Chapter 22:

  Dinner that night was its usual formal affair. The long table gleamed with polished silverware; plates and cutlery set just so, arranged with meticulous detail. Everything from the utensils to the people were placed in careful order.

  Aria sat stiffly at Eli’s side, eyes darting between spoons, forks, and the dining hall exit. The large double doors, once so imposing from the outside, now loomed partially open, like a co-conspirator who was promising her respite if only she was able to make it through them.

  Eli followed her gaze before he grinned and caught her eye. Leaning close, the young boy began to murmur instructions and expectations. Without touching the various tableware and utensils he quietly explained each item on the table in front of each of them, then when he was done, and Aria was thoroughly overwhelmed he handed her a bit of a cheat sheet for formal dining.

  “Listen, if you come and do the afternoon lessons with me, Mme Okoro will make sure you know what is what when you go to formal dining events. She will also make sure you know the whens, the whys, the hows and the ifs…” he made a forward circling motion with his hand indicating that there was more to the list, as he rolled his eyes fondly. Alongside him, his parents were hiding their own amusement behind raised drinks, or pressed lips. The small family shared a smile before Eli refocused on Aria.

  “If you are ever stuck, though, and you do not know what to do next, or where you are in the meal, then your safest solution is simple. I can teach you now, if you like.”

  “Yes please,” Aria said, and Eli nodded. Then he pointed to the untouched cutlery on the outside edge of the place setting, farthest away from the dinnerware.

  “You will want to work your way in,” Eli stated.

  “What do you mean?” She asked.

  “Each course has a different tool. Your farthest items are for the dishes that are served first,” Eli said. As if on queue members of the keep’s dining staff served the first dish.

  Aria copied Eli as he picked up the farthest utensil from the plate. Trembling a bit, she was relieved that she managed to eat without making a mess, or making a fool of herself. Across the table, Gabriel’s gaze flicked her way, cool but not unkind. Beside him, Sela was giving her the faintest encouraging smile. It steadied her and reminded her that right now she was fine, she was learning and that was okay.

  She smiled as she dug in. It was delicious. She remembered her promise with Eli about not liking Chef more than him and she couldn’t keep the smile from widening on her face.

  The courses passed in quiet rhythm. Aria’s hands trembled less as Eli pointed discreetly to the right utensil or motioned when to lift a glass. By the time the final dish was set, her shoulders had eased, and just enough tension had bled out of her for fatigue to creep in.

  Her head dipped once, then again, before she caught herself. Shaking her head Eli recognized the resolute look she was getting in her eye as she prepared to ask the Lady and Lord for permission to be excused. To leave. To head back to the butcher’s and away from Eli. He did not give her the chance.

  “Stay,” Eli said simply. The table froze, processing what Eli had said. Just as Aria was going to open her mouth and object Sela’s voice cut in, this time.

  “What a great idea Eli. Aria, you must spend the night,” Sela said. She glanced toward the side of the room. flagging down one of the many attendants that littered the formal dining hall.

  “My Lady?” They asked.

  “Prepare a guest room for our young visitor,” she said.

  Aria, who had only been paying partial attention was suddenly fully alert as her brain struggled to make sense of what had just happened. Gripping Eli’s sleeve her brows furrowed. She couldn’t stay, could she?

  She could refuse, stubbornly insist on independence, and demand to be taken back to Lira proper, back to the butcher’s shop. Or…

  “I can stay here tonight? With-” Her words cut off as she gave a hopeful glance towards her friend who was, in turn, amusedly looking at his cuff where her hand was gripping him so tightly.

  “With Eli?” Gabriel’s voice was gravel and steel. The two simple words seemed to echo through the room, bouncing off the walls and carrying the power of the Lord Rodrigo’s veiled displeasure.

  The room went still, and Gabriel let that stillness persist for a while. He just kept his gaze forward, then he took a deliberate sip of his drink before turning to face his wife, expression impassive.

  “Gabe,” Sela said, placing her hand on his arm. Gabriel looked down at where his wife was touching him then placed his own hand over top. He cleared his throat, frowning as he spoke, though his tone was now simply neutral.

  “She is a young lady,” he stated. The words made Sela and Eli smile, and Aria flush as she gazed at the Lord Rodrigo. Sela laid her second hand over top of his, folding it between her own.

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  “She is that, but they are still children. Both of them.” Her voice was pitched lower, quieter. She wasn't whispering, or hiding her words, but the tone was definitely more intimate as she spoke to her husband. “Let your son be just a boy for one night, not a genius, not a trainee, and not the Young Lord Rodrigo. Let him have a stay over with his friend.”

  Gabriel hesitated, jaw set. Sela’s eyes held his. “His only friend,” she added softly.

  At last, the husband and father looked away, his silence all the concession he was willing to show. “The wing has guest chambers and a sitting room; they can maintain decorum.”

  Sela smiled faintly. “Eli, why don't you go ahead and take your friend for the night. No evening training, alright? We can have cocoa sent up for you once you are both settled.”

  Eli was noticeably eager as he pushed back his chair with the deliberate formality required of him during the evening meal.

  “Mother, Father, may we be excused?” He asked, already pulling out Aria’s seat and lending her a hand down. Then he leaned over and very quietly whispered in his friend's ear. Aria nodded then turned to face the couple.

