Head in the Clouds

Chapter 23: He's got a lot Going on

"It's odd, don't you think, that we've lived in Jericho all our lives but never visited towns like this one?" Clyde asked as they passed through the grass.

"I suppose the king wouldn't want us to see it," she reasoned, "I mean- its stranger that we never came here on our own. I always thought we saw all Jericho had to offer."

"Apparently not," he mumbled.

The way to the lab wasn't as difficult as navigating the Jericho Forest. Instead of weaving through trees and jumping over roots, they just had to walk across a large plain of grass. They could see an odd dome-like shape in the distance and headed straight for it.

"It's odd to think that the people here live like this when we live so well," she said, "We were always taught that Jericho was the best kingdom in the world."

"It is," defended the young prince abruptly, "We can't judge how badly they're living by the way their homes look or the way their kids play in the streets."

Deidre paused.

"Then how do we judge them?" She asked. 

He paused for a moment.

"By how happy they are," he decided, "No matter what that woman was saying, she had a giant smile on her face. They're obviously happy regardless of their circumstances."

"Clyde, my mom told me that the people of Jelanie often went out and helped those less fortunate than them. She said that she always thought poor people seemed happier. They smiled more. They laughed more. They enjoyed each other more. She says it's because those who have less rely on one another more, and it fosters a sense of community between them."

"Exactly!" He exclaimed with a sigh, "They're happy, so there's no need to-"

"But she also said that didn't mean they didn't need help," she cut him off with a sharp look, "They were poor, so Jelanie helped them out and they were able to live more fulfilling lives within their communities. You can't just turn your back on these people because you can't face the flaws of the kingdom."

Clyde was silent for a second. 

"But Dad's trying to help the kingdoms," Clyde argued.

"Right, like he's trying to help Jelanie?" She snarked. 

She pressed her lips tight as soon as she said it. Truly, she didn't know where it came from. She never cared for the country, nor remembered ever being there. Her ties to Jelanie ended at her birth, so why did she say that?

"What?" Clyde asked.

They approached the dome, and it seemed to be only a couple of stories tall. Deidre ignored Clyde's question and focused her gaze on the ground.

"D, do you not want to go to Jelanie?" Clyde asked softly.

She kept going.

"D," he called. He held her arm for a couple of seconds, and she turned to him, "D, what aren't you telling me?"

"I have magical powers. I have to find a way to get it taken away before your father finds and kills me," she thought, "The more people in on a secret means there are more ways for it to get out."

"I don't think it's a good idea to invade Jelanie," she confessed. She wasn't sure if she really felt that way yet, but it was what she was thinking, "They just want to live at peace all by themselves, so why should we impose our way of life all the way over there?"

"We're making their lives better, D," he argued.

"How? We don't know what's going on there. Maybe they're all happy. Maybe they're not going to harm us. What gives us the right to run into their homes and force them to join us?" She argued. It became clear that these were thoughts she had since they met with the king even if it was at the very back of her mind.