Tyleesh
POV: Alexandra
I got up from my spot at the garden tea table and walked over to Tyleesh. He looked rather gaunt and weak, “I don’t think you should be up and about, Tyleesh. Didn’t Grandfather stop you?” He shook his head, “He was asleep when I woke. I wanted to seek you out so I crawled out of bed and down the stairs.” I looked over at Ashton, “We should help Tyleesh to a seat.” Ashton rose, walked over, and threw Tyleesh’s arm around his neck. He turned to bring him out to the table and I shook my head, “We should sit him inside, it might not do good for his eyesight to be exposed to the sun so fast.” Ashton nodded, “Yeah, you’re right. Shall we bring him to the dining room? We can have Dana bring out lunch. I imagine you’re starving Tyleesh.” Tyleesh weakly nodded, “I am very hungry. I was only fed once in a while so I don’t have much strength.” I sighed as we were walking across the foyer, “That’s a horrible way to treat someone. Do you need help to eat?” Tyleesh shook his head again, “Aren’t you sweet, dear Alexandra. I will be fine as long as it is something like soup.”
As we walked into the dining room, Nystasia was sitting in there eating a salad. She looked up and rose from her seat, “Kindred, may the health and nature ever find you. I hope you are well on your way to recovery, Tyleesh.” Tyleesh’s eyes widened, “You’ll forgive me, Your Highness, that I cannot bow to you?” She shook her head, “You are in ill health, kindred, you must think only of your recovery. I am but a guest in House Batiste. I am surprised that you recognize me, it has been a very long time since you’ve been in Seely.” He looked down, “I will always remember those who were kind to me in my life.” She pulled out a chair, “Well we shouldn’t make Ashton hold on to you forever. Please be seated next to me.” Ashton walked him over to Nystasia and gently placed him in the chair. Ashton and I sat ourselves across from the other two. Dana walked into the room from the kitchen, “Your Grace, My Lady, Young Tyleesh, I have salad, vegetable soup and bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. What would you like?” I smiled up at her, “I think Tyleesh would want the soup. I will take a BLT.” I looked over at Ashton who looked confused and he turned to me, “What is a BLT?” I giggled, “It’s a dish from Terre. They toast bread and put bacon, lettuce, and tomato which often has mayonnaise but I like it with some garlic seasoned avocado. It is really good that way.” He nodded seriously, “I think I’ll have the BLT Alexandra style then.” Dana giggled, “Very well, Your Grace.” She turned and walked out of the room after her signature short curtsy.
I noticed that Tyleesh was staring at Ashton intensely so I asked, “Do you not know who Ashton is, Tyleesh?” Tyleesh tore his eyes away from my brother and shook his head, “I don’t know who he is which is why I’m trying to place who he is.” I smiled, “This is my twin brother, Ashton. He was kidnapped when he was a baby and made to think he was part of another family until recently.” Tyleesh widened his eyes, “So you know what it is like to be held captive?” Ashton sighed sadly, “I’m afraid we were kidnapped by the same man, Tyleesh. That family has taken so much from this family all in the name of power. They will pay soon enough.” Tyleesh sat in quiet contemplation, “I’m scared they will go after you and Panshad.” I sighed and shook my head, “I think you were tricked into compliance, Tyleesh. Panshad is with Prince Blake and he is always surrounded by spies and guards which means she is safe. As for me, The Order wants me dead regardless of what you did for them.” Nystasia patted his shoulder, “They’ve already sent one of your creations after her. I know it is likely harsh to tell you that but you need to hear it.” I thought it was a little harsh but he probably would have found out eventually. He sighed, “So she was the one my, er, I mean that man in the robes spoke to W about. He seems to have a strong hatred for you, Alexandra. I am not sure why though. I could tell he was either from Vellum or Terre though. Did you upset anyone in either realm?” I laughed nervously, “I could name a whole town full of people I’ve upset in Terre. As for Vellum, the Maignys are the only ones I know of that fully hate me.” Nystasia cleared her throat, “Well there were the Delnaros and the Kastilidans as well.” I sighed, “I’m so well loved.” She shrugged, “I love you, sweetie. You’re like the sister I always wanted but I got stuck with the stick in the mud, Sylphia.”
