A Life of Grime

Chapter 6

The shell shaped castle sits near the top of the city, gazing down at the amazing view of the bay below. Ships and boats dock at the piers. Fishermen and traders yell out to each other, a sound that is carried to me on the sweet, warm breeze. I shiver.

I stand on the edge of the balcony, my arms crossed over it's rough sandy texture. I stare out into the sea of stars. The sun has almost set, and it sends reflections all over the water, catching on every wave. I take a deep sigh in as I watch the expanse of water waltz a shimmering dance.

“Does this remind you of anything?” Kellan asks, coming up behind me. I look up at him surprised, then stare back out at the sea.

“When I lived in the south, the sun was so hot that we would avoid being outside during the day. But sometimes I would peek out and look." I smile softly. "When the sun was high in the sky it would shine down so brightly that the sand would transform into an expanse of water. It's called a mirage. It is... was... beautiful.” I swallow and concentrate on the water view again.

Behind us the sounds of flutes and harps float out from the party. I arch my back and close my eyes into the caressing wind, wishing the ball gown Fran had lent me had sleeves.

Kellan chuckles behind me. “I was referring to the whole 'being on a balcony at a party'. It reminds me of how we met.”

I look up to see the smile on his face as he looks out at the sunset.

“Yes, what was it, three days ago? Four? Great moons, we've know each other a lifetime!”

He chuckles again. “See Mila? You know how to joke. Now if only we could get you to talk to other people.”

I stiffen and don't look around. The ball is filled with overdressed girls and men in fancy outfits. They are all eating, something I don't feel like doing; dancing, something I won't do; and laughing, something I'm not sure I'm capable of.

I feel rather then see Kellan's fingertips as they lightly dance over the area of my back that the black dress exposes. They move slowly upwards, trailing until they reach the top of my shoulder blade. I turn my head to face him. His blue eyes meet mine, and I let him catch my chin in his other hand. I stay there for one moment, one breath, before pulling away.

He sighs.

I run my finger over the rough surface of the banister again. The concrete is made of a brown sand, with bits of sea shells mixed in with it. The rough texture feels wonderful on my palm.

“What's the party for, Kellan?” I ask.

“Well... firstly, if Geo heard you refer to this as a 'party', he would strangle you, beautiful dress or not. To him this is an 'Esteemed Royal Banquet.'” He chuckles, and fiddles with the cuff of his sleeve, not meeting my eyes.

“Where does the royal part come in?”

He turns back to meet me slowly. “Did Fran tell you anything while you were getting ready?”

I try to keep the bitter smile from my face. “She told me her father is the King. Which would make her the Princess, but people seem to hold you in higher regards?”

Kellan sighs and tucks a lock of his hair behind his ear. “In Hayes, tradition is to have the male heir inherit the throne. Antiquated rule, but they still practise it anyways. Fran's mother died before having a boy, so the King raised me as his own.”

“Ah,” I say, my voice hoarse. “Why didn't the King just remarry?”

“Well, the old coot is an utter romantic, even if he wont admit it to anyone,” he shrugs. “He loved his first wife too much to do that.”