The night moved quickly for the motionless Adon and Goldie.
The butterfly hardly noticed that time was passing at all. At some point, he was aware of movement, but only because Samson and the other spiderlings had approached them on the bed. Seeing the way that Adon and Goldie were wrapped in an embrace, the little spiders joined them.
Adon was aware that he was part of a strange bundle of exoskeletal embracing—but it was basically just a group hug, so he didn’t move. In his barely-conscious mind, it was a moment that reminded him of what the spiders were to him: found family.
He drifted off into the quiescent state that approximated sleep for him, and the next thing he knew, the world was bright and alive again.
It was a servant passing by the door of the room that brought him back to alertness. The female servant was named Celeste, Adon dimly recalled.
He activated Telepathy to say “Good morning” to Goldie, and he was surprised to note that he didn’t hear anything from the servant. Lately, he overheard a lot from other people’s inner monologues, whether he wanted to or not.
She must be very focused on her work, he thought.
Who is focused on what? Goldie thought back sleepily.
It was only then that he realized he had sent his thought out.
I have to be careful about that, he told himself quietly.
Good morning, Goldie! Adon sent in a chipper tone. I hope you rested well.
I feel very energized, thank you, Goldie replied. She still sounded slightly groggy, but the spider began to move.
How are you feeling? she added.
Oh, I’m all right, Adon replied automatically. The butterfly wasn’t really up for assessing how he was more broadly first thing in the morning.
Yesterday was crazy, he recalled quietly to himself.
But he didn’t dwell on it just then.
As Goldie moved, he disentangled himself from her and wiggled his limbs experimentally. He found that everything was working perfectly well, despite his having rested entangled with the spider. Back when he was a human, sleeping in such an awkward position would have left his limbs useless for some minutes after he woke up—assuming that he somehow fell asleep in a position like that in the first place.
What are we doing today? he asked. It’s really good to be back with you guys again.
It depends on the Princess, Goldie replied. Do you know if Rosslyn is coming to train us today, or if she is busy?
Rosslyn, Adon thought quietly. He had spent so much time thinking about her, talking about her, tangling himself in knots around her, yesterday, that his mind was exhausted on the subject.
I don’t know, he finally sent.
We can wait a little while, then, Goldie replied. I expect that the servant who brings the morning meal might know. That will be soon, I think—though, thanks to you, I am not hungry at all this morning.
That sounds fine to me, Adon sent.
Both arthropods seemed to want some quiet after the fraught events of the previous night.
Adon didn’t exactly need to be alone with his thoughts this time. It was more that he wanted to be free not to think for a while.
He and Goldie gave each other that.
They stood together quietly in the shifting morning light for perhaps an hour.
The spiderlings, including Samson, interrupted the silence with brief morning greetings, but after Adon and Goldie’s responses, they seemed to get into the quiet mood themselves. The hatchlings were still practicing web construction, and they set about that, while Samson started practicing Mana Manipulation.
Adon thought that the hatchlings looked a bit larger today than he remembered them being when he last had a good look at them, but they quickly moved out of his sight before he could decide for certain whether he was just seeing things.
The butterfly sat in an almost meditative state for a while, though his eyes couldn’t help darting over to look at Samson occasionally. His little brother was having trouble getting his Mana moving the way he wanted across his body.
The butterfly was no psychologist, but Adon knew his brother’s personality well enough that as he saw the herky-jerky movements, he thought he knew what the nature of the problem was. In Adon’s eyes, it looked a little bit like a mental block—like maybe, just maybe, Samson’s tendency to analyze, intellectualize things—and arguably overthink them—was actually getting in his way, as it only rarely had in the incarnation in which they had been biological brothers.
It was Samson’s peculiarity, the element that reminded Adon that they were family. Adon had often had trouble with overthinking social interactions; Samson applied an analysis paralysis level of consideration to other decisions. It was why he ultimately took up running as a sport—why they had a treadmill in the house that Adon had died trying to reach—and why Samson had been successful academically and professionally.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Adon had just decided that he would go over and help Samson when a servant came in with a covered silver dish.
This, Adon assumed, was breakfast.
He activated Telepathy.
Excuse me, he sent to the servant, but do you know if the Princess will be visiting with us today?
The servant froze for a moment at the sound of a voice in his head, then seemed to relax as he realized the sound had come from Adon. Then he bowed low.
“No, honorable beast, I apologize. I am afraid that I do not know the answer to your question. However, I am aware that the King has arranged for the Princess to give the new guests the full tour of the palace grounds and the city today. I am given to understand that the Dessians have not visited Claustria since they were children.”
Adon fluttered his wings, slightly uneasy at the thought of the brothers walking around with Rosslyn—still slightly angry about the conversation he had overheard the previous night.Then he quieted the movement of his body. The servant was looking at him, a slightly confused expression on his face.
Thank you, Adon quickly sent. That does answer my question.
He knew from flying over the city that any kind of a comprehensive tour would take the full day. Even if the brothers and Rosslyn stuck to the nicer parts of the city, he was certain that there would be many attractions to keep them occupied.