  “If we may be excused?” She asked. Sela smiled at the girl, and the corner of Gabriel’s mouth twitched despite himself.

  Gabriel gave a brief nod. “Have a good night, children.” He spoke.

  “Relax, Little Star, I will be up to tuck you in.” His mother said, and both children paid their respects before leaving the room.

  ~

  The sitting room off Eli’s chamber was warm with the soft, golden light of the colour changing lamps. A manservant slipped into the room, bowed and set down a tray with two large, steaming mugs of cocoa before he bowed once and withdrew, leaving Eli and Aria alone, apart from the ever-present servant standing sentry just inside the door where they were a silent observer awaiting orders.

  “Why is she there?” Aria whispered to Eli as they sat side by side on the plush central couch. Eli nudged her mug towards her before picking up his own and taking a long, gratifying sip.

  “Hum,” he moaned. Then he glanced over at where Aria was looking and smiled. “It is their job,” he said. Aria frowned.

  “But she has been standing there for forever.” Aria continued, sneaking glances at the impassive face of the maidservant serving tonight. The woman was young, perhaps no more than a decade Eli and Aria’s senior, and she had indeed been standing just inside the chamber doors for hours as her young lord and his friend were made ready for bed. Other attendants and servant had flitted in and out of the rooms, but she had stood there the entire time. Aria couldn’t fathom it. Eli looked at the servant, then back at his friend.

  “You feel bad for her?” Eli asked, head tilted slightly to the side. Aria shrugged. “You want to invite her to sit?”

  At this, the servant’s eyes visibly widened, and she couldn’t stop her gaze from darting to her young lord. She mastered herself quickly though and once more returned to staring straight ahead. The only indication she was paying attention now was the visibly increase pace of her breathing, and the slightly elevated heartrate that Eli had to tap into sensory enhancement magic to properly pick up on.

  Eli watched as Aria struggled with her thoughts for a while before she settled on shrugging again.

  “If I were standing for so long, I think I’d like to sit.” Aria said. Eli gave Aria a side hug before glancing once more at the servant.

  “I honestly would not mind if she rested while she worked,” Eli began slowly. In his periphery he caught the servant’s darting gaze once more. “My mother, my father as well – well maybe not him, but – most of the House would be okay. But I cannot invite her to sit. It would not be kind.”

  “Why not?” Aria asked. It was Eli’s turn to shrug and sigh. Keeping Aria so close, treating her like a friend and not just a subject, the Rodrigo family accepting her so readily had done wonders for their friendship, but had also undoubtedly given her a false impression of the wider world.

  Eli settled more deeply on the couch, pulling a thick blanket over both of them. Aria curled beside him, knees tucked close to her chest. Her small arms wrapped around them, her hands clutching the warm mug as she rested it on her knees.

  “You have heard the stories about nobles?” He asked, and continued when Aria nodded. “Not all people in power are kind. Truly, my family is not so kind either. We are just not cruel, or petty, or mean.” Eli shrugged again at Aria’s look. “My family, my parents are powerful. We do not need to holler and shout,” he said, but he could see she didn’t quite understand. “We do not need to be loud to be heard, we do not need to act big and powerful because we are big and powerful. Not all nobles are like us Aria.

  “If you need your fists and your force to keep order, then that order is not natural.” He shook his head, he was veering into a tangent, and it bordered dangerously close to treason. For both their sakes he pulled himself back. “A lot of those stories the town’s people tell about nobles are real. A lot of people with power let that power get to their head. They wield it with fists and force. It is not just nobles, it is people.”

  That statement clearly resonated with his friend, and he gave her a moment to process before he continued.

  “If we let her sit with us, let the rules be lax and easy, habits could form. Bad habits. Habits that could get her in trouble, or worse, when people who do care if a servant is resting come to the keep. Habits that would matter if she ever wanted a different job in a ranked house or around powerful people, or if she goes out into the world, meets those powers, and does not follow the invisible rules of the empire.” Perhaps after she had been working for a while, but at this stage of the young servant’s training it would only serve to undermine and confuse.

  “But those bad nobles aren’t here now,” Aria said. She wasn’t complaining, just making an observation, and maybe a plea.

  “It would not be a kindness to set her up for potential future mistakes.” Eli shook his head. He knew well that there was danger inherent in becoming too comfortable when there was a clear power imbalance.

  “Okay,” Aria said. Her lips were pressed together, her eyes were downcast, focused on the whipped topping melting into the hot liquid in her mug.

  Eventually Aria would realize that she was a special case, and he would not allow himself the hypocrisy of ignoring that he only risked getting this close to her because he knew of her potential. They were young, and children were often allowed their peculiarities. However, as the world was now, if Aria never showed any potential after the awakening ceremony, their lives would be pulled in wildly divergent directions. He simply wouldn’t yet have the strength to shield her from the fallout of his friendship.

  In the future he wanted the power to change that, but right now. He sighed and set his mug down on the small table. He watched Aria as she watched the servant, and sighed. Aria was kind, but her naivete would need to be rectified, for both of their sakes. Perhaps he could begin by showing her glimpses of the world from the safety of home?