The Column Racer Read Online Free Page A

were a soft blue, an attempt to bring peace to his troubled heart.
    The only furniture was the bed Talon laid on and the small dresser next to it. On the floor sat his boots, un-caked of mud, his bow, quiver of arrows, and sword, cleaned of blood. Underneath the wooden bed frame were several small bags. Gifts left undelivered.
    “We’re leaving today,” said Areli, guiltily hoping for sadness in his eyes at her departure. A sign that he cared for her. Talon blinked his eyes twice, not taking his gaze away from the ceiling.
    “I am aware,” said Talon, now looking at her.
    “Father wanted me to tell you that he placed several more bottles of antibiotics in the corner. You are to chew one whole leaf every four hours. He’s left instruction. He says it’s important. He says your immune system is still weak and you can’t risk an infection.”
    “I understand,” said Talon, “your father. He’s a gracious man.”
    “Mother also made you several loaves of bread, smoked different types of meat, and left a pile of clothes for you to take with you when you leave here.” Talon closed his eyes and nodded again. She wondered if this was pain for her, pain for her parents, or pain for them all.
    “Tell them thank you,” said Talon, “I know I have already told them this . . . but . . . I am forever indebted to them for their kindness.”
    “You are kind, Talon. I will be sure to tell them,” said Areli, taking her eyes off him and directing them to the ladder attached to the floor above.
    “I also want to thank you, Areli,” said Talon. Areli turned to him and looked kindly into his eyes.
    “For what?” asked Areli, hoping for a confession of love.
    “For being my friend.” Areli leaned back heavily into the chair. This was not what she was looking for. This was not at all what she was hoping for. “I’ve upset you.”
    “No . . . you, haven’t,” responded Areli, hoping her tone could be convincing.
    “Areli – I didn’t mean to hurt you – have I offended you?” asked Talon, sitting up in bed. She looked at him. She fought against the tears working their way to the surface of her eyes. She wished she could cover her face up with her hands, but that would give it away even more. Her lips started to tremble and her hands started to shake.
    “I have to go, Talon,” said Areli sniffling, scratching away a stray tear.
    “Areli, wait!” He reached for her, but she had already left the chair.
    Areli walked to the ladder and was about to reach for a dangling cord. Talon was sitting up on the edge of his bed, pleading with her to come back. She looked back at him, her eyes struggling to keep the pain hidden.
    “I love you, Talon,” said Areli, “don’t you love me? Don’t you care for me?
    “Of course I care for you, Areli.”
    “But do you love me?” Areli didn’t know why she was demanding an answer. She had liked him. Cared for him. And she thought that maybe these feelings could be love, but she wasn’t entirely sure. But she had said love. And now, she felt vulnerable. Could Talon not love her back? Could he be unsure like she? She was foolish, she knew. Why couldn’t she just have worked this out, instead of pressuring him to confess something he may or may not feel?
    “Areli . . . I . . .” Areli’s lower lip folded into in her mouth and tears started to streak down her face. She was hurt. She knew now that she desperately wanted someone to love her, and now, even in her pain, she wondered if she required that person to really mean it or not. Just hearing it could be enough for her. Why couldn’t he just have lied? At least this time. Give her this moment of heroic love and be done with it.
    “Goodbye, Talon,” forced out Areli, pulling the cord, revealing the entrance to the hidden room. She quickly climbed up the ladder, leaving him there. Not knowing that she had left him broken and alone.

    “Miss Roberts,” said a servant, “your hand.” An old man, with wrinkles spreading