The Jewel Thief

2: Queen's decree (II)

He blinked his eyes.

He looked down at his palms- no. Nothing had happened. That's not possible he thought as he rubbed them together, hoping for a delayed reaction. He felt warmth creep into them slowly, but no sign of the golden illumination that he'd seen the last time.

Solim looked at him curiously, only lightly overlooking his brother's uncertainty. It wasn't extremely unseemly of Cahir to occasionally fall into his moments of daydreaming, but he'd expected more from Cahir in the event of his torso being on the verge of splitting in half. Solim snapped his fingers in an attempt to attract his attention, but he had been wrong. Cahir wasn't lost in daze this time, he looked sharply at Solim with unquestioned eyes.

"Well" Solim demanded "where are the lights? Where are the sparks? What happened?". Cahir tried swallowing the lump in his throat- but in vain. Was there something wrong with me, he contemplated but I read the rune: Ember, there wasn't anything I did wrong.

Solim rolled his eyes "of course" he turned towards the house, "how could I have expected anything out of you" he spit harshly, exasperated by his helplessness. He turned back to Cahir, filled to the brim with explosivity lined up his tongue. "Is this a joke to you? Oh for heaven's sake wake up. My chest is split and that you're over your head about some diadem myth" he said.

Cahir fumbled to reply, his scattered thoughts raced through his head as he gambled to collect them. Did I do anything wrong? No, I retrieved the rune. Then why didn't it effectively cast my energy? Is there something wrong with my energy? How could something be wrong with my energy!

Solim stared in disbelief at his brother's speechlessness. It occurred to him that if anyone other than Cahir were capable enough to treat him, he'd have to confess to his attempted crop theft in the Queen's fields. And with the tensions rising after the royal decree? It was too big of a risk to take. Confused, he buried his head in his palms and walked briskly in circles.

The chills of night blew fiercely, but they were only chills. After the events of the previous day, the lowlanders were assuredly immune to loud breezes. The boys had been lost in their deliberations when Iven opened the door and peeked outside. He called for them, but the brothers paid no heed.

"Boys" he finally settled for. He didn't mean to be authoritative, but it brought them back into reality. "I've warmed up some soup, come in before it gets cold" he said, and walked back inside, leaving the door open.

Solim looked at Cahir in despair. It didn't matter how foolish he had been, he was decidedly the only one who could help him recover. Recovery he remembered, breathing in the thought of the Queen's house of recovery. Arguably, the only one of the Queen's community facility houses that did any good, containing only the best of all healers throughout the land of Caelum. It would be a strenuous process to qualify for, but it's fruit would be rewarding.

Then there was also the thievery dilemma, of course. The house of medication's power was great beyond doubt, but perhaps greater than his lies. They'd see right through him, even if he managed to fool the council. But if they'd be willing to support him despite his 'adventures'? He laughed quietly in his head oh dear, he thought, Cahir's craziness is rubbing off on me.

Solim opened his mouth to speak, but realised there was nothing he could say. He mumbled "soup's getting cold" and walked towards the house.

"It wasn't me, you know" Cahir said. Solim tilted his head back and sighed, he continued to walk towards the door. "She's taken away our magic- she knows we're onto the diadem" Cahir said, louder this time.

"Calm down, will you" Solim cried, as he turned back and walked towards Cahir "calm down. Go ahead and find that diadem of yours if you want, but make no mistake" he stepped closer towards Cahir "you're barking up the wrong tree. You, out of all people, should know what Athyn is capable of". At this, he turned around and stomped right into the house, closing the door behind it.

He had left Cahir with no time to respond, although Cahir hadn't been sure what to say anyway. Ma he thought nostalgically- a strange incarnation of memory that had no basis in reality. No, he didn't remember what she looked like. No, he didn't remember what she was like. No, he didn't remember when she left.

But she did, he swallowed tears buried in his throat, she left, and it was pa who took care of me. He caught a glimpse of Solim and his father through a window- they were setting up the table for dinner.

Solim was right, his chase for some legendary crown was a mad one. Slowly, the night's events came back to him. The gleaming purple fire, but no, it had been chilly. And a voice colder than the night itself saying something- the Advisor had mentioned that magic would be off- bounds. They had no say in the decision. It dawned on him that his measly collection of runes would have no power in healing Solim's wounds until the restrictions were lifted.

Cahir looked inside the window again, they had begun dinner. They're like the town people he recalled tomorrow morning, they'd have forgotten about it all anyway. He dug his hands in his pockets, spun around, and walked towards the street.

He looked up at the starry night. Sure enough, there were no clouds in the sky. 

next chapter out Wednesday