Page 134 of A Simple Truth

“I’ll give them the choice to follow me or to die,” I responded. She quietly sobbed but nodded. Orest promptly slid a blade into her throat, watching as her body violently shook, her hands panicking, attempting to hold the wound as she bled out until the last flicker of life had finally gone out. “Though loyalty and revenge don’t often coincide,” I muttered, taking a last look at the room and then moving my eyes to Orest. “Anything?”

“Nope,” Orest replied.

“Well, this night is quite a disappointment.” I let out a low growl, boiling frustration was becoming an ongoing theme in my life. “Who is next on the list?”

“Andrias is only a few flying hours away according to these letters. We could be there by morning.” Orest ravaged through the many papers on Hosam’s desk.

“Fuck it. Let’s visit dear Andrias.”

79

FINNLEAH

“Look at that one!” Aurelia squealed, pointing at the large bird gliding above the seashore.

“Which kind is that one?” I asked as my boots sank into the sand, feeling clunky and heavy compared to the quick bare feet of the slender, angel-like figure ahead of me.

“He is going to dive! He is going to dive!!! Finn! Are you watching?! He is diving!” she yelled, violently dragging me down the beach as she ran, following the large gray bird diving straight into the calm, morning waters.

These early morning adventures with Aurelia were something I looked forward to each week, even as my eyes hurt from exhaustion after continuous sleepless nights. Here with her, there was beautifully free chaos. Conversations jumped from one absurd topic to another, from the types of birds down to the naughty books she’d discovered her mom read. There was no obligation to pretend to be anyone, no pressure to perform, to try to be your best at all times. Here, I just was. And so was she. And I think that was the beauty of our friendship.

“Come, we have to find the nest and check on the chicks!” Aurelia shouted, taking off, running past the cliffs we were sightseeing. I let out a loud yawn, following in her steps.

We had spent the whole morning exploring each crack of the rocky shore, until the bright sun blasted us with unbearable heat, demanding we find shade. Aurelia tugged on her white straw hat, shielding her almost see-through skin from the merciless sun.

“How does your hair stay so perfect all the time?” I asked as we climbed up the hill back to the small human village, my hand smoothing the wild flyaways already escaping from my loose braid. Even after hours at the beach, under the ruthless sun and with the ocean wind and exercise, her long, unbound locks with a small curl on the ends were perfect, bouncing with each of her eager steps.

“Well, I am a lady, by title and nature, as my mom likes to say, thus I must take care of my hair diligently,” Aurelia replied, as if that somehow answered my question. “Though it is also according to her that I must wear shoes. So, you have to take her words with a grain of salt occasionally.” Aurelia smiled as she pointed to her bare feet while rambling down the grass as she picked up a few dainty wildflowers. “She also says that you and Gideon would make really cute babies.” Her voice was careless, though her words took me by surprise.

My lips twitched with a secret smile, but it was short lived as my stomach summersaulted at the memory of the last conversation I had with the General.

“She says that, huh?” I picked up a few wild blooms myself.

“Yep, but she also said that a graybeak would be stronger in a fight than a birchclaw, so what does she know?” Aurelia shrugged. “For reference, birchclaw would most definitely win a fight. They got the smarts, their giant beaks, and have you seen their claws?! It’s literally in the name!” she exclaimed. “But momdoes know ‘some’ things though, at least if she reads all those books, she should by now.” Her eyes lit up with wicked intent. “I mean, even I picked up a few things and I haven’t even been with a guy. Though, some of it is gross. Wait, have you ever been with a guy? Well, actually, don’t answer that. That’s personal and invasive, right? My mom says I have to respect personal boundaries. But what are personal boundaries? And if they are so personal, how would I know I am not respecting them if I don’t even know what they are to begin with?!” she asked, appalled, as we resumed our walk back through the flourishing meadows. “Though I am pretty good at guessing. There was once this game we played, and I guessed…” Aurelia went on from one story, then another, her mind connecting them in the most entertaining way. My cheeks bunched up as I smiled the whole way back to the De Villiar’s house, enjoying the snippets of her happiness that she so freely shared with me.

“…you can only imagine the look on my dad’s face…” Aurelia said as I wholeheartedly laughed, opening the front door to the small stone and wood home. Yet, my laugh was cut short, as air whooshed from my lungs, my eyes stumbling uponhim.

Gideon was dressed in his armor, helm in hand, the scarlet rubies on his swords glistening in the sunlight seeping through the windows. His eyes caught mine, unwilling to let go.

“Finn, Aurelia, welcome back, how was your morning adventure?” Frederick De Villiar smiled at us as we awkwardly made our way through the room.

“It was great, daddy, you should’ve seen those new hatchlings, they were huge!” Aurelia chirped to her dad, not caring for the mighty Destroyer standing motionless in front of me.

“We are just finishing up our council meeting,” Xentar said, aware of the sudden shift in the air. “We can head out in a minute,” he assured, and I nodded in response, forcing my eyesaway from Gideon, fighting the swirling tsunami of emotions flooding me, my heart eager to escape my chest at his presence so close me.

“These are beautiful.” Fleur motioned to the flowers in my arms. “There is a great vase for them, right there on the shelf, Finn. It will match them perfectly.” Lady De Villiar pointed with her hand in a lady-like gesture to a small, green, crystal vase, atop the tall shelf at the end of the hall.

Without saying a word, I took a breath, sharp and forceful, but I managed to move my body, raising my chin up, as I walked past the man I loved.

80

GIDEON

This was a foolish idea.

A terrible idea.

Gods, what was I thinking?

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