Kingdoms Rise

Twelve

Drafting the letter took the better part of the evening. They spent hours discussing the details of the letter. Every word they wrote was calculated, every word had a meaning, a purpose. They had agreed—much to Mae's dismay—to meet in a fortnight.

Fallon wrote it out while Cadfael and Vesta chimed in with what he should and shouldn't add.

Mae learned that Cadfael was Fallon's second in command, and Vesta was the commander of his armies. Mae was shocked when heard that.

"What? A female can't command armies?" Vesta had asked, amusement danced on her features.

"No, it's just...I don't know. I can't picture a better title for you."

After the letter was written and sent off with a servant to have delivered, Fallon announced that he was going to do some research. Cadfael offered to help him. Vesta said she had some things she needed to tend to and was off in a matter of seconds.

Mae decided researching was better than reading books with the same information.

Now, she sat in the library. Without the sun up to stream through the floor-to-ceiling windows, it was dimly lit with candles and various torched that lined the wall.

She had two piles of books in front of her—one for books that she had already read through, and another for the ones she hadn't. A book lay open in front of her. she flipped through the pages, finding nothing of value was held in it.

She sighed heavily.

"You can leave if you want," Cadfael laughed.

"I just might. This is boring."

Fallon glared at her. She smiled sweetly. He rolled his eyes and went back to the book in front of him.

"I don't understand how supposed to find something that has almost no records on it. I don't even know where to begin," she groaned. "And half these books don't even mention Sicilia!"

"I think you should take a break, the stress is getting to you," Cadfael said with a look of pity.

"This is my burden to bear, too. I'd feel bad if I left it to you two."

"Don't worry, Mae, take a break," Fallon piped up from his seat.

"Fine," she huffed. She stood and stretched, her back popping with the movement, she let out a slight groan.

The walk from the library to her room seemed longer that it actually was. The day's exhaustion was beginning to wear on her. Her shoulders drooped slightly as she trudged up the stairs.

When Mae got to her room, she headed straight for the bathing room and drew herself a warm bath. She added a lemon verbena scent like her mother used to for her after Mae had a long day. The memory as warm and welcoming as the bath before her.

She didn't want to spend long in the bath.

By the time Mae dragged herself out of the tub and reentered her room, Gwendolyn was already there, ready to help her prepare for bed.

Mae sat at the vanity. As Gwendolyn brushed and braided her hair, she knew she needed to vent.

"You can talk if you need to you know," Gwendolyn said.

"I know."

She waited patiently for Mae to speak, giving her time to collect herself.

"I just—I'm scared, I'm confused, I don't know what to do," she nearly sobbed. "I grew up thinking I was a mortal with a normal life, but then—then this all happened and I was thrust into a foreign body and ripped away from family. My family who may or may not be dead— "

"That's no way to think, Mae. How do you expect to make it out of this in one piece with that kind of mentality?" She chided Mae. "Continue."

"Brennan has my friend," Gwendolyn stiffened at that. "We grew up together, she's practically family. I don't know what to with this kind of fear and anger."

"Hone it," Gwendolyn responded in all seriousness.

"What?"

"Sharpened it into blade worth wielding. Once you do that, find the balance, don't let it tip. A sword made of glass that isn't properly balanced will shatter. If you let it sway one way or the other, you will shatter like that sword honed from glass."

Mae had never thought to do something like that.

"Fear does not make you weak. It makes you cautious, but if you let it consume you, you'll think irrationally," Gwendolyn went on. Mae had already been on the brink of irrationality. "Use your fear to your advantage, but don't let sense your fear, because they will use it against you."

"Thank you."

Gwendolyn merely nodded as she continued to braid Mae's hair.

A soft knock resounded on the door. The person on the other side didn't wait for answer before opening the door and strutting in.

Mae should have known it was Cerridwyn. Aderyn followed in after her twin.

"We came to check on you. We heard what happened to Tegan," Cerridwyn said carefully.

They knew her name, they remembered her name. Some part of Mae thought they wouldn't bother to learn a mortal's name, but then again they learned hers and she had once believed herself to be mortal.

"We'll do whatever we can to make sure she gets back to you safely," Aderyn assured her.

Safely, not just in one piece, but safely. That implied they wouldn't let Tegan get hurt, that soothed a part of Mae, however small.

"I appreciate it," Mae didn't if she could manage to say more than that.

"We'll let you get some rest," Gwendolyn turned toward the twins. She shooed them out of them room, "Let's go."

"Goodnight, Mae!" Cerridwyn called as she was hoarded out of the room.

Mae was glad to be alone in her room. She extinguished the candles and torches around her room before climbing into bed. She reveled in begin in the comforts of her dark room.

She the darkness sweep around her, welcomed it, opened her heart to this new darkness. What was now in her room was new, but more comforting than any she had ever known, like there was some part of her soul in it. It seemed to complete her.

Despite the day's events, she fell asleep with a smile on her face.