THE TIES OF BLOOD

From Chapter Two: Remembrance of Things Past

Isis

When Arion didn’t arrive by half past six, I went to his bed chamber. My polite tapping went unheeded, so I opened the door into a darkened room. The curtains stood wide, though the sun, having already made its way across this part of the Manor, only cast shadows. No candles or lamps were lit. And Arion was sound asleep on his bed, like he’d fallen there.

I sighed, stepping into the room, when he sat up, startled.

“It’s only me,” I said quietly.

“Isis.” He sounded as if he reminded himself.

“Yes.” I lit his bedside lamp with a snap. “Are you sure you aren’t ill? I can make your apologies to Mordecai…”

He snorted, sliding off his tall bed.

“Mordecai would sooner hear me dead than simply unwell enough to attend dinner.” He straightened his wrinkled robes.

Sidestepping his mountain of discarded clothing, I opened the wardrobe and pulled out a different set. “Then he certainly won’t want you arriving looking like you slept in those.”

He took the robes with a nod of thanks. Before we reached the dining room I swung my own on. Though not required to wear them like Arion, I found myself much more comfortable dressed as the Rapsons for dinner. Besides, though it irked my mother, no one at the Manor found it odd that I was well-educated.

Arion didn’t say a word the whole walk, just followed along like a breathing shadow at my side.

“You’re not well, are you?” I asked just before we reached the dining room doors.

Arion gazed at me for a moment, his eyes empty of everything save exhaustion. “No,” he said simply as the doors opened in front of us. “I’m not.”