Page 93 of Beneath the Flames
I forced my anxious breath to slip silently through my lips, unwilling to give away how scared I was that this wouldn’t work.
When I couldn’t take the crushing weight of the silence any longer, I asked, “Now what?”feeling like she’d just buried my hope like one buries the dead.
Those eyes pierced into mine, giving a much-needed jolt of life to my heart.
“Now we wait.”
***
Day one of waiting for the seed to sprout.
I scowled at the dirt from where I sat on the floor, the Magmara looming beneath its glass prison behind me.Candles sat flickering around the room, offering a touch more light than the moons shining through the balcony doors.
“It’s only been a few hours,” Maren said, amusement in her voice as she watched me frown at the bucket.She sat next to me, leaning back on her hands.
“It feels like days.”
“Princes aren’t much for patience, are they?”she chuckled.
“I’ve never had much need for it.”
“No time like the present to learn.”
I glanced at her.“Where didyourscome from?”
Maren shrugged.“Between putting up with my father’s…moods, and growing up on a farm, patience is the name of the game.You can’t force people to change or things to grow.You can help them, feed them, and nurture them, but in the end, there’s nothing to do but wait.”
I considered her words, staring at the moist dirt that hadn’t changed since she’d planted the seed.Waiting was infuriating, a waste of time.How did she do it?
“And when things didn’t grow?”I asked, feeling a strange spark flit through my stomach as I met those gray eyes.
“Then you try again.”
Day two of waiting for the seed to sprout.
Was it a sign of immaturity that I wanted to bang my head against the wall over and over?I didn’t know if I was simply bored from nothing happening, or if it was all this anxious energy about my life dwindling with each second that passed that had my feet moving toward the wall, forcing my face into the rough wood.
My forehead was sore by the time I felt a hand on my arm.
“Rhydian?”Maren’s soft voice asked.I paused but didn’t look at her.“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing has happened,” I bit out.I’d been in the room with the Magmara for countless hours now, unable to get myself to leave.I wanted to be here the moment that sprout popped through the soil.If it ever did.
Maren snorted.“Have you thought about doing something else?Distracting yourself?You’re going to drive yourself crazy just sitting here waiting.”She walked over to the pot and poured water over the soil again.
“What do you suggest I do?”
“Do some cleaning?Play a game with Nico?”
Atmysnort, Maren smiled.“How about something simple, like read a book?That’ll pass the time.”
With the mention of reading, I had an overwhelming desire to take her to the library.It consumed my thoughts and before I could think my actions through, I grabbed her hand and started tugging her along.
Surprisingly, she didn’t fight me.
“Where are we going?”she said breathlessly, trying to keep up with my long strides.Her hand was warm and soft in mine.I was surprised to find I liked it.
“I want to show you something.”
