AARYN

It was late, very late when they were finished. And they would be returning early to plan their approach for speaking with the disformed. When Aaryn would submit himself to the hierarchy, and discipline the others for not doing so… and announce his intention to relinquish control.

As he and Elreth moved towards the door, she was still speaking with Lhern. Aaryn found Tarkyn looking back and forth between them. He met the males eyes and waited for any other glance at Elreth, any suggestion the male hadn't listened when they'd fought.

But instead, Tarkyn tipped his chin and gave that small smile again.

Aaryn was uneasy, but nodded back, then ushered Elreth outside.

The moment he stepped out of the security building, his eyes went to the stars flickering across the sky and wondered if his mother was seeing them too.

He had been so busy, so unable to find time to do anything but deal with the next crisis he still hadn't found her.

She was almost always awake at this time. And dammit, even if she wasn't, tomorrow was going to be another full day. She would forgive him for breaking her sleep.

Elreth took his hand as they began to walk.

"El," he said a moment later, "I need to go see my mom."

"Oh gosh, you're right," she said. "Do you want me to come?"

He shook his head. "You need to get back and get some rest if you can. I'll try to be quick, but I need to see her and tomorrow…"

She squeezed his fingers and they kept walking. The intersection of trails was a minute or two away at his human walk.

"Thank you, Aaryn. I know what that cost you. I don't… I'm not triumphant about this."

He grunted. "I never intended—"

"Don't. I know that. I've never thought otherwise," she said carefully. "My heart broke for you back there because I knew you'd see it and I knew you'd hate it. It's not your fault, really," she said, trying to soothe him, which only made him feel worse. "It's a measure that they see how valuable you are. Just like I do," she said softly.

"Thank you." His voice was too gruff, but it was a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty.

"The Creator is going to make you powerful, Aaryn. I can see it. The way you took Tarkyn today…" she shivered and bit her lip.

Aaryn glanced at her from the side, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "He kept being too free with you. But the way he's reacted tonight… I'm wondering if he was pushing my buttons on purpose."

"It wouldn't surprise me," she said. "He's always been a lot more subtle than people give him credit for. And he likes to push people past their 'self imposed limits,'" she said putting on a low, clipped voice obviously intended to be Tarkyn.

Aaryn snorted. "He's not pompous like that."

Elreth shrugged. "No. But he is kind of full of himself sometimes. Especially when he's certain he knows what's good for you. He's almost as bad as my dad," she observed with a groan.

Aaryn wasn't so sure, but he had been surprised by Tarkyn's reaction tonight—not jealousy, but pleasure, if a touch of sadness underlying it.

Was she right? Had he just been teaching Aaryn a lesson he thought Aaryn needed to learn? Aaryn would ask him the next time they were alone.

They met the intersection of trails then, and Aaryn kissed her quickly and told her get some rest. She squeezed his waist and winked. "Don't be too long. I might still be awake when you get there."

He growled his approval and she laughed, then slipped into her beast and started down the trail at an easy lope.

Aaryn sighed and turned to walk to his own tree house.

His nerves were climbing. He felt bad that he'd waited this long to see his mother, though he knew she'd say he shouldn't apologize. At least he'd left that note.

It was late enough that most of the Tree City were in bed. Beyond the lanterns along the main trails, only a few lights showed in Tree House windows here and there. And there was no sound coming from the market. The city was peaceful, and Aaryn breathed more easily himself.

Things were bad. There were scary and threatening things happening. But there were many Anima, and they were strong and skilled. He was glad to be a part of these people who were going to figure all of this out and take victory over it.

When he reached their tree on the western outskirts, the windows were dark. That wasn't unusual. His mother often sat in the dark even when she was wide awake.

Quietly, in case Eadhye was sleeping, he opened the door and slipped inside. He was hit, suddenly, with the smell of his life—his childhood, his teenage years, his entire life until a week earlier.

And he was immediately dragged back down. Down, down, down into that place where he was shaky and uncertain—both of his position in the Anima, and his relationship with Elreth.

For a moment he was rocked by the sensations and emotions that flowed through him, as if the smell of this house had taken him back in time.

Then he blinked.

No.

No.

He wasn't that child anymore. No longer that youngster. No longer that adult that had needed to question every decision, fear every step.

He had made mistakes, and he was going to have to learn a lot more before he could walk through the City without feeling any of these things. But even in just in these days… he could feel the difference in himself.

Thoughts of Elreth's smile, of her words of admiration, echoed in his head and he took a deep breath.

She was the best thing that had ever happened to him. And he wanted to share that with his mother.

For the first time he wondered how much of his mother's malaise came from being stuck here, in this same place, where all the memories were founded of everything that had gone wrong.

Surely now, as King Regent, or whatever he was, they could find another home for her. Would that be a good idea?

He would ask Eadhye.

Suddenly excited to share himself with his mother, he crossed the living room quickly and trotted up the stairs. She must be in her bedroom, and he had so much to tell her.

She was going to cry, he knew. But it would be worth it this time, because they would be happy tears. He was sure of it.

*****

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