The Winged Ones

Chaprer Ten

Rohan took a deep breath and shifted his weight so that he leaned on the balcony edge. His nerves were dying down, and he finally had his breathing under control. The last couple hours were hectic with all the noise and questions. The people just expected too much of him, that much he knew. He lifted his hand and felt the golden crown atop his head. He could feel its weight, something he would have to get used to real quick. He was on what he called the Viewing Platform where he and Husky had found Hali earlier that day.

            “Are you alright?” a voice asked. Rohan turned around to find Regan standing behind him, her dark hair out of its usual braid and, instead, drifting past her shoulders in small waves. She walked up to Rohan, standing beside him and leaning on the balcony railing as well. “Well?” she asked. Rohan blushed, realizing that she was waiting for an answer.

            “Too many people,” he said simply as he looked away from her.

            Regan laughed, and Rohan took great satisfaction in the fact that he was the one who caused it. “Well, I guess it is too many people if you're not used to it,” she said.

            Rohan turned to her, brushing some of his golden hair out of his face as he did so. “What if they expect too much from me?” he asked her. “What if I'm not the prince of the king they expect me to be?”

            Regan put a finger to his lips, silencing him as she smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry about that, Rohan,” she said as her finger left his lips. “You’ll learn quickly enough. And if you need help, I’ll be here to help you. I've had my fair share of leading these people for some time.”

            “Really?” he asked. “How long have you been leading them?”

            She tilted her head in thought before answering. “I've been leading them for only two or three years.”

            “You're still young,” he replied, “a little too young to be leading a country of people.”

            “And how old are you?” she asked.

            “Seventeen,” he replied automatically.

            “I rest my case,” she said. “You're young as well, and now you're leading these people.”

            “And I guess there's no point in me arguing,” he said, smiling.

            She smiled as well, “nope.”

            Both of them turned back to the view of Elira Field with Arben Forest in the background. Steadily, they moved closer to each other as a chilled wind came, whipping their hair in all directions. Though they didn’t feel the chill, they still moved closer, though they didn’t realize it.

            “I can’t help but wonder . . .” Rohan started.