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Maydins floating through the halls came to a full stop, their mouths hanging when they laid eyes on me. Wide grins covered their pretty faces as they spread their wings and took off down the hall. I stifled a groan. The castle would be full of gossip in no time.
Floating through hall after hall, I stared past foreign tapestries, endless family portraits, and numerous marble statues in fountains. I walked, taking my time, until I came to the king's wing. I stopped moving when I finally reached the door of his private dining chambers. On the other side of the door, I heard clinking glass, pleasant chatter, and soft music playing.
"Prince Yakobba, please," Tombabi pleaded. "Wait just a moment! I must announce you?—"
I could announce myself.
Without ceremony, I threw the doors open and floated into the dining chambers. I stared directly at King Izakaya Promeseren Rhòdhaire, king of Avari, and my payè. There he sat at the head of the long, gilded table, mouth hanging as if he were mid-sentence. His body was angled towards Queen Rekani, while Prince Ishaèli froze, his fork midway to his mouth. Princess Alessayi, seated on the other side of the table, spat out her wine. King Izakaya's eyes landed on me like cauldrons of fire. I spread my arms wide, grinning from ear to ear.
"My dearest payè. I believe you called me?"
Chapter 9
Invited to the Depths of the Sea
YAKOBBA
The dining chamber was silent. Everyone was frozen in place. The Airveillers behind me shuffled quietly, unsure of how to intervene. It felt like time had slowed. I blinked at my family, all of whom I hadn't seen in nearly five cycles.
King Izakaya stiffened at the arrogance in my tone. It dawned on me that Tombabi was right. I should have changed.
The Rhòdhaires were adorned in their gilded crowns, ivory and lavender silks, golden leather sandals, and jewels embedded in their wings. Meanwhile, I was in head to toe black, my midnight cloak a stark contrast to everything else in the room. I should care.
I didn’t.
"YAKOBBA!"
Princess Alessayi, six cycles my junior with twice my pompous personality, shot out of her cloudchair and flew over the table. She was low enough that her gown nearly glided through meat juice and was almost stained by the colorful desserts. Alessayi flung herself at me. Her arms were around my neck before I could stop her. My hearts felt like they'd explode as I wrapped my arms around my youngling sayè.
I chuckled into her hair. "I've missed you, too, Sayi."
She pulled back, her eyes sharp. Discerning. That look wasn't there the last time I'd seen her. She'd grown. In ways I would never know. Guilt tugged at me, but I buried it.
"Stop the nonsense," Alessayi quipped without preamble. "Come home."
"Alessayi, allow him to eat before you berate him, hm?"
I looked past my sister's hair and choked on my rising emotion.
Queen Rekani, my mamè, floated out of her chair, resplendent in beauty, grace, and power. I took her in. Her braided hair was pinned in an elegant style. The thin crown interwoven in each braid. Her hanging ivory silks that thinly veiled golden sandaled feet. I looked into her eyes and was undone. She smiled at me in the way only a mamè could. Through it, I felt her unwavering love for me pulse like heartbeats that would never cease. She looked at me with pride, with acceptance, with love, as if I had never left. The burn in my throat blocked my ability to speak.
"Queen Rekani, I..."
The words died on my tongue. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe right. Skies. I missed her so much. I'd fought it for so long. But now, floating in her presence, it was all I could do to keep from falling apart. I tried to speak, but I failed again, stumbling over each word.
"Queen Rekani, my queen, I?—"
She snorted, gracefully floating over. Alessayi still hadn’t let me go. Her grip tightened as mamè approached.
"Sayi, release him. It's my turn."
Alessayi rolled her eyes and reluctantly let go, but didn't float away. Before I could open my mouth again, the queen had me drawn into a hug so deep I was weakened down to my knees.
All kinds of emotions threatened to unravel me.
Queen Rekani held me close. Tight. She squeezed me like she would when I was a youngling crying in her lap after having an awful nightmare. She held me as if she didn’t smell the skywine clinging to my hair. Or the fading smell of smoke clinging to my boots. As if she didn’t see the fresh brands in my skin, or the worn creases at my temples.
"Mamè." I breathed in the scent of her hair. "Rot, I... mamè."
