CHAPTER TEN

Conflict

     That night, they had a bonfire to celebrate Estelle's return and the hope of a better future. A better future for Suli and Ravka.

Estelle borrowed better clothes to dance in, and then placed another pair of traveling clothes with the rest of her stuff, all packed and ready to go in the morning.

But thoughts of her walking out again were far from her thoughts. The bonfire was large, the music was jolly, and her entire family was celebrating.

It seemed like a waste to spend the entire time sulking.

The piece playing was a classic, a folk song associated with one of the oldest stories about a girl who'd run away and saved her people, then come back to her family. Ironic.

Around the fire, men, women, and children alike danced, grins lighting up their faces. Although it didn't feel like much of a reason to celebrate, when she was going to be leaving tomorrow anyways, Estelle danced with them happily. Not to mention that she'd downed a few alcoholic beverages to let her troubles slide away, if just for one night.

Her bare feet ached from hours of twirling and jumping around the fire, so she retired to join her outside friends, who all stood to the side, not sure if they should join or not.

"Go dance," insisted Estelle. "After tonight, there won't be a lot of frolicking allowed, so go crazy. Please."

Farrah helped Emil onto the dance floor while Lije and Jiel ran to join the dancers. Mars refused to go, and after a few failed attempts, Kenna set off by herself to join the others. Estelle stood next to Ana and bumped their shoulders.

"You should go, too," she said. "It'll be good for you."

Ana rolled her eyes. "Are you trying to say I'm too uptight?"

"I'm trying to say that you could let loose every once in a while. You may not be uptight, but you tend to always be very composed, worried about acting right. There's no one here who will blame you."

She sighed, shaking her head. "That's not what I'm worried about."

"So you are worried?" Estelle raised an eyebrow.

"No, I..." Ana rubbed her eyes, fatigued. "I don't know, Estelle. Maybe I'm tired. Or maybe I'm worried we won't do everything we set out to do when you agreed to go with Nikolai to defeat the Darkling. Maybe I'm worried you're taking all this too lightheartedly."

With a frown, Estelle stepped in front of her to see her face clearly. She wasn't lying, and the crease lines in her forehead showed her concern. "Lightheartedly? How can you say that?" Estelle asked.

"You're dancing, not a care in the world, while we should be preparing."

"Preparing for what, Ana? Getting to the Grand Palace? The Little Palace?" demanded Estelle. "We have a whole day's worth of travel before we make it to Os Alta. That's plenty of time to plan."

Ana started. "That's not—" She stopped, shaking her head and letting out an exasperated breath. "Never mind. I shouldn't have brought it up. Just...try not to get too drunk. I don't want to have to deal with multiple hangovers tomorrow morning."

Without another word, she spun on her heel and left the bonfire. Leaving Estelle's mood and night ruined.

—

Tears threatened to spill from Estelle's eyes as she clung to her parents the next morning. She'd been through over two dozen hugs and kisses, and all that was left were her parents. They hugged her tightly, refusing to let go. Estelle didn't want to either, but she knew she had to.

"I have to go," she whispered in Suli, a tear managing to escape her eye.

They squeezed her one last time and let go simultaneously. Tearstains ran down both of their faces, and only continued as her mother tried to wipe them away with a handkerchief. Her father put an arm around her.

"I love you so much, my sweet," he murmured, his other hand coming up to cup her cheek. "We are so proud of you. Please...please be safe."

A sob escaped her mother's mouth. Estelle pressed her lips together, trying to avoid the same from happening to her. "I'll try. I'll try," she repeated, rushing into a last hug.

She was leaving again. She was putting her family through the same traume she did before, all because of one man. And she didn't even know if she was going to come back alive.

That made it worse. Estelle couldn't promise that she'd come back. She couldn't promise that she would be able to defeat the Darkling. She couldn't even promise that she'd come back at all. For all she knew, she could be pushed into the shadows, unable to come back home for fear that she'd only bring pain to the village and her family.

So all Estelle could do was try.

Try to stay alive. Try to get to Os Alta. Try to help Nikolai get the throne. Try to kill the Darkling, once and for all.

After a while, they finally separated and Estelle trudged to where her horse stood waiting with Ana. She ignored Estelle, only giving her the reins before hoisting herself on top of her own mount and waiting.

Estelle sighed. She really didn't want to be on Ana's bad side. Why she was on her bad side, Estelle didn't know, but it must've been bad. Rarely did anyone get on Ana's bad side.

She looked back one more time at her family, more tears welling in her eyes. Kien gave her a half smile and a thumbs up. Her parents waved sadly.

Then they were off. Traveling northeast towards Os Alta, using the same back paths as they did on their way to the village. Fake names during their visit to one town on the journey. Uncomfortable silence not dared to be broken by anyone.

The tension between Estelle and Ana was noticeable. Every time Estelle tried to catch up to her at the front, she muttered an excuse and dropped to the back of their group. After a while, Estelle recognized that she wanted her own space, so that's what she gave Ana.

Os Alta was a lot closer than Estelle thought. They were riding through the busy streets of the outer area of the city within days of their departure from the Suli camp. Once the crowds began to thin the closer they got towards the Grand Palace sat, they split up. Lije and Jiel, Farrah and Emil, Mars and Kenna, and then Estelle and Ana. The plan was to meet up just outside the gates as soon as possible, then ask for a meeting with the King and Queen. They'd figure out what to do from then.

Estelle knew she would probably have to reveal herself as the Star Summoner. It would be the only way to get inside the Grand Palace, to begin working on defense against the Darkling and getting the palace ready for Nikolai's arrival.

When Estelle passed by a stall selling bread, she couldn't help herself. She steered her horse back towards it, glancing back at Ana to make sure she followed. Ana had a frown on her face, but she didn't say anything.

The seller was a portly man with a silver beard alongside his wife, her graying hair pulled back into a ponytail. The woman smiled at Estelle when she hopped down from her horse and walked towards the booth.

"How much is one loaf?" she asked.

"Two gold pieces," the woman replied sweetly.

As Estelle fished around in her bag, Ana hopped down from her own horse. Estelle glanced at her before finding the money and handing it to her. "Two loaves, please."

The woman placed the four coins in her pocket before grabbing two loaves and putting them in a bag. She handed the bag to Estelle and told her, "Have a lovely day."

"We're supposed to be going to the Grand Palace," Ana told her.

Estelle led her horse further down the street, handing one of the loaves to Ana. "I was hungry. I also wanted to talk."

Ana wrinkled her nose, but took the bread and tore off a piece of it to put in her mouth. "Talk about what?"

"Well, not so much talk as apologize."

The deaf girl sighed. "No, I've been thinking and I should be sorry. I was being unreasonable and sour. I guess it was just seeing you with your family that made me miss mine." Ana looked down at the cobblestone underneath her, downcast.

Estelle put her hand on her shoulder. "After this is all over, finding them is going to be my first priority. I promise."

Tears welled in Ana's eyes, but she blinked them away quickly and stuffed more bread in her mouth. "Thank you."

"And I'm sure my family would be more than happy to welcome you into ours," added Estelle. "How's the bread?"

She laughed, throwing her head back and nearly displacing her hood from the crown of her hair. "Good. Thanks."

Estelle smiled. She hated being in conflict, especially when it was with Ana. 

a/n— Bit of a shorter chapter here, but things will pick up, I promise. Also happy summer everyone!