Shattered Illusions (Terra Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  I rubbed my arms as we walked, not able to shake the feeling of being watched. There were so many people here I must be imagining things. But I felt the sensation even before leaving the hotel. It seemed worse today.

  Just overworked and still uneasy about being in Mystic Port, right?

  “Over here,” Kitteren said excitedly, taking my hand and dragging me toward a blue canopy.

  Once we stopped, I glanced at what the merchant sold. “Jewelry?” Neither of us wore the stuff often by choice and this appeared to be all handmade. “Are you looking for a gift for Mother?”

  My sister rolled her eyes. “No, us. A nice necklace will finish off these outfits, don’t you think?” Kitteren made her way to a nearby display.

  I shook my head. “I’m fine without.”

  Kitteren sighed and then shook her head. “You really need to lighten up and have some fun. Besides, your birthday is in a few days.”

  “We don’t know when my birthday is. The date is just used for official documents,” I reminded her. Why did my family insist on making a big deal out of it?

  She stuck her tongue out at me. “We’re going to celebrate it and you’re going to like it.” Kitteren’s face turned sad. “We missed too many years.”

  I walked over quietly and looked at the necklaces on a stand next to hers. “You really don’t need to do anything now. I don’t like being the center of attention.”

  “I know, but I want to.” Her words came out sounding a little whiny. I hated it when she pulled that tone because I usually ended up giving in to her. Granted it never took much - I always had a soft spot when it came to Kitteren.

  I gently cupped a necklace to see how heavy it was. The largest of the silver leaves connected the black cording. Three smaller leaves hung from where one end of the large leaf met the cording - silver beads keeping the cords contained at various points. I found it an interesting design. A gold and brown one hung next to it.

  “Oh, those would be good.” Kitteren snatched up one of each and took them to the merchant.

  I strode up next to her and asked the ridiculous question, “Do we have to look alike?”

  She shrugged. “Why not? Mom has been dying to do this to us forever - you couldn’t see her face while she was doing your hair, but she was so happy. She’ll be thrilled when we meet her for lunch.”

  I rolled my eyes and walked away. I could deal with the necklace, but I wanted to escape before she found something else.

  As I reached the edge of the canopy the sense of being watched jumped tenfold and I looked around trying to spot anyone. There were simply too many people here and the noise from the vendors as well as the rides operating not far off made it difficult.

  Kitteren bounced around me happily, trying to get the necklace on me. Then she paused. “Ket, what’s wrong?”

  I shook my head. “I’m just not used to large crowds.”

  Something flashed across her face, but it disappeared too quickly to make out. “Well I’m here so you don’t have to worry.” She finished getting the leaves around my neck. “You look great, see!” Kitteren dragged me over to a mirror hanging near the entrance to the vendor.

  Kitteren looked bubbly and happy. My expression had not changed from my normal one. Maybe I was still too tired to try - I did not get a full night’s rest. I guessed the necklace added something, but I was never good with these things. I held the pendant leaves in my hand and looked down at them - they were just pieces of metal. These did not hide secrets like the Arcane College pins did. Just like my badge did not either.

  I shifted uncomfortably, knowing the badge resided in my wallet in the small black pouch on my hip. I still felt undeserving of it.

  “Let’s keep checking out the vendors until it’s time for lunch.” Kitteren grabbed my hand and dragged me along. “Then this afternoon, we can go to the concerts. You’re going to love it.”

  I told her I disliked shopping on more than one occasion, but listening to music sounded good. I just wanted to shake this feeling of being watched.

  She paused as we passed a food vendor. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not really,” I said.

  Next thing I knew, I found myself in line with Kitteren.

  “I said I wasn’t hungry,” I reiterated.

  “No, you said ‘not really’ which means you could do with a snack. Besides, you have to try the shortbread from this place - the ones with the fruit filling are fantastic.” Kitteren had already dug out money from her wallet. “Don’t make me choose a flavor for you.”

  “I really don’t want anything.” A last ditch effort, but I browsed the board anyway. There were only a few options, but they sold drinks as well. A bottle of water would be nice, though the price here made me reconsider. I mentally compared it to the other vendors we passed. Why did festival food have to cost so much? And especially a bottle of water?

  “Two raspberry shortbread buns and two bottles of water,” Kitteren ordered. She stood ahead of me, talking to the Dwarven woman at the counter.

  Obviously, she would not listen to me. I quickly moved up with her. “Can I at least get this to try and make up for not having helped out on this trip?”

  Kitteren looked at me like I was crazy. “No. And I’ll tell you why as soon as we find a place to eat.”

  My sister chatted up the woman serving us as we waited. Bored, I looked around again and saw a familiar head of silver hair on a tall form. Maybe that’s where the sensation came from, but Silver seemed interested in the ongoings of the festival itself.

  I took the opportunity to look around more, but again, there were simply too many people. Too many would glance my way as they also took in their surroundings.

  As soon as she paid and handed me my half, Kitteren took off for a side area. She found a quiet corner to sit under the shade of a large canopy.

  “So why won’t you let me pay for things?” I asked quietly.

