Fated Born by Kristin L Hamblin

Author:Kristin L Hamblin [Hamblin, Kristin L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crown of Laurel Press
Published: 2022-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Sixteen

Ardenis ate roast chicken and vegetables with Laida and Bram in the dining hall that evening. Vinia’s absence was keenly felt, but only by him, it seemed. They didn't talk about her, didn't comment on how much they missed her. He almost mentioned it several times, but Laida and Bram didn’t seem to feel the same sense of loss. Is that how he’d reacted when his friends had been born before?

They sat across from him, and he snuck glances at Laida. If he reported his Fating, their time together would be reduced from centuries to mere months.

The fork shook in his hand. It could be as little as days if Eva were to get pregnant right away.

Amalia dropped her plate next to him, causing him to jump. Laida and Bram smiled in greeting as Amalia sat. She didn’t utter a word.

“I found a slight flaw in the transfer records,” Laida said. She stared straight into Ardenis’s eyes, as if he were the only one in the room. He reminded himself to breathe, ignoring their interruption and his trembling fork.

“Really?” he asked, recovering.

Bram scribbled on a sheet of paper. Amalia ate her food and acted invisible. Ardenis was well aware of her and her knowing gaze, studying him.

“Yes," Laida said. "I believe we’ll be able to let more borns go each day than previously. It seems we hadn’t calculated for the recent increase in population. I’m hoping this discovery will earn my position back.”

Bram looked up from his writing. “Good work, Laida,” he said, beating Ardenis to it.

Ardenis felt a surge of irrational jealousy.

“Thank you, Bram. I got the idea when an enforcer brought the third forced born this week. It made me think, with more souls on Thera recently, there would be room for more to be born—more mortal women to bear children."

The third this week? Ardenis peeked to gauge Amalia's reaction. She stared at Laida, speared carrot stopped midway to her mouth.

Laida spoke over his thoughts. "What are you working on, Bram?”

“My journal. I had an idea to hold a Tafl tournament. What do you think?”

Laida clapped her hands, smiling. “Oooh.”

“That sounds great, Bram.” Ardenis smiled as well, focusing his emotions. He enjoyed Tafl.

They chatted until dinner ended, Ardenis forcing polite conversation to distract him from what was to come. Amalia remained silent, not even pretending to care. The others didn't seem to notice. When she stood to leave, Ardenis followed her away from the table.

“You’re not coming to the concert, Arden?” Laida asked.

Ardenis glanced at Amalia, who smiled and winked at him. “Not tonight, Laida.” He clenched his jaw. It was the first time Laida seemed to care if he went to the concert, and he hated to disappoint her, even if that disappointment was all in his head. Amalia was making him waste precious time without her.

“Okay, goodnight then.” Laida turned and walked toward the pavilion with Bram, taking his arm.

Or maybe she didn’t care at all. He seethed.

Ardenis watched her go until Amalia cleared her throat.

“You’re in more trouble than I thought, Arden,” she said.

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