Tauros – Year 1466
15 May
The balcony Ashlyn stood on offered an all-encompassing view of the human capital, from the market district to the glinting southern gate. Since arriving, she hadn’t been able to get enough of the view from her new bedroom window. She felt lost amongst all the buildings and watchtowers, but that’s what gave her comfort; being just a trivial cog in the great mechanism. She had come to Tauros dreading that the entire world would rest on her shoulders, and was selfishly glad to have been wrong. She had people to guide her and teach her the inner workings of the human world.
And she had Miriam, a most unexpected but wonderful ally. A competent friend.
“You do know the view never changes right?” The Princess asked as she stepped up from behind. Ashlyn turned to her new friend and allowed the faintest smile to curve her lips. “See?” Miriam squeezed Ashlyn’s shoulders in a warm hug. “I knew you’d return to normal in a few days. Everything is fine, Ashlyn. Get over that boy and enjoy your life.”
Ashlyn had been trying to get over Damien. She agreed that it wasn’t worth such heartache, yet still she felt…wrong. It was as though she had been solving a jigsaw puzzle and one of the pieces wouldn’t fit no matter how she turned it. She thought she knew her own timeline, how it was destined to play out, but parting with Damien? That was not the future she had glimpsed.
She knew Damien’s heart. She knew what he wanted, and yet…
“No, no, no.” Miriam gave her a warning look. “Stop that. Stop it right now. No self-pity parties!”
“I’m sorry.” Ashlyn dipped her head. “It just—it makes no sense. I’m an empath, I can understand the truth about a person long before it’s known.”
“Yes, you’ve said that quite a few times.” Miriam leaned against the balcony railing. Her teal eyes gazed upon the clear blue sky, and she closed them as a gentle breeze came and swept over her freckled face. “People aren’t always honest. In fact, they almost never are. Did your beau tell you how he felt?”
“Well, not exactly. But he let me in, he let me read him. Even as he said goodbye…I knew he hated it.”
“Hm. It sounds like he was trying to do you a favor, then. Trying to put you before himself. That’s an admirable quality, Ashlyn.”
“Yes, but if he truly wishes to put me first, then he should have come with me.”
“I suppose we’ll never know. What’s done is done.”
Ashlyn allowed her mind to slip back into the confusing, despairing reverie. If Damien wanted her, why would he not come? He had said it wasn’t safe, but nothing ever was. The act of living and loving was a constant, inescapable risk. That didn’t mean no one should ever find happiness.
“Miriam?” Ashlyn spoke again after a while. “If I told you I could read the future, would you believe me?”
“Perhaps.” Miriam shrugged. “Wouldn’t be surprising considering your unique power.”
Ashlyn turned her body to face her. “Maybe it’s just a hope and not a vision, but I believe he’s my future. I believe it with all I am.”
“And how far is that future?” Miriam asked skeptically.
“I don’t know.” Ashlyn sighed. “All I know is when I kissed Damien, I saw our destiny clearly.”