  Kitteren sighed and took a bite of her bun. Once she finished, she answered, “Because it’s the only way I can try to pay you back.”

  I raised an eyebrow at her as I adjusted my grip on my food. “Pay me back? You don’t owe me anything.”

  “Yes, I do. Shit, Ket, it’s not just the money you would give to Mom to help care for me. But everything you’ve done for me my whole life. I want to show you how grateful I am and… I don’t know. It’s the only thing I can think of to do. I’ve screwed up pretty bad this trip so far.” Her eyes were down. I fought the urge to just forget everything.

  I found my opening to start asking questions. “Like when you didn’t come back to rest at night?”

  “You noticed, huh?” Kitteren seemed embarrassed at having been caught.

  I sighed and pointed out, “It’s not hard - you hate cleaning and making the bed falls under that.” Her quarters often had clothes hung on the backs of furniture and on the floor in her closet instead of on hangers.

  My sister looked down at her food. “Sorry.”

  Taking a deep breath, I explained, “Kitteren, I don’t want apologies, I just want to know what is going on.”

  My words caught her off-guard and she fidgeted. “Well, you remember Joanna, right?”

  I nodded.

  Kitteren shifted in her chair as she elaborated, “She’s caught up in a pretty nasty divorce right now. She’s afraid her soon-to-be ex-husband will try to forcibly take her son away. I spent the night with her a couple of times to help.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Why didn’t you say something before?”

  “I didn’t know how you felt after how she treated you. Joanna grew up knowing me and she’s pretty abrasive under normal circumstances, but I think meeting you in person was a bit much for her right now. She’s actually sorry for how she acted.” Kitteren’s explanation for not telling me seemed trivial, but I could follow her logic.

  I shrugged. I had gotten used to people not liking me for trivial reasons.

  Concerned green eyes were suddenly
in my line of vision. “Ket, I can’t read minds. What’s going on?”

  I shrugged again. How do I bring up that I felt like everyone kept secrets which somehow involved me?

  “Is that idiot partner of yours bothering you? I mean, he’s got the stalker thing going right now.” So Kitteren noticed him as well.

  I shook my head. “But you knew he was coming and didn’t tell me.”

  Kitteren sighed and sat back in her chair. “Yeah, but the stupid paladin being here makes no sense. I just wanted you to have a quiet vacation. Him being here is like having work follow you.”

  Again, I could not argue with her logic. Everything had a reason, right? “The big brother act does get old quite quickly, but I’m certain we’ll figure out a compromise.”

  There was a long pause before Kitteren said, “I still don’t like him.”

  I sighed and said, “I know.”

  Kitteren smirked. “Can I ask you a question now?”

  I eyed Kitteren warily. “I reserve the right to not answer.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Fine. Why did you decide to pick Mom’s pocket?”

  I had been expecting a different question. I sat back and thought about it, thinking answering this would be alright. “I’m really not certain what I was thinking at the time. I might have just wanted to try my abilities against someone more aware.” I needed the test to go after the others taken by the slave traders. I just did not need to tell her the last part.

  “Worked out for us, didn’t it?” Kitteren sat back and took a bite of her bun.

  “I suppose it did. Mother has been kind when she had every right not to be.” In more ways than one. I don’t think I would have made it off of the pier alive that night if Mother had not insisted on helping me get those children freed.

  Kitteren rolled her eyes. “Why can’t you just call them Mom and Dad? They’d like it better. You’re too formal and it makes it sound like you don’t like them.” It was something she got on my case about every so often.

  I took a moment to explain, “I’m just trying to be respectful. I haven’t been around them for as long as you have. I don’t want to make things more awkward with a familiarity that isn’t there.”

  “Gods, Ket, you know how infuriating you are sometimes?” I was starting to. “It’ll be fine - I promise.”

  ~*~

  “Mom! Dad!” Kitteren called and waved to them, pulling me along behind her. I tripped over something and stumbled to catch myself. Why was she in such a rush?

  Kitteren stopped to help me, but I had steadied again. “Can we slow down?”

  “Sorry. I just want to make sure we have enough time after lunch to be able to grab good seats.”

  “Oh, look at you two,” Mother gushed. She came over and picked up the pendants on my necklace to look at them. “These are a nice touch.”

  Father came over and put his arm around Kitteren’s shoulders, smiling. “Let’s get in line so we can catch up.”

  I followed at the back, still uneasy. I looked back over my shoulder in time to catch Silver’s gaze. I had not seen him since Kitteren insisted on buying those buns.

  I waved to him and then returned to the rest of my family. This must be awful for him to be alone - his own family lost to the necromancer.

  “What’s wrong, Ketayl?” Mother fell back to walk next to me.

  I shook my head. Bringing Silver up within earshot of Kitteren would only result in an argument. The day had been fairly nice so far and I did not want to ruin it.

  Kitteren again ordered for me when we reached our turn in line. I walked away, frustrated I could not even make my own decisions.

  Mother quickly caught up and prodded me to an open table near the back corner of the large tent. “Just relax and let your sister introduce you to the things she likes here.”

  I sighed and sat down, staring out of the tent at the festival goers mingling about.

