A Tale of Crown and Country

Tavin

"If you're doing this because of those boys, than–"

"I'm not," Tavin insisted.

He was drying the dishes with his mother in the kitchen. Risterin had taken their younger sisters Cathrinta and Freydallia to their rooms so they'd be out of the way, a moment of release for their mother. Tavin had offered to do the dishes so Nasta could pack in secret for their journey.

"I just need to do this, alright?"

"You know I love you, Tavin. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks of you. There's only one Tavin," she said, "and he is my wonderful son." She put an arm around him and squeezed as he dried another plate.

"Mother," he warned.

"I'll never stop being your mother, Tavin. I'll always be on your team. That's what a mother does, you see: she supports her children no matter what."

Tavin wanted to bring up Nasta and her priestess dream, but he thought that might ruin the moment and probably alert his mother to their plan, which she had a sixth sense about sometimes.

"Thank you, Mother," he said, leaning his head on her shoulder.

Tavin was to leave the house before the sun rose. It was going to take him several days to reach Brekka by foot, and if he left early enough and moved fast enough, he could reach the capital by nightfall of the second day. Mother had packed him enough food, and he and Nasta had pilfered food from meals, hiding it in their rooms for the journey. They had both taken all their savings, a small satchel of supplies, and Tavin had packed the book containing most of the information on the prophecy; he had considered leaving it behind, but what if he needed to convince someone of his tale? He sincerely hoped not, but it was better to be safe than not.

Considering how much trouble he had expected them to get into, Nasta's departure hadn't caused quite as much ruckus as he had anticipated. Tavin attributed it to Mother's half-asleep brain. She hadn't needed an explanation from either Tavin or Nasta; she had figured it out for herself. Her two oldest children were going out into the world, and there was nothing she could do to stop them.

Tavin and Nasta waved goodbye to their mother. They turned down the darkened street lit only by the waning moonlight turning gradually to daybreak.

Tavin couldn't help but smile to himself. So this was what an adventure felt like: blood pounding in his ears, earth hard beneath his feet, cold morning air on his cheeks. He held his head high and couldn't believe he'd done it. This was a moment in Tavin's history books. It was the moment he knew for a fact his life was changing. The prophecy had led him here, and now it was his job to do something about it. No more stepping back into the shadows to let the prophecy go unheard, to let Atryada wander off with Fenwur. This was his moment, and he prayed to Rukta he wouldn't ruin it all.