106: A future with her no more

A future with her no more

The relentless assault of the sun beat down upon Adela, its blazing rays showing no mercy. The air she breathed was sweltering, leaving her throat parched and in constant need of relief. 2

Every step she took back to the tent caused the ground beneath her feet to shift, the fine grains of sand yielding to her weight. In this unforgiving environment, even the slightest gust of wind carried a delicate swirl of sand, tickling her skin and leaving a fine layer of dust on her clothes.

With her brother next to her now, Adela longed for the comfort of her home. 

Arkin seemed lost in his thoughts, frozen in front of the tent entrance. It was only when a rare breeze passed through the fabric stirring it gently that he seemed to snap out of his reverie.

Breaking the silence, Arkin asked with a tight jaw, "Where did he sleep last night?"

Egon grunted in response, "What kind of question is that? Outside," he added with a disdainful look directed at Arkin.

Arkin, without glancing back at either of them, pulled open one side of the tent's door gesturing for Adela to enter. As she stepped inside, Arkin was about to follow her when Egon pre-empted him and entered first.

He stood for a long moment staring at Egon's back in disbelief, and Adela who had seen the childish show then chose to ignore it offered Arkin her water pouch.

"Here, have some water..."

Accepting the pouch, Arkin drank its contents in one go. His eyes remained fixed on Adela as she settled on a sleeping bag, patting the spot next to her for him to sit. Wiping his mouth with the back of his Lanarkian shirt sleeve, he reluctantly walked the few steps and sat beside her. Irritation marked his face as Egon positioned himself in front of them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Egon, ignoring Arkin's evident annoyance, spoke up, "He is here to learn about your mother. Are you going to fill in the gaps?"

Arkin barked in response, "Don't talk as if I'm not here."

Adela gently placed a hand on Arkin's cheek and turned his head toward her. When he involuntarily pulled back from her touch, a fleeting expression of hurt crossed her eyes. She reminded herself that they were still adjusting to their changed circumstances and that the rules of etiquette would take time to fade away.

In a soft voice, Adela began, "When I received your letter, I couldn't blame you... You witnessed my suffering growing up when it comes to Grace de Lanark... The social butterfly... The elegant Archduchess who shines at balls... Mother — as you may have suspected at least once — is a commoner."

Arkin's red face slightly lost color, but he did not appear surprised by Adela's revelation.

"I recently discovered that Father also protects her lineage here," Adela continued.

Akin nodded, "The locals wouldn't talk to me, not even when I revealed my position to them. I realized that I needed to gain their trust, so I surrendered myself to the trained men who were following me hoping that they'd finally open up... Then I heard your voice..." 

Egon interrupted their conversation with a huff, "Men of the desert don't talk. They listen."

As he absentmindedly rubbed his stubble, Adela's eyes were drawn to his brown gloves. She wondered when he had put them on, relieved that they concealed the bite marks on his wrist which she didn't want Arkin or anyone else to see.

Arkin's accusatory gaze turned towards Egon as he asked, "Do you know the man who blew that wretched thing into my neck?"

Egon snapped back, "And if I do?"

Arkin's eyes briefly shifted to Adela before settling on her concerned face. "That one is certainly talkative. He called you 'Healer.' Did you help one of them?" He inquired with a soft tone.

Finally, something that Adela could elaborate on as it directly concerned her. "There's more to it... I've recently discovered that there's something... not human about me."

Arkin's face turned pale as he grasped the seriousness of Adela's revelation. The term the desert man used wasn't entirely unfamiliar to him as his father had mentioned it sporadically in their previous conversations. However, he struggled to recall those specific discussions when he needed to most.

"Damn it," Arkin cursed. 

"...Father had hinted at my potential healing abilities before... and they manifested recently," she disclosed.

"When did this happen?" Arkin inquired, his tone dry as his eyes darted back and forth between Egon and Adela. "Why does he seem to know things that I don't, Adela?" 

"It was the day you stabbed him... his wound healed rapidly," she replied.

Arkin shook his head, vividly remembering how Egon's bandage had inexplicably come off his shoulders at an unnaturally fast pace. Another memory resurfaced, one that had puzzled him at the time.

"The day I survived the rebels' attack in the forest... I shouldn't have made it out alive that day..."

With a nod of agreement, Adela's voice carried a sense of urgency. "Indeed, Latora is not the ideal place for you to find the answers you seek."

As the weight of his actions and their potential threat to Adela's safety sank in, Arkin's face contorted with pain. If Adela did possess light magic in her blood, it was highly unlikely that it came from her father. He clenched his teeth so tightly that a sharp pain shot through his head.

"I never should have come here," Arkin muttered through gritted teeth.

Adela reached out, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "All the answers you need are in Lanark... Everyone there is concerned about you."

Arkin shook his head firmly. "Kolhis."

"I can fill in those blanks," Egon interjected.

"I'll wait outside then, take your time," Adela said, preparing to stand up, but Egon's voice halted her.

"Stay. You need to hear this too," Egon insisted.

He proceeded to recount a peculiar tale. His uncle had fallen in love with a desert girl, but their relationship was thwarted when she became pregnant. Determined to marry her, he left for Kolhis to earn enough money only to return and discover that she had been engaged to Kaiser de Lanark.

Arkin's stomach churned, "So, the Archduke fell in love with a pregnant commoner at first sight? Am I expected to believe that?"

Adela let out a sigh, sharing his confusion.

"That part doesn't make sense to me either. Why did Father marry Mother? I mean... I understand why you left. I know how difficult they can be... But perhaps seeking answers won't be as hard as we think. We haven't even made an attempt to talk to them yet."

"For the sake of your safety, it is crucial that nobody knows you are Grace's son. However, according to the agreement between my uncle, the Baron, and the Archduke, you will become uncle's rightful heir soon," Egon stated.

Arkin's eyes widened in alarm. "Are you suggesting that you plan to tarnish the Baroness's reputation? If anyone dares to insinuate her infidelity, I will not hesitate to silence them with my sword!"

Egon clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"The narrative that will circulate among the public is that you formed a close bond with my uncle while residing in the estate due to your involvement with the Second Order. He will choose you as his heir because he sees you as a son."

Arkin's anger began to wane, replaced by confusion. "Why... Why would he go to such lengths when I can never acknowledge him?"

Egon shrugged, "Wouldn't you want to secure your children's future and share your wealth with them?"

Arkin's head drooped low. The notion of marriage and the possibility of having children seemed ridiculous to him.

pqdm.com