The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

61. Fear and the absence of it

'Tomorrow at eight' is written on the small paper in front of me and signed Thessarion Harmonth Darcleé.

Eight? I frown at the maid who brought this.

"This also goes with it," says the maid. Her tone is very dry, unlike how she talks to Theon.

"Oh, the time measuring device." Now it makes sense. It wasn't necessary, but it makes sense together with the letter. And maybe... It was very much on purpose. Theon is not dumb; since the very moment he stepped into this place, he hasn't done anything by accident.

He could have written in quizeh so only a few people could understand besides the two of us, but no. He wanted it to be known, not a secret, that's why he signed his full name on the message.

I take the things and thank the maid. She turns away, openly disdainful. What bit her? It's not her that I poured hot water on. Which reminds me that my former maid ..., who is now in the service of Lady Meralda, the sister of the Empress, is throwing daggers at me every time we meet, even if her wound was healed right away, and it's more than a star circle ago.

I go to bed conflicted. After the meeting with Laini, Theon skipped the next work day but seemingly still followed our plan.

I am going to see Seaheaven again. Is it good? I don't really know. It's certainly something.

I don't care. It was a long time ago. I am different now. It doesn't matter. I keep repeating while waiting for Theon.

When he is finally here, he doesn't look jolly. I hoped for him to be even if I didn't expect it. There is definitely a lot on his plate, and Laini just put him in an even stranger position. But when he sees me, he smiles. Not wholehearted, but still a smile.

He is wearing leather and is on horseback. I have never seen him dressed like this. It suits him. Kind of everything he wears does.

"We are going to be received by the Alsayid," he says.

"Yes, it's his palace after all." I shrug.

"I was hoping to ride with you through the city, but there is only so much freedom I can bargain for," he says and gives me a small, apologetic smile.

"It doesn't matter," I answer and return it. "You got me something that I honestly didn't believe possible."

"It does. Miayatma is so beautiful from horseback."

"Some other time," I say and enter the carriage. He has no idea how amazing it is to see the city in daylight as a whole. For someone born here, doing it for the third time in total is an extraordinary circumstance.

"Hmm, you know what, I will ride with you," he says and jumps down from horseback, handing the reins to a servant.

Then, unbothered, he takes a seat in the carriage beside me.

"You can show me around," he says. 

I look at him, a bit startled.

"It's your city, isn't it? Sure, I walked my fair share in it, but still."

"I... Haven't."

He raises both eyebrows.

"We are generally not allowed to, me in particular. Laini does it sometimes, but she is better than me at getting her will."

"Then again. Why am I not surprised? Shall I show you around then?"

He is so unbothered, at least on the surface, that it rubs off on me, and I nod.

Then he leans out of the carriage and shouts a command at the driver.

"So here is the Plaza of the Four Gods."