Chapter 17: Just Another Day

Shani dashed through the palace. Her breath was heavy as she ran towards the foyer. A week had passed since her first lesson with Jaziel, and today was the day Caelis and his mother were leaving. She rounded a corner and stopped abruptly as she saw four figures standing in front of a carriage, snow falling delicately around them. 

Shani rushed forward.

Caelis was the first to notice her and gave her a small wave as she approached. Shani’s throat felt tight but she swallowed the feeling. She stepped next to her mother. 

“Hopefully you have fun in Eloris,” Jamila said as she adjusted her fur shawl. Iselle nodded with a small smile on her lips.

“I don’t need to worry. My father is quite excited to see us, if his letters are anything to go by.” She placed a hand atop Caelis’s strawberry-blonde hair 

“Just… be careful,” Jaziel said. He didn’t sound too worried. Actually, it sounded more like an order than anything else. Iselle’s smile dropped and she curtsied. 

“Well, we should be off… It's a long journey.” Iselle spoke to the group. Her smile was back but it was much smaller this time.  Jaziel nodded. Jamila took Iselle's hand.

“May Zephys protect your journey.” Jamila’s tone was light. Iselle nodded gratefully before pulling her hand away. Jaziel assisted her into the carriage. 

Caelis took Shani’s hand, and to her shock, she noticed she had been crying. He wrapped his arms around Shani. Shani hugged him back, now bawling. 

“I promise to find you something amazing…” he whispered. Shani shook her head.

“I don’t care anymore… just come back soon,” she said between sobs. Caelis smiled and pulled away. He stood on his tippy toes and stroked Shani’s curls.

“I’ll be back soon.” 

And with that… the goodbye was final. Caelis entered the carriage, and a moment later they were off. Shani clung to Jamila’s skirt until they were gone from view. Even then, once the adults had begun to head inside, Shani stood frozen, looking at the gate. Waiting. 

Months passed. The snow continued to pile high, and Shani’s birthday was fast approaching. But there was still no word on when Iselle and Caelis would be returning. Shani sat in their nest, trying her best to read the books Caelis had left behind. 

They were still much too hard.

So instead, she studied the books that had illustrations in them. Trees that grew berries in their bark. Red crystals. Even large cats from the desert that were made out of sandstone. They were all drawn quite impressively. And although Shani couldn’t understand the bigger words, she understood one thing. Draxia was large. 

A sigh escaped her. What did it matter if the world was large when it was so dangerous? She was happy just being here with her family. Her throat felt scratchy as tears welled in her eyes. 

He promised… He will be back soon.

Shani grabbed a blanket and pulled it higher over her shoulders. She suddenly felt quite cold despite the roaring fire behind her. Her lips trembled as she pulled a book closer. She wanted to play and talk with someone. 

A shadow loomed over her. Shani glanced from the corner of her eye. Jamila was kneeling behind her with a concerned look on her face. Shani frowned. 

“My goodness… aren’t you hungry? It’s lunchtime, dear.” She placed a hand on Shani’s forehead. Shani shook her head.

“Not really… I was just cold.” 

“Cold, huh…” Jamila began, and Shani caught sight of a letter in her hand. Shani bolted up, which caused her mother to let out a small shocked squeal. 

“What’s that?” Shani asked, pointing at the letter. A sly smile pulled at Jamila’s lips. 

“I received a letter from your aunt today… I haven’t opened it yet since I thought you might be interested,” she said, scooting closer. Shani’s mouth hung open. 

“Well? Open it, Mama!” she exclaimed as she gripped Jamila’s dress. Jamila laughed and carefully ripped open the letter, pulling out the weathered paper. 

“Hmm, let’s see… Jamila, I hope you are well… Blah blah blah, how’s Jaziel hanging in there…” she mumbled, glancing through the letter. 

“When are they coming home?” Shani whined, pulling at Jamila. 

“Jeez, hold on, I can only read so fast.” She laughed, using one arm to hold Shani at bay while the other held the letter. 

“Hard to believe Shani will be eight in a few weeks… Caelis was saying how happy he was that he caught up to her this spring. It’s unfortunate, really,” she continued. She continued. A smile crossed Shani’s features. No matter how hard he tried, she would always be the older one. 

“Unfortunately, due to the snow we won’t…” 

Jamila froze. Shani paused her assault and tilted her head. “They won’t?” 

Jamila’s mouth formed a tight line as she continued to read the letter in silence. Shani tugged at her, but this time Jamila didn’t move. A long sigh escaped her mother.

“Apparently, the snow is quite high even so close to the coast… so they will have to delay departure until it begins melting.” 

Shani’s eyes widened. 

Until the snow melts? 

That meant they wouldn’t be making it back until closer to Caelis’s birthday. Shani’s chin quivered, but then she noticed her mother’s anxious eyes staring directly at her. She bit her lip and forced a smile.

“I see… so Caelis is going to be late?” 

Silence fell over the room. Jamila clutched the paper and then, a moment later, tucked it away in her waistband. Jamila returned Shani’s smile, but there was some sadness to it. 

“I’m afraid so, lovely.” She readjusted in the fort of pillows and sat in front of Shani.

“But… we can still have a wonderful time! Eight is a very important number, after all,” she began. More rambling than anything else. Shani tilted her head. Her brows knitted together.

“Eight is just another year, right?” Shani asked. Jamila shook her head. She leaned forward until she and Shani were only a breath away from each other. Her lavender eyes glanced around the room before returning to Shani’s.

“In your father’s culture, eight is a very important year. It marks the beginning of your journey to becoming an adult.” Jamila’s voice was low, yet excited. Her mother’s face lit up, but the excitement only exhausted Shani more. 

“How so?” She crossed her arms and gave Jamila a sharp look. A frown pulled at Jamila’s lips.

“Shani. When you turn eight, you join a flock, learn to forage, even learn to use a weapon.” Jamila’s tone was firm but gentle. She knew what a flock was. It was a group of birds, but she wondered what that had to do with her. She thought of asking, but part of her just didn’t care about her dad or his culture at this moment. She stayed quiet for a moment longer, her arms remaining crossed. 

“Can I do any of that here?” she asked with a raised brow. Jamila’s eyes widened as she backed away and reached for the tips of her hair. Shani watched the movement and sighed.

“Then it’s just another day here, right?” 

Jamila’s mouth pulled into a tight line as she played with the ends of her hair. She reached for Shani. Shani didn’t fight it and allowed her mother to pull her onto her lap.

“Shani… Your birth is not just another day to me.” Jamila pressed her forehead against her daughter’s. Shani wanted to cry. She was so frustrated. She didn’t understand why her mother was making a bigger deal out of it than it needed to be. She just wanted the whole conversation to end. Not about her supposed dad. Her birthday. Anything. 

Perhaps… giving in would be easier.

Another sigh escaped the young girl. She reached up and cupped her mother’s face, a small smile pulling at Shani’s lips. 

“Okay, Mama… but can it just be you and Uncle?” she asked hesitantly. It wouldn’t be as fun without Caelis. But a small party might be okay. Perhaps it would even make her mother and Uncle happy.

Jamila’s face brightened as a barrage of kisses covered Shani’s forehead. Shani couldn’t help the giggle that escaped from her. “Yes! A small one! I promise.” 

Jamila gave Shani a tight hug and squeezed her as long as she possibly could. Then she rose to her feet. 

“Well… lunch is basically over, so I should get back. Don’t stay cooped up all day!” she ordered with a pointed finger. Shani nodded. Jamila smiled before turning to leave. As soon as her mother was gone, Shani rose and began walking out of the library. 

She felt tired. She needed a nap.