14

The Voices In My Head Are Sad, So I’m Sad

“How are you feeling, my love?” Violet asked as we shared an empty dining room together. I sat facing the table as my big sister plated a small plate of sugar biscuits before me. She sat in a chair to my right, facing me. “You’ve been bedridden ever since I brought you back home.”

“I feel a tad better,” I said with uncertainty.

“I was told you came to my chambers to find me, then my chambermaid brought you into the dungeon. You do know you don’t belong in such a filthy place right?” She asked.

“About the… incident with the snow owl.”

“Say no more… you’re but a boy. You don’t fully understand the cruelty of her kind. They believed you could cure their mistress thanks to Apple’s fast recovery. Instead, they brought shame and deserved to be punished.”

“How did they know… how could they possibly know of Apple’s recovery?” I asked.

“It must have been Elyon’s doing. Apple did inform me your meal came from her after all. I’ll remove her and in return give you my chambermaid,” She said hastily.

“While I would be grateful to be in her care,” I lied. “Elyon is not to blame either. I’ve had Elyon’s cooking all my life, therefore I can assure you the wonderful meal prepared for us was not made by her hands. While she is a great teacher, when it comes to cooking, she’s far from great in comparison.”

“You’ve such a kind heart. I know you wish to protect her but who else could have made them if not Elyon?”

“I don’t know… but I can say Mr. Henry should be the only suspect as no one else knows of Apple’s fast recovery and no one else with that knowledge could have had time to spread such information,” I explained.

“And what of those that work here in the palace?” She asked.

“And what of the goddesses themselves?” I snapped. The dining room fell silent before I spoke again. “Please don’t hurt my friends.”

Violet reached over and pulled me into her lavender embrace, kissing the top of my head.

“I’d happily burn down the heavens to protect you, dear brother,” Breakfast finally came by the hands of Elyon, specifically for me though Violet took the first bite with a small surprise. “Oh good heavens, how do you ruin oatmeal?” Violet said, giving Elyon a confused glare.

Elyon was hurt by this I knew even though she didn’t show it, so I said, “Your tongue simply isn’t refined enough to understand true flavor, dear sister.”

“Hmm… I suppose you’re right, dear brother. Henry just might be the one,” She smiled, patting the back of my head.

“Before you question him, would you mind if I borrowed Mr. Henery?” I asked.

“What for?”

“I would be interested in making a new friend. And if you don’t mind, please be kinder to Neve. She may already be unwell and I feel flying could do her some good.”

“Mr. Henry, I’ve asked you to my chambers because I wanted to inform you of my sister’s plan to hurt you. She seems to believe you were the one to drug our meal.”

“That’s impossible, Your Highness, I ate the same food,” He scoffed. I gave him a moment to gather his thoughts as he stared at the wall behind me. “There’s little a child can do at this point. I’ll just speak with the Queen.”

“You’re right,” I began with a nod. “However, my mother is away but one thing I can do as a child… is beg my sister to wait until the Queen returns. Being trapped in this palace all my life, I don’t get to make many friends but when I do I’d be willing to do all that I must to protect them and make new ones along the way. I’ve arranged a place for you to wait until my mother returns.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” The man seemed to let out a sigh, clearly not wanting anything to do with my older sister. “I’ve faith you’ll grow to be a fine gentleman one day.”

I gave him a small nod and smile as he was escorted from my chambers. Taking a small breath I turned and walked over to Alais who was still sleeping in my bed.

“Alais, please wake up,” I begged. “You can’t sleep all day.”

“Sure I can, stand there and watch,” She said while rolling over.

“I need your advice,” I stated while gazing down at the wood floor. “Do you think Mr. Henry should be forgiven for poisoning us?”

“There’s a saying I remember from my past that might help… hmm…” She said scratching the patch of hair between her legs. “A good human is a dead one, how’s that?”

“While I believe that you were Queen, I can’t help but wonder how you came about it,” I cringed and rolled my eyes. “That being said, I would like to ask if you remember a talking cat person.”

“Gonna have to be a bit more specific,” She said, rolling her wrist, motioning me to hurry up.

“Wha…” I gasped. “How can you get more specific than a talking cat?!”

“You’re describing someone from the Chaton Kingdom. They’re a bunch of selfish, clever, mean little bastards. So selfish in fact, I recall there being a law where no virgin could have sex until the Queen got a taste.”

“That’s… an odd law to have inside a kingdom.”

“That law wasn’t just inside, It was for the world… all in reality really. They pretty much went to war with everyone, even livestock.”

“What?! That’s pure madness!”

“It was, but they were one of the best allies we had. Even if they did attack my armies from time to time.”

“How can you be allies and wage war on each other?”

“It was a great way to kill off the dead weight and let out a little frustration after battles. Their Queen was like a sister to me. One moment we’re drinking, talking about the future of our nations… the next we’re fighting to the death… and after that, we lay waste to more land. We’d breed the women, rape the men and eat the children. I would have married her, you know. Sadly she wasn’t well equipped to satisfy me.”

The room was silent aside from her soft breathing and whisper.

I sighed and said, “While… I love tales of your adventures, my skin can’t help but crawl.”

“That’s because you’re naive. There are no rules in war. The victors get to decide what’s right and wrong. Anyway… what do you want, can’t you see I’m sleeping?”

“In my bed no less! But…” I smirked. “I’ve something that might excite you.”

Turning over in bed, her powerful gaze beamed off the edge. She gave me a once-over before rolling her eyes and said, “I’ve seen you naked, and I can assure you I’m not impressed.”

My hands lashed out and began squeezing her face as I asked, “Why must you embarrass me?! I speak of your Chaton friend. I believe she lives in the dungeon.”

Alais immediately sat up with question in her eyes.

“And?” She asked.

“Well, I sent Mr. Henry to her cell.”

“Hah! Did you now?! That man is surely fucked by now. You know he’ll be raped and killed right?”

“He poisoned your food,” I said with silent cold rage that I still feel to this day.

“Yeah…” She mused. “He was a little surprised when I woke up.”

“And so were the owl folk for me. I believe we were supposed to die there but something saved us. Perhaps the same thing that created the mask. Where is it by the way?”

“Your sister has it.”

I took a deep breath and said, “I bet it’s in her room… and that place gives me unease.”

“Just go get it.”

“She threatened to lock me in her room once I claimed responsibility for you. It’s fine, it’ll come back to us soon I’m sure of it. As for Mr. Henry, he tried to kill you and Apple. And I’ll blame him for the owl folk. He will get what comes to him.”

“Well, good luck trying to find his reasoning behind it all.”

“That’s where that adorable Chaton comes in. If she’s as clever as you say, she will gain information from him in his last moments.”

“And what makes you think she’s gonna share it with you? You could release her and give her the heads of everyone that wronged her and she still wouldn’t be satisfied. And I love her for it.”

“Is that so?” I mused. “Do you… not look at me… with such affection?”

“How many have you killed with your own two hands?”

“None but… I would burn down the… heavens to keep you safe.”

“Those… aren’t your words.” She said, laying back down in bed. My cheeks were flushed with anger and embarrassment. “Tell you what… if you can gain the loyalty of the Chaton Queen, I’ll try to keep her from killing and molesting you.”

“That…” I shook my head. “that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Sure it does. You said it yourself, it’s pure madness.”

My chamber doors opened and in came a small morning feast on a cart. I could already see Alais eyeing the meal.