CHAPTER 93: IT IS BEAUTIFUL

{Music Recommendation: Carry you ~ Ruelle, Fluerie}

Jenna stood outside the mansion staring at nothing but blank space. Her expression belied her inner thoughts which longed for one person. Even though she denied it.

As she had planned with Kali, they spent the whole day joking around as girls and even got closer. In the little time spent, Jenna got to understand a little bit of Kali.

The young woman wasn’t as cold-hearted as she tried to show. It was just how she was brought up, to be harsh else she’d be swallowed whole and never try to act timid. Kali, from what Jenna had seen, was the sweetest girl she’d ever met.

Pure at heart and only said things exactly how they were. With Kali, Jenna didn’t have to fake what she felt because Kali didn’t care. She was just plain. If it wasn’t black then it was white; there wasn’t grey for the young woman.

At intervals, Kali had excused herself to go handle things as she’d said it. And in the window of that moment, it gave Jenna a moment to think about Rhane and what he was doing at the moment. Though Kali had told her that Rhane met with the council for trade meetings, Jenna knew it was more than that.

She was a merchant, the council didn’t just always go to someone’s mansion to stay for days. And the way Rhane had spoken about them earlier, Jenna knew there was more to it. Either Kali didn’t know much or was just instructed not to tell her about it.

Jenna sniffled, warming her hand with a nervous rub. The weather was getting chilly but she wanted to remain outside, the afternoon sun wasn’t burning brightly anymore. And soon, it’d be dusk. She couldn’t bear the thought of waiting in vain He’d promised return before dinner and to show her around the village.

"I’m not waiting for him," Jenna muttered to herself, "I just want to see the village, perhaps meet Penny again." She concluded with a nod.

"Who is Penny?"

Jenna gasped, holding her chest. She wasn’t expecting anyone to suddenly find her talking to herself.

Kali cocked her head to the side, "Heard you mumbling to shadows ...This Penny- is she daft enough to square with my brother?"

Jenna rolled her eyes and smiled, "What do you think?"

Kali sucked her teeth, "Tiny Ole Penny oughta run quick, Rhane’ll have him trussed like a hen. No shame in him, none." she said nonchalantly with a dull gaze ahead.

Jenna snorted, trying to cover her mouth. "Her." She corrected, "Penny is just a little girl."

"Ha! Fortunate little brat." Kali shrugged, placing her hand on her waist. She glanced at Jenna’s hand and frowned.

"Cold’s biting sharp, best we scuttle in, hm? We’ve cackled enough for one night."

Jenna pressed her lips, rubbing her palm on her arm to get rid of the goosebumps. "I’m fine, I usually enjoy the cold...and-" She swept the surrounding with an anxious gaze, her eyes bearing hope and longing all in one glance.

Kali followed Jenna’s searching eyes, "And what?"

"We can stay here a little bit, until dinner is ready." Jenna suggested, biting her lower lip.

Kali nodded slowly, "Dinner, eh? It’s not stew you’re hungry for, you mean my bloody brother."

"I-"

Kali grinned mischievously, raising her brows to give Jenna a knowing look. "Good gracious! How long must we endure your lovesickness. Now he’s even dinner. Go on, shove a wet blade through me ribs, spare me the agony." She groaned dramatically.

Jenna tightened her lips in silence, trying to stop her blush but it didn’t help because her ears turned pink. Her fingers dragged accross her cheek, "I’m not waiting for him."

"Oi, I didn’t say that, did I, milady." Kali replied. Her smile slowly faded, her eyes now serious.

"Well then, Lady Jenna, your ’dinner’ won’t be sitting at table tonight. He’s up to his bloody elbows in work." Kali replied, flicking a fly from her trousers.

Jenna could have sworn that her heart sank when she heard this. "What do you mean won’t be coming? Is he no longer with the council?"

Kali nodded, "Aye, but something came up so he bolted quick for home."

"Home?" Jenna could no longer handle what she felt, her chest felt as though it were splitting seam by seam. What it was, she couldn’t say, only that it burned. Rhane had left early in the morning abruptly and now he was traveling.

