, he has learned his lesson. Do not ruin our day. I very much want our picnic, Please, brother. It was nothing."

Cyrus takes a deep breath. "And the last?"

"The last what?"

"The last time you used it?"

"No. That one is my secret to keep." Her voice grows cold. "After that I knew. I knew that if I used my powers I risked dying." They begin to walk again. "I knew we we're not fathers because you had mothers powers and he has none. But I did not think...I never dreamed it had anything to do with the Lost Kingdom. Now, come. I do not wish to waste our days on the past." She smiles at him, grabbing his hand.

Cyrus follows her, his head a mess. But Cyrus follows her, because that is what he would always do.