Between the Veil and Crown

Arvek 55

Rest did bring the clarity he wanted, but it did bring certainty of pardoning Amelia. He still didn't like it, still did not want to see her getting away with a major crime, but chasing her did no good.

It was not a decision he felt needed to be brought to his father. It wasn't as though Masitof would care.

In fact, Masitof cared more about Arvek resting the whole day and not showing up in the throne room. Arvek's only response was to inform him that Selim was being properly cared for. While he wasn't sure of the reason, it did silence Masitof.

And Selim was properly cared for. The first few days, Arvek felt there was no change. But he gradually noticed colors returning to his face. Morganne spent more time with Selim as he recovered, monitoring him to make sure it went well and there were no unexpected changes.

Arvek noticed that since that first night, Kylin's shift changed, and he was stationed in the day. No mention of it was made from either side. Taileia and Ofjaet maintained a cordial air, and Arvek and Rovyna did the same, not wanting to cause any more disruption to his brother's care.

It was early afternoon one day when Arvek saw Cor enter the throne room through one of the side doors, impatiently waiting for a chance to approach. Masitof's attention was occupied with a conversation with a noble. Rovyna gestured him over. Cor scurried to their side, giving the king a glance before he began sharing the news.

"Selim woke up a little while ago," he whispered in excitement.

Arvek broke his focus on the king's ensuing conversation to look up at Cor, the breath catching in his lungs.

"And?" he asked. He wasn't sure what else he was expecting Cor to have. Selim was likely too exhausted to say much if anything, let alone a whole testimony.

"He seems a little confused," Cor said after a pause.

Arvek looked at his wife who indicated he should go. He slipped from his throne and followed Cor, Masitof's voice carrying on behind them without notice.

Cor filled him in with what happened on the way there. "We didn't realize at first, because he didn't move. The Mother saw that his eyes were open. He didn't seem to recognize her, or me, which Morganne said was normal, and that he would get 'there' soon."

Arvek nodded, his heart rate slowly increasing. He was awake- Selim was awake. Arvek had to push from his mind the memory of the last time Selim was awake- the desperation in his voice as he pleaded with Arvek to stop Rasinod's treatment.

They arrived at his room and Cor led the way in.

As Cor had said, Selim's eyes were open, but the rest of him was still. "Confused" was hardly the word Arvek would use for his expression, though. There was no light of recognition when his eyes flitted across Arvek's face. No change in expression; just a blank look.

"Greetings," Morganne called to him She was sitting in a chair at Selim's head, leaning back casually. Close by was Kylin, sitting on the windowsill. Kylin's head was turned, angled to see out the window and in the room in his peripherals. The side profile looked familiar, but Arvek gave it no more thought than that.

Niara was on the other side of Selim's head, her expression more relaxed than Arvek remembered seeing it in a long while. She greeted her eldest with a quick smile, returning her tender gaze to her second.

Cor settled himself on the foot of the bed, eliciting only a blink from Selim.

"As I was explaining to the queen," Morganne said, "what you are seeing right now is a good thing; an indication that the medicine is working as intended."