Chapter 8
Waves rippled across the water as a stone plopped through the surface. Andy growled, puffing out his cheeks as he watched his stone sink. He snatched up another stone, swinging his arm back to throw.
"I thought the mope fest was inside!"
Andy turned on his heel, blinking at the smile stitched across Kristjana's lips. Andy's fingers curled tighter around the stone.
"The mope fest needed a change of scenery," he shrugged, flinging the stone. The rock splashed into the water, sloshing fractals of the sunset across shore. The boy groaned, running his hands down his face.
Kristjana smirked, sliding down the clutter of rocks packed against the foot of the palace walls. Her boots kicked up sand with each skid. She picked up a stone, flicking wrist as it flew from her hand. Andy's brows furrowed as Kristjana flexed her wrist.
"It's all in the wrist," she said, a small smirk curving her lips.
"I knew that," Andy huffed, crossing his arms.
He kicked at a small lump of sand, glowering at the golden grains as the waves devoured the small strip of the shore; leaving behind broken shells upon matted streaks of brown sea foam. Kristjana's smirk vanished. Her fingers brushed over the tunic hanging loosely from Andy's shoulders, squeezing his shoulder.
"I'm guessing the meeting didn't go well?" she asked.
Andy's shoulders slouched with a heavy sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck, shooting a glance at her.
"Well," he started, tugging the collar of his shirt closer around his neck. Kristjana gently tugged his arm down the shoreline, their footprints being swallowed by the waves as they walked. "The allies are all in agreement that a war is brewing."
He mentally kicked his self at the wince that wrinkled Kristjana's features. The light in her eyes dimmed, swallowing thickly as her fingers dug into Andy's arm.
"Oh," she murmured, forcing her gaze back on him. "W-was that all?"
"No." Andy said. His stomach twisted at the prod of fresh memories. "They decided to send a someone down to the northern kingdom to gain a better defense."
Kristjana eased her grip on Andy's arm, letting out an uneasy sigh.
"That seems good. That's a good plan." Kristjana stuttered before asking, "That seems awfully short for a meeting that lasted all day. What are they going to do with their defenses?"
"I don't know," Andy grumbled. "His royal jerkness, kicked me out."
"What?" She gawked. "But...I thought he was the one so gun hoe about you being his right hand man."
"No kidding," he said. "Apparently I'm old enough to show up as his right hand shadow, but not old enough to be a regent to get more allies!"
Kristjana froze, her hand falling from Andy's arm. "What?" She snapped more than asked. Andy cringed, grimacing at the cold glare beaming from her gaze.
"Kris-"
"Don't 'Kris' me, Andy! We're barely engaged for a day and you want to run off-again!"
"Kristjana, what else am I supposed to do?" Kristjana crossed her arms across her chest. "This was as close as I could get to being useful."
The girl frowned, arching an eyebrow at him with a roll of her eyes. "So the only way to be 'useful' is to run off and get yourself killed?" Andy's lips squirmed between a grimace and a frown as Kristjana tugged her knitted hat off. Her fingers ran through the tangled nest of her hair with a sigh. She mumbled under her breath, "God only knows how your brother is going to take our engagement."
"Yeah, about that..." Andy winced, biting down on his tongue. His fingers fumbled against each other as he coughed forcefully into his arm.
Kristjana shook her head and wrapped her hand around Andy's arm. She rested her head against his shoulder, sighing, "Andy, please, please, please-please don't do anything stupid. I don't...I can't..."
Her shoulders began trembling upon a wave of bitter memories buried deeper than yesterday's. Andy's brows knitted together, wrapping his arms around her trembling frame. He rested his chin on her head, nuzzling the blonde locks tickling his nose as he breathed in the earthy scent lingering on her.
"Don't worry," he whispered, placing a chaste kiss on the crown of her head. His stomach clenched, tying into a knot, as he forced out his next words. "I won't do anything reckless."
Kristjana lifted her head up. "Promise?"
Andy's heart skipped a beat at the golden brown orbs searing into and swallowed thickly. "Promise."
Kristjana sighed her shoulders slouching against him. Suddenly, her fist snapped out from under his grasp and slammed into his side. The yelped, jumping away from her as she huffed and tugged her hat back onto her head. She sniffed harshly, wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve. Andy arched his brows while Kristjana stomped away.
"Stupid prince. Acting like every girl's a damsel," Andy groaned, scurrying after her.
"You were the one holding onto me," Sand flew out from under them as Andy chased after her along the shore. "Kris, come on!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Andy caught the waning sunlight clinging to their shoulders. The fleeing sunset sketched their straggly silhouttees across the mauve sand, trambling over their footsteps lost in the night. Yet as the two ran on, a bitter chill roused through the air, sneaking through the small sliver of skin exposed on Andy's collar. The arctic air sank through his skin, causing his muscles to tremble.
Andy stuttered to a halt, his hands rubbing his arms furiously. Autumn air isn't this cold, Andy thought. The wind crept down his spine, almost caressing the knobs of spine as he he shuddered.
He glanced up, noting Kristjana waving to him from the foot of the wall. His eyes narrowed, forcing a curt wave back and forced his legs to move forward. His lips pressed together in a firm line as he thought, I won't be reckless...just extra careful.
