The sun is low when we are summoned, even lower by the time we hear footsteps approach. The door swings open and Niilan emerges followed by important servants. Next to him, shoulder to shoulder, stands someone new. Someone dangerous. Their clothes are lavish but hastily adjusted to their new owner’s size. Where Niilan is small and stocky, the stranger is long and spindly, long dark hair contrast with Niilan’s dirty red, lighter skin though both have freckles.

I know it before they say it. They have the same eyes.

“Niilan, son of Kieran and his long-awaited child, Daira”, an announcer proclaims, “after their long travel we are beyond happiness for their safe return.”

Niilan steps forward: “You will treat Daira with the same devotion as you do me. Nothing of this will reach the other houses until I say so. You are dismissed.”

Some clap, most bow, all look at each other nervously and stifle murmurs about their new master until out of earshot. I look up and lock eyes with the old one. His expression is enough to tell me I won’t be able to join them. When the crowd has dispersed I walk over, head bowed.

Niilan wraps his harm around Daira and starts walking back to the house. There’s a tenderness in his touch I didn’t think him capable off.

“I assume this is a lot to take in. If there’s anything we can do to make you feel more at home, anything at all, just say the word.”, then adds, “I’m glad you’re back.”

Daira smiles: “Thank you father”.

“Your room has already been shown to you I presume. Food will be delivered in an hour.”. His sounds awkward. “Oh yes”, he grabs my chin and lifts it up: “This is my best ranked fighter. She’s quite pleasant company. Feel free to call her or any other whenever you wish. I’m sure she’ll help you settle in in no time”

“Thank you but that won’t be necessary”

Niilan laughs: “No false modesty my child. I can only imagine how deprived of proper comfort you must have lived.”

I go over, link my arm into theirs and smile up and the stranger.

“I’ll leave you to it”, Niilan says.

What had been the best guest chambre yesterday has been hastily refurnished into something fitting of Niilan’s heir. In the pristine room the dirty bundles and bags in the corner seem strangely out of place.

I lead Daira to the bed, wait for them to sit down before I do so as well. They’re stiff as a bord.

“I cannot help but notice that you seem tense. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Their eyes just stare, amber eyes, the eyes of his father, the eyes I saw this morning. Poor little girl. Are you afraid?

I put my hand on his thigh, skin against fabric. He slaps it way. My entire body runs cold, freezes me in place.

“I’m sorry”, they say, words stumbling over themselves.

I can beardly bring myself to shake my head: “Please do not apologize. It was my fault to presume… If you do not mind me asking. Where did you travel too?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Anywhere really, as long as it was far far away.”

“It must have been beautiful.”

“It was. Ugly too sometimes. Often really. But I think that’s part of the appeal”

“Truly?”

“Yes! It’s what makes it exiting. Real”

“You are very insightful. I do not think I have ever heard a master talk about travel in these terms”

“What about shifters?”

“Our purpose is not to travel.”

“I saw a lot traveling across the lands with their masters”

I smile: “They must see many things then. Most shifter I know, I’m sorry to disappoint, have never left the safety of this city.”

“But you have?”

“I am a wildling. Though I was very young when captured.”

“Really?! I wouldn’t have guessed by your mannerisms. Tell me, what do you know of your ancestors?”

“Nothing I’m afraid. If I may, how where the places you traveled too?”

And so Daira tells me. They talk about other customs and laws, about places you can only cross by giant eagle, lakes filled with rocks and water stretching farther than the eye can see. About the people they got to know and just as many they were glad they didn’t. About a girl named Cameria, longing in their eyes.

As the words flow, supplemented by unobtrusive words of affirmation and questions, my mind begins to wonder, out the large window and up into the sky. You can see parts of the mountains looming in the distance, the garden of the mansion below. In daylight it loses the bit of nature’s mystique it reclaims at night, like everything else in this city, it has simply become a testament to humanities desire to control. I will have to find a new place on the wall to not be seen.

Night sets, dinner has been served and taken away, I can feel my own the huger welling up. And yet still they continue to talk and not touch. I continue to wait and dread.

When they allow me to leave my mind has already frozen up under amber eyes. I stagger out. Downstairs Alinta’s sleeping box is empty.

-

It takes two days until I’m called again. I slip into Daira’s chambre half expecting Niilan to sit there. He doesn’t of course. Since his child has made me their plaything he has made do with others. It won’t last long. We both know it.

I sit down next to Daira on the bed and smile.

“I didn’t mean to call for you”, they say.

I jump up: “I am so sorry. May I ask who was meant to be called? I shall inform them at once.”

They grab my hand to pull me down. My body follows the force like a children’s doll.

“No that’s not what I meant. I did want you. It’s just… I’m sure you have more important things to worry about”, Daira says.

THEN WHY DID YOU CALL?

“What more important things could there be? If you wish for my company I will gladly come”.

“Do you mean it?”

“Of course”

“It’s just… I wanted to say this before. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. None of it”

It takes all the control I still have over my body to not laugh in their face. Instead, I place my hand on their chest, slowly, so they have time to draw away: “Your consideration honors you, but this is what I am for.”

“Someone I loved said those things too. It took a year until she trusted me with the truth”

I try to say something but they shush me.

“Don’t. I do not wish to hear those prepackaged phrases. I won’t do anything. I promise.” Liar

“Okay”

“There’s a ball father wishes me to attend”, they say after a while.

“He seems proud to introduce you to the world”

“He is! Since I’ve come back, he has been nothing but attentive. I think he is trying to make up for the past”

“How do you feel about it?”

“I’m not sure. I’m trying not think about it.”

I nod: “Are you exited to go to the ball?”

“I must admit I’m rather nervous”

“Truly?”

“It’s been a long time since I had to use the manners of high society. And father will have made sure I won’t be able to sit in a corner and wait it out.”

I put on a shy chuckle: “Perhaps not. But you are a very eloquent speaker. There is no need to worry.”

“I am? It does not feel like it”

“You are! And small talk is easy: You just have to say what the other person expects to hear”

“Is that what you do?” Idiot.

“Not with you”, I smile.