“Are you sure? I could send someone to find Ussay.”
“I’m sure. I need to get up and move around anyway.” She stood and turned to face him. “Anything particular you want?”
He pointed to a large canopy where several wooden barrels were stacked. Three lay on their sides with spigots drilled into the ends. A large robust man stood next to them, filling cups in a variety of sizes provided by the villagers lined up beside him. “Unless you want to scoop water from the river down below, there is no other choice than what is provided for us in those barrels. Do not worry though. King Belesgar always provides the best nectar for the festivals.”
“Nectar?”
“A mixture of several local fruits. It is quite delicious.”
Kira wrinkled her nose. “It isn’t wine, is it? I hate wine.”
Cade laughed. “No, Belesgar saves that for special occasions.”
“Oh.” Kira glanced back to the man dispensing the fruit juice. “We didn’t bring cups.”
“No need. He provides them for Royals.”
Kira propped her fists on her hips. “I’m not a Royal. I’m a commoner, remember?” She understood there had to be a hierarchy of some sort, but hated how commoners were treated like a lower life form; just one step away from being slaves. Barbaric.
Cade smirked. “You are far from common. You will be queen one day.”
“Whatever.” She dropped her hands and walked away. As much as she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Octavion, she knew in her heart she wasn’t queen material. Not even close. Even the thought made the hairs on her arms twitch. Besides, it wasn’t like he’d proposed.
The line of people waiting to get their cups filled wrapped around the refreshment tent, past the display of intricately woven baskets and stopped behind stacks of cages filled with live poultry. The birds-for lack of a better description-were unlike any foul she’d ever seen. The strangest one had light blue feathers on its chest, green feet and a large red quill sticking out the top of its head. The rest of its body was totally bare, as if shaved clean. They were loud and obnoxious, the stench almost unbearable.
Kira took her place at the end of the line despite several offers to let her go to the front. Everyone she met seemed nice-smiled, curtsied or offered to assist her in some way-but she couldn’t help notice the stares. Whether it was her hair, eyes, or the fact she was from another planet, she didn’t know, but it bugged her. Even if their intensions were good, she still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling she was on display. But then, she’d felt that a lot lately.
She tried to blow it off and enjoy the contrast between the warm sun beating down on her skin and the cool breeze wafting up from the distant lake. Unfortunately, the line moved agonizingly slow and the stench from the birds soon became unbearable. After several minutes of trying not to breathe, she decided her thirst wasn’t worth sacrificing fresh air. She slipped out of line and began making her way back to her seat near Cade. As she rounded the corner of the basket weaver’s tent-almost tripping over the guide wire-her focus shifted to the cemetery. Lydia’s final resting place called to her as if they still shared the magical connection of the Crystor.
Kira twisted the tiny thread of silver between her fingers, being careful not to kink the bracelet. It had no powers now-even its magical qualities couldn’t connect her with Lydia beyond the grave-but she was sure the reason it hadn’t fallen off was because of Altaria. Their connection seemed more important now than ever.
“Would you like to visit her grave?” she said aloud so Altaria could hear.
A warm sensation filled her heart. She wasn’t sure she could endure the grief that visiting Lydia’s grave would bring, but if that’s what her new kindred spirit wanted, she’d do it. She lifted the hem of her skirt and began the walk up the slight incline to the cemetery.
“Kira!”
Kira released her skirt and let out a deep sigh. Octavion. So much for visiting her friend. She slowly turned, making no effort to close the distance between them.
“Where are you going?” Octavion said as he came close enough for her to see into his eyes. Happiness shone in his countenance-more than she’d ever seen before. He brushed an unruly strand of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Cade said you were thirsty. You should have said something. I would have gone for you.”
Kira smiled up at him, trying not to reveal the disappointment in him finding her. She felt the pull of Lydia’s grave even more strongly now that she’d been interrupted. “I wanted to go for a walk.” She motioned toward the cemetery. “Please don’t tell me there’s some stupid law against visiting her grave. It’s bad enough not being able to talk about her.”
Octavion closed his eyes for a moment, as if praying for help to find the right words. He opened his deep blue eyes and took her hands in his. “I need to talk to you about something, but. .” He glanced in the direction of his father, then turned back to face her. “Not now. Not here.”
Kira pulled her hands from his and wrapped her arms around herself. “Look. I know you can’t talk about her. I know you can get in trouble if you do. Fine. I get it. But you’ve had time to grieve. You went to her funeral. You said your goodbyes. I need to see her grave. I need to tell her how much I miss her.” She turned away from him to hide the tears streaming down her face.
His warmth engulfed her as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. His lips brushed her ear. “Then I shall take you.”
“Alone.”
Octavion stiffened. “Kira, I-”
Kira spun around, breaking his hold on her. “Don’t say no. I need this.”
Their eyes locked for a few tense moments before he finally spoke. “Very well, then. But I want to stay here where I can see you if you need me.”
“But-”
He pressed his lips to hers, most likely to keep her from protesting. When they parted, she leaned into his arms and let him comfort her. She inhaled, her breath catching before her lungs filled with air. He smelled so good-felt even better. She didn’t want to leave the security of his arms, but she had no choice. She needed to do this-for herself and for Altaria.
Chapter Nineteen
Kira let a handful of dirt sift through her fingers. She thought kneeling by Lydia’s grave would be unbearable, that she’d break down in gut wrenching sobs, begging her for forgiveness. Instead, she felt nothing but emptiness. The body that lay beneath was not her friend, but a hollow shell where a loving spirit once lived. In her heart she knew Lydia hadn’t left them-not completely. She felt her everywhere and knew she would always be with her-like Altaria.
That’s how she’d survive this, knowing Lydia’s spirit still lived and watched over them. It gave her hope. Hope that one day Altaria and Lydia would reunite-in death.
She wondered if they believed in heaven on Ophira. She hoped so. “We’ll see her again, Al. I promise.”
This time, no warmth burned within her, no sign that Altaria even existed. Only a cold chill buried deep beneath the surface of her skin. She ached to see Lydia’s face, crooked smile and those beautiful green eyes with their flicker of Altaria’s icy blue behind them.
A soft whimper filled Kira’s ears and for a brief moment she thought it was her imagination. After all, she’d heard and seen things in her mind before. But then it came again-a girl’s muffled sobs.
Kira looked to see if Octavion still watched. He crouched in front of one of the boys she’d seen him with earlier, a piece of rope tangled in the youth’s fingers. Octavion laughed, then took the strand of rope from him. It warmed places in her heart she didn’t know she had-places where even Altaria’s sorrow couldn’t reach.
Another heart wrenching sob filtered through the trees. As much as she didn’t want to intrude, she felt pulled toward the sound. She knew all too well what it felt like to be alone with your grief. Maybe she could give some comfort or at the very least make a new friend in this wild and dangerous world.