The next morning I realized that the room didn't actually have a window. But the ceiling changed brightness depending on the light outside. I had been laying here for the past few hours, watching it slowly get lighter. I didn't hink I would be able to sleep, and I was correct.
How'd you sleep? Caleb asked in my mind.
About as well as I as I expected to, which would be none.
Yeah, me either. What time is it?
Six-thirty-seven. There was a knock on the door. "Come in!"
The girl that had taken Jake's spot yesterday entered, she spoke directly to me. "The king wishes to see you." Caleb and I both got up. "I was not told to bring you." She spoke to Caleb.
"If she goes, I go." This was followed by a brief stare down.
But the girl finally gave in. "Alright, but don't blame me if the king is unhappy about it."
"We won't, um..." I replied.
"Rose, and you are?"
"Violet, and that's Caleb." Her eyes widened and she looked from me to Caleb and back to me several times before saying anything.
"Caleb? It has bee a while, you look very different from when I last saw you! But why are you here, with a guard on the door, and what is, um, Violet doing here? What has she done to be brought to the king and locked in a room with a guard?" She almost seemed angry, but I'm not entirely sure why. Caleb was starting to seem a little stressed, or uncomfortable.
"Rose," Caleb said as if he were explaining something to a young child. "That is Violet
Cyllents." Her eyes widened and she took a step further from me. "And I am technically a trator." She moved closer to the door. "There is a reason I haven't been her in a while."
"I don't want to know. You better come with me then." She turned toward the door, the preparedness for a fight evident in how she moved. "We wouldn't want to keep his highness waiting."
Is she a fighter? I asked Caleb.
Sort of, she had about as much fighting as a second degree black belt. She and I were best friends several years ago. We lost contact when she headed off to an upper school for girls. I kind of assumed I wouldn't see her again.
Oh."You two are very interesting." Rose mentioned, leaning against a wall next to an open doorway. "Both of you had this 'off in space' look. Here you are then." She lead us into a large room that, to me, seemed like a large court room. Rose went over and sat next to Jake amongst a rather large group of people. Caleb and I just kinda stood awkwardly in the center of the room.
Are we on trial? I asked Caleb.
That would be my guess.I've never been in here though. I'm going to suggest you be polite and respectful to who ever speaks.
No duh, I know the differance between a time to be flippant and a time to be serious.
Really? I never would have guessed. While in the process of rolling my eyes at him, I noticed that the muttering had stopped in the group of people and all eyes were on us.
Uh, Caleb. I think mental convorsations take longer than normal ones. I nudged him in the ribs. He looked around a little and nodded, his eyes focused on the person infront of us. Mathew, oh, I'm sorry.
King Mathew. "Your highness," I said bowing a low, respectful bow, much to his surprise. "may I ask why we have been brought here?"
"Ah, yes, you do have my permission to do away with the formalities. As a matter of fact, I must insist you do so, I'm more used to you being flippant, not serious. Are you okay with that, Vi? Or would you prefer to continue, Princess Violet?"
I looked at Caleb, but he merely shrugged. "Nah, we'll do as you wish, Matt." I heard a couple of suprised gasps at the dissrespect I had just shown. I saw Jake and Rose exchange amused looks and Caleb rolling his eyes our of the side of my eye. Matt had a completely unsurprised, approving smile, though.
"I though so." He seemed almost relieved to be having a more relaxed convorastion. "Now then, what was your question?"
"Why have we been brought here?"
"I said we would talk in the morning, didn't I?" He paused, as if actually waiting for an answer, but continued when we were silent. "Well, I have been told that some interesting tables have turned. The daughter of my enemy is now on my side. And my own son is counted as a traitor. Violet, please give me your word to prove your loyalty."
"I give you my word that I will not fight anyone of the Callans family without a reason."
He nodded, satisfied with my promise. Then, turning to Caleb, "As for you -"
"I have my reasons for everything that has happened, but I do not want to try and make you understand. But -" He paused, glancing at me for reasurance, "- Vi and I have been talking, and I wish to ask for your forgiveness."
Thank you! This will make sense later if it doesn't already I thought to him.
We're talking about this later He replied simply.
Fine. I thought as Rose and Jake came up to us, smiling large, genuine smiles. But there was something off about them.
"Welcome back!" Rose cried, throwing her arms around Caleb in a purely friendly, but girly, gesture. He looked at me quickly.
Help me!"And welcome to the family." Jake said to me, he extended a hand toward me. "Truce?"
I smiled and shook his hand, "Truce." Then my smile widened a little as I added, "for now." He nodded in agreement with that plan.
"Violet Cyllents? Could that possibly be you?" I spun around at the sound of the voice behind me.
