After all, we are all the same in the eyes of the Gods. A.
In rows of seven, Nick planted the sunflower seeds in the soft dug-up sand. He embraced the God of Sloth and did it slowly, postponing the inevitable moment when he had to face the small company that had gathered in the royal garden for Abby's funeral. It should have been a private moment, not disturbed by the occasional blaring sound of a distant horn or too many eyes that didn't belong there. Apart from Alex, the one person who truly mattered was missing: Seb.
"His Lordship and His Majesty are preparing the official announcement of this afternoon," Captain Jonathan had said.
A lie or an excuse, he didn't know or care. Seb should have been there. Queen Crystal and Princess Alana were expected to be at the announcement too, and they had managed to grace the garden with their presence. So why couldn't Seb?
He reached for the bowl on his right but found it empty. All forty-nine seeds had found their way into the soil. This was it. If he stood up now, her passing would be more definite than it already was. Every day he would age while she remained stuck at five years, seven moons, and twenty-four days. Just like George, Mother, and Father would never grow older.
It wasn't fair. Fox's squeaky voice and pouty face flashed through his mind. He ground his teeth. No, he shouldn't become bitter. Today was going to be his first day in the army, and he needed to look ahead, to the future.
Giving the dirt a final pat, he rose to his feet. He blinked a couple of times to regain his composure, then turned around and nodded to the crowd. "The watering ceremony can begin."
The Queen and the Princess were the first ones to walk up to him with a golden jug in their hands. They halted at opposite sides of the soon-to-be flowerbed that was Abby's grave and poured river water over the seeds. Queen Crystal crouched down and buried a small piece of bear skin in between the fifth and sixth row.
Instead of shaking his hand, she wrapped her arms around him and whispered with a voice full of emotion. "The Winter Bear will watch over her too, Nicolas. Your Gods, my Gods—all of them take care of innocent lives taken too soon."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I know they do."
The Queen wasn't quick enough to wipe away the tear that was rolling down her cheek. She welcomed the hand of Princess Alana, who suddenly stood right in front of him. "I'm so sorry, Nick. It's such a shame. She would have loved Sundale. We could have grown up as sisters."
He smiled, but he was closer to crying than he dared to show. "I guess you're stuck with a lazy, smelly brother now."
"Beats a moping cousin." Though her lips stayed in a bare line, there was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Good luck today, Nick. You're gonna do well in the Academy and with your patrol. One day you'll be a great General, and then Abby will be so proud of her lazy, smelly brother."
Nick chuckled, a hiccup-like sob bringing the tears anyway.
As the royal ladies parted ways with him, General George and Captain Jonathan stood ready to say their condolences. They were the first of a string of army men. Nearly all guards had laid down their weapons to be at the funeral, like he was an important officer already.
Almost mindlessly Nick uttered his 'thank you's', his gaze more focused on the second left window of the fourth floor, wherefrom His Majesty and Seb were looking down on the royal garden. The King held an arm around Seb, as though he was the one needing to be consoled.
Nick's grip tightened as he shook hands with Lieutenant Stephen. The coward. He should have shown himself in the garden. It would have been more decent than hiding away.
YOU ARE READING
A Blaze in the Dark (A New Dawn #1)
Fantasy[High Fantasy/Dark Fantasy] Sebastian is finally old enough to be a warrior. He has dreamt about joining his friends, Alex and Nick, for as long as he can remember. His best friend, Fox, doesn't like it one bit that he still has to wait nine more mo...
