A Tale of Crown and Country

Reila

"Wait for me!" a voice called from inside. Reila, Castin, and their new friend, Obira, turned at the sound. They had been prepared to leave for Ilane. The morning sun had only recently shown its face over the grassy highlands and its subtle rays peeked through the stone buildings, through alleyways, and into back kitchens. Cool air greeted their faces as they stepped outside, and though the day was only recently born there was an electricity in the air that could only arise from the exciting prospect of a productive day.

    Yvid burst out of the front door, nearly running over his sister. He carried with him his own satchel, wore sturdy leather boots, and had on his green vest over a cream shirt.

    "What are you doing?" Obira asked, impatiently.

    "I'm coming with you," he stated bluntly. He misunderstood her words as confusion and not questioning. "I already said that."

    "Yes but why?"

    "To Aunt and Uncle Wairton's," he declared, as if it were self-evident.

    Obira didn't respond. She sighed instead, not wanting to continue this pointless conversation with her brother. Reila, having taken charge of the group seeing as it was her quest, nodded at Yvid's request. He was to join them.

    The newly-formed quartet walked through the patient streets of Odeila. Without the midday crowds it was a pleasant journey out of town. Bursting forth from the city limits, a soft breeze carried across the plains, rustling the weeds that grew at the side of the road.

    Ilane wasn't too far from their current location, and so the group resolved to not rush, else they tire themselves out too much. Besides, they already had lodgings in Ilane: Obira and Yvid's aunt and uncle.

    "Are your parents really alright with you coming with us?" Castin asked of the two Wairton siblings.

    "Oh yes," Obira said brightly. "I spoke with them last night. They think it a mighty fine idea to get an adventure in every once in awhile. Besides, our aunt and uncle have been longing to see us for some time now. I think they wanted to get rid of Yvid," she said straight to her brother.

    Reila expected some to point their tongue at the other, but Yvid held his ground.

    "I don't know what made him want to come. He's not very... adventurous," Obira continued, mainly speaking to Castin, who she had seemed to attach herself to as soon as Odeila was a house on the horizon. "Very much into those books he's always toting around."

    "I've always wanted to see the University library," Yvid retorted. "Last time we were in Aldira we spent the whole time sight-seeing, doing things Obira wanted to do," he said accusingly. "We never ended up doing anything I wanted to do."

    "That's because everything you wanted to do was utterly boring."

    Reila stifled a smile. She recognized the siblings banter, as much as she couldn't tell if they were really talking to each other at all. It became harder to suppress the smile when she realized Castin was stuck in the middle. They were walking in a clump, having not had the need to make room for other travellers or get out of the way of mad cart drivers. Reila somewhat ahead of the others, Obira clinging to Castin behind her, and Yvid bringing up the rear. His bag was much heavier than the rest of the theirs on account of the small book and notepad he'd brought with him.

    "You should thank me," Obira said to her brother. "We had a wonderful time in Aldira." She was back on the subject again.

    "Thank you?" Yvid said in disbelief. "That was the worst trip of my life."