Page 39 of The Goblin Twins
Shi’chen suspected Lai’s thoughts were not completely altruistic. A half-elf, already looked down upon by society, seen as a novelty, with no home and no family, could easily disappear, and no one would ever think to look for him. The thought made him sick to his stomach that something like that had probably happened. Someone had been taken from their life and forced to do something, whether in the mines or on a ship or in someone’s bed, and no one was looking for them. And knowing his cousin, En’shea would wield that power against anyone that might oppose him without hesitation, the way he had used A’bbni as a bargaining chip with Hi’jan.
“I meant to ask,” Lai said, pulling Shi’chen back from the spiral his mind had started to fall down. “Which of you is older?”
“I am,” Shi’chen replied, forcing himself to pay more attention to Lai and their surroundings. The buildings around them were starting to become more upscale and more residential. The shops they passed looked to be much more affluent than the ones they had been at earlier in the day as well.
“So would you be the one taking the throne?”
“Keep your voice down!” Shi’chen hissed, but Lai rolled his eyes.
“We’re two sailors in a rich neighborhood. No one is listening to us.”
Shi’chen glanced around, but Lai seemed to be correct. Most of the people in the streets, which were not that many with the cold pressing in, seemed to be deliberately avoiding the two lower-class individuals walking amongst them. That felt very strange to Shi’chen, who was usually hyper-aware of all eyes being on him whenever he was around. He supposed anonymity brought privacy, and at the moment, he was grateful for it.
“I don’t want it,” he said after a moment.
Lai blinked. “You don’t want the throne?”
Shi’chen shook his head. “I know that probably sounds ridiculous, but I would much rather be a guard. I know how to lead a Garrison. I don’t know how to lead a country.”
“From what I know of royalty, most people don’t know how to lead a country,” Lai replied with a shrug.
“But we were raised in the palace.”
“So was your Cousin,” Lai pointed out.
Shi’chen blinked. “I… guess that’s true.”
“So, your brother would become Emperor?”
“I suppose so,” Shi’chen replied. That thought was strange. While he was sure it had crossed his brother’s mind at some point, since A’bbni always seemed to have considered every possible scenario, he was also sure that A’bbni had assumed he would never need to do so. He had been so far down the list of succession, even in the last few years, following their Father, Prii’sha, En’shea, and his older twin. A’bbni wanted to be a physician, wanted to help people and study. Would he even want to take the throne? If he refused, and Shi’chen refused, the Er-Ha’sen line would be done, and the entire line of succession would be thrown into chaos. But who would enforce any of it since En’shea had murdered the entire Imperial Senate as well? This whole train of thought was starting to give him a headache.
“It should be two blocks that way,” Lai said, taking a turn at the end of a street. Shi’chen felt his heart speed up, and he forced himself to keep the same walking speed. Lai turned to him again. “I know you want to see your brother, but will you let me go check it out first? If it is a trap, I don’t want anyone to see you.”
“I can defend myself, you know,” Shi’chen said, though his heart surged at how concerned Lai was for his safety.
“I know you can,” Lai replied.
Shi’chen nodded. “All right. Just, please be careful yourself.”
Lai gave him a grin. “Of course. I’m always careful.”
Shi’chen couldn’t stop a snort of laughter at that. “Sure you are.”
“I’m hurt,” Lai said, placing his hand on his chest in mock outrage, then pointed to a large, white house with a wall and wrought iron gate on the next street. “That should be it.”
Shi’chen was sure he looked ridiculous, staring at the large house with undisguised awe, but he didn’t care. His heart gave a little jump in his chest, wondering if A’bbni was looking out from one of the many windows.
Lai gave him a nudge. “Give me the letter.” Shi’chen handed it over, and Lai motioned to the corner. “Wait here. If it’s safe, I’ll come back and get you.” And with that, he strode off before Shi’chen could ask what the alternative was if it was not safe. Not that he really had many options in the matter.
He leaned against the wall of the building next to him, keeping his hood up as best he could without it blocking his peripheral vision. The street did seem quiet, and nothing seemed out of place. He watched Lai walk up to the black wrought-iron gate and say something to someone standing there he could not see clearly, and then the gate opened, and Lai disappeared inside. Shi’chen’s heart thundered in his ears as he watched and waited. He couldn’t see the front door from this angle, so he just had to wait and hope that Lai was all right. Every second felt like an eternity as he waited, trying to remain still and not shift from foot to foot.
He was sure the sun would set before Lai came back, even though it really was only a few minutes before his friend appeared at the gate and crossed the street to him, giving him a nod. He pushed himself off the wall, trying very, very hard not to bounce on the balls of his feet as Lai approached. When the half-elf was close enough to not have to shout, he said, “I spoke with Lord Quenn, who is Lord Kella’s husband. Your brother is here. Come on.”
Shi’chen almost ran, but Lai grabbed him by the back of his cloak. “Slow down, Your Majesty, you’re going to get unwanted attention if you run.”
Shi’chen let out a frustrated sigh, but he returned to walking at a steady pace, each step making his heart beat faster in his chest. Lai led him through the gate, past an elf in livery who nodded them in. “He said to go to the back garden,” Lai replied, motioning his head around the side of the house as he pulled his hat off. The high walls would afford more privacy so the twins would not be seen as easily together. Shi’chen wanted to take in the lavish yard, intricate architecture on the house, and all the other small details that spoke to the Arvay family having money, but he couldn’t think about it now. His chest felt too tight, and his breath caught in his throat as he and Lai rounded the corner of the house into a beautifully laid out hedge garden.
And then, there his brother was, coming out of the door of the house next to a tall, dark-haired elf. The relief that flooded Shi’chen was like a splinter suddenly gone from beneath his skin. He hadn’t even taken two steps before A’bbni’s eyes met his, and they sprinted across the garden, skidding to a stop that almost tumbled them both over, throwing their arms around each other in a tight embrace.
