"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one."
~George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5)
Since Canary could not go to any events and it's not like she wanted to go to any events anyways she spent her days laying around the halls of hallowringe the capital house of the Longwood family.
Running down the halls away from from nothing. Here she could feel as though she was in Lyikar again. For the very design was of a Lyikaria home. Open windows, drapes as doors, golden and brown colors everywhere.
Here she could wear her Lyikarian clothes and wear her hair down without any fuss from her mother or the stares of servants who thought the loose hair was barbaric. She walked on the floor and grass of the garden with no shoes. Laying in the meadow beyond the garden as a deer would.
Just laying there ever silent and looking up at the clouds and blue of the sky. She held her hand up to it looking at the emptiness of her ring finger. She clutched her hands together and clutched them. Genna who was standing afar watched her beautiful miss. Adoring her as a mother would their child.
Smiling at Canary moving her hair out of her face as the wind blew it back in. "What is she doing"? Agustin asked startling Genna at his sudden appearance. He held a book in his arm and stared at Canary confused as to why she was laying in the grass staring at hand.
"My lady always does this when she comes to hallowhall". "Lay in the grass"? Agustin raised a eyebrow. "It reminds her of Lyikar". Genna answered his confusion. "Ah I see". Agustin said staring at the book in his arm.
"Istella". Agustin said walking up to her. "I have a present for you". He sat next to Canary on the grass and followed her eyes up to the sky. "Istella"? He called for her again. "What are you staring at"? "I'm imagining Lyikar". Canary said, looking over to him. "A book for a present"? She said taking the book from him. "Is it a book on businesses again"? She said staring at the blank cover.
"No it's one that you like a romance book a street stall was selling it. I thought you might like it". "He told you it was a romance book"? Canary said going over the lines of the book. Agustin nodded. "Forbbiden love of two kingdoms at war". Canary laughed. "You always talk to me in lyikarian".
"You're one of the few people I can talk to in Lyikarian. Many of Abarca's don't know the ancient language of Lyikar or modern Lyikar for that matter".
"Who else is it that knows Lyikarian"? "My nanny,lord Longwood, and the guides in Lyikar". "Lord Longwood my uncle". Canary giggled. "Yes your uncle". "His Lyikarian accent is very thick, your accent is very weird also". "I speak both Granian and Lyikarian. I would be surprised if it wasn't weird".
"Canary! Agustin! Come now". Eddison yelled glaring at Agustin and letting out a smile upon meeting eyes with Canary. "Miss your shoes". Genna said handing Canary her shoes. Canary hurried over to Eddison who hugged and kissed her head. "Did you have fun at the event"? She asked him. "Yes Agustin had fun also seemed he got here faster with your present than I did". He said said handing her a ruby necklace that was wrapped in a silk wrapping.
"Rubies in Grania"? Canary said smiling at the necklace. Eddison nodded. "From the very stall Agustin got your book from he wanted to give you the ring necklace but I got to it first". He smiled proudly.
"What's the gifts for"? "Ah"? Eddison didn't know himself it's just that when he noticed that Agustin began to bring Canary little books or trinkets him,his father, and Lumus began to do the same thing. Often fighting over the things they set their eyes on thinking Canary would love their gifts more than the others.
But Canary was a simple person and loved all of their gifts. Eddison and his father stayed in Hallowhill with Canary Amara didn't want to stay but came here and there to see what they all were up to. Alexia was told to stay away by Lumus and that she did regretting what she had did herself.
Among the others that came to Hallowhill was Agustin and Shimon followed by a new face, Shimon's wife Tearina. Whom with the little time that Canary and Tearina knew each other they had grown close to one another. Tearina was a beautiful woman.
Though it was an arranged marriage since they were teenagers there seemed to be love between her and Shimon. From the cold north Tearina came with black hair and pale peach skin. Her eyes as green as a forest. Going well with the purple,red, and blue clothes she wore.
No matter how long Tearina had lived in the south she could not get used to the heat often chewing on ice and frozen fruits. "It's not good for the baby". Shimon said, trying to take the bowl of ice away from her. "Nor is much wine in the night good for you also". Tearina debated.
"I am carrying your child in great distress, might I add the baby is like a disobedient horse kicking as they please this one thing you will let me have dearest". "I have heard your cry I shall let you have your ice". Shimon said caressing Tearina's face.
"Yuck". Agustin said staring at the two. He looked at Canary hoping that she would have the same sentiment as him but she didn't which lead him all the more surprised. "Every time I think you will have the same thoughts as me you always surprise me". Agustin said.
"What do you mean?". Canary asked. "It means you leave me surprised each meeting". Agustin chuckled looking back at Shimon and Tearinas bickering.
Over the last course of days Canary had felt a sweet yet dreadfulness come over her. The sweetness of falling for someone and the dreadfulness of knowing they did not feel the same way. For every person Canary thought would maybe want to marry her maybe had a little bit of feelings for her ended in disappointment.
But maybe she thought just maybe this time would be different because Agustin had proposed they get married. She had a little bit of hope for this. Agustin had brought her gifts and had visited her almost every single day and the conversations they had were like none other.
But something loomed in the back of her. Something that just for a while she didn't want to believe…didn't want to know….she decided she would hold off on knowing and stay in bliss of ignorance. For Agustin had brought the idea of marriage up again.
