Sky of Wind by Emily Deady

Chapter 14

As the third round of wine was poured, Meena felt Sol’s gaze on her.

She nodded back at him, imperceptibly. It was time to leave.

Onric approached them from around the table, Ashlin at his side. He leaned down between them, a wide smile on his face. “Once again, I’m stuck here at the palace while one of my younger siblings leaves on a dangerous trip.”

“Defending the palace is actually your one responsibility,” Meena responded with a small smile of her own. “Besides, something tells me you are jesting, and you don’t truly want to leave the city this time.” She looked up at Ashlin.

“Take care, little sister.” Onric dropped his jesting voice as he put his arm around her, though he kept the smile on his face. “Best of luck.” He turned to Sol. “Keep us informed. And keep her safe.”

Sol nodded in response.

Ashlin reached out and Meena immediately jumped from her chair, throwing her arms around her friend.

“You can do this,” Ashlin whispered in her ear.

“Of course I can,” Meena responded, her throat tightening. “All I have to do is be a princess, something I’m particularly good at.”

Onric joined in the hug, squeezing Meena between himself and Ashlin.

Erich approached next.

Sol had stood awkwardly but hadn’t joined in the group hug.

Erich placed a hand on his shoulder. “If she talks too much, just pretend to be asleep. It’s always worked for me.”

“I heard that,” Meena yelled, poking her head out of the hug she was still tightly entangled in. She caught a look at Sol’s face, hoping he wasn’t taking her brother seriously.

But Sol nodded to Erich—with no hint of humor—as though he thought Erich was actually giving him advice.

“He’s jesting!” Meena said, twisting her head as Erich threw himself into the family hug. “I don’t talk that much,” she continued, but she was not sure her voice carried beyond the bodies now surrounding her.

Another small person wiggled into the center of the hug, and Meena embraced Celesta, half hugging the little girl and half protecting her from the aggressive nature of the rest of the hugging.

Before her vision was cut off by someone’s arm, Meena saw Ian approach her new husband and speak to him. Together, they looked properly solemn. They would keep each other great company.

But she would be the one keeping company with her solemn partner.

Which reminded her it was time to leave. They wanted to start their journey before night fell.

Wiggling her way out of the crowded hug, Meena moved to Sol’s side. She slipped her hand inside his arm and smiled up at him, like a new wife would do to her husband. She could feel him stiffen momentarily at her touch, but he quickly brought a smile to his face. He wasn’t a very good actor, but she hoped he would get better at faking smiles that didn’t look so forced in the future.

“Shall we set out on our wedding journey?” Meena asked, smirking sweetly. It was too tempting to jest with his seriousness.

He nodded—seriously, of course—and patted her hand. “It is time.”

Meena ignored the fluttering in her stomach. She wasn’t actually setting out on her wedding journey. She was setting out on a real mission with a real cypher. One of these two things was far more exciting and far more preferable than the other.

Turning toward the front door of the hall, Meena gently led Sol through the crowd. The people around them separated, cheering and clapping as the married couple made their way to the door.

Meena smiled at the many faces she knew, nodding and waving at the cheerful send off.

Sol’s arm under her hand was hard as a rock. His pace was swift, and Meena could feel the discomfort rolling off him.

Taking her other hand, Meena placed it on his arm as comfortingly as she could. “Slow down. You are doing well,” she said as loudly as she dared, covering her words with another blushing smile up at her new husband.

Sol leaned his head down toward her. “So many eyes,” he whispered in her ear.

Meena smiled without faking it. The heat of his breath on her ear seemed to warm her entire body. She leaned into him as they walked the rest of the hall, grateful to be experiencing this together.

The crowd spilled over into the front courtyard and Meena continued to smile and wave as she and Sol slowly made their way to the waiting royal carriage.

The noise of the crowd lessened considerably as soon as she stepped inside it. Sol had used his hand to help her up the step and she gripped it tightly, not letting go as he followed her inside.

Someone shut the door behind them, and Meena sat down thankfully on the back bench, leaving enough room for Sol to sit next to her if he chose to.

Sol’s eyes quickly scanned the carriage, but he sat down next to her.

Meena relaxed into her position, pleased that he had chosen to remain united, even though they were hidden from view.

The crowd let out a joyful cheer as the carriage rumbled forward.

“That ought to have fooled the councilor,” she said, turning to Sol.

He exhaled, still stiff.

Realizing her hand was still clinging to his, Meena relaxed her hold.

He immediately slid his hand out of her grip and placed it on his knee.

Meena turned her face away, feeling her cheeks heat in embarrassment. Not that she was ashamed. It was just, perhaps he sat next to her because it was his only choice with the way she’d been holding his hand. “The hardest part is over now,” she said lightly, masking her feelings.

“Hardly,” Sol responded.

“I was jesting,” Meena said, exhaling as her shoulders fell. “At least the next part of the mission won’t have quite so many eyes.” Her words were a touch bitter.

“I should hope not,” Sol responded.

Meena felt his gaze turn to her, and she glanced back toward him.

“That was truly terrifying,” he said.

Meena smiled a small smile. “You do know there will be a grand reception to celebrate our union when we arrive at the Falqri Fortress?”

“If you grip my arm there as tightly as you did just now, I think I can remain standing,” he responded.

The interior of the carriage was darker than the evening light outside but Meena thought she detected a hint of a smile on Sol’s face. A real one.

“Are you jesting?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure,” Sol responded. “But I do know I can handle the rest of this mission as long as you are there to lead us through the receptions and dinners and dancing.”

Meena nodded, turning her head away from him. “That is one thing I can absolutely take care of.” She leaned her head against the wall of the carriage, feeling less unsettled than before.

She may not have been defending the castle or leading the elite guard like Ian and Onric and Erich, but she could do something. And maybe she could even do it better than they would have.

She closed her eyes. The journey would take several hours into the night. Her last conscious thought was a sweet reminder that Sol had attempted to make a jest.