A few days later as I made my way to the lessons, I found Tynan pacing around the room instead of working calmly like usual.
"What-"
"Oh you're here finally. I have to go with Cozbi to her kingdom. I don't know how long but I'll be gone for a while." Tynan started hurriedly, then moved closer, holding my face in his hands. "Take care."
When he stepped back to put some things in his bag, it took me several minutes to get my breath back to normal; to snap out of the tenderness of that moment. 𝘏𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭, I thought. And before I knew it, he was gone. I just stood there and said nothing the whole time. 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥.
Luckily, moving back, I bumped into Tynan. "Woah. You're still walking like a spy."
I was surprised to find we were in an isolated bump of the hallways, one only to be used when you want to be concealed. "Learnt from the best. Gotta practice." I shrugged.
"Very well, I must say. Your teacher must be one hell of an expert." He said and we laughed. When the sound died down, my cheeks burnt as I remembered the warmth of his hands on them. I cringed back and to hide my embarrassment, decided to fill in the silence.
"How are you going to go? Certainly not with Cozbi," I asked since no one knew of him as her personal spy.
"I'll sneak out of the palace and get onto a caravan on the outskirts of the town and simply go to the land of 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘯é𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘩. Might stop at your town for a while," He smiled.
"Have you never gone there?" I asked, recalling the mortification I had felt thinking of the possibility of him hearing the obnoxious rumours in my town regarding me.
To my relief, he shook his head.
But that made me wonder, "Does Cozbi have any other spies; except you and me?"
Tynan thought for a minute and shook his head again, "Allies. You know what that means right?"
Maybe be lied to me so I wouldn't feel embarrassed.
"What are you going there for?"
"Spying...?" Tynan said in a it's-obvious manner.
"I mean, anything specific?"
"Not really. Cozbi believes her family might be up to something. They always used her as a pawn, according to her."
I nodded, and said no more. Then Tynan excused himself and left again. I stood standing there, watching him go, wondering when he'll come back.
* * * * *
"𝘓á 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩" Marcus approached with somewhat renewed energy the next day.
"No good day when I see you," I spat. "Did you decide to come out of your chambers finally?" After our conversation that day, he had disappeared again.
"No, going right in, but after a little walk," he replied. "Are you mad I didn't talk to you often?"
I sighed and looked away, rolling my eyes.
He laughed lightly, playfulness spread across his face. When in a good mood, he looked way younger. I couldn't help but smile back a little. We stood like that for a minute when I said, "Don't you have better things to do?"
"I do." He replied.
"Then go."
"Why?" He said but then went anyway, humming a rhythmless tune.
"Lame," I mumbled.
That night, I sat in bed, bored. The temperature had dropped rapidly and snow was beginning to fall. A light knock on my door pulled me out of my stance. Surprisingly, it was Marcus, standing with his confident grim expression.
I narrowed my eyes, "What do you want?"
"I don't know. Do you want dinner?" He asked.
"Why do you care?"
"I don't. I'm just asking."
I shook my head and closed the door on his face. Something about him was so annoying lately, I couldn't help but act rude. He would be all smiley at times but rude and mocking the next. It was so weird.
A few minutes later he barged into my room without warning, making me jump out of bed.
"Have you lost your mind?" I yelled then my eyes trailed to the food tray in his hands. "What's this?"
"I didn't even have to assist my blind grandma this much. It's food, don't you see?"
"I didn't even have to assist my deaf uncle this much. I 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 I didn't want to eat."
"Your hungry gaze says something else."
"I said I didn't want to eat with 𝘺𝘰𝘶."
"Come on now, that's a lie." He walked forward and seated himself along with the tray on my bed. "Myer has gone to the kingdom of Á𝘥𝘩 𝘮ó𝘳 in East. I'm so bored, you have no idea." He filled his mouth with meat letting out a satisfied groan as the royal meat melted on his tongue.
"Why didn't you go with him?" I said but decided to join him anyway, closing my eyes as the burning meat melted on my tongue. "Woah."
Marcus eyed me, "That's mine. The soup's for you."
"You really thought so?" I said, grabbing a big piece and shoving it in my mouth.
"Greed is curse," He mumbled and grudgingly ate the left over meat.
Once I swallowed the load in my mouth I asked, "Why did Myer go there?"
"You mean the 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦?"
"Oh yeah," I looked down, flustered.
"The kingdom of good luck; doesn't it make sense? The king called him after he heard of the attack on His Highness. He will dine with them tonight and stay there for a few days. Visit the land's founder's tomb, make prayers and collect his blessings and return with all the good fortune he got for his own land. Traditions..."
"Everyone knows of that attack? I thought you guys kept these inconveniences a secret."
"He's a close bud." Marcus said.
"How's the King now?"
"He's okay," said Marcus, although his eyes said otherwise.
"You said your father is a duke-"
"We aren't that close yet. Don't ask."
"You're literally sitting on my bed, eating like an animal and can't tell me something about yourself? I hate silences."
"Well, then I'll sing for you," Marcus started but I covered my ears. He laughed and added, "You start. Where are you from?"
"The local town of Ireland."
"What about your family?"
I hesitated then decided some information wouldn't hurt. "My biological parents, I don't know. I grew up with my aunt and uncle. A little strict and old fashioned but very loving. Back in my town, I have two friends. They're twins. Layla and Luna. They're totally opposite," I twinkled as I talked about my home, describing the little shops and the nosy people. Marcus seemed keen to listen more but when I finished, I pushed him to tell me something about himself now.
"Well, I am from the land of 𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘤𝘩, but my family doesn't live here. My dad is on exile in the far coast of the island near 𝘛í𝘳 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘯é𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘩 and my mom died when I was an infant. My two sisters, much older than me, are happily married and live in far corners of the world. We're not very close."
"Isn't that where Cozbi is from?" I asked on the mention of the land of sailors.
"Yes, she is. She told you? You guys are quite close."
"A little," I nodded, when in fact it was Tynan who had told me. "Why is your dad exiled?" I added.
"Long story, I'll tell you some other day if I'm in the mood," He said getting up. "He broke some stupid law, still is in the king's favour though. I'll see you."
"Bye," I muttered as he left.
Tynan had told me to walk around the palace once every night to catch anything out of order. When I found nothing, I walked back to my room where I found the same bag of things as that day. This time I decided to take it in.