Dana came out with a cart with two plates and a bowl with a pitcher of lemonade on it. She placed the two plates in front of Ashton and me then placed the bowl in front of Tyleesh, “Would you need my assistance in eating, Young Tyleesh?” He shook his head, “No thank you, Dana. It’s good to see you again.” She smiled down at him tenderly, “It is good you are home again.” As Tyleesh brought his first spoon to his mouth, my mother burst into the room, “Tyleesh is missing again! Help me find him!” She finally noticed that he was in the room and heaved a heavy sigh of relief and yelled out of the dining room, “He’s in here Reggie!” I should note that this was very much not like my mother to do. She strode into the room and took a seat then peered over at my plate as she folded her napkin in her lap. She had regained her composure quickly, “What is that you have there, Xan?” I had my mouth full of food when she asked so Ashton spoke to her, “It’s something called a BLT.” Mother smiled, “It was always a favorite of Xan’s when she was a child. I think I will dive in to the nostalgia and have some too.” My father strode into the room and sat at the head of the table, “So it looks like soup, salad, or sandwich then?” I nodded at him, “Veggie soup, salad, or BLT to be exact.” He nodded contemplating what he would like to eat when Dana entered the room, “Your Grace and Your Grace, what can I get you?” My mother smiled, “I will have the same as the twins with a small bowl of soup.” My father sighed, “I don’t really want bacon right now so I will have the soup as well. Thank you as always for your hard work Dana.” She smiled and curtsied and turned to the kitchen.
My father cleared his throat after she left the room, “Now, Tyleesh, I need to address a couple of things with you. The first is I’m wondering what possessed you to get up from your bed. Theo said that you were experiencing extreme fatigue and malnourishment. You are probably very weak right now.” Tyleesh swallowed a spoonful of soup, “I wanted to see Alexandra to make sure The Order didn’t hurt her.” My father shook his head, “She was out of the house earlier today. What would you have done if you couldn’t find her? Please be mindful of your health for now. She would have come to see you eventually.” He looked over at me, “That reminds me. How did your task go?” I smiled at him, “I was able to finish in time. I just hope it is sufficient.” He leaned forward to pour lemonade into his glass, “You will hear your results later today when they send your next task. That’s how it was explained to me by one of the Elders in town today.” I nodded, “It makes sense. I wonder what my next task will be. Moreover, I wonder what Melody and Rayla’s tasks were.” He sighed, “Melody was tasked with heading a mock delegation to Befent Estate. Her Elder was to attend with her to observe and grade her. Rayla had to write a response to a request from one of the eliminated ladies. She was to decide if the request was reasonable. I don’t know who it came from or what she asked for though.”
My mother cleared her throat, “You got off topic, Reggie. You were talking to Tyleesh and didn’t finish addressing him.” He laughed, “Yes, you are right, my love. I will continue. Tyleesh, Talia, and I were speaking last night after they brought you in and thought we would ask if you would still be interested in taking the blood oath for House Batiste. We would totally understand if you didn’t want to since one of your captors…” He looked down and clenched his jaw while Tyleesh looked at him confused. I looked him in the eye, “Do you know how we were able to find you Tyleesh?” He shook his head, “I imagine it wasn’t easy.” Talia sighed, “It wasn’t easy for Alexandra. She did a lot of the work. She was the catalyst to the memories of your kidnapper.” He gasped and looked at me with concern, “You weren’t hurt by him were you.” I shook my head and sighed sadly at the reality that I was about to give him, “Your kidnapper, Tyleesh, was none other than my uncle Talon.” His eyes widened, “But…he’s dead…I attended his funeral.” Ashton sighed, “It was another thing The Order took from us, Tyleesh. They kidnapped him and brainwashed him into thinking he owed the Maigny’s his life because they ‘rescued’ him.” Tyleesh furrowed his brow, “Wow…they must really hate this family.” My father shook his head, “It could be but they are motivated by power and greed. They want the power of the crown and Alexandra is the one person in the way of them getting it since she is trying hard to win the Queen competition. She’s been a favorite to win since it was announced and for Alexandra to already have the power of her House behind her, she is envied by many.” Tyleesh sighed, “I don’t envy you at all, Alexandra.” He looked at my father and nodded, “To answer your question, it has always been my wish to take the blood oath. I love my sister, Panshad, and the realm I came from but this is my family, this is my home.” My mother looked at him tenderly as she always did with her children, “You shall have it then. We will set up the oath when you are fully recovered. All you need to worry about is making that happen. Okay?” He smiled at her weakly, “I will. I think I need to lay down now.”
Ashton went to get out of his seat when Derek and Jess walked into the room looking like they had a sense of purpose. My father looked up at them, “You both look so official. I would imagine you’ve had a good pep talk with the General.” Derek shook his head, “I mean we did but that’s not why we look so serious. While we were getting a brief on some of our missions, a messenger came from Kastilidan Glades. I am to deliver this message to Alexandra and report to you, Your Grace, a verbal message from His Majesty.” Derek held out an envelope from Elder Edgar and he turned to my father, “There was a large earthquake in Kastilidan Glades. His Majesty urges you to send some supplies to aid in recovery.” This led me to wonder what my envelope said so I hurriedly ripped it open. My mother called out to me, “What does it say, Xan?” I gasped, “I passed the first task and my second task is to start as soon as I am able to get myself to Kastilidan Glades. I am to assist in the recovery of the people.”
