Page 79 of He Will Always Love Me

“Come in, come in. Frin and Lurz, please prepare food and drink for our guest. The infused wine from Taro’s Point and a slab of nasarer hare. We have fermented bernai roots from the cellar. Do you like those, Talan?”

“I’m afraid I can’t stay long, Prince Taurek.”

I try to conceal my disappointment. “We’ve known each other since we were children sneaking off into caverns. Stay a while. You must be exhausted from the journey.”

Apart from Hanai, there’s practically no one I can truly talk to these days. Since she’s taken ill, I’ve lived in my head. As much as I love my father, Thane Odar has never been known as a glittering conversationalist. My brothers are all scattered in other parts of the Kingdom, and some in other parts of Kiphia.

“I took a chordata,” Talan answers. “So the journey wasn’t too strenuous.”

“I remember you were a champion rider in your youth.”

“Never like you, Taurek.”

“Please. That was so long ago, I don’t know if I can even mount one anymore.”

Talan knows me well enough to roll his eyes, not believing a word of my false modesty.

He’s right. If anything, I’m a stronger rider now. In the aftermath of the calamity five years ago, I distracted myself by teaching Hanai how to ride. It was one of the few outlets that helped us feel whole after Kantha left us.

Death would have been easier than her unceremonious abandonment. Death comes for all of us. Leaving is a choice.

It’s been months since Hanai has been strong enough for us to ride together. Her illness has robbed us of even that happiness.

“So, what brings you here, Talan? When I first saw your face, I thought I must be hallucinating and the illness had gotten me, too.”

I smile, but his expression is aghast. “I’m sorry to add to your stress, Taurek.”

“No, no, I’m sorry for the bad joke. I forget gallows humor isn’t a universal language.”

“The illness brings me here today, actually.” He looks down.

“I see.”

“There’s a woman in Tlisan, a friend of Sorsha’s, who’s an expert in these things. A human, one who’s quite wise and resourceful. When we received your dispatch, Sorsha talked to her right away.”

I stare skeptically. “Is she a doctor?”

“No. An artisan.” He continues despite my scoffing. “She was ill as a child. She has deep knowledge of various remedies, especially healing properties of the mountains. You know, on Earth, they used to have cures from mineral deposits…”

“I’m not interested in human medicine for my Kiphian daughter. I’m sorry you came all this way, Talan.”

“Stars above, you are just as stubborn as ever, Taurek. Will you just listen?”

I grunt in assent, and he continues.

“This woman, Zaya, she spent her convalescence learning about the world, since she couldn’t interact with it. Once she was better, she wanted to see everything she’d read about. I’ve met few individuals of any species who are as naturally curious.”

“And you came to ask me to give this human a medal?”

“If you were anyone else, I would leave now. I’m only staying for Hanai. I’ll tolerate you for her sake.”

“Ah. I’ll give you the medal then.” I grin, but Talan is not amused.

The porter leaves food and drink for us on silver trays, mined from caverns beneath the palace.

“What shall we toast to, my friend?” I raise my goblet, and Talan haltingly lifts his.

“To truly living, Taurek. Not just surviving.” It cuts to the core. We clink our glasses and immediately drain them. I hold up the carafe of wine and pour us a second round.

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