Chapter Seventeen
Aiden had not expected to be so excited.
His writing had gone well over the last few days, and for once his editor was satisfied. He had sent off his latest chapters that morning and received a rare message with no complaints attached. The sense of relief was enough to put him in an unusually good mood.
He packed a small backpack for the trip, adding bottles of water, sandwiches, fruit, and a packet of biscuits.
Kael watched from the living room with curiosity.
"You are preparing as though we intend to cross a mountain range," he observed.
Aiden zipped the bag closed and smiled. "I like being prepared."
"We are only going to visit a library and then a river."
"I know. I still like snacks."
Kael considered that for a moment before nodding. "That is a sensible argument."
Aiden laughed. "I'm glad you approve."
The drive into town was peaceful. Trees lined the narrow roads, and the morning sun filtered through their branches, scattering patches of light across the pavement. Kael spent most of the journey looking out of the window. Although he rarely admitted it, he still found the modern world fascinating.
When they reached the library, Aiden led the way inside.
The building was quiet and cool, filled with rows of bookshelves and the comforting smell of old paper. A few people looked up as they entered, but more than one pair of eyes lingered on Kael.
He carried himself with confidence, and his long black hair and striking features drew attention wherever he went.
An elderly librarian approached them with a welcoming smile.
"Can I help you find something?"
"We're looking for local history," Aiden replied. "Anything about old rivers, legends, or folklore would be great."
"Third aisle on the left," she said before turning to Kael. "And I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you have the most beautiful hair I've ever seen."
Kael inclined his head politely.
"Thank you. I have always taken good care of it."
The woman smiled, clearly delighted by the answer, before leaving them to browse.
Aiden waited until she was out of earshot before whispering, "I think she liked you."
Kael looked genuinely puzzled.
"She was kind."
"She was flirting."
"I see."
There was a brief pause.
"I believe I handled it appropriately."
"You did," Aiden admitted with a laugh. "You just don't seem to notice these things."
"They have rarely been important."
Together they searched through books on local myths and forgotten landmarks. Most of the stories were exaggerated tales about haunted streams or mysterious lights over ponds, but eventually Aiden found a worn volume filled with sketches of regional legends.
One page caught his attention immediately.
The illustration showed a woman rising gracefully from the surface of a river, surrounded by lilies and flowing water. Beneath the drawing was a single name.
Arith.
Aiden slid the book across the table.
"Is this your friend?"
Kael looked down at the page, and a quiet smile appeared on his face.
"Yes. The artist was not especially talented, but it is her."
Aiden rested his chin on his hand.
"What was she like?"
"She was clever," Kael replied. "She enjoyed making people laugh, especially when they were trying very hard to appear serious."
"So she caused trouble?"
"Frequently."
"Did you ever join her?"
"I was usually blamed whether I participated or not."
Aiden laughed. "That sounds unfair."
"It was."
"What did the two of you do together?"
"We traveled through the rivers that crossed my father's kingdom. She knew every hidden spring and every waterfall. Sometimes we would disappear for an entire day simply because she wanted to show me a place no one else had seen."
"You must have been very close."
"We were."
Kael's answer was simple, but it carried genuine affection.
Aiden turned another page without really reading it.
"You spent a lot of time alone together?"
"Often."
"You never argued?"
"We argued constantly."
"But you stayed friends."
"Of course."
Aiden nodded, although he seemed oddly thoughtful.
Kael watched him for a moment before a faint look of amusement crossed his face.
"Aiden."
"Yes?"
"Are you jealous?"
The question arrived so unexpectedly that Aiden nearly dropped the book.
"What? No."
"You have asked more questions about Arith than you have asked about my own family."
"I'm interested."
"You sound suspicious."
"I do not."
"You frowned when I mentioned traveling with her."
"I absolutely did not frown."
Kael's smile widened ever so slightly.
"I believe you did."
Aiden crossed his arms.
"I am not jealous of someone who lived centuries ago."
"I never said you were."
"You just implied it."
"I merely asked a question."
For a moment they looked at each other in silence.
Then Aiden sighed.
"Fine. Maybe I was a little curious."
Kael looked surprisingly pleased by the admission.
"It is flattering."
"You are impossible."
"I have heard that before."
After letting the moment linger just long enough to embarrass Aiden, Kael closed the book.
"If it eases your mind, Arith and I were never anything more than friends."
Aiden looked up.
"Really?"
"Really. She once told me that I was far too stubborn to make a suitable romantic partner."
Aiden couldn't stop himself from smiling.
"I think she may have had a point."
Kael gave him an expression of mock offense before standing.
"We have delayed long enough. If Arith still lingers near these lands, she is unlikely to be waiting in a library."
Aiden slung the backpack over his shoulder and followed him toward the door.
As they stepped back into the sunlight, he realized he was looking forward to the rest of the journey far more than he had expected.
The search for an ancient goddess suddenly felt less like a mission and more like an adventure.
And he was glad that he and Kael were doing it together.