Page 51 of The Goblin Twins
“Snow is cold,” A’bbni pointed out, already scooping up another handful. “Get moving, Captain, the next one’s coming for your head.”
Shi’chen blinked, then smirked at his brother and turned to sprint across the garden, icy wind and En’shea forgotten. It was so easy for him to sometimes forget that he was still just out of adolescence when their childhood had been so regimented with studies, manners, and expectations. They both were smart and worked hard, but growing up in a palace was much different, he was sure, than growing up anywhere else.
Another handful of cold snow flew past him, and he dodged to the side, skidding on a patch of ice and having to turn it into a slide to not slip. Yes, he definitely preferred sand over snow. He could hear A’bbni laughing and saying something to Lai in Cserethian, and his brother’s laugh made him feel warmer. He would do everything in his power to make sure that A’bbni never had a reason not to smile again. Except take a snowball to the face, he decided as he deftly avoided the next one his brother threw, only to get smacked directly in the chest by one thrown by Lai.
“What the fuck?” he said, giving Lai a playful glower. “That’s two against one.”
“You’re saying that you’re not as good as me?” Lai asked with a smirk, already scooping up another handful of snow.
Shi’chen laughed and dove away from the next snowball from A’bbni, only for Lai to catch him again on the arm. “How the fuck are you doing that?” he asked, brushing the snow from his cloak.
“Practice,” Lai said with a grin. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Apparently,” Shi’chen said.
A’bbni rolled his eyes. “You’re being modest, i-sha,” he said.
“It’s slippery,” Shi’chen complained.
A’bbni rolled his eyes. “And sand isn’t?”
“What is he being modest about?” Lai asked, packing another handful of snow together.
“I’m sure he told you that he was the youngest Captain in the palace guards, right?” Lai nodded. “He is considered something of a prodigy in spear and hand-to-hand combat.”
Lai turned to look at him, and Shi’chen felt his ears redden underneath the warm hat he wore. “Really?” he asked. “I seem to recall someone getting the shit kicked out of him one of the first days on board the ship.”
Shi’chen rolled his eyes. “In my defense, I had barely slept in days and had never been on the water before.”
“Well, you’re not on water now, Captain,” Lai said with a grin.
“Technically, he is,” A’bbni said, scooping up another handful of snow.
Lai laughed at that. “Fair point, Your Highness.” Shi’chen watched his brother blush at that, and he quickly scooped up a ball of snow and tossed it at him, catching A’bbni on his neck, snow clinging to his brother’s ponytail. A’bbni let out a yelp, giving Shi’chen a playful glare as he brushed the snow off his skin.
This time, Shi’chen was watching for Lai to throw a snowball at him, and he dove and rolled, coming up on his feet, then immediately doing a flip backward, anticipating the second one Lai threw. He gave the half-elf a grin, enjoying the way Lai was staring. “What?”
“And you had me worried for your safety on the ship,” Lai said with a laugh.
Shi’chen smirked, about to retort when Garina appeared in the doorway, announcing that Var An-Sha’kri had arrived. Shi’chen was more than a little relieved to go inside where it was much warmer. Garina took his cloak from him with a slight bat of her eyelashes that Shi’chen ignored. Lai gave the twins a smile as he pulled off his own cloak. “I will leave you to your meeting.”
“No, you should come with us,” A’bbni said, catching Lai’s hand in his, which made the half-elf glance down in surprise at the touch.
Lai then looked over at Shi’chen, and the prince gave his friend a smile. “You should be there, Lai.”
Lai nodded, and Shi’chen smoothed down his clothes and hair as best he could. A’bbni’s eyes were sparkling, his cheeks and ears red from the cold, and he was smiling. That made Shi’chen feel warm inside despite his cold hands. He wanted his brother to always smile like that. Garina led them down the hall and pushed open the office door. Mii’ra was sitting in the same chair she had sat in yesterday. She rose and smiled at them as they entered.
“Good day, Your Highnesses,” she said, giving them an appropriate bow once the door had closed behind them.
“Good day, Your Eminence,” A’bbni said with a pleasant smile, having dropped Lai’s hand as the door opened.
“Good day, Var An-Sha’kri,” Shi’chen said, less pleasant than his brother as they sat down across from her.
She returned to her seat, giving a quick glance over at Lai, who sat down next to A’bbni. “Your Highnesses, in anticipation of moving as quickly as we can, before the Emperor can do further damage, we are making arrangements for you to depart for Er’hadin first thing tomorrow morning. Lord Kella is providing one of the Arvay family’s smaller vessels, which also means it will be faster.” She folded her hands on the table in front of her.
Shi’chen felt his stomach flip-flop. More sea travel. Beneath the table, A’bbni squeezed his hand reassuringly. “But we will travel together?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mii’ra assured him, giving him another smile. “Right now, the plan is for the ship to only take Your Highnesses, Lord Kella, Vr Ii-Heshar, and myself, plus a basic crew.”