"And he didn’t tell me? Where is home?" Jenna asked at the same time, she didn’t notice her voice was beginning to get shaky.

Kali exhaled softly, "Home, you ask? For Rhane it’s where Father broods, for me it’s where Mother bites. This turn, he’s gone to mine"

"But why?" Jenna asked with her eyes widened. "Is your mother not the one with leashes?! She’s dangerous."

"Oi, that cuts deep," Kali remarked with a dry chuckle. She opened her mouth to make a joke but seeing how devastated Jenna looked, she stopped.

"Don’t worry over Rhane, he is not weak enough to let that leash choke him twice. Least... I don’t reckon so." Kali reassured with a wistful smile.

Jenna was far from being convinced,her palms shook as if the cold had crept inside her bones. She couldn’t tell if it was fear or longing or overwhelming hopelessness.

"But- achoo!" Jenna sneezed.

Kali rubbed her forehead, "Save your frets, step inside before the cold bites holes through you." She took Jenna’s hand ready to lead her inside.

Jenna turned to follow but paused halfway. "I want to go to the village," she muttered softly.

"I want to see the village." Jenna spoke out again, loud enough for Kali to hear.

Kali tilted her head with her eyes narrowed, "What?"

"Take me there, Kali...I must see it, please Kali." Jenna pleaded, taking Kali’s hand into hers. Her voice laced with desperation.

Kali scanned her face, she didn’t have it in her to refuse seeing the eagerness in Jenna’s eyes. "Hmph...fine then! I’ll see the cart’s hitched."

In the next few moments, Jenna and Kali were inside a carriage heading towards the village. She didn’t know why she desperately wanted to be there, if it was because Rhane had suggested it or that she was angry with him for ignoring her the whole day, but she was happy to leave the mansion.

Jenna felt like if she stayed there any longer with the dangling hope of Rhane coming back, she might pass out from the exhaustion.

"Here we are, love," Kali said, opening the carriage door to show Jenna the place.

Jenna stepped down, with the golden orange sun now overhead masking the sky in hues of royal purple and gray, it gave the entire village another view. A view that looked really magnificent but not for Jenna.

"It isn’t that great," Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose. "He promised to come back before dinner."

Kali knitted her brows, "Not much sparkle in your eyes for the place, eh?"

Jenna licked her lips, squeezing her hands beside her. "I was mistaken Kali, I’m sorry I wasted your time. Take me back to the mansion."

"What’s that for then?" Kali asked softly, genuinely worried.

Jenna gave the village a quick glance, "There’s nothing special about it after all," she turned and walked back towards the carriage, with her shoulders dropped in defeat.

With one leg already inside and the other about to go in, a loud voice shouted from the crowd.

"Jenna!"

Jenna’s breath snagged and her body went rigid. Her knees buckled before her mind caught up. She turned, slow as if afraid the voice would vanish if she moved too quickly.

"Jenna!"

Jenna jumped down from the carriage, tripped at first but stood on her good foot and turned. She didn’t need to look around for too long, there in the crowd, she found him.

Like a stallion, like grey in a sea of black. Like home. Like coarse warmth that eased the heart in cold nights.

He marched down to her, heavy steps, fiery deep eyes focused on just her. The sight of him, undid her.

"Rhane," Jenna brushed her hair away from her face.

"Stop running Jenna," Kali was too late to stop the excited girl in Jenna.

Jenna broke into a sprint, heedless of the people staring, the cobbles biting her feet, the tears streaking her face. She slammed into him, the force of it rattling his chest.

Jenna let her arms locked round his neck as if she could fuse them there. Rhane caught her, steady as a wall, but his hands trembled when they closed around her.

"You said you’d come before dinner," Jenna whispered, her head buried in his shoulder. Her sobs came silent at first, then broke loose against his coat.

"You told me it would be beautiful at night,"

Rhane had snuggled her small waist, still holding her up. "It is beautiful," he whispered, kissing her hair.