New Rome

42. Mother, Who Left Me

Junia took one look at her best-friend, flopped out on his bed, and she shook her head in exasperation.

"Arise," she barked – chucking a pillow at him. "You neglected to show to morning lectures."

Kaze moaned and rolled onto his stomach. He looked like a zombie. "Yeesh. Did sleep evade you all night?"

"My thoughts were much distracted," he mumbled.

He'd been worrying about Arly. 

"Junia, advise me," he begged. "What might I do, for Arly to love me more?"

"You want Arly to love you more?"

"I want to be enshrined in her heart so that she is blind to the rest of the world."

Junia yanked the covers off him.

"Brain surgery?" she suggested.

Kaze scowled. He sat up and rubbed his tired eyes.

"If she loved even half as much as I, that would be enough."

"I think one of you needs a clear head. Were it up to you – you'd both be cocooned in here, never to see another soul." Julia hit him when he didn't immediately deny it. "Arly should be my dearest friend in place of you. You're completely un-lovable. Be nicer to me, or else I might steal her from you."

It was Kaze's turn to throw a pillow this time.

**

"Prince Kai?" Jay called out, when knocking on the door wasn't enough to get Kai too look up from his work.

"Speak," Kai directed distractedly. The former General ran his hands through his hair and Jay saw that Kai's eyes were tired.

"Ellie is here to see you. Pardons - I mean to say," Jay cleared his throat, embarrassed. "Young Master Elligah is here – requesting audience."

"Have no fear, Sejanus – you risked no offence. I know that you and Ellie have been acquaintances since childhood."

Jay bowed his head.

"Gratitude, sir."

Jay escorted Ellie to Kai's office. The two young men chatted briefly as they walked. But Jay stopped once they were outside the office door, gesturing for Ellie to go through without him.

"Come visit when you can," Ellie invited. "I know Wylo worries for you."

Jay smiled.

"I shall. Reassure her that I am doing well, thanks to the kindness of you both." He owed them both a great debt for getting him out of prison. Charged with raping the Imperator's granddaughter, he'd have been condemned for life without their help.

The two young men parted ways and Ellie stepped into Kai's office.

"Greetings, father." Ellie stood in the centre of the room- his hands clasped stiffly behind his back and waited for Kai to put aside his work.

"Greetings." They faced each other - the awkwardness heavy in the space between them. "How may I help you this day?"

"I am sorry to interrupt your work."

"Of less concern. You interrupt very infrequently and I know you have much business yourself. How fare your studies?"