Spellbound

Chapter 4

    Alton set down the coffee cup. His father excused himself to go to the washroom, leaving him alone with the commander. Royle was sat back on the couch, both his arms and legs crossed. His gray uniform was immaculate, the golden shoulder pads and badge being the only splash of color.

    Alton twiddled his thumbs, a sudden awkwardness overcoming him. He shifted on the seat, unsure of what to say. Royle was a serious man, and Alton didn’t want to c***k his usual jokes in the presence of someone he respected so much. He had no idea how Torren could be so comfortable with the commander.

    “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Alton?” Royle said.

    Alton responded, his posture stiffening on instinct. “Yes, sir. Too long. How is Rellon? I haven’t seen him much quite lately.”

    “He’s busy preparing his paper for publishing. If possible, I think you should try to coax him out a little more. It’s good for a man to be as dedicated to his work as Relly is, but sometimes, he needs to loosen up a little.”

    “Really?” Alton leaned back in surprise. He hadn’t expected Royle to actually encourage him to take Rellon out to social gatherings.

    Royle smiled. “I understand he’s a little…out of reach sometimes. I used to be the same way. But, if you’re solely focused on the success of your work, you begin to lose the reason you do what you do. Relly is a good boy. He wants to advance medical knowledge, but he’ll burn out before he achieves anything if he continues to grind without giving himself any time to loosen up. A little fun now and then will relieve him of the burden he piles up, at least for a little while.”

    “I’m…honored, sir.” Alton truly was flattered that the commander relied on him to support his son. Rellon was a good friend, but Royle was someone Alton had looked up to all his life.

    “Nonsense.” Royle waved a hand. “He’s your friend, isn’t he? Consider it your duty.”

    Before Alton could reply, there was a sudden commotion outside. Mostly panicked voices, but there was also a loud thud as if someone had kicked at a desk. Among the ‘You can’t be here, Miss’ and ‘Please calm down’, there was also a familiar voice that raged above the rest. Footsteps pounded, loud against the floor, then the door swung open, and there she stood, her face red and steaming with fury. Senya stormed into the room, dragging Rellon by the arm behind her.

    “Why am I a part of this?” Rellon asked, attempting to pull away. He had on a long black coat for the weather, a white collared shirt and a black bow. In one gloved hand, he held a flat-brimmed hat. No doubt, he was on his way to one of his meets with medical socialites.

     “Senya,” Royle said with a frown. “What are you—”

    “Explain this to me, Dad.” Senya was mad. No, she was furious. Alton half-expected to see steam rushing out of her ears. “Have we been getting these every year?”

    Senya threw an envelope and letter on the low table between Alton and Royle.

    Royle glanced at the letter and paled. Alton never thought it was possible for the commander to be flustered, and he wondered what it was that had caused this mayhem. He studied the papers before him and immediately recognized the gold wax on the envelope.

    “A royal letter?” Alton observed.

    “Senya, where did you get this?” Royle asked, standing.

    Senya let go of Rellon and crossed her arms. Her eyes shone bright with fury, and Alton was struck with affection. Ah, that burning fire. It was something he’d always loved about Senya. He met Rellon’s disapproving gaze and looked away, hoping his cheeks weren’t as red as they were warm.

    “Where do you think?” Senya pointed at the open door. “I got it from the post office. Mister Calan seemed desperate to keep it away from me, so I’m sure you knew we were going to receive it and gave him specific orders beforehand. So please explain to us, Dad. Why have we never accepted the royal invitation to the Peace Day ball?”

    “The palace is no place for us.” Royle clasped his hands behind his back. “It’s best we don’t mingle with them.”

    Them. Alton wasn’t sure what the sting in his heart was. For as long as he could remember, there had been a reserved line between the Benthams and the Knights. It wasn’t that Commander Bentham was resentful of nobles, but there was an air of caution with the way he connected with those who were deemed important enough to join the royal families in celebrations. Alton suspected it might have been because his wife was a witch, but Misa was always warmly received in the Peace Day ball. Perhaps it had something to do with the failed witch treaty over two decades ago. He knew the two of them were closely connected to it, but the details were never fully disclosed.

    “Why? Because we’re not high class?” Senya’s glare was fierce, her fiery temper flaring into an inferno. “Is that it? I can’t be friends with those in high society? Every year, Liane, Veira, and Ellaine attend the ball and come back with stories that last a lifetime. Every year, I’m left behind, wishing I could join them. I even asked if I could go with them, and you told me I couldn’t go unless I had an invitation. An invitation you evidently kept from me!”

