Page 64 of When the Moon Met the Sun

“Now,” I said loud enough to be heard over the air ripping at me, “can we all carry on with these meetings in peace, or are there more objections to my presence here?” I asked, looking around the room at the different males and females.

When nobody spoke out against me, I flicked a wrist towards the ceiling, and the clouds slowly dispersed before they let loose any rain, taking the violent winds with them.

I smoothed down my dress and hair, and as an afterthought, released Farrowtide of the plants holding him in place. I calmly walked around the table and sat back down in my chair. I maintained a calm, neutral mask, one without much emotion on my face.

The chandelier was still shaking from the winds as Byn said, “If that’s all, I’d like to discuss more important matters now.”

Chapter Twenty

It’d been weeks since my display at that first meeting, and since then, almost every day has been full of meeting after meeting. We discussed crop distribution, taxes, building new roads between towns, the profits from the mines at the ravine, and a ton of other topics I would have never even thought about.

Byn took the lead during the meetings majority of the time, but sometimes another Valwain member did instead, depending on the subject at hand. Quinn always took the lead when it came to any topic regarding the South’s soldiers, and Teagan and Rayven were always on top of communication with the North, which seemed to be growing sparse.

Today was the first day in weeks that we had a break—a moment to breathe. Byn insisted on taking me into town, down into the heart of Cairnyl. He wanted to show me the place he grew up—and he also wanted to find a thank you gift for Teagan, who had been present at almost every meeting alongside us. She didn’t have to be, but she endured with us, and I know Byn was secretly relieved to have his sister to rely on.

First thing on the agenda this morning was to head to the dens to check up on Atlas and Lychen, along with Lychen’s mate, Gaia. Apparently, there were a couple different dens throughoutCairnyl, but Atlas and Lychen were the only Titan Wolves on active duty, so they were kept the closest.

After giving the wolves their breakfast and belly rubs, we met up with Quinn and Rayven at the perch. That was where all of the corvids in Cairnyl stayed, and were bred and trained. Rayven had just finished checking the latest letters when we arrived, and offered to show me around.

He explained how they tied the vials to the birds legs and slid small notes inside that they then transported across the continent. He told me how the birds were divided into sectors, each one taught how to go to a specific location or town. Then he showed me where the corvids favorite spot to be pet was, and I got to apply this knowledge to Lark, who wasn’t quite as intimidating as he was before.

In an effort to also relax, Rayven and Quinn offered to walk around town with us. Though, truthfully, I didn’t think either of them knew what the wordrelaxreally meant.

They now walked a few paces behind Byn and me, their bodies stiff and mechanical. It seemed neither one of them could turn off the soldier or spy in them.

A few paces behind them, though, walked Laurence.

After my outburst at the first meeting, I went to go find him and offered him the job of being my personal guard. There was nobody I knew that I trusted more for the task, and now he was always within a few paces of me.

The male almost cried at the offer I gave him. I made sure he’d be paid handsomely, but it was the honor and care I put into asking that had him emotional. I may not have known him very long, but he reminded me of the father I always wished I could have had. He accepted the assignment with glee, happy to be of service to the royals of the South, who had saved him all those years ago. He’d even become friendly with Byn now, who was happy I now had extra security.

In the beginning, I thought I would hate having a constant shadow, but I’d grown quite comfortable with his presence. I made sure he took a day to himself every week, whatever day I spent with one of the Valwain, and that he was only with me during the day time. I’d hate to overwork him, but he was devout and stubborn.

Now, my hand rested on the inside of Byn’s elbow as we walked into the heart of Cairnyl. It almost took my breath away, how cozy and warm it was here during late-spring. So different from the Salic Mountains I hailed from.

Every storefront was painted a bright shade, each color of the rainbow appearing at least once. There were large windows at the front of every building, giving a sneak peek of what that store was offering. The cobbled road was worn down from years of use, and there was a small yet beautiful fountain in the middle of the square, the centerpiece displaying one of the Southern kings of old that I didn’t know the name of.

Though all of us were dressed in casual-wear today, we all got recognized every time we turned onto a new street. I thought my features were the most noticeable—white plait down my back, pale skin, wings. But I tried my best to blend in today. I had a simple, form framing lavender shirt on and gray cotton pants that flared out as they went down my legs. I wasn’t accustomed to all of the attention we were receiving, but Byn paused and talked to each person who stopped him, greeting most of them by name. Suddenly, it reminded me of how he treated the people back in Diorum.

After saying his farewells to the latest person who came to say hello, Byn gasped at something he saw in the storefront of a bright yellow building, and tugged me into the store with him, the rest of our party ducking inside behind us.

Byn gently let go of my hand and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before walking to the back of the store to talk to who I assumed was the owner and craftsman of the shop.

Rayven and Quinn followed Byn, stopping to look at different art pieces hung up on the walls as they went. Laurence stayed nearby, always within earshot of me. I turned towards the display in the front of the shop’s window and admired the different art pieces they had presented. Beautifully crafted leather sheaths for swords and daggers of all sizes, banners showing off the Thorntier family crest, and a stunning art piece that depicted the market square right outside in all of its beauty.

I looked out through the window as a mother and her young daughter stopped and stared into the shop, pointing at the paintings and banners, smiling. The mother leaned down and said something that made the little girl laugh, and I felt a pang of envy and sadness strike through me at the sight.

The two females carried on in their walk, and I continued to watch the people come and go, until one person in particular caught my eye as she approached, glancing at the sheaths on display.

The female on the other side of the glass couldn’t have been more than two or three years older than I was. She had short, wavy hair, such a dark brown it was practically black. Her skin was olive toned—not as dark as Rayven’s, but not as light as Byn’s, either. Her eyes, though, were striking—a brown center surrounded by a ring of moss-colored green—the perfect hazel.

It was only when she looked up from beneath the black hood obscuring her features and met my eyes that I realized why I found her face so interesting.

The firm set of her lips, the straight of her nose, the crease between her brows—even the shape of her face resembling a heart.

She looked almost identical to Mother.

My jaw went slack, and the girl seemed to have a similar reaction to my own appearance. She stumbled back, as though physically struck.

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