Paladin

And There's Not A Day That I Don't Think About Him

"Would you like a pistachio or cheese mousse?" Illyria stared at the nurse holding the tray patiently.

"Pistachio please."

"Would you like another book from the library, dear?" Nurse Ellie fluffed Illyria's pillows and cleared her mess, making small talk as she made the rounds around the room.

"No, I still haven't finished Paladin's history on colonialism and tumultuous relations with the rest of Paragon-" Illyria halted at the door creaking open, tensing when her family entered regally.

"Your Majesties," Ellie curtsied lowly before making herself scarce. "Your Highness."

"How are you feeling now?" The King patted her hand twice and then retracted it.

"I feel perfectly fine as I have for the past week," Illyria said rigidly.

They all looked at one another. Her grandparents, her uncle and her disgraced brother who had run away to Ishidil when she was nine years old.

"Well, we'll have you moved into your own room very soon," The Queen said brightly, coming close to her and squeezing her hand tightly."

"Or you could just send me home where I belong."

"Well, do you want to tell us where your parents are?" Vilath entreated. "Or what they were doing here in the first place?"

"You ran them out of the palace so shouldn't you know the answer to that?" Illyria said hostilely. "Also I had my dagger with me when we were at my house, where is it now? Or did you steal that too?"

"Okay, everyone needs to calm down," The King said calmly, "We don't want to make Illyria feel unsafe or pressured. We need to be sensitive."

What kind of bullshit was that, Illyria wondered.

"Why don't I speak to my sister alone for a moment?" Illyria's brother intervened and Illyria didn't know if she was supposed to feel relieved or sick to her stomach when they all filed out.

"They left you, Illyria," Ira said silkily, patrolling her and causing Illyria to sit on the edge of her bed. "You don't need to feel any loyalty towards them. You know they don't care about anyone except themselves."

Illyria didn't bother to respond, and he came to stand next to her. He looked so much different; he no longer had the baby fat he had when he was sixteen, he had built up his muscles and he was so much confident than Illyria can remembered.

"That's not true and I think you know that," Illyria replied softly.

"Did you not get my message?" She couldn't read his face; her brother was a stranger to her. "I know you don't do well under pressure. I would hate to see you not survive here."

"I got it," She stared at the wall instead into his eyes. "But you don't control me, and I'll do what I want."

A knock interrupted the reunited siblings and the mediator of the Assembly made her appearance. Ira bowed his head in respect before vacating the area. However, Illyria didn't let go of her stance; she felt uneasy around Madame Vera as much as she did around Ira.

"I requested to show you to your room," Vera inclined her head. "If you would follow me."

"Anything to get out of these four walls." Illyria got to her feet, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders and let her wavy hair curl around one shoulder. "But that's not in your job description, is it?"

They walked out of her private infirmary suite and a palace maid sorting out the curtains stilled, as if pretending to freeze might make her invisible. "No, it is not. But I thought it would be a good idea for us to talk and see what the next stage is for you considering that I was the one who bonded your parents together."