“You’re big,” Alisha said, “even for a chimera.”

Averan bit his tongue, now was not the time for such ribald comments. He was not in one of the bars of the underground now.

“Ah yes, guess that’s the Aureate blood in me. A direct line back to King Anaval. I’m a bit stronger and bigger than most, Sandorn a bit faster and agile than most.”

Alisha nodded, Averan frowned looking out over the palace to the Inner city beyond and the many Manors of the Forty. He felt awkward, he didn’t quite know what to say. He had made sure that he was there to accompany Alisha as she made rounds of the walls, thinking it was a good chance to get her alone. But now he wasn’t sure if that was such a wise idea after all.

He coughed lightly, something finally coming to him.

“Your Manor, House Dronian, you can see it from here?”

Alisha smiled sadly, “Our old one yes. See it there, it’s the one now flying the blue flags with the sea eagle. That of course is not our colors. After our Fathers failed….attempt to seize control and incite a revolt we were removed from our old manor and moved over to a smaller one, one far removed from the palace. Being close meant you were one of the oldest Houses, given a place of prestige within the Inner city. Now we live almost at the Inner Walls, it’s over to the West of here, you can’t see it.”

She laughed a little, more to herself than anything.

“It’s strange, I never lived in the Manor that was once ours, but I never felt at home in our new one either. I know I shouldn’t be so sorrowful about it, after all, we still have a Manor, still have a House. But sometimes I do wonder what could have been.”

“I understand that feeling,” Averan laughed gently, “I often wonder something quite similar, what I would be like, what Sandorn would be like. If Mom and Dad would still be around.”

Alisha stopped and leaned on the parapet. Averan pulled up and came beside her.

“And? Would you be much different?” She asked.

Averan shrugged, “Probably not,” he admitted, “Sandorn is the one burdened down by pressure and stress, always has been. He would be different I imagine.”

“You help him a lot with that, the pressure and stress I mean. He always seeks you out, you are his constant. It is touching to see Brothers so close.”

“Yes, it was hard not to be when there were only two of us. Fenadorn tried but he was never supposed to be so involved in our life.” Averan frowned, “He deserves most of the credit. Without him, we’d both be dead a million times over. At least.”

“You’ve always planned this, you and your Brother? This was always your goal?”

“It was, it is. Our whole life has been shaped by our Family’s past, we stopped trying to run from it a long time ago, instead, we decided to meet it head-on.”

“And once it’s done? What then?”

Averan raised a brow, “You ask an awful lot of deep questions don’t you? You ever try keeping it simple?”

She turned to look at him, “Simple is good?”

Averan shrugged, “Mostly.”

Alisha laughed but said nothing. Averan pretended to be looking out over the city as he tried to think of something to say.

“What about you?” He said after some time. “You seem pretty hellbent on putting your Family back to where it once was. What about after? What then?”

“I believe I asked you first.”

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Averan raised his hands in defense, “Okay, that is true, you did ask first. But honestly, I am not sure. Sandorn will be a good King, but everything we’ve done, the enemies we’ve made, the changes we will bring about. He’ll need protecting, I intend to be the one who ensures he gets it. Once things settle down perhaps I’ll move on to something else.”

“Something else? A bit vague for your future is it not?”

“Isn’t the future always vague?”

Alisha nodded her head as if impressed, “Now who is being deep.”

Averan laughed deeply, “I went off your cue.”

“I would like to travel.” Alisha continued, “To see the outer cities, see how they live, govern, rule. Maybe travel even further than that. The other human Kingdoms have grown considerably it’s said, perhaps things may be simpler beyond the seas.”

“I might join you, I’ve always thought to travel.”

“You might join me?” Alisha turned to look at him, “I didn’t realise I had offered.”

“You didn’t,” Averan smiled, “I invited myself. Why?” He turned to look at her. “Would you refuse your Prince?”

Alisha scoffed, “I would. I believe I could do without the fanfare of having a Royal Aureate alongside me.”

“What about just Averan then? No Prince.”

She smiled and shrugged, “That I might consider.”

“Oh, you’d consider? I guess I should feel honored,” he bowed low.

“You should,” she affirmed. “Though some company might be nice it’s true.”

They both laughed then, Averan forgot about his nerves in that moment.

She really is beautiful. I’ll need to be careful around her, Sandorn is probably right. Still….

“We should probably get back, we still have much to plan, Sandorn will be wondering where I’ve snuck off to.”

Alisha sighed but nodded, “True, and my Father will likely be wondering the same about me.”

Neither of them moved.

“How is he by the way?”

“Oh he’s fine,” Alisha assured him with a wave of her hand, “he was cut a few times by one of the palace chimeras' tails but every wound has almost cleared already, you know how fast we can heal ourselves.”

“That’s good,”

“And you?”

“Me?” Averan pointed a finger at himself as if confused and shook his head, “Oh don’t worry about me, I got hit a few times, I always do. But never enough to do any serious damage. My Chimerean blood is pure, most wounds heal in minutes. Don’t worry about me,” He added at the end.

Alisha looked at him with a slight smile, “Don’t what? I’m not worrying about you, I’m worrying about all the rest of it, if you get hurt then we lose one of our strongest Chimeras.”

“Ah, so it is a practical concern then.”

“And what else could it be?”

Averan shrugged as he finally managed to haul himself up again, it really was time for them to head back.

“I don’t know, the mind does wander however.”

Alisha slowly stepped back up beside him, she too gave the impression that she’d rather stay.

“Your’s does perhaps, I know where mine is.”

“That’s good, perhaps one day you’ll let me know just where.”

Alisha tilted her head, “Yes, one day. One day I’m sure I will.”

“I can’t wait.” Averan gave a slight bow as if guiding Alisha back along the walls.

Averan paused a moment to let her pass, Alisha had changed into a summer dress for the evening. It was a favored style within the Inner city according to her, right now Averan found it a very favorable style indeed. He took another second to admire such style before straightening himself and falling back in alongside her.

The torches were being lit all along the wall now as light made its slow descent into dark. They seemed to be lighting their way back to the others.

They didn’t say much as they returned. But Averan didn’t feel the need to anymore, it was enough to walk. He savored the moment, he had not had one like it in a long time. He hoped there would be time for many more in the future. But it would have to wait, as it always did. There was still a crown to win.