Salut les gars! I'm really sorry for not uploading the two last weeks, my depression got worst and stuff. Anyways, here's the chapter, and it's soon my birthday! Wish me luck! Enjoy!
It was a beautiful sunny day, where the freshness had become more bearable than the clouds of cold that had settled.
Onya was talking peacefully with Leksa in the throne room, Kassy gesturing beside them. Onya knew the song she was humming, but the dance she was performing had no logic or meaning.
The door to the throne room opened and Indra walked inside, Linkon at her heels. Natshana immediately stopped gesticulating and tilted her head to the side, watching them curiously. Indra bowed respectfully to Heda, Linkon following suit.
"Heya, Indra," Heda greeted her politely.
"Heya, Heda."
Indra's glare strayed to Natshana, looking both surprised and displeased to see that she was still alive and unbound.
"Hi!" Kassy said, giving her a small wave.
Indra gave her a disgusted look.
"Yu nou beda laik kiken, Skairepa. Ai nou du get klin chit wilou uf yu gon ge Heda en Wormana ona oyu uf, ba em na nou gran op gon ai."
Onya closed her eyes and, for the umpteenth time since she had met the Skaigada, she prayed that she would remain silent. But, of course, Natshana wasn't used to listening to her. Her voice ripped through the tension in the room.
"Material gowrl!"
"Kassy, Linkon, please, leave us," Heda interjected before the situation escalated.
Kassy hastened to hop out, under the dumbfounded gaze of Linkon, who followed in her footsteps.
"I assume you didn't come here to insult our prisoner," Heda continued, her eyes burning.
"No, Heda."
She glanced in Onya's direction, before returning her attention to Heda.
"A new Natblida has been found."
Heda sat up on her throne, imposing and impressive. Titus had entered the room, standing behind her. Onya, silent, observed the exchange, aware of the gravity of the situation.
"His parents tried to hide him. They succeeded for a few months before they were found."
"I assumed they have been punished for their crime."
"Sha, Heda."
Indra turned to Onya for a moment.
"Your mother is bringing him to Polis as we speak."
Onya took the blow, feeling annoyance, discomfort, and a pang of panic forming in her chest. Her mother was coming to Polis. It was not good. It was not good at all.
"I have my best warriors with her to make sure Azgeda can't get to them. The child will arrive safe and sound in Polis in a few days, perhaps a few hours if we are lucky."
"I see."
Heda already seemed to be thinking and getting annoyed at the idea of the child acceptance ceremony. It was all going to be solemn and boring… Titus already seemed to enjoy it. Onya held back a tired sigh, out of compassion for Leksa. However, she couldn't bear it any longer and asked permission to withdraw, which Heda granted despite a pleading look.
Onya descended to the ground floor of the tower and stepped out into the open air, breathing a sigh of relief as she felt the cool air on her face.
Natshana and Linkon sat opposite each other a few feet from the entrance to the tower, scribbling on papers with stubs of pencils. Natshanagada frowned in concentration, carefully tracing on her paper as Linkon looked up from time to time to observe her.
Approaching, Onya discovered that Linkon had drawn a portrait of the young woman, with attention to detail, such as the small gleam in her eyes, the braids in her hair and the half-smile on her lips. Linkon had always been an artist, and Onya guessed that he hadn't wanted to pass up his chance to study such a surprising model as Natshana.
"I'm done!" Natshana announced.
Linkon nodded, adding a final touch to his drawing.
"Do we show them to each other? At three. One, two, three!"
They turned over their drawings at the same time, presenting them to each other. Onya almost burst out laughing. Natshana's drawing showed a face represented by a circle, two eyes formed by two dots and a huge smile. Linkon's tattoos were roughly drawn and a five year old could have done better.
Natshana flashed a huge proud smile as she presented her drawing, as if she had done her best. Linkon opened his mouth to express his confusion, but Onya slapped him on the shoulder and he pretended to admire Kassy's drawing.
"I… I've never looked better."
Natshana burst out laughing, stopping pretending, and Onya sketched a smile.
"I lied, I don't know how to draw. I'm, like, the shittiest artist in the world. You, on the other hand, did a damn great job. Like, wow! That's awesome!"
She admired Linkon's work with a delighted and impressed smile. Linkon seemed to shrink under the compliments, as if embarrassed. Amused by his reaction, Kassy continued with vengeance, finding even more outlandish praise than the other.
"That is enough, now," Onya interjected when Linkon's cheeks flushed red.
"Aww, but look! He looks scary and impressive, but deep down, he's just a big soft Hufflepuff! Is it something common with you? Like, you guys are given a little bit of attention and boom! Big soft teddy bears!"
"What did you just call me?"
But Kassy, ignoring his remark, smiled broadly, and Linkon seemed to give up all resistance.
"He's so nice! Can we keep him?"
"He is a grown adult. We cannot keep grown adults."
"Why not?"
"Leksa let you keep her," muttered Linkon, pointing to Kassy who crossed her arms over her chest.
"Hey!"
"Come on, you, stop bothering him now."
"Nooooo…"
Natshana made as if to run away, but Onya grabbed her by the waist and slung her over her shoulder as usual. Natshana tried to free herself, a laugh in her voice, then resolved to wave at Linkon as Onya walked away.
"Why is Scary Lady here?"
"A new Natblidas has been born."
"Oh. Alright."
Onya put her down on the ground, keeping her hands on her shoulders to let her know that this was an important topic.
"My mother is coming to Polis. She is bringing the child."
"Your mother? You mean the back-stabbing binturi?"
Onya frowned.
"What did you just call my mother?"
"Nah, don't worry, it's not an insult, I'm not that crazy. But… I heard about her, and not in good terms."
Oh. Leksa had told her about that. Onya knew that Leksa had resentments against her mother and still resented her for hurting her friend, but she was exaggerating all the same. Natshanagada didn't have to know that.
Natshana frowned, as if searching for something, her gaze deviating from Onya. Suddenly, a big smile lit up her face, Onya immediately wanted to protest against any stupidity that had just crossed her mind.
"I have an idea," she declared. "Gotta go."
She stood on her tiptoes and, before Onya had time to react, placed a kiss on her cheek before running away.
Onya stood motionless in the middle of the street, her mouth hanging open.
Yu nou beda laik kiken, Skairepa. Ai nou du get klin chit wilou uf yu gon ge Heda en Wormana ona oyu uf, ba em na nou gran op gon ai: You shouldn't be alive, Sky killer. I don't know what witchcraft you used to bewitch Heda and Wormana under your spell, but it won't work for me.