The King's Obsession

ka

shoulder, struggling not to make any noise a

ing the last time I was there I got kidnapped. But I know I need to go, even if this early hour in the morning is somewhat

t exactly sure what'

ara

re a figure approaches, a hood pulled over their head. I don

ealing her bright red hair and wary eyes. I thought perhaps that she would have been imprisoned,

either side of my arms. "You're

y, right from when Marek saved me from Vaia's cl

nd what her final words to me were. Strangely, Nakoa doesn't seem surprised at my admission, and doesn't even qu

k softly, bracing m

's estate," she explains, breath hitched. I can't blame her for being so anxious.

my spot. Tai is alive...An

ore, wishing the sun would hur

ers, seeing the sadness that flood Nakoa's eyes, even as she tries to co

out to embrace her. She let's me, resting her chin on my shoulder as he breath's become uneven. Sh

rough," I murmur quietly. Focusing on her grief makes it easier to

ng to remember what she is doing her as she pulls away, brushing a stray tear

few belongings to scrounge up from my

I tell her, popping the door open. "He was alway

be betrayed, but

t here with no sun. "I was coming to see your family, to in

grateful she didn't

he Azure Province,"

myself seems awfully daunting. And Nakoa is the only piece of my past that I can hold onto which

turn me down, because it seems like such a big ask. But maybe she is as empty as I am right now, consi

eed all the help I c

e..." She looks over me with a cautious eye, as if I'm abo

ow about the river,

nst the side of my head. "My memory is still f

y. "Alright. L

ehind us. It's going to be an entire day's journey, and I'm already ex

going to stay?" Nakoa as

tle inn," I murmur, resting

Blue Glass Inn, but the nostalgia might be helpful. Not to mention I would like to see Fran, even

peaking under the sun has risen, dousing th

ou, to know you're okay

. "But I need to see Marek first, he will k

, even if my suspicions about what he is hiding in the b

trusting

For my parents, for sav

can't sleep, too much on my mind. What am I going to say when I see Marek again? Is

If I start turning into some crazed Tan

ds tightly.

elf in asking. Nakoa was a Noble for his fath

t. There has to be some moments in the past that have made her doubt

lain what's happening in the basement to me, or I need to see fo

into the corner of the carriage, wishing the carria

're not ready," Nakoa assures me. "I'm not ev

luttering closed.

again, and everything