Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden (23 page)

“He was helping me,” Joel declared as he stepped into the full view of the Imperial youths. Kirk jumped and whirled around to look at him, green eyes wide. Joel smiled tightly before turning a fierce stare onto the other boys.

The two burly, square-faced boys had Kirk cornered against the shrubbery. They’d been scowling at their quarry, but when Joel announced his presence, both took a tentative step back, uncertainty etching their faces.

“Greetings,” Joel called out to them. All trace of warmth had drained from his voice. “I heard angry voices through the hedge, so I came to see what the fuss was about.”

“Who are you?” one of the boys asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He wore a white tunic lined with golden lace, the same as Kirk’s, leading Joel to assume this youngster was also a trainee.

“My name is Joel Adelwijn, mage and ambassador of Arden. Kirk Bhadrayu was kind enough to help me retrieve a trinket I misplaced while sitting in the garden earlier,” Joel replied without hesitation. He extended one hand and motioned toward his bare fingers. “You see, I lost my ring. It’s been in the Adelwijn family for generations and is very important to me. Kirk was just checking to see if it had fallen into the hedges, since I spent so much time admiring them earlier.”
Thank The Two I forgot that damn ring in Arden
. Joel looked Kirk straight in the face. “Isn’t that right?”

Kirk’s uncertain eyes flickered back and forth between his peers and the Ardenian envoy, and for a moment Joel worried the boy might not follow along with the ruse. After a tense lull, however, Kirk nodded stiffly and responded. “Yes. That’s what I was doing. I was helping Lord Joel Adelwijn find his ring.”

“So you see, gentlemen, no crime has been committed here.” Joel’s voice was cool as he leveled the two instigators.

The boys floundered. “Uh, well, I—we were just—”

“I think you were just leaving,” Joel finished the sentence for them in a clipped voice, imagining that he must have sounded every bit as pretentious as his uncle. He stuck his nose farther into the air and his scowl only grew more severe. “Unless, perhaps, you’d like to get onto your hands and knees and help search for my ring, too?”

The boys exchanged wide-eyed glances with one another, and Joel might have laughed at their distress if the situation hadn’t been so serious.

“We have lessons to attend,” one of them managed to sputter.

“Our master would be unforgiving should we be late,” said the other.

Joel nodded. “That’s a shame. Surely four sets of eyes searching would have been more efficient than two—but, of course, lessons are of the utmost importance. You best be on your way so Kirk and I may resume our mission.”

“Y–yes, Ambassador.”

Both boys scuttled away without another word, and Joel grinned quite devilishly at the backs of their heads as they departed.

After the boys were well out of earshot, a shuddering sigh escaped Kirk’s lips. He stared at the lawn, as though his attention was held there against his will. “Thank you, m’lord. You didn’t have to do that.”

Joel frowned, still watching the pathway to ensure they were alone. “Yes, I did. If there’s one thing I cannot bring myself to do, it’s turning a blind eye to injustice.”

Kirk shook his head, still refusing to look up. “Sometimes it’s easier just to shut your eyes and close your ears, especially in this city, where injustice is so commonplace.”

“Perhaps walking away would have been easier, but I’ve never been one to take the easy road.” A forsaken smile flitted across Joel’s face as he thought about the trials and tribulations he and Gib had faced—and conquered—together. “Sometimes the path less trodden leads you to wonderful places you never expected.”

Kirk did raise his eyes now, hesitantly meeting Joel’s gaze. “If only all men could be courageous enough to choose such a path,” the boy replied in a voice so quiet it verged on a whisper. Uncertain green eyes fixed onto Joel’s blue ones. “The conversation with my sister—”

“Won’t be mentioned to anyone. I promise.”

Color finally returned to Kirk’s white cheeks. “Thank you. If my master found out—” He stopped there, and Joel judged it wise not to push the subject further.

Joel motioned for Kirk to follow him through the hedges and back into the garden. “Come. We best get out of here before anyone else happens upon us. I’m fresh out of excuses to make.”

Joel’s last remark finally won a smile from the other boy. Kirk smiled as he slipped through the break in the shrubbery. “I can’t argue that.”

“Who were those buffoons anyway?” Joel asked as he brushed bits of dirt and broken bark from his white robe.

Kirk’s cheeks flushed red anew. “Fellow apprentices. Master Titus currently has four understudies. Brutus and Taichi were the two you just had the ‘honor’ of meeting.”

“Honor indeed,” Joel laughed.

The young Imperial raised a hand to his mouth, attempting to cover the smile spreading across his face, and it yet again occurred to Joel how
little
every other person in the Northern Empire tended to show such pleasantries.

Kirk’s eyes flickered around the private garden. “This garden has always been one of my favorites on the palace grounds. At times when no guests are being housed and the suite lies empty, I often come here to study without worry of being disturbed. I like the serenity. When I’m out here, it’s easier to forget my hardships.”

Earlier that morning, Joel would have doubted this boy, living in a vast and beautiful palace and training with one of the most powerful mages in the land, knew the meaning of true hardship. But after listening to the conversation between Kirk and his sister and witnessing the treatment of the trainee by his fellow students, Joel had no reason to doubt his proclamation.
Just because someone lives amongst kings doesn’t necessarily make them royalty, too. And people who possess everything they could ever desire can still feel empty inside. It’s never wise to judge someone by their outer shell, for it’s often just that—a shell, a mask, a clever façade
.

“I understand,” Joel replied. “Sometimes it’s easier to lock yourself away from the world, rather than face it.”

Kirk turned to stare at him. “Yes. Sometimes the pain of loss is too much to bear.”