Adon decided to put the issues related to Rosslyn and her courtship as far from his mind as he could for the day. He would focus on getting Samson and Goldie as comfortable and familiar with Mana Manipulation as he could today. He had some ideas of how he might help Samson, and he imagined that Goldie would probably benefit from some tutoring, too, assuming that her competency was around the same level as Samson’s or even slightly ahead of his.
The servant removed the cover from the dish, and the room filled with the odor of two freshly slaughtered and bloody birds—Identify said they were Ortolan Buntings. Beside the birds lay three small eggs, which Adon guessed were probably related to the birds.
Then the servant stepped into the hallway and retrieved two covered goblets for Adon.
“I will return in an hour to collect Your Excellencies’ dishes, if that is acceptable,” he said, bowing.
Thank you, that should be perfect, sent Goldie.
The servant smiled and departed.
And the spiders dug in.
Goldie had not been lying about her appetite being less than normal—she ate one of the bird’s eggs but did not touch the birds themselves.
But the spiderlings more than made up for her lack of appetite. Adon had been correct, when he looked at them earlier, in thinking that they had grown larger. He fluttered over to the other side of the bed and saw a small pile of exoskeletons from where they had shed their skins and allowed the remains to litter the floor.
Samson had shed and grown, too, Adon realized. It was just less noticeable than it had been before, because he was always the largest of the siblings.
They’re really growing up, he thought—and wondered for a moment whether Goldie had noticed how quickly it seemed to be happening, before he reminded himself that, Of course, dumbass, she’s their mother, how would she not notice that?
He found himself curious as to how she felt about it, though. Larger spiders meant safer spiders, of course, which was good. But another consequence of rapid growth was that they would want their independence sooner—potentially leaving Adon’s friend feeling lonely or abandoned. Hopefully things would not play out that way, but he could not help but worry a little.
The consequence of their rapid growth right now was simply that the little spiders swarmed over the Ortolan Buntings and ravenously consumed them.
Adon tried a little sip of one of the birds’ eggs, but he otherwise left them to the spiderlings while he consumed his own liquid foods. The little spiders devoured the eggs, with the same violent eagerness they had shown the dead birds.
He thought the palace would soon have to start sending larger meals, if this kept up.
Or Adon would simply have to keep occasionally hunting.
The butterfly decided he would not bother bringing up the growth of the spiders and the need for more food for now. He was fairly certain that he could handle this if all it might take was hunting for more food. He would enjoy handling the issue.
After the meal was finished, Adon decided to step into the role of trainer. He approached Goldie first.
I was thinking, Rosslyn’s probably not showing up today, since she’s busy with William and Frederick, he sent, so why don’t we train together? If you and Samson improve your Mana Manipulation faster, it makes it safer for all of us if the Kingdom suddenly gets attacked.
I appreciate the offer, Adon, Goldie replied. And Samson and I could definitely use your training. Neither of us is close to catching up to your skills. Since you brought it up, though… I have to admit, I have sometimes wondered, if the Demon Empire that has been repeatedly mentioned actually attacked the Kingdom, what all of us would actually do.
What we would do? Adon repeated, a little unsure of what Goldie was getting at.
Yes, Goldie replied. I do not think the Princess or the King really expect me or Samson—and certainly not my littler ones—to fight in a war. We are spiders, and a matter of weeks ago, I was running from a maid with a broom in the palace. I doubt that I am seen as a formidable warrior right now. But I have been uncertain what they might expect or hope for. I have thought that we would want to help out—they have been very kind to us—but I must consider what is best for my children first and foremost. They are growing rapidly, so quickly that soon they will not need me—much though I would like to spend as much time with them as I can.
She continued, Perhaps that means that I should help out in any fighting myself, to the extent that I am able, but try to usher my children to safety. The idea is frightening, but perhaps it is the right thing to do. This country honors and appreciates intelligent insects and spiders as it seems that few others do, and the Princess has earned our friendship. Then I wonder what that would mean for Samson. He is my eldest, and he is probably almost as capable of fighting as I am. Certainly, with magic, he would close the gap in our abilities. So, should I try to keep him out of the fighting—or leave him to decide for himself? Then I think about you.
About me? Adon replied, repeating again—again taken a little off-balance by Goldie’s train of thought, and in this case by how much thought she had obviously put into it while he was hunting or at other times when she could not discuss the issues with him directly.
He wondered if she had made up her mind about what she wanted to do already, before they could discuss it together. He couldn’t blame her if she had, of course. He already had strong feelings about this place and the Royal Family.
What do you want to do, Adon? Goldie stared at him with her unblinking black eyes. You are my only friend besides, now, the Princess. You are the one I know best and feel closest to in the world, by far. My children are family, but in the life cycle of spiders, it is likely they will be self-sufficient long before any war comes. The Royal Family talk about it as an impending threat, but that is as humans reckon time. For us, it is a long way away. By then, I will have no duty to anyone—no need to worry about anyone—my children will have their own lives. Except you. For me, it all comes down to you.
Me? Adon repeated.
This felt like a lot of responsibility Goldie was placing on his shoulders—and a fateful decision for Adon to make.