Whisked Away

46. Adjusting

Shifra's POV
A boy of about twenty came into my view. He was blue eyed and dark haired, but his face was so stern and harsh that I was a little wary of him, but he looked so familiar. "I'm sorry," I said, "Are you at all related to either Cori or Corian of Archenland?"

The man looked startled, but replied, "Yes, King Cori is my father."

"K-King Cori?" I asked. The boy began to go on again about how I couldn't be in here, but I turned away from him, lowering myself into my old chair. "A-and Nain?"

I knew what must have happened, but I needed to hear it. "...King Caspian was very clear. What?" I respirated my question, my voice becoming shaky. "H-he died long ago, before I was born." I let out a deep breath, trying to calm my frantic heart.

"Nain..." I whispered. "I was his godmother you know."

"What? You-you're General Shifra?" the man asked, clearly confused. "But everyone thought you were dead."

I stood to face him. "What is your name?" I asked.

"Zyan," he replied. "I have a twin brother named Zyanister, but we all just call him Anister."

"Zyan," I repeated, "that's a nice name." He stuttered over a thanks, but the silence was now a little awkward and uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry for uh...trying to kick you out of your office, it's just..."

"I understand," I replied, smiling kindly.

"Um...so I uh...you're actually my uh...never mind," he stuttered out. I rushed out and I looked curiously after him. Shaking it off, I continued to search through the papers on my old test. As I continued to look through, I heard the sound of someone clearing their throat at the door. I looked up to see...

"Rynelf?" I guessed.

He smiled and replied, "Shifra?" He took a few steps into the room and continued, "You've changed greatly."

I ran my hand through my much changed hair and replied, "Yes, I suppose I have. How's Shannon?"

"Oh she's very well," he replied, his eyes shining with the thought of his wife. "The children are doing just fine as well. Moved out, all of them, but they come by to see us every once in a while." We both caught up, him talking more than me as he had far more to tell.

Soon, however, I just wanted to be alone. I managed to shake him off and returned to my old office, shutting the door behind me this time. I lit my hand and looked around me at the other things. I was looking through the drawers when I found a small ring box. I pulled it out and opened it, confusion crossing my face. Inside was a silver ring with a large, blue stone surrounded by diamonds.

I pulled the ring out of it's place and slipped it on my finger. It fit perfectly, but I still wondered where it had come from. I looked back in the box, pulling out the cushioning to find a little note placed inside.

My dearest Shifra,
It is my hope that you will use this in future. It is, as you may have guessed, a magic ring. Using it, you will have something to your advantage in whatever you face. Whether big or small, it shall help you. Your mind is your greatest strength. Use it well, dearest one.
                - You know who I am

I smiled down at the gift and adjusted the ring on my finger. I was not sure how it would work, but I was glad of it just the same. I walked out of the office and went to the kitchens. I picked out some food and left to go to the courtyard. Sitting down, I began to munch on an apple, looking around for more changes to the palace. As I was sitting, a man was slowly opening the window. He glanced anxiously to somewhere in the room and began to slip out again.

As he was slowly lowering himself from the window, his grip suddenly slipped. He let out a small cry of surprise as he fell, but I jumped to my feet. He suddenly was slowed in his fall and gently glided down and landed at my feet. I cocked an eye brow at him as he gazed at me nervously.

"Going somewhere, Zyan?" I asked with a teasing smile.

He glanced back at the window and looked back at me. "I-I need to go, I." He looked panicked.

"Zyan, what's wrong?" I asked.

"He's so controlling," he exclaimed, "I am nineteen and my father still treats me like a child and I can't deal with it anymore. I haven't had any freedom since before you disappeared and my mother died."

"Alright," I replied. "I shall speak with your father, I need to see him anyways."

"Really?" Zyan replied, shocked. "I got a good godmother."

"What?" I exclaimed, surprised.

He suddenly seemed to realize what he had said. He panicked, quickly trying to cover, "I-it n-nothing. I didn't..."

"That's what you wanted to tell me when we met earlier," I realized, "I see the tradition is still going on."

He nodded, saying, "I've been told about you my entire life and I've been wanting, dreaming of meeting you for...so long." I looked at him curiously. "My mother died when I was three years old. I never really got the chance to know her. I guess I had always hoped that...you could be some kind of mother figure to me. I'm sorry I...uh...I shouldn't have told you that."

"No, it's fine," I replied, "I've always known my godsons. It's strange to have one I never knew about." I turned away from him, rubbing my eyes with my hand.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have brought this up," he started, getting flustered, "I'll just be..."

"No!" I exclaimed, louder than I meant. He looked back at me curiously. "Please," I pleaded, "I...if you're ok with it, I'd like to get to know you. I've been asleep for the last seventy years, I have no idea what's been going on."

"Sure," he replied, sitting down on the grass beside me, "I've always been interested in politics and history so i know most of it." For the rest of the night we spoke together of all that had passed. Long after midnight we both retired to bed, me lifting him up through his window so as not to be caught by his father. Then I went to my old office, for I knew not where else to go.

Lay down on the bare ground and soon drifted off.