The Chimera

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Axe or Knife

"I just think that an axe would solve most of my problems."

"I'm not saying I disagree," Rian tells her, hands curled around a cup of warm milk. "But why exactly do you think so?"

In this dreary weather, even the brightness of Giada's hair seems dull and diminished.

She sits with her brother in one of the reading nooks in the library, each on a large cushion with woven quilts spread across their laps. Their books lay forgotten on the floor by their sides as Rian sips from his cup. When he sees Giada eying the drink, he passes it to her to try.

Overlooking the reading nook is a window, providing an easy view to the oppressive mid-November fog. The library is comfortable, though, aided by the warmth from the fireplace that Giada had eagerly stoked.

On the other side of the floor, Rian can see Lionel and Zahara in the library as well, which he finds strange given that Zahara's not nearly as passionate of a reader as Giada, and he doesn't think he's ever seen Lionel pick up a book.

Still, they must have been drawn to the coziness of the room. Curled up together on an armchair definitely not meant for two people, they make do by sitting close, Zahara laying her legs over Lionel's.

He's sewing a pocket onto one of her skirts, offering to do so after she had complained once about not having any. She alternates between watching him work, thanking him for his help, and dozing off to the sound of his gentle humming.

As far away as he is, Rian can't hear whatever song Lionel lilts under his breath. He doesn't mind; it seems like it's only for Zahara, anyway.

Giada glances at them now and again, but always brings her eyes resolutely back to Rian.

"The chimera gave me this knife," she says. "And the knife gives me strength. But if I'm so strong, I need a bigger weapon. I'm tired of daggers; they feel like toys in my hand."

"That makes sense," says Rian, accepting the cup of milk she hands back to him. "Where will you get one?"

Giada had always been the one to chop their firewood back at the cottage, but wielding a woodchopping axe and a battle one feel like two very different skills, albeit with some overlap.

His sister is capable, though: bright in almost every way. He knows that already.

"The armory is crawling with every kind of weapon. I'll just pick one from there. And since no one in the citadel knows how to use one, I'll find someone from the garrison willing to teach me," she says.

Rian nods, looking down at the loose red threads escaping from his quilt. "You said it would solve most of your problems. What other problems did you mean?"

Giada looks at him, surprised. I slipped, she thinks. She shouldn't have worded it like that to Rian, of all people. Words don't pass him by. He tucks them carefully away, picking through every part of a sentence to make sure he hasn't missed anything.

She can't tell him about Zahara and needing a distraction while she works past her distraught feelings. It would break open a part of herself he's unaccustomed to seeing.

Thankfully, she's saved from answering by Fallon and Edeline.

"See? I told you they'd be here," Fallon says. He drops like a masterless puppet next to Rian, carefully pulling the quilt around them both so that they're equally covered.

"I didn't disagree with you," Edeline says. She leans against the wall of the nook. "What were you two talking about?"

"Giada's getting an axe."