With a grunt An hauled the large cooking pot out of Delia's wagon, "This should be the last thing we need out of here."
"Thanks." Katsuo nodded shifting his grip on the many things in his arms before turning to Amie and Delia who both had their arms full as well, "Now we just have to figure out where to put all this stuff."
"That pot needs to go to the kitchen. It's long overdo for a through scrub." Delia wrinkled her nose, "It was starting to make the wagon smell."
"Sorry I can only clean it so well with river water." Amie tried to shrug.
An strode across the stable to the door to the manor, "I'm off to find the kitchen. Anyone have anything to put in the pot to send there?"
"Could you carry all that?" Katsuo asked, "That pot itself is usually heavy enough."
"It's not that heavy, just awkward." An said as he opened the door with his back and only to hear "oomph" from the other side.
An quickly turned to see Myron rubbing his arm from where the door had collided with him. Next to him An could see an elegant older woman, Mikoto, and Harris. All three looked surprised to see him, but An could just barely see Mikoto swallow a giggle.
"I'm so sorry." An quickly shifted the pot to his side.
"It's fine." Myron said simply as he wiped off his shoulder before guiding Mikoto and Harris off further into his manor.
An blinked as he stared after Myron. That was an oddly calm and agreeable reaction from Myron.
"It's because we're finally at his home." Matthias said as he walked up, "He lives most of the year in the capital with his father in a home they purchased there. Gyges has more resources to study. It's not often he gets to come back to see his lands or mother. He misses them more than he'll ever let on."
"I see." An looked towards where Myron had walked as Delia, Amie, and Katsuo walked through the door.
"Listen, I know neither my friends nor myself have done much to make a positive impression, but I hope we can work to understand each other better." Matthias said as he met all four of them in the eye.
"What?" An and Delia asked simultaneously, stunned and confused.
Katsuo and Amie just stared unable to even find words.
"I'd like to work towards better understanding. I admit we've all been behaving like cads lately. We're used to road trips with our friends and servants; it's great fun to explore and fool about, but that's not what this is. I want to clear the air with everyone. It doesn't excuse our behavior, but I'd like people to know where we're coming from. And I promise to try harder from now on." Matthias extended his hand.
An shook his hand being the closest one, "How many other people have you talked to?"
Matthias chuckled and said "Three, but being able to catch the four of you at the same time really helped boost that number."
"Did you talk to Lady Mikoto yet?" An asked barely remembering to use her title.
Matthias sighed and looked down, "No, we've been especially boorish to her. I need to craft a better apology before I talk to her."
"I'd most certainly say so." Delia mumbled under her breath, quickly silenced by Amie's elbow in her ribs.
"I think it's grand that you're trying to make improvements." Amie said before Delia could lose track of her tongue.
"Thank you every much." Matthias beamed at the praise, "I actually came down here because I know my way around and thought I could be of help."
"You most certainly can." Katsuo nodded and heft up his armful of miscellany, "We're trying to figure out where all this goes."
Matthias strode over, large grin still on his face, to look at everyone's arms, "If two of you can gather everyone's personal belongings I can walk you down to the guest rooms. An if you take all the kitchen items it's just down this hallway. It's at the end so keep going straight. Last Myron did set up a room to set all supply items for refill. It's in the direction of the kitchen. I'm sure the maids, butlers, or kitchen staff can show you the room if someone goes with An."
"I'll do that." Katsuo said somehow managing to distribute the items he didn't need and collect the ones he did without putting anything down.
"Then ladies, please follow me." Matthias outstretched his arm to guide the women in the right direction while An and Katsuo turned down the hallway they were directed down.
Lysander walked into the messdeck of the ship to immediately be greeted by Lia who proceeded to hand him a full bowl of food, "There you are Lysander. I haven't seen you much the past couple of days. Where have you been?"
Lysander laughed and took the bowl with his right arm, "I've been in my cabin. The Captain lent me a few books that are very interesting reads."
Lia nodded and crossed her arms over her chest, "Reading is all very well and good, but don't forget to get some fresh air."
"I will." Lysander said as he began to turn towards the door with his food.
"Aren't you going to eat with the rest of us?" Lia gave him a look only a mother could.
