“What?” Orn asked, slowly lowering his sword and looking at Olivia.

The woman rolled her eyes and leaned her back against the tree. “You heard me. Why have you been so depressed? Since you came back from Emmy’s pathday, you have been moping around the house. So spill it.”

“I…” Orn began only to see Liv’e eyes narrow in a way the made it clear she could see through the excuse before he even started it. His shoulders slumped and the tip of the sword slowly fell to the grass. “I made a mistake... No, I made several mistakes.”

“So,” Olivia replied, and made a dismissive gesture with her hand. “you made a few mistakes. It is not the end of the world.”

“You do not understand. I asked her to give Emmy a choice and… and…” Orn felt the emotions rushing up, and the sword fell from his hand. He struggled to find the words to explain what he had done, and making only half coherent sounds. He sniffled and tried started again only to feel arms wrap around him.

“It will be fine. Start at the beginning and go slowly.” Liv said holding him and rubbing his back.

Unable to keep it to himself any longer he told Liv what happened. “Then father told me that I hurt Emmy, and he was disappointed in me.”

Liv slowly released her embrace and placed her hands on his shoulders, then knelt in front of him to be at eye level with him. “Orn.” She paused as she let go of his shoulders to wipe the tears form his cheeks. “You did something amazing.”

“No, I hurt her. Father said I,” he began only for Liv to cut him off.

“Orn, stop,” Liv’s voice instantly changed from consoling to firm. “Emmy got a path she is happy about. Do you think she will be a good healer?”

He nodded. “She will be…”

“She will be fine,” Liv interrupted him. “You parents are worried about how other nobles will treat her. Some higher ranked nobles will look down on her, because her path is not noble.” Olivia almost spit the word. “But those people are awful, and it is better to see there true colors immediately. Everyone else will see her as the son of a count and healer. She will be fine.”

“But what Father said,” Orn shook his head. “He was sure I hurt her, but you are saying it was a good thing.”

“Yes, I am,” Liv replied smiling softly. “One of the secrets of being an adult is that everyone, even your parents, are just a people. They make mistakes, the same as you. I am sure that there will be times that it is hard or painful for her, but Emmy chose her path. It was her choice, and that makes all the difference. I would have given anyth…” Liv’s eyes grew distant and she trailed off.

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Shaking her head she brought herself back to the present. She cleared her throat and stood up. “The point is it is complicated, and only time will tell if you made a mistake so stop moping around about it. If you want to do something useful, apologize to your friend. Probably should apologize to Rory as well, but he probably enjoyed being the center of attention. In any event I need to head in. I am probably in trouble again for not being the perfect noble lady, I never intend to be.”

Orn watched as Liv slowly made her way toward the manor’s rear door. Orn was still a little jumbled up inside, but what she said made him feel slightly better.

“Thank you!” he called after her as she walked in the door.

In response, she raised her hand and waived without looking back.

Once the door closed, Orn sheathed the sword laying in the grass. Looking around the empty garden he tried to search for the right words. Kao had been so upset, and he was not sure what he should say or even what he could say to her.

…

“Kao I am sorry,” Orn repeated to the empty garden. More than an hour of hand wringing and pacing, and the simple words were the best he had.

Time seemed to slowly drag on in the garden, as Orn stared at the grass. “Kao I am sorry. I was worried that I hurt Emmy and I am still not sure if I have or not. I should not have been mad at you. I am just scared, and I do not know what to do. I know you are mad at me, I just….” he paused searching for words that just would not come.

“Am a giant idiot.” A familiar voice came form behind him. Orn spun to see Kao sanding behind him with her arms crossed.

“Am a giant idiot,” he repeated, feeling the knots in his stomach loosening. “I asked for your help and got mad when you did it.”

“Yes, you did,” she replied, and Orn could hear the irritation in her voice. “You even asked for the unthinkable.”

“The unthinkable?” Orn’s brow furrowed as he wondered what she meant. “Do you mean asking you to change Emmy’s path back? I thought that you did not hold people to their paths? Emmy should be able to do anything, I thought.”

“Now you want to ask questions?” Kao replied looking more hurt than angry.

Orn flinched, and looked down. Staring at the ground he nodded. “I know I made a mistake, but I do not understand. Father and Liv are saying different things and I do not know what to do. I want to make it all right again. I wanted to protect Emmy, not hurt her. I want to make Mother and Father proud. I want to be a good friend but I am messing everything up. What can I do to make it right? I am sorry. I know you are mad at me and you have every right to be, but I am sorry. I was a bad friend.”

“Yes, you were,” Kao replied softly. “But, you are lucky that I am a better friend.”

Orn barely looked up as he rushed forward ot wrap Kao in an embrace. “I am sorry. I have missed you.”

“I have missed you too,” she replied embracing him back before gently pushing him to arm’s length. “I still feel mad, but you do not understand what you did. It would be unfair for me to be mad forever when you do not understand what you did wrong.”

“Thank you,” he replied taking a step back.

Kao placed her hands on her hips and looked slightly up, “You are fortunate you have such a kind goddess.”

“I am really am,” Orn replied seeing the corners of Kao’s mouth twitch slightly.