But for her brother Eddison he knew how this all would end. They both would end up disappointed. Agustin believed that love was somewhat rare based on how he was treated by his uncle. And Canary who was naive to how love worked was she was hopeless in the world of marriage. Neither knew how marriage and love worked.
Eddison tried to warn the both of them but all he could do was watch as it unfolded. And soon the day came where it all would. The events of the countryside outing that all the nobles would go to.
Their countryside cabins that weren't really cabins. Canary and her father and brother were joined with Amara and Alexia under one roof again. With Alexia being warned to keep her distance from Canary and she did.
Much excitement happened in the countryside outings. Of horse racing,fairs, and boating. This was Amara's favorite part of the social season. Especially upon hearing that Agustin would be playing in a sport called horse poke.
Where people would join into teams of two on their horses with a paddle and ball trying to throw it into each other's goalie whoever had the most points would win.
Stellan Wolf who was new and upcoming though he had long been in society was now popular as ever with him showing his face more. He had also joined the game of horse poke on his white horse he went against Agustin's black horse and his team.
Four teams it was in the game other not wanting to join because of the rumors of how good Agustin was on horseback. Stellan was also known to be very good at horse poke.
Eagerly everyone watched from the stands at this game of horse poke. Seeing who would win between the prodigy's. "I thought it would be more aggressive". Amara said, sitting down in her seat. "Maybe they are going easy on the others they are very good at this game". Canary said sitting down next to Amara.
She nodded enjoying the rare peace was between her and Canary. Maybe it was the fact that she had hung out with Canary without her mother and had gotten to know more about Canary. That and she had been betrothed to someone. Emilio Willmings was he called. A viscount family was he from and one of the most neutral noble families in the kingdom.
Never was their name brought up in any conflict or political fight. Something Thomas had personally had a hand in for he knew how Amara was and didn't want her involved in that world. The good side of this is that Amara seemed she was smitten with Emilio as he was also smitten with her.
"Break"! The referee called and all the players went to their stands to catch a small rest. By some chance Stellan Wolfs stand was right under where the Whitewoods was sitting at. "Hello again". Stellan said to Canary as he walked up to rest. "Hello". Canary smiled.
"Brief and awkward meeting it was". Canary said embarrassed. Stellan chuckled and continued to talk to the two girls. Continuing to make the two girls laugh and smile making others wonder what they were talking about.
Stellan was as charismatic as he was handsome. His brownish red hair shined in the sun and his light chocolate skin grew ever the more tan. Among the watchful eyes was Agustin staring from across the field.
Wondering what was making Canary laugh so much. What was the Wolf boy saying that was so funny. He didn't quite understand what these feelings were that were brewing in him towards Canary and Stellan.
It had caused him to go off his game and in the end of horse poke he had lost by falling off his horse, a deed done by Stellan. Everyone in the crowd gasped at his falling. His own teammate getting off his horse and staring at at dazed Agustin who just laid on the ground. "Are you okay"? His teammate asked. "No I think I hurt my hand". Agustin said slowly getting up with the help of his teammate.
"I guess we're out then". The teammate frowned. But Agustin didn't care not until he had sorted out whatever he was feeling. Nor did the pain of his hand seem to bother him.
He sat in his area in a daze, others worried that the fall had hurt his head. Including Eddison and Canary who watched from afar. "Do you think he's okay"? Canary asked Eddison. Eddison shrugged his shoulders. "He's probably in shock that he lost give him time". Canary nodded, they all did staring at him in pity.
Stellans team ended up winning the horse poke. Leaving him to a lot of cheering and people eyeing him their daughters. But of all the families that Stellan could talk to after the game he was talking to the Whitewood family.
Specifically Canary and Eddison. One could not understand why out of everyone here he would talk to Canary Whitewood. A fine conversation it looked like they were having with Stellan showing her his horse and all three of them laughing.
It was exaggerated in Agustins kind although of what they were talking about. He deemed Eddison right there a betrayer knowing the Wolf family was eyeing Canary. He took his own horse and marched over to the three of them. Of a promise he remembered that he would show Canary he's horse. Now was the perfect time especially to get between Canary and Stellan.
"Everleigh"? Stellan said. "Who's Everleigh". "That's her nickname". Agustin said interrupting them. "I have a nickname for her as well". He smirked. "Ohh okay I shall give you a nickname too then". Stellan smiled. "Shouldn't those who are close in friendship only give each other nicknames"? Agustin said staring at Canary to deny his request.
But Canary to blind to unworded signal and didn't know that Agustin didn't want her to agree to Stellans request. "Well me and you only knew each other for a month he's a friend he can give me a nickname". "Since when have you two been friends? Have you had some conversation unbeknownst to us"?
"Today we became friends today". Canary and Stellan smiled like two idiots leaving Agustin more annoyed than he already was. "My horse you said you wanted to meet him". Agustin said shoving the reins in Canary. "Oh yes". Canary said taking the reins happily. "Hello Caelum". Canary said petting Caelum.
"Would you like to ride him? Can she ride him"? Agustin said staring at Eddison for permission. "I guess"? Eddison answered unsure as to why Agustin was asking him for permission.
The real reason was to show Stellan who was in and who was out. That Agustin was in in the Whitewood family and he Stellan wolf was out. "Wolf boy". He muttered under his lips as he stared him down and walked off. Stellan didn't know what was going on leaving Agustin in a battle for Canary by himself.