    “Senya…”

    “A party?” Rellon frowned. “You’re upset over a party? This is why you dragged me all the way here? Dammit, Senya. You’re wasting my time.”

    “It’s not just a party, Rellon!” Senya snatched the letter from the table and shoved it on Rellon’s chest. He barely caught it before it fluttered to the ground. “Read the invitation.”

    Reluctantly, Rellon smoothed the parchment and began to read it out loud,

    “To the Bentham family,

    You are cordially invited to the Peace Day ball. For twenty-three years, we have celebrated the success you brought to our country, and your presence is consistently missed. We hope that our amicable relationship will persist through each generation, and we encourage that you become acquainted with our next kings and queens. Your services are always and will always be appreciated. We anticipate your attendance. Please consider joining us this year.

    We look forward to seeing you here.

    Respectfully yours,

    The Royal Council.”

    “It’s practically a celebration they throw for our family.” Senya shook her head. “Do you know how disrespectful it is that we never go?”

    Rellon read the letter once more in silence. Slowly, he looked at his father. “There must be a mistake. Something like this…it’s madness that we don’t attend.”

    “It doesn’t matter.” Royle sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s simply a courtesy. There’s no reason we must attend.”

    “But why?” Senya was trembling. Alton rose from his seat. “Why didn’t you ever tell me, Dad? Why didn’t you tell me that it was possible for me to go with my friends?”

    “I…” Royle shook his head. “I didn’t want you go to that place, Senya. There are…things there. Things that should remain buried in the past. Perhaps I will tell you one day, but…just understand that we have nothing to do with the royal council.”

    “I leave for a few minutes, and the tension builds up thick enough to be cut with a knife.”

    Alton breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of his father’s tall frame entering the room. Torren shooed the crowd that had gathered at the doorway and shut the door.

    “Ah, Relly, Senya. Good to see you again.” Torren flashed an easy grin. “See, this is why you need me, Royle. You always find yourself in these tense situations when I’m not by your side.”

    “Not the time, Torren,” Royle murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose.

    “Uncle Torren.” The tension in Senya released like a waterfall. “Did you know we were always invited to the Peace Day ball?”

    Torren shrugged. “What can I say? Your father’s never been one for a ball.” He slapped Rellon’s shoulder. “We know where you got that from, Relly. Blame your father for your social awkwardness.”

    “So, it’s not a big deal that we don’t go?” Senya blinked, the color in her cheeks dying away as she realized her outburst might not have been called for.

    “Nah.” Torren waved a hand. “Royle and Misa practically saved all of Plathea. They can pretty much do whatever they want. The royal council knows that it’s silly to expect Royle to always attend their ball when he has better things to do. Still invites him anyway, since he’s always welcome.”

    “Torren,” Royle warned.

    “Typical Senya.” Rellon sighed and firmly placed his hat on his head. “Always whining about parties and making big deals about things that don’t matter.”

    “It’s not my fault the invitation sounded so important!” Senya glared at Rellon.

    “You’re so immature.” Rellon raised his eyes to the heavens. “Now look. I’m going to be late because of you. I’m sorry for intruding, Dad, Uncle Torren, Alton.”

    “Alton?” Senya whirled around and backed away, her eyes widening in realization. She flushed. “Um…Alton…hi.”

    Alton wasn’t sure if he should have been hurt that she didn’t even notice him. He grinned. “Hi.”

    Rellon cleared his throat, shooting Alton a discreet glare. “I’ll be on my way, then. Senya, stop bothering them. Out!” He grabbed the back of her collar and began to drag her towards the door.

    “What? Rellon! Let me go!” Senya struggled against his grip, stumbling backward while attempting to keep up with his pace. “You’re choking me! Okay, okay! I’ll leave. Just hang on for a second.” She managed to pull away from him, and she shot him a murderous look.

    “Give me that!” She snatched the invitation from him and waved it at Royle. “I’m going to the ball, Dad.”

    “Senya!” Royle hissed through his teeth.

    “You told me to act like an adult and consult you if I wanted to go to a party. So, I’m consulting you now. I want to go.”

    “No.”

    “Why not? I have an invitation, my friends will all be going, so I can take one of their carriages to the palace. What reason is there not to go?”

    “Senya. You can’t—”

    “As far as I’m concerned, the only reason you don’t want me to go is because…you don’t want me to go. What valid reason is there in preventing me, Dad? I gave you my list of rational reasons to go to the ball. What rational reason do you have for not letting me go?”