"Tomorrow. I'm really close to finishing the book I'm currently reading." Lysander smiled before walking out the door and away from further questions.
He scurried down the ship to his cabin. As soon as the door was safely closed behind him Lysander placed the food on the desk and sighed. He was lucky that this ship was designed for both cargo and passengers, and that the group felt the need to give him the nicest cabin to himself. Lysander sat in the chair in front of his desk and tried to reach out to grab his spoon with his left hand. With a shaking hand he managed to grip the spoon. He leaned forward to meet his hand partway, only to hear the spoon clatter back to the desk unable to make it even that far.
Lysander glared at his left arm and bit back the bitterness in his throat as he picked up the spoon with his right arm and began to eat. At least he was able to move his left arm today: that was progress. His chest wasn't as tight either. The day after the fight he hadn't been able to move his arm at all no matter what he did and his chest was so tight he had to fight for breath. Now his right arm was starting to become sore from overcompensating for it's useless partner.
As he shoved the food into his mouth, unable to even process the taste, Lysander's eyes drifted to the stack of books that was serving as his excuse. He was reading them. They were books about the history of Krini Meria and other ports of Valla written by the people who lived and worked in them. Better resources than anything the scholars of Gyges could have written, but he could have finished them all by now if he were just reading. At least half of his time in his cabin had been devoted just trying to make his left arm function.
Lysander pushed the bowl towards the back of his desk, next to the others he still had to return to the mess hall. It was pathetic. He couldn't even bring a bowl back because he could let anyone see him unable to hold two bowls at the same time. Kings weren't supposed to be like that. His father popped into his mind: a man who had regal dignity at all times. A good listener, diplomatic, but not afraid to put his foot down. The kind of man who made Valla flourish. Lysander turned towards the mirror.
The only part of him that even resembled his father was his coloration. He lacked the broad shoulders and chest. His face was slender, no proud jaw. Even his height was lacking. The only reason he was taller than Arete was simply due to how short she was, and Mikoto towered over the both of them. Lysander's left arm throbbed as he balled it into a fist. He swallowed before taking off his shirt to look in the mirror.
Claw marks still slashed across his body, as red and angry as the day he awoke to them. Their rough gnarled feel a sharp contrast to the rest of his skin that had barely had opportunities for nicks and scars. He was lucky Arete hadn't fallen for his looks. As he reached his shaking left arm up to touch the scars, he swallowed a lump that was forming in the back of his throat down to the pit of his stomach where it roiled.
What had he been thinking that day? Arete told him it was a bad idea. His father had warned him before he died that Anankos was approaching the point of no return. He was a damned fool for being so naive.
Lysander sat on the bed a put his head in his arms, mostly on the right. How much longer could he be naive? He had wanted so badly to save Anankos and Valla; he refused want to admit that Anankos was probably gone for good. That his dearest friend had betrayed him and threatened to take everything away. That his duty as king was to stop the remains of the friend he couldn't stop himself from caring about. Lysander laid on the bed and buried his face in his pillow to swallow his sobs.
An grabbed his lute and walked out towards the garden from his room. The group had noticeably been split into two sets for the guest rooms. Mikoto, Harris, Penelope, and the nobles on one half of the manor, nearer Myron's quarters, and everyone else closer to the staff quarters. As much as An wanted to believe Matthias's words about his friends from earlier these room set ups were not subtle. At least he was able to wander the halls freely. He found himself missing the stars and sounds of nature, and over the past few days he had been missing Mikoto's companionship as well.
It seemed like Mikoto had been able to do nothing but plan their arrival to Myron's manor and count supplies. Penelope's comment still burned in An's mind: who was Cyril? However An barely been able to speak to Mikoto lately, let alone ask her a personal question. There were so many times he had wanted to walk over and ask for just a little bit of her time, but that was selfish. She was a noblewoman with many duties, he had no right to disrupt her. It was the truth, but the thought still made his chest ache.
He let out a sigh as he approached Myron's garden. It was a grand open air garden to the side of the manor. The hallway that ran along the side had many arched open doorways that lead out to the expansive garden. Along the walk ways were hedged bushes shielding the flowers and grasses from being tread on. In the back close to the walls that surrounded the whole garden was a border of trees. In the middle of everything was a large fountain with a rim to sit on.
