His comment pushed me into silence, I couldn't read him anymore. At one time we shared a genuine openness and ease. Now, even our conversations were forced and awkward. How were we ever going to convince the kingdom that we were in love?
I followed Kiran through the Citadel, marveling at the ancient architecture and delicacy of the manicured stone. The city could have held thousands of people, but most of the buildings remained empty. There were stores and apartments, little cottages and places for gathering. There were public markets and an elegant outdoor music hall, with a tall balcony and private seats. The roads were not big enough for vehicles, but the antiquated city didn't feel as though it would allow such modern convenience on its dainty roads and inside its old-world walls.
When we passed by an enormous fountain in the middle of the city, I stopped, moved by the structure and in need of a minute to catch my breath. Kiran paused too, waiting quietly for me to graze my fingers across the polished stone and gaze up at the ornate statues. Four Immortals stood in a circle facing each other, two men and two women alternating. Thick, stone robes flowed down in realistic wraps of fabric and four delicate and elaborate crowns adorned their heads. They held one hand casually at their side, while their right hands extended forward to strongly grasp at two enormous snakes, intertwined together, each curled around eating their own tail, one's head at the top of the circle, and one's head at the bottom hovering just above the bubbling pool. Water trickled down from the snakes into an elegant waterfall that hit the pool of water circling the feet of Immortal's in graceful musical chimes.
“What does it mean, Kiran?” I asked, breaking my reverent silence. I couldn't tear my eyes from the statue; it held meaning for me, even if I wasn't sure what that meaning was yet.
“The statue?” Kiran took a step closer to me, his fingers resting casually on the stone next to mine.
“The snake, I've seen it countless times, but I still don't know what it means,” I admitted.
“It's the symbol of immortality. It was given to our people when there first became a distinction between humanity and Immortals. The monarchy still uses it today, but even humans recognize it. In fact, your tattoo is very controversial. In the kingdom, only the royal bloodline is allowed to use the symbol, which is why I think your grandfather chose it for his rebellion,” Kiran explained. I pretended not to hear the venerating tone to his voice as he explained the meaning or when he spoke of Amory. I planned on killing him at the end of this, and for my own sake, I couldn't associate him with feelings, especially not with emotional ties to our people or my family.
“So what does the statue mean?” I pressed, knowing these polite moments between us were rare.
“The statue is of the Oracles, Amory is that one over there,” Kiran pointed to a young man with strong arms and a dignified face. Even in stone, his hair could easily be described as dark and unruly and his eyes still held that deep mystery that proved he was more than human. “Before there was a castle on this land, before there were walls, this was simply a city and the fountain erected to remind our people of their equality. But now.... Well, now it's just an ancient landmark protected by magic so that none of the kings can destroy it.”
“Is that true?” I whispered, picturing the thousands of years between when this fountain was built and today where kings throughout the centuries, looking just like Lucan, tried with the entire power of their Titan Guard to demolish something so meaningful and symbolic.
“Yes, it's true. They've all tried, just like they all tried to kill Amory,” Kiran mumbled, tracing the lines of the stone with absent fingers.
At another mention of my grandfather, I couldn't help but lump Kiran in with his ancestors, “So will you try to? Will you try to destroy this fountain?” I demanded, turning toward him with crossed arms and leaning my hip against the cold, wet stone. There was a part of me, a strong but new part, that felt tied to this statue, determined to protect it.
“I'm not my father, Eden,” he said quietly, but confidently. He lifted his eyes from his fingers and turned their deep aqua intensity on me, “And unless you do something about my father, I will never be king.”
“I'm-” I started to defend myself against what sounded like a ringing accusation but Kiran cut me off.
“Listen, the Titans we are going to see all have the King's Curse and are deathly ill. I am hoping, I mean, if you will cooperate.... What I would like to try is your blue smoke on them.” Kiran paused, flinching, bracing himself for an argument with me, but after a few moments of silence he continued. “I know that they are Titans and you probably think of them like enemies, but I would rather not see any Immortal die if there is an alternative. I am hoping that you will want to help them.”
“I will help them,” I answered humbly. I agreed with Kiran, they were my enemies, but my fight was with Lucan, not with the Titans. I wanted our entire kingdom to be united. I wanted to end the bloodshed, and if I could, end the Curse as well. So I would do what I could and hope that if I could save them, they might change their mind about me. “If I can,” I added quickly. I didn't want to make promises that I couldn't keep. My blue smoke saved Avalon and I once from the King's Curse, but I didn't know what kind of power it had on others, yet.
“Thank you,” Kiran answered and stood there for a moment longer staring at me. His lips curved, and then twisted in the corner as if he were going to say something witty, but then a cloud of emotion crossed his face and he turned around instead, leading me to the outer walls of the Citadel and toward housing built into the fortification.