Zi’da 7 arc 717
Feeling as if a great weight has been lifted off her shoulders, Yana descended the stairs, releasing a deep sigh as she reached the ground floor. Her father hadn’t changed one bit, it seemed. The only thing that was different was that he’d gotten some wrinkles on his face that made him appear even more severe and strict. The Yludih moved to the living room, where her mother sat on the sofa, a book in her hands.
The woman looked up, and placed her book down, smiling at her daughter. She stood, straightening out the folds of her skirt, and gestured to one of the armchairs standing around the low table.
“Just a sec, I’ll get us some cake.”
“You made cake?” Yana asked incredulously, “You should not have.”
Phaela waved the words away as she walked to the kitchen. “I wanted to, sweetheart. It’s not every trial you come home.”
She rummaged in drawers and cupboards, placing items on the kitchen counter with a loud clattering. Yana stood and made her way into the kitchen space as well, taking the small plates and little forks so her mother wouldn’t have to struggle with those and the cake both.
“I mean, you should not have gone through the effort just for me.”
The older Yludih made a tut-tut sound with her tongue. “Effort? Sweetheart, I like making cakes. And if I have an excuse to make some, I’ll gladly take it. Especially if it’s for you.”
Yana’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment, only to rise back up and focus on Phaela’s form as the woman removed a metal cloche from the cake platter. She smiled.
“Is that--?”
“Strawberry shortcake,” her mother confirmed with a grin, “Do you still love it as you used to?”
“I am not sure,” Yana confessed, returning to the salon and placing the plates and cutlery on the low table. “I have stayed away from sweets for the most part.”
Placing the cake on the table, Yana’s mother had begun cutting some slices and putting them on the plates, but she’d stopped to look at her daughter. Phaela seemed surprised. “Why? It’s not like you have to watch your figure. In fact, I think you could use some ex--”
“I did not want to,” the Yludih interrupted, eye watching her feet. “They were different times.”
“Ah,” she nodded, knowingly. “I understand. It took you a while to come to terms with it all. Sometimes people embrace –well not really embrace it. Some people get over it faster than others. Some need many arcs.” She sighed. “There have even been those who--” she stopped herself, shaking her head. “But that’s not for now. Now is time for cake.” She offered Yana a plate. The young woman accepted it gladly.
“Anyway, you never told me what brings you to Etzos. I would like to believe you just wanted to visit us, but you’ve never been the type to make a thirty trial trip just to go see family.” She sliced a small part of the piece of cake, and placed it in her mouth. “Oh, do you want some tea? I can brew some if you like?”
“No, thank you.” Yana stared at her slice of cake, savoring the taste of the sweet whipped cream, the juicy strawberries and the light biscuit. “The cake is just as good as I remember,” she complimented.
Phaela inclined her head, then rested her white eyes on Yana’s. “Changing the topic won’t work. Just say you don’t want to talk about it.” She continued eating cake.
Yana sighed and placed her fork on her plate. “I am looking for someone.”
“Not a friend, I take it?” she sounded as if she was hoping for the opposite.
“Not quite. They—you know of the one they called the Tortured One?”
Phaela’s expression darkened. Her brow drooped, as did her shoulders. She sighed. For a couple moments, both women stared at their plates, no words between them, no sounds. Only silence.
And then: “Just stay safe.”
“You sound just like Father,” she responded. “But sure, I will try.”
“You discussed this with your father?” It was evident that she didn’t really know whether or not this was true.
“No. He just does not agree on my line of work.”
A smile. “You know how he is. He doesn’t show it, but he’s worried about you.”
“I know.”
“The way he goes about it, though…” She shook her head. “Just remember he means well.”
“I know, Mother,” Yana reassured her, despite not really sure of her feelings on the matter. Instead of exploring that question, she focused on eating another piece of the strawberry shortcake. “But it does not mean that I will do as he says anymore.” She paused. “I told him so too.”
Her mother cracked a smile, genuinely happy. “You did? That’s great, sweetheart. That’s the way to do it. Face to face. I’m proud of you.”
Yana also let a smile touch her lips.
“How is life in Rynmere, by the by? I’ve heard some disturbing things the past arc. I mean, the Boy King was there already, but then there was that civil war or so, and you mentioned something about one or other citizen’s alliance wreaking havoc?”
The Yludih daughter nodded, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Those are just some of the all-time lows of the time I have been there. Other than those it has been fairly good. Same as any other place.” She shrugged.
“And your boyfriend?” she urged.
Yana swallowed a strawberry. “He exists, yes,” she tried.
And failed.
“Don’t be that way! Can’t you tell your mother some more? No need to be shy. It’s not like he’s here to listen in.”
Well, she supposed that was true.
“If you don’t tell me, you get no more cake,” Phaela threatened with a laugh, snatching the cake platter away just when Yana had been about to cut off another piece.
“All right then.”
“So, where did you meet? The university? You mentioned attending, right?”
“I did not have the money to enroll yet at the time,” Yana divulged, “but I am actually not sure if I will take additional classes anymore. I am not a fan of the education system. Too impersonal. It’s not teaching at all. They just throw knowledge at you and you have to see that you can absorb it.”
“Why not have a private tutor teaching you then?”
Yana made a face. Those weren’t free. And, to be honest, apart from the professors of the University, she wasn’t certain there were suitable people working in the private sector. Well, there had been one, once upon a time… “There used to be a good private tutor in Andaris, but I heard he eloped with the slave of a nobleman.”
“Oh. Well. That’s… unfortunate?” She searched for something to expand on that while Yana cut a wedge out of the cake. “You sneaky--!” Phaela exclaimed, quickly snatching the platter away once more. “No boyfriend talk, no cake.”
Yana rolled her eyes.
“Fine. We met during a guard shift. I saved his bacon by shooting a terrorist in the back with a crossbow, then I supported him as he couldn’t walk anymore.”
“Romantic. So he was the damsel in distress, and you the knight in shining armor?”
“Well, no. I mean, it is not like I had to carry him.” There had been that time in Viden though. “He is a bit fragile,” she admitted, “but we have a lot in common. So we met up a couple times, worked on a few cases side by side, and went to Viden together.”
“To Viden?” Phaela leaned in, obviously interested. “How was it?”
“Cold.”
Her mother made a face. “Other than that?”
“Different than I imagined. Nothing special. You and Father overhyped it.” She stuffed another strawberry with whipped cream in her mouth.
“Are you sure you were doing in right?”
“Doing it ri--” Yana frowned. “I meant Viden. Viden was overhyped. The rest was great. We know what we are doing.”
“Of course, of course.” Phaela smiled.
She stood then, announcing she’d make some tea after all, and this time Yana said she would love some as well. They continued their conversation over some steaming black tea, where they both talked about their lives –though mostly about Yana’s—and Yana’s career. And when the younger Yludih left late in the afternoon, she felt a whole lot better than she had since she’d seen Quiome vanish before her eye. For an afternoon she had enjoyed herself, her thoughts not occupied with ideas of revenge and hate and anger. Perhaps, part of her mind thought, the way to go was more of trials like these, but it was quickly drowned out by the rest of her, lusting for retribution.
Besides, she had made a promise. And since she wished not to break it, despite it being made to a now dead man –no, because it was made to a dead man. Not to mention that if left alone, there would be others to suffer the same fate.
If she did not do it, then who would?
