The Liberian

Chapter 34

“Hello, brother,” Prince Baldair hummed sweetly.

Ebony eyes bore deep holes into Halle. If Damion had heard his brother, there was no response other than a twitch under his eye. Halle suddenly felt very small, small enough to fall off the earth. It was uncomfortable. It hurt.

“How did the war council go?” The golden prince seemed to be pleasantly unaware of the tension that resonated between his company and his brother.

“Fine.” Damion’s voice brought her cowardly eyes back to him. The word was as cold as it was curt.

Halle opened her mouth to speak but there was nothing she could say, not in front of Prince Baldair.

“I look forward to marching on the North again as soon as this nonsense of a festival has ended.” The elder prince’s words were punctuated with the slamming of his door and the laughter of the younger.

Halle must have missed the joke because she didn’t feel like laughing. If she tried, she may end up being sick.

With a kiss on a numb cheek, Prince Baldair left her at an entrance to the servants’ quarters.

Agony, her blood had been poured out and replaced with something cold and painful. Halle raced through the halls and when she reached her door, she shut it as loudly as possible, which made her feel no better. She threw herself onto her bed for her pillow to muffle a cry.

She didn’t want any more princes. She was finished with nobility, and the last thing she was inclined to do was go to that pointless Gala. Halle rolled onto her back, her eyes stinging with something resembling anger. Everyone was right, Prince Baldair was the better of the two princes. He was kind, thoughtful, lighthearted, and simple to understand.

But he didn’t have the same wit of his brother. He didn’t possess the same flair with his words nor grace in his step. He couldn’t command a room in the same way. He certainly didn’t have shoulder-length raven hair nor wonderfully pronounced cheekbones.

Halle gDylaned. She was a foolish girl. Mixing with princes only led to pain. She was done.

A knock on her door pulled her to her feet.

“Just a minute,” Halle called, running her palms over her face. She was pleased that no tears had escaped, whatever the tears would have meant. But she was certain her eyes were red. The person knocked again and each rap sent a small tickle of pain between Halle’s temples. She yanked open the door. “What?”

“We need to talk.” Dylan pushed her way through the doorframe.

“Dylan, now is not—” Halle began to sigh as the blonde rounded on her.

“Not a good time? Too busy fraternizing with the golden prince?” Dylan’s finger was in her face.

“What?” Dread seeped into each beat of Halle’s heart.

“The servants were all abuzz. Library girl with the Heartbreaker Prince, in his room, eating his food.” Dylan crossed her arms. “Did you think you wouldn’t be noticed?”

“I didn’t,” Halle shook her head.“I can explain.”

“You don’t have to explain to me.” Dylan shook her head, sending her curls bouncing in every direction. “It’s Sareem you’ll need to explain to.” Halle shut her gaping mouth for a moment. Did Dylan’s eyes look red? “Halle, did you even think about how this will make him feel? You running off with a prince? He’s a man, and he’s head over heels for you. He went out of his way, he planned a whole day just for you. He arranged food and entertainment, and now you’re breaking bread with another man? With a prince known for his bedroom conquests? How will that make Sareem feel?”

Halle’s arms were limp at her sides as her shoulders sagged. Went out of his way? Planned a whole day? She brought a palm to her forehead, remembering a dark pair of accusatory eyes. Was that what Damion thought? She gDylaned for even wondering. If that had been what Damion thought, did that mean the crown prince was jealous about her and his brother?

“I see you have enough sense to feel bad now.” Dylan threw her hands up in the air. Halle had never seen her friend so annoyed. “Really, he’s a good man. I wasn’t going to say anything but now, after today...” Dylan shook her head.

“What? What is it?” Halle wasn’t sure if she was prepared for more.

“I don’t know what you’re into right now or why, but I caught Sareem in the section of mysteries today, on a festival day, of his own accord,” Dylan hissed. “Do you know what he was doing there?”

“What?” Halle asked cautiously.

“He was reading books on magic!” Dylan snapped. “Something about eradication. I don’t know, he seemed really eager—too eager. Sareem has always stayed on the right side of things. I’ve always known you to be curious. The first to go out of her way for knowledge. I tolerated it just like I tolerated you and him. But this, I can’t tolerate this. I won’t let you wrap him up in magic for your curiosities.”

Halle stared at her friend blankly, wondering if she had ever really seen the woman opposite her. Dylan, her friend, the girl she had grown into a woman alongside. The person who she had shared her secrets with. When had they become so different?

“What’s wrong with magic?” The defensive words escaped as fast Halle even though them.

“What’s wrong with magic?” Dylan took a step back as though threatened.

