The Chimera

Chapter Twenty-Six: Grand Theft Equine

Lionel has been distracted lately by the painter, Zahara.

Skander knows he should be more supportive of his brother's first love, but it's hard to show excitement for something that only takes him further away.

As if being granted the gift of flight and the responsibilities of a courier don't already monopolize his brother's time enough, now what conversations they do have are largely dominated by "Her paintings are breathtaking; she's so talented!" He tells Skander about how she's so easy to talk to. That she has the best smile in the world.

And on and on and on.

Skander has chased his brother into cities and citadels, trying to keep him close. Meanwhile, Lionel takes flight at every opportunity. It's hard not to chafe at the slight.

After their morning training session, he's in a particularly bitter mood. He'd shot especially badly today, and can still feel the shame from Edeline's sympathetic gaze. She's been doing her best to pass on her skills, but he just doesn't have the natural aptitude for it.

Ever since that morning failure, he's been in a withdrawn, unhappy sluggishness. But no one's noticed.

Skander can't be too surprised at this: he's been trying his best to mask his dejection anyway. Still, he had hoped for someone to see through him. His own brother doesn't seem to have noticed, though, nor did Rian or Araceli pick up on his frustrated sorrow when they all prepared lunch together, and they work with him in the kitchen every day.

He feels as if he lives in the space where shadows are cast: there is nothing to him.

Disappointed, he walks into the citadel library, hoping to be alone in the comforting concealment of the tall stacks. Puzzle also tends to spend afternoons by the library fireplace; petting the cat might lift his spirits.

Sure enough, Puzzle is there, already asleep on the floor, but Tai is too.

He's seated at one of the small wooden tables interspersed across the library floor, reading a loose piece of parchment laid out in front of him. He looks up at Skander's arrival.

Skander nods in greeting and begins making his way for the staircase. Maybe he can earn some solitude on the upper floor.

As he passes by, Tai surprises him. "What's wrong with you?" he asks.

Skander stops moving. He hadn't known that Tai had been watching him even as he walked away. It takes a long time before he can sift through himself enough to make sense of what he suddenly feels, upon knowing that.

"Nothing's wrong," he gets out. But he feels unsteady.

"I'm not an idiot, Iskander."

"Really, everything's all right."

Tai's expression is of frank disbelief, but he goes back to his paper. The parchment is old, fraying and fragile at its yellowed ends. Tai's eyes skim over it with indifference.

Despite himself, Skander comes closer. Tai had taken an interest, however abrasive, into his wellbeing. He could try to return the favor.

"What are you reading?" he asks.

Tai grants him a sideways glance as he comes to stand by the table. He slides the paper over a fraction of an inch, so that Skander has a better view of it. "One of the few things in this useless place that even mentions the chimera. Jasper's a nuisance, but his idea of us being on one side with the chimera's enemy on the other may have merit. Unfortunately, I can't find anything about who that potential enemy might be."

In one rapid swipe, he takes the loose paper away and tucks it back into one of the older texts before sliding the book into place on a shelf. "A waste of time so far. Now, either stop moping or talk about what bothers you. Is it because you shot awfully this morning?"