443 Announcement Aftermath

Mordrin and Vella smiled brightly, both looking over at Clovis with excitement. Their family was going to expand again, and he deserved happiness. The Empress Eve was asking questions, her own excitement intoxicating to most the table. Clovis answered best he could but any question directed at Kyera fell on deaf ears. The woman was too intent on the little girl at her side. It was clear Raina wasn't as excited as everyone else at the table.

While the rest of the family was just far enough away that they couldn't feel the emotions pouring out of the young girl. The sense of confusion and uncertainty that she suddenly felt thrust into. Kyera reached over and gently cupped her chin, making the child look up at her.

"Raina, can we go talk?" Kyera asked, her voice gentle and loving. Raina nodded and took the napkin off her lap, folding it and laying it over the plate in front of her. Kyera pushed her own chair out and offered her hand. The child and woman walked out of the room together. Everyone was aware, but they let the pair go.

Kyera led Raina out of the room, and up to the training grounds. The soldiers had all left by now, and the pair were alone. She took Raina to the base of a small tower that the child had never gone into, not only had she never entered but no one else seemed to have either. The old wooden door had a small keyhole on it, the edges of the door were beautiful and rustic against the old wooden bricking. The pair made their way inside, and up a small flight of stairs.

At the top, there was a simple room with a window out over the forest. The cone shaped roof to the building had no base inside, the peak just towered over the center of the room. There was a table by the window, and a zither and a cushion sitting under the window. It had gathered a bit of dust but was still just as charming as it had been the day it was been built.

"This is where I use to come to think. Perhaps it's time to pass it on to you." Kyera offered with a bit of a gentle smile. Raina looked around the room, curiosity overriding her feelings for the moment. While she was distracted, Kyera fluffed the two cushions on the ground and dusted them off. She sat down, and waited for Raina to join her. The child was unusually quiet. Kyera knew there were thoughts going through her head and it was best to give her a moment to think before trying to tackle what needed to be said this evening.

"Talk to me, Raina." Kyera prompted after a while. The child looked up at her then back down at her delicate hands, now forming calluses from work.

"I don't know." Raina replied still a bit lost on how to explain her feelings without sounding cruel or selfish. Kyera sighed.