I’ve set into motion will mean that I have to leave this place. It will be a shame because I like it here very much. I like the quiet of the library, I like the children who come to see me. It’s a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of being a king. But I can’t forget that a king is what I am.”
Even though Asher was reading, Mia could hear Abon in every word. It was like being ten years old all over again and sitting in a chair listening to him tell her stories. Now that she was transported back there, it was hard to believe that she’d ever forgotten. All of her memories were so vivid now.
Maybe the Shaddoc had messed with her head enough that she’d repressed some things. Maybe they had clouded her memories of the tall, smiling man who had made her younger years just that bit better.
Asher’s voice was soothing as he read the words, and Mia was reminded once again that she was still tired. She’d slept the night before, but she’d had dreams for most of it, and it felt like she hadn’t gotten much sleep at all. Before long she was leaning into Asher, resting her head on his shoulder and smothering a yawn with her hand.
She liked him, Mia decided. He had that whole affably clueless thing going on, and for some reason it made her believe what he told her and trust him wholeheartedly.
There was a chance that trusting him was a bad idea, but she didn’t think it was going to come back to bite her. At least she hoped it wouldn’t.
Chapter 6: Revelations
It took Asher a good ten minutes to realize that Mia had fallen asleep on him. Once he figured it out, he found himself lowering the book and watching her for a bit. And okay, yeah, he really needed to work on not watching women while they slept, but he couldn’t help but be fascinated by the way some of the fierceness drained out of her when she was sleeping, leaving her looking softer and easier to approach.
She was probably very tired. There was no telling how many nights of sleep she’d missed out on because of the Shaddoc wanting information from her.
The fact that she hadn’t seen Abon since she was a child should have made them leave her alone, but apparently they wanted to catch the king of the Nalyi so badly that they weren’t taking any chances.
“Idiots,” Asher mumbled. As if they hadn’t already done enough to his people without dragging humans into it and trying to finish the job.
Mia shifted against him, and he smiled at her for a second before he went back to the book. It was amazing to have something in his hands that Abon had written. Something more lengthy than the little note he’d scribbled before he disappeared, of course. So far it mostly seemed to be a journal where he talked about his life before they’d fled compared to the life they’d built afterwards.
Asher skimmed most of that, knowing that he would have time to come back and read it more thoroughly later. For the moment, he was looking for answers. For some kind of clue as to where Abon might have gone.
He flipped to the middle section of the book and was surprised to see his name there in big, bold letters. It looked like it was the middle of something, so he flipped back until he found the beginning of what seemed to be a letter addressed entirely to him. Fingers shaking a bit, he started tracing each sentence to read them.
Asher,
I don’t know how long it’s going to take from me writing this to you finding it, but I can only hope you’re doing well. I’m sure you’re tired and confused, but I’m also sure that you’ve made it fine without me. You were always your mother’s son, and you have so much of her in you.
I miss her.
I know you miss her, too. I know you can remember her just fine and you think of her often. And honestly, I truly believe that she’s still up there somewhere, waiting for us to come back.
Things will be very different when we return to the Nalyi, Asher. I was their king, and I ruled them with as much strength and
Learning to Kill: Stories