An paused as he heard a voice in the garden. It was singing. An was too far away to make out the words, but the voice was beautiful. He tiptoed his way into the shadows of the garden trying to find the singer. As he neared the fountain, he felt his breath stolen. Mikoto sat on the edge of the fountain with her back to him, singing an enrapturing melody. The grime that had built up while traveling was gone and she wore a fresh dress like the one she had first set out in. Her hair shimmered as the moonlight hit the mist from the fountain. An swallowed and reminded himself to breathe.
"The stars shine bright upon the water. Do you see them across the sea? I wonder when I'll see you again..."
An smiled as he realized that Penelope had taught him the song she was singing. He pulled his lute against his chest and walked over singing and playing along with Mikoto.
"Though the sea is vast, your voice rings clear upon the wind."
Mikoto started as she heard someone behind her and stopped singing as she whipped around. An's smile dropped as he watched Mikoto lose her balance and fall into the fountain. Without thinking An rushed over and placed his lute beside the fountain, before jumping in, his hood falling back as he waded over to Mikoto.
"I'm so sorry are you okay." An jumbled out the words as he helped Mikoto up, leaving his hands resting on her upper arms as he looked her over for injuries.
Mikoto still looked very startled, but snorted before bursting out laughing.
An blinked repeatedly as he held Mikoto up so she didn't double over as she kept laughing.
"I'm sorry." Mikoto said between giggles, "But your face right now."
Then An realized what he must look like. Instead of just walking around the fountain to check on her, he charged through the water. His pants were soaked and his cloak wet with spray, he could feel his long hair clinging to his face, and his expression must have looked ridiculous. Mikoto for her part didn't look much better. She was soaked from head to toe and her face was red from laughing. An started laughing as he processed the situation.
He let go of Mikoto and she bent lower in the water. An bent over to see she was looking at, only for Mikoto to splash his face.
"That's for startling me." Mikoto said as she started laughing again.
An smirked and bent over himself arms stretched over the water as his locking eyes with Mikoto.
"Don't you dare." Mikoto tried to threatening but was laughing too hard.
An slammed his hands into the water making a giant splash. Mikoto let out a playful shriek and immediately splashed An back. An lost track of how long they kept up the ridiculous game. They didn't bother to get out of the fountain until it seemed like half the water was in their clothes and hair.
"I really didn't mean to startle you. Your singing was lovely." An said as he wrung out his hair and clothes.
"Thank you I sing with Arete a lot. I found myself missing her so I came out here to sing. Though I didn't know you could play the lute." Mikoto said also wringing out her hair and clothes.
"Penelope's been teaching me after sword lessons. It's been a lot more fulfilling than I thought."
"We'll have to sing together sometime, but I think we're a little too damp tonight."
An laughed as he reclined back against the fountain Mikoto sitting on the rim next to him. The fountain bubbled as the wind reached past the walls to rustle the trees. An couldn't remember the last time he felt this at peace. As he looked up at Mikoto as a thought drifted into his mind.
"Mikoto who's Cyril?"
He could hear her breath catch in her throat.
"Where did you hear that name?" Mikoto asked, her eyebrows furrowing ever so slightly as she stood up and moved to a bench near the fountain.
"I asked Penelope how you knew each other so well and she said to ask you about Cyril." An stood to follow her.
"I don't know why she could just tell you herself, but alright I'll tell you about him." Mikoto let out a deep sigh as she motioned for An to sit next to her, "Cyril was Elias and Penelope's nephew...and my fiancee."
AN: Thank you all for reading. Have to say this is probably the fastest I've updated in a while, but I have an important question for everyone. I'm torn between two styles to write the next chapter in. One is a flashback style told from young Mikoto's eyes. The other is her reflections as an adult. There are pros and cons to both. Flashback flushes everything (ex: character and worldbuilding) out a lot more, but reflection is faster. I know which suits my style better, but I'm still debating. Thus I thought I should ask people their opinions. So please let me know in a review or PM which are you more interested in?