    To Alton’s surprise, Torren stepped in. “She has a point.”

    “Not you too, Torren.”

    “I understand, Royle. I understand why you don’t want her to go. But, it’s all in the past. There’s no reason right this moment that she can’t go. I can take care of her on the way, and when we get to the palace, Misa will be there. She’ll be just fine.”

    “Really?” Senya’s eyes lit up. Alton smiled. Her hopeful expression was vibrant, cherubic. She almost looked like a child.

    “That’s not…” Royle paused, struggling to speak. Alton had never seen the commander so tongue-tied before. So, this was the power Senya had. The power to render her father speechless. She always was difficult to argue against.

    “Dad, please?” Senya clasped her hands together. “There won’t be a problem if Uncle Torren is there. And he’s right. Mom will be at the ball, too. What could go wrong?”

    “Your mother will be working. She can’t look after you when she’s busy.”

    “I’m not a child. Uncle Torren and Aunt Hethel will be there, too. Plus Liane, Veira, and Ellaine.”

    “And me,” Alton said.

    Senya jumped at his voice, and a blush colored her cheeks. “Yes. And Alton.”

    “I don’t think Senya should go,” Rellon cut in almost immediately. Alton winced. He’d forgotten in the heat of Senya’s eagerness the reason Rellon had distanced himself from their friendship. Senya probably had no idea how much Rellon worried over her.

    Senya scowled. “Why are you still here, Rellon? You’re not Dad. You don’t make my decisions.”

    “I’m your older brother, and I have the right to protect you.”

    “Protect me?” Senya’s temper was rising again. “From what? You just want to ruin my fun. Like always. I don’t need you or Dad’s boring life, so stop pushing me to be more like you!”

    “Protect you from making a fool of yourself in front of important people, obviously.” Rellon frowned. He never could bring himself to show his sister the true affection he felt for her. Instead, Rellon had always said things that would ignite her temper, and their arguments were filled with the pettiest insults. In a way, Alton supposed, it was their way of being siblings. “In front of the royal council, no less. You’ll bring shame to our family.”

    “Whatever. You can’t tell me what to do.” Senya turned back to her father. She grabbed his arm. “Please? Dad, I’ll be fine. I won’t get in trouble, I promise.”

    “Senya—”

    “Please, Papa.” Senya pouted, and even Alton could see Royle’s steely resolve melting away. “You can trust me. If you let me go this time, I won’t sneak out anymore. Promise.”

    “Great, she pulled the ‘Papa’ card,” Rellon grumbled.

    Royle heaved a sigh, and his shoulders slackened. “Fine.”

    Excitement buzzed from Senya. Her body was practically trembling in a strained attempt to hold it in.

    “But only if you promise to stick with Torren or Hethel. No wild exploration, no digging your nose where it doesn’t belong, and no boys.”

    “No boys?” Senya’s face fell. “But that’s the whole point of balls. To find new suitors.”

    “You heard him,” Rellon bit out. “No. Boys.”

    “Why do you care?” Senya huffed.

    “I can’t imagine what nightmare you’ll bring home. Who in their right mind would want to marry you? I’ll feel sorry for anyone you choose as your partner. You should stay a spinster forever.”

    “It’s not like you’ll ever get married when you’re always buried in books. At least I have a chance.” Senya flung back her hair with a flick of her wrist.

    “I don’t mean that you should stay away from them, Senya,” Royle said, cutting off their argument. “It’s okay if they’re friends like Alton. It’s okay if it’s one boy that you fancy. But no jumping from suitor to suitor, especially when they all come from noble families.”

    Senya beamed. “That’s fine with me, Papa. Thank you, thank you! I love you.” She kissed his cheek and skipped to the door. “Come on, Relly. Didn’t you say you had a meet?”

    “Whatever, Senya. You’d be lucky to get more than a stable boy interested in you.” Rellon peered back at Alton, his eyes narrow beneath the brim of his hat, before following his sister out the office. A subtle warning of his reproach. Senya’s retort was muffled by the door.

    “Ah, a father’s weakness.” Torren chuckled. “You can’t resist when your daughter sucks up to you like that, can you? Relax, Royle. Alton and I’ll take good care of her.”

    Royle crumpled to the couch as if all his energy had been sapped from him. He tugged at his hair.

    “s**t,” he said. “Misa’s going to kill me.”