The pain of loss
. Joel’s stomach twisted into knots. He missed Gib so much in that instant it hurt.
Oh, Gib. I messed everything up. I tore our souls apart and left him to pick up the broken pieces. By the light of The Two, I hope he can forgive me
—

Cenric’s voice drifted out to where they were standing just then. “Joel? Are you ready to go over the notes from the meeting?”

Joel turned his head in the direction of the suite, desperately trying to harness his wild emotions. He couldn’t see his mentor from where he stood but heard quiet voices as Cenric and Hasain conversed inside the common room. They were waiting for him.

He stole a glance at Kirk, wondering if they should even be talking like this. Would Cenric or Koal be angry if they noticed Joel wasn’t alone? The mage trainee seemed genuine, but he was still an Imperial and, therefore, a threat. Joel bit the inside of his mouth as he fretted.
Hasain warned me to trust no one. But it’s not like I’ve said anything I shouldn’t. Isn’t it okay so long as I’m not revealing anything?
All the wisdom he possessed screamed of the others’ disapproval. This interaction wouldn’t be encouraged by them.

“I—should go,” Kirk said, following Joel’s gaze. No doubt he’d also heard the voices of the other envoys and perhaps even realized he and Joel stood to get into trouble. “Archmage Titus will be expecting me soon.”

Joel managed to nod. “Yes, all right. I think that would be best.”

Kirk turned to leave but looked back over his shoulder long enough to smile once more. “Again, thank you. It’s rare to be treated with such kindness.”

Joel bowed his head. “Farewell.”

He sighed, closed his eyes to recollect his thoughts, and then returned to the suite.
 

The sun had sunk below the western horizon a mark earlier when Gib found his way to the Rose Bouquet. He didn’t feel like drinking and dancing tonight, but he was fairly certain he’d find at least one of his friends here. He’d gone back to the dormitory, but Tarquin had been absent. Gib waited for his roommate for what felt like an eternity, but when he still didn’t return, Gib sought out Kezra instead. Truthfully, she was the better option anyway. Tarquin meant well but often lacked the insight she possessed. Gib hoped Kezra could offer some sound advice.

The merry music met him on his way through the doors but did nothing to lift his spirit. Inside, he was bombarded with the usual smells of delicious food, strong drink, and perfume. Laughter and singing engulfed him, beckoning him to join in, but Gib couldn’t even lift his mouth into a smile. When a bar maid made eye contact, he waved her off. He didn’t feel like drinking anything. Gib peered around the tavern and despair rose up through his chest when he didn’t see any familiar faces. Where was Kezra?

Gib was so intent on finding her that when a large hand clapped his shoulder, he nearly jumped through the roof.

Nawaz’s crystal eyes sparkled as he followed Gib’s gaze onto the dance floor. “See somethin’ you like out there?”

Gib swallowed, trying to ignore the ache in his heart. “Trying to find anyone I know.”

“Oh. Poor luck, that. You only managed to find me.” Nawaz laughed, and Gib wished he could laugh, too. But he just couldn’t. Nawaz seemed to pick up on it and lowered his voice. “Is everything all right?”

Gib’s chest suddenly felt heavy. He could barely open his mouth, and his eyes burned with terrible sadness. Were his emotions really running this rampant? He took a breath and tried to speak, but no words would form.

Nawaz seemed to understand. He squeezed Gib’s shoulder in a gentle way. “Kez and I are sittin’ over in the corner. Nage and his girl are around, too. Why don’t you come sit with us?”

“Thanks. That would be—nice.”

Gib followed the young lord to an empty booth, where they took seats opposite one another. Nawaz studied Gib for a moment, and he could tell now, being face to face, that Nawaz’s merry mood was something of a façade. His eyes had lost their shine in a matter of moments and his face appeared drawn.

Nawaz slumped back in his seat. “How are you?”

Gib sucked in a deep breath and held it for a moment. “Not good. I mean, how well should I be?”

“I suppose you have a point.” Nawaz looked out toward the crowd and shook his head. “I said my goodbyes to Hasain and Joel yesterday. I didn’t want to see them off.”

“It was somber. They left just as it started raining. It was like the world wept.”

Nawaz didn’t look at him. “How was Joel?”

Gib slammed his eyes shut. Nawaz didn’t know. No one knew. He had to tell someone before he burst, but in this moment he only wanted Kezra. Over the past three years, she’d come to his aid more than once. Rough around the edges, Kezra nevertheless was able to offer support in a way Gib’s other friends typically didn’t feel comfortable with. She was the only person he knew who could punch his shoulder with one arm while hugging him with the other. “Joel was—quiet.”

“Probably kicking himself in the arse.”

What was that supposed to mean? Gib looked Nawaz over narrowly and felt the first pang of suspicion blossoming in his chest. “What would he have to regret? He’s well on his way to having everything he wants.”

Nawaz leaned across the booth and met Gib’s gaze head on and with such devotion that Gib almost had to look away. “Horse shit. It wasn’t an easy choice for him, Gib. You gotta know that.”

“To go to the Northern Empire?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Joel came to me last night and—”

A tidal wave of grief and rage floored Gib. Not only had Joel dismissed him but then he’d gone out and told others? Was nothing sacred anymore? Since when did they air their dirty laundry for everyone to see? “He did
what
?”

“Keep your voice down. He needed someone to talk to. He came to me because he couldn’t think of anyone else.”

Gib slammed his fist on the table and thought about getting up and leaving. “He could have spoken to
me
! He could have let me know he was going to tell everyone! He could have warned me the secret wasn’t a secret!” The words poured out of his mouth before his mind could catch up. He wasn’t making sense and was raving like a lunatic, but he didn’t care. How could Joel hurt him like this? Didn’t he care at all? Did Joel really think so little of him? Gib wiped at his eyes as tears threatened to fall.