A Tale of Crown and Country

Tavin

    Tavin broke the rule.

The one rule. He knew it was wrong, and he felt guilty as he did it, but when he was finally able to confide in Nasta, he felt a million times better. Finally he could pour his woes onto a living being and not his rock collection.

"What are you going to do about it?" Nasta asked. They were sitting in his bedroom, hiding from their three younger sisters, Grandfather, and Mother. It was the only time today that they had gotten a chance to be alone since Tavin had told his sister about the prophecy. Nasta had had time to think of questions, to organize her thoughts, and to come up with solutions. She was smarter than him, and braver than him; surely she would have some answers.

"That's not what you're supposed to say," he complained, flopping onto the bed. "You're supposed to give me advice, give me counsel, as my older sister."

"I don't think this is something I can really help you with. You need to figure this one out for yourself."
"That's the problem," Tavin explained, "I know what I need to do, I just don't know how to do it."

"What is that?"

"I need to find these people, the three the prophecy talks about. I need to find them and tell them about it." Tavin took a deep breath. "I need to go to Allriya."
Nasta stared at him, eyes wide open. If she'd been holding something, she would have dropped it.

"I know, I know. It's–"

"Not you."

"Not me at all."

"Are you sure about this, Tavin? You barely handled our trip to Brekka last year. And now you want to go on a journey all by yourself?"

"It's a quest," Tavin pouted.

"Oh please don't tell me this is for Atryada."

Tavin didn't respond. She was right, of course. Atryada's opinion of him had crossed his mind.

"Tavin."

"Just imagine," he explained. "I could finally prove myself. I would stand out. Not like every other guy she's met, whose maturity quest takes them across Reightneir. Mine would take me across Allriya. It's brilliant."

"It's stupid."

"You're just jealous because I can leave and you can't."

Nasta's mouth opened but she didn't speak. Tavin immediately knew he had gone too far. It was a low blow, but in the heat of a moment, he could have said anything. Unfortunately, he said the one thing that could motivate his sister to leave his side.

"I didn't mean–"

"Take me with you."

It was Tavin's turn to gape open mouthed at his sibling. He had tried to apologize, and had his sister just asked him to take her with him? Nasta, who had begged for years but had resorted to helping mother at home when her requests had been refused. Nasta, his fun-loving adventurous older sister who had yearned for as long as he could remember to go travel, to leave home, but who had ultimately returned to her familial duties.

"Take you with me," Tavin checked, just to make sure he had heard correctly.

"Yes. Take me to Brekka. Tavin, you know how much I want to be a Priestess of Rukta. It's all I've ever wanted," she pleaded.

"I know, it's just–You've never done anything like this before."

"Done what?"

"Gone against Mother."

"It's not fair that you get to go all the way to Allriya without really knowing what you're doing and I can't even go to Brekka to be a priestess."

"I know it's not fair," Tavin admitted. He relaxed on the bed. It would be nice to have Nasta along, at least for the first leg of his journey. She was more outgoing than him, and would make great company. But then he'd be betraying Grandfather and Mother.

"Alright," he admitted, "you can come."

Nasta's smile lit up the room. And it made Tavin smile to see his sister so happy. She was elated beyond words, and it made him forget all the trouble he'd be in once Mother found out.