“Really, what’s wrong with it?” Halle persisted, taking a step forward. “Have you ever read about it? Have you ever taken the time to learn about it? Have you ever spoken to a sorcerer without closed-minded fear?”

“Why would I?” Dylan squared her shoulders and planted her feet. “It’s not something good people should bother with; I thought you knew that. Your father served in the War of the Crystal Caverns.”

“That wasn’t the fault of magic, if you’d actually read—” Halle began.

“I can’t believe it,” Dylan interrupted sharply. “What happened to you? I thought we were the same. I let you have Sareem because that’s what friends do. I thought you would treat him well. I let it slide that you lied to me about you and him, but I was fine because I wanted him to be happy.”

“What?” Halle breathed. “You let me have Sareem?” Dylan’s sudden anger, her looks over the past weeks, the sense of betrayal, it all came into focus. “You like him.”

“What?” It was Dylan’s turn to be taken aback.

“You, you’re in love with Sareem.” It wasn’t a question. Dylan shot her a seething glare. How hadn’t she seen it sooner? Halle laughed at herself.

“What’s so funny?” Dylan asked defensively, no denial of the accusation in sight.

“It’s funny, because you should have taken him.” Halle shook her head. “I don’t want him, not as a lover.”

“What? How could you not? Then why?” Dylan was flabbergasted. “What do you want then?” The blonde’s prior anger and frustration melted into confusion. “Your books? The Heartbreaker Prince?”

“No,” Halle said softly. “I want a place you hardly dare to even whisper. I want the bravery to not only read, but to do. I want a man, not a library boy. A man who is tall and witty and knows more about the world than you would ever dare dream.

“So listen, I am going to go into this world, and I don’t care if you and your narrow mind cannot be a part of it. Go to the Golden Bun tomorrow when the moon is a third in the sky. Meet Sareem there in my place. Tell him you love him, tell him I don’t, and go live your lives.” Something in Halle’s gut ached. She wasn’t sure what from. Be it her harsh words or the harsher truth they stemmed from. She had loved these people, and they attacked her without asking her what the changes in her life meant, what the truth was. Halle had never known the pain of rejection like this and all it made her want to do was reject them just as coldly in return.

“What are you wrapped up in?” Dylan whispered. Her anger and frustration had shifted to a sympathy that grated Halle.

“I’m simply learning where I’m meant to be.” It was the only response because it was the truth.

“Halle, listen, I—”

“I think you should go, Dylan.” Halle motioned out the door she held open before the other girl could finish her sentence.

“If you’re in trouble, we can help.” Dylan stopped in the doorframe.

“I don’t need your help,” Halle responded coolly.

Dylan met her gaze, and they stood a long moment. In all their past tiffs this would be the time when one of them would smile, c***k a joke, and they would laugh. This would be the second that they hugged and flopped onto the bed to talk about how stupid they were and then share gossip before running off to dinner.

The sun sunk lower into the sky. Halle wasn’t about to be that girl. Apparently, neither was Dylan.

The second the door closed, Halle rushed to the small portal that was her window, gulping in the evening breeze. Tomorrow, she would speak to the master before heading to the Gala. Halle stared off at the horizon and wondered if she could have a window as big as Larel’s in the Tower.

IT WAS EASY to wake up and get ready the next morning. Halle hadn’t actually slept. Her mind had spent the whole night processing everything that had happened. Things were moving faster than an avalanche, and it felt like her only option was to run with the moving ground under her feet—or be swept away by it.

The master would be headed to the library about now. Even during the Festival of the Sun someone had to tend to the books, and if the majority of the apprentices were off enjoying the celebrations, then it fell to the master.

Halle tugged on the hem of her shirt as she made her way through the mostly-deserted halls to some of the better levels of the palace. She would have to make her conversation short and direct.

Soon she found the courage to knock on Mohned’s chamber door. She waited, shifting her weight from foot to foot and fidgeting until she heard a soft shuffling sound right before the door opened. The timeworn and hunched frame of the master was swathed in a crimson robe.

“Halle?” Mohned adjusted his spectacles.

“Master, I need to speak with you,” she said before her resolve was lost and all hope along with it.

“Very well.” The master stepped to the side, permitting her entry.

Halle had been working with the master for seven years, but every time she entered his room she would still feel a sense of awe. Her time with princes had diminished some of that awe, but here she still felt some wonder as she looked at the bookshelves that ran the length of one wall. Each leather bound spine seemed to look at her, as if betrayed by what she was about to do.

“What do you need, Halle?” The master occupied one of three chairs around a small table, motioning at one opposite.

“I, well,” she sat as though pins and needles awaited her. “Master, I am so thankful for everything you have done for me all the years.”

“You are welcome.” The master’s beard folded around his weathered smile.