2. Breya

TWO

brEYA

" T ry not to be so rough with them!"

Breya couldn't help but smile at her sister's warning as she watched her brother-in-law roughhouse in the backyard.

"At least you have a husband that interacts with his kids," Breya commented before taking a sip of the water she had squeezed a lemon into. In the village, lemons were easy to come by since most everyone had a fruit tree along with their private garden.

Her sister, Anya, gave a raised-brow look before allowing a smile to settle onto her face. "True. I love him. I just can't help but lecture him. He plays with the children so much rougher than I do."

"I believe it's a wife's job to harass her husband, no matter the situation." Breya chuckled.

"Well, it is now a lot clearer as to why you're still on the market," Anya teased before she settled into one of the two homemade rocking chairs on the back porch.

Breya went quiet as her face turned more serious.

"You know I'm not being serious, right?"

She looked over and saw Anya's concerned look. Breya brushed her off.

"I know. It's just something that's been on my mind lately."

"Oh?" Anya sat forward in her chair, suddenly very interested.

"Don't look so amazed." Breya laughed nervously. She hated talking about her love life, or lack thereof, especially with her sister. Or anyone.

Growing uncomfortable, Breya scooped up her dark curly hair into a messy bun. "It's warm, isn't it?"

"Oh, no. You don't get off that easily. You started it. So out. What has been going on in that overworked head of yours to make you think about joining me in the mundaneness of family life? Is being a healer not as enjoyable as it seems to be?"

Her sister wasn't being serious, but also there was a slight bitterness there. Even as sisters, their lives had two completely different callings from day one. Anya was a human who didn't have to choose anything different than an ordinary life if she didn't want to. And Breya was envious of that at times.

Then again, Breya had the privilege of being born a witch. A healer. She had an obligation to fulfill that gift and help others. For that, Anya was envious.

"I can't complain."

"No. You won't complain. There's a difference."

Breya sipped her lemonade one more time, wishing it had been something stronger.

"It's just… I love what I do. What I can do. But with studying magic on top of working with the village healer, I just… I just never really put any effort or thought into settling down. And now I feel like maybe I missed my chance."

"You didn't miss your chance," Anya said in her motherly tone. "You're still young. I never thought you wanted something like this."

Breya shrugged and kept her green eyes cast down. "I didn't either. Not until lately. I just feel like something's…" She was trying to find the word that didn't sound as hopeless as she felt, but there was none.

"Empty?"

Breya let out a heavy sigh at the admittance. "Yes"

Anya placed a motherly hand over her sister's.

"It's fine to feel like that."

Breya pulled her hand away. "I know. I just hate feeling like that. Sorry for myself. I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am. It's just lonely working all the time."

Anya chuckled. "Don't be defensive. I'm your sister. It's important I know your fears so I can make fun of them later."

"Oh, ha-ha." Deep down, she knew Anya was right despite her teasing. It helped to say out loud what was bothering her. So she took a breath and turned herself to fully face her wise sister.

"I have no idea where to begin. I don't have to have a family or a man to prove myself, but it would be nice to share things with someone. Or have someone to come home to and not always have to visit you for conversation."

"I get it."

"But the thing is, I don't even know how to meet a man. It's always been foreign to me and now… I'm sure it's something I can't learn."

"That's because you haven't really tried."

"I have!"

Anya gave Breya a knowing look. "Oh?"

"Well, not hard. But no one in this town interests me. That's why I never pursued anything before. Or cared. And it's just a lot on my plate right now to search for someone from a different town."

"If you want the result, you have to put in the effort."

Breya glared at Anya's smug face as she heard her quote the very reason Breya gave her as to why she worked so hard on her magical studies.

Instead of retorting, she turned to watch her sister's family play and rocked back in her chair.

"I just wish I had someone to go with me, so I didn't feel so awkward."

"You never asked me if I'd go," Anya said, acting hurt.

"Would you?"

"Not a chance. I did my time."

"That's what I thought."

Before Breya returned to her overthinking state of mind, Anya touched her hand again.

"Don't worry too much about it. You have us, and fate works in random ways. Just put out there what you want, and it'll answer when it thinks you're truly ready."

"Easy for you to say," Breya huffed, but she couldn't help but feel a little lighter at her sister's words.

"Honey," Anya's husband called out, "Someone in a quite fancy carriage has stopped in front of the house. Please invite them in for ale and bread."

Anya rose from her chair.

"I'll go with you. I need a refill. Maybe even get some strong ale instead of lemon water."

"That's the spirit," Anya teased as she helped Breya out of the chair.

In the quaint kitchen, Breya heard her sister greet whoever was at the door. Her ears perked at not one but two male voices.

"Good afternoon, madam. We are looking for a Miss Breya Kaydalle."

She glanced around the corner and saw two well-dressed men standing very formally at the door.

"And who is asking for her?"

"We work for King Bawold of the Savanna Kingdom, and he requests an audience with her."

Breya's gut flipped at the king's name. She knew he was the lion shifter king who ruled only a few territories over. But why had he sent men looking for her?

She was debating if she should come out of her eavesdropping spot but held fast when her protective sister asked another question.

"How did you know where we live?"

The taller of the two answered. "We started at her cottage, found it empty, then checked with some town folk and they sent us here. I assume you are her sister?"

Anya was very protective of her family, so Breya knew where this was going. Before her sister had a chance to tell the men where assuming would get them, Breya stepped out from around the corner.

"Can I help you?"

"Are you Breya Kaydalle?"

"I am," she answered, standing beside her sister.

"The king requests an audience with you. Please come with us." They turned to leave as if that was all that needed to be said.

"What does he want to see me about?"

"The king wishes to inform you of that himself."

Breya hesitated at the door. "Can I have a moment with my sister?"

Looking annoyed, the men obliged and stepped off the porch to wait.

"Do you know anything about this?" Anya asked, casting a nervous glance at the men.

Breya shook her head. "I assume he needs a healer. It's common for witches to work for royalty. I just don't see why he didn't choose one closer to his territory."

Anya narrowed her eyes in examination of Breya.

"Do you want to go?"

Breya shrugged and tugged her hair out of the half bun she had put it in earlier. "I don't know. I do, but if I go then what happens to all the villagers here that I'm supposed to be helping?"

"Isn't this a momentous occasion to be asked by a king to come serve his people?"

"Of course," Breya's squeal made the men glance back at them, and she lowered her voice. "It is. It's an amazing opportunity to work for a king and serve in a castle, but isn't that selfish of me to leave the people here to do something that benefits only me?"

A smile crossed Anya's face as she put a comforting hand on the conflicted sister's shoulder.

"It's not selfish at all. You have been self less your entire life. It's permissible to do something for you, especially something like this because others will benefit from it. It's a chance to share your gift and expand on it in a way you can't get here."

Breya felt the excitement build up, only to crumble at another thought.

"But that means that I'll have to leave you again. I was gone at the academy so long, and only recently have I felt close to you again."

Anya pulled Breya into a hug. "You need to do this for you. I promise we'll write and visit as often as we're allowed. Don't worry about us." She took a step back and forced Breya to meet her eyes.

"Do this for you. You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you let this opportunity pass you by. Besides, who said you couldn't return once or twice a week to attend the village healer's patients?"

Feeling the strength of her sister, Breya nodded and took a deep breath before walking out the door and into her unknown future.