  “I noticed a certain someone following you,” Mother said. Kitteren and Father were still waiting on the order.

  “This isn’t fair to him.” I knew how it felt to watch others with their families and being alone. Now with my role reversed it hurt to watch him be alone.

  Mother took a deep breath before she said, “You do remember I spoke with him, right? He said he told you this was his choice.”

  “But he lost his family…” I could still see the images of all of those people clearly.

  “Ketayl,” Mother said gently. “You are his family now and in time he’ll find others. I’m afraid my business has kept me away from being able to spend as much time as I would like with you and I’m grateful he’s here to try and fill the gap.”

  “Mom…” I paused and covered my mouth. Damn Kitteren for putting the thought in my head. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

  Before I finished my apology, Mother pulled me into a tight hug. “You have no idea how long I have wanted to hear you call me that.”

  “What’s going on?” Father asked, setting one of the trays down on the table.

  Mother’s voice sounded off as she told him and my sister what I said. Almost as if she had been crying.

  Kitteren sat down across from me with another tray. “See, I told you.”

  “I didn’t mean to be disrespectful,” I said quietly, looking down at the plate of seafood placed in front of me. Did they honestly expect me to eat all of this? Even half of this would be on the large side for a meal. I was hungry from being dragged all over, but not this much.

  “Ketayl,” Father said softly, which caught my attention. “We’ve been hoping you would eventually be comfortable enough to not be so formal.”

  I felt the heat rising to my face and looked back down at my food. I did not wish to continue this conversation.

  “What else do you two have planned for the day?” Mother asked, thankfully changing topics.

  Kitteren had a mouthful of food and swallowed quickly. Her manners were not the best under normal circumstances. “We’re going to go to the concerts this afternoon. Haven’t planned anything afterward.”

  I thanked whatever God would listen that she had not planned the whole day out. I might be done after these concerts. My legs were already complaining.

  The smells from the plate in front of me reminded me I should eat - I worked up an appetite getting dragged around the festival grounds.

  “Perhaps we can spare some time to go as well?” Mother asked, looking at Father.

  He shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Unless they call back needing something else from us.”

  I vaguely wondered who “they” were, but I was not privy to Mother’s business. They put so much emphasis on how much I had been working and here they were getting pulled into meetings and whatnot.

  The conversation between the three of them carried on over mundane topics. I answered when necessary. I finished eating first and excused myself to go throw my plate out after dumping the rest of my fried potato sticks on Kitteren’s plate.

  Unfortunately, the trash bin was on the other side of the tent. As I made my way over, I noticed Silver sitting not far away by himself. I made my way over once I got rid of my plate.

  “Hey,” I said.

  Silver looked up from what he had been reading on his phone. “Hey. You look nice.”

  I looked down at my outfit and then shifted uncomfortably. “Thank you, but I don’t like wearing this stuff.”

  He opened a hand to the empty seat next to him and I took the invitation.

  “Are you enjoying the festival?” I asked. This was a public event - he had every right to be here.

  “It’s interesting and different,” Silver said, putting his phone away. “Though it feels similar to the small fairs we held on the church grounds.”

  I tried not to cringe at the fact this had to be making things worse for him. “What were you reading?”

  “A new novel Brad suggested to me. I’m still not used to reading on a device like this, but it’s far more con
venient. And I’ve had a hard time putting it down.”

  I started to stand. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have interrupted you.”

  Silver put his hand on my arm. “Ketayl, don’t worry about it. It’s just a book. Please don’t feel you need to leave.”

  I moved my arm away from his hand and sat back down.

  “What are you doing for the rest of the day?” Silver asked.

  “It’s none of your business,” Kitteren’s voice came from behind me.

  I looked up at her. Stopping to talk to Silver had been a bad idea. “Kitteren…” I warned.

  “Yeah, yeah. We’re going,” she said and left.

  I stood quickly, knowing I needed to follow. “I’m sorry. I’ll catch up with you later.” I grew tired of having to apologize for Kitteren’s behavior.

  “Have fun,” Silver smiled. I wondered if it was real or just to mask how he felt.

  I bowed and left, catching up to Kitteren and our parents. While I still found annoyance at my sister’s attitude toward him, I did not want to start an argument right now. Would it even be worth having words with her over? My sister would not simply change her mind because I did not like it. If it started interfering with work then I would definitely have to address it.

  I did not know what to do before that scenario became reality. I felt a certain loyalty to my sister and did not want to cause further issues, but at the same time I disliked how she treated Silver. I had started to consider him a friend and wanted her to stop. How was I supposed to protect her and protect someone else from her?

  I remained silent as I followed and looked around, trying to spot anyone who would be watching me.

  “Is something wrong?” Father asked quietly - he fell back beside me, letting Mother and Kitteren get ahead.

  I shook my head. I did not want to be viewed as crazy, though I started to feel that way. “Too big of a crowd.”

  “Are you sure it’s just that?” Father asked.

  I looked up at him skeptically. What could he be getting at?

  “I ran into Silver this morning. He told me about yesterday. You could have come to us.” Father placed his hand gently on my shoulder.