Chapter 30: Lessons That Linger Longer Than Bells

Lyria’s POV

Patricia smiled faintly at that one.

She spelled it for me with great care.

Then signed.

’It means generous in spirit. Especially when one has power.’

I liked that word too. I wrote it down carefully, committing the meaning to my brain.

"There was also... capricious," I told her.

Her mouth curved, barely.

’Fickle. Unpredictable. Changing one’s favour easily.’

I did not need to be told who had been described that way.

Patricia did the same as she had done with the other words, spelling it for me.

My pencil paused.

"Oh, and also... implacable."

Patricia nodded and then spelled it, then signed slowly.

’Unable to be soothed. Unable to be persuaded. Holding firmly to anger.’

I wrote that down.

’Is that all?’ Patricia asked me.

I tilted my head in thought, trying to remember if there was something else.

Then I lifted my eyes again.

"There was one more," I said quietly.

"Reprobate."

Patricia nodded and then spelled it out for me, then she signed the meaning of the word.

’Someone who is believed to be beyond moral correction.’

I stared at the letters.

They felt crueller than promiscuous.

I wrote the word with less care than the others.

Reprobate.

My handwriting wavered.

When I finally lifted my head, Patricia was watching me with a soft smile on her face.

I exhaled and returned her smile.

"Th–thank you," I said, my voice soft. My hands followed. "I a–always l–like our c–classes."

Her eyes softened at once. ’Classes?’ she signed. ’Is that what we are calling it?’

I chuckled at her words. "Yes," I signed back.

"H–how about we make signs for each of the words?" I asked her excitedly.

Her face brightened instantly and she nodded. This was my favourite part at the end of each class or learning session.

I liked learning new words, but turning them into signs that I could use to communicate with Patricia? It was the best thing to ever happen, really.

And I liked how Patricia never once told me that the signs I had invented, with which we communicated, were childish. To her, it was smart, and she claimed it was even smarter than those who claimed to be scholars, because no scholars had thought of this means of communication.

I lifted my hands first.

"For... ostentatious," I suggested, making a wide, exaggerated flourish in front of my chest, fingers sparkling outward as though scattering jewels.

Patricia burst into breathless laughter at once.

Her shoulders shook.

She copied the motion and then exaggerated it even more, adding a proud tilt of her chin.

I giggled helplessly.

"Yes," I signed quickly. "Yes, l–like that."

For magnanimous, I placed my hand over my chest and then opened it outward, palm rising gently, as though releasing something precious into the air.

She stilled at once.

’That is beautiful,’ she signed with a smile on her face.

For capricious, I made my hand dart from side to side in abrupt, inconsistent little motions.

Patricia tilted her head and refined it, smoothing the movement into a sudden change of direction halfway through.

Better.

For implacable, she crossed one forearm firmly before her chest and shook her head once.

For reprobate, we both hesitated first.

The word felt heavier.

I tried a gesture that pushed something away.

Patricia adjusted it, suggesting drawing a line down sharply between her brows and then flicking her fingers outward.

The meaning settled between us without either of us needing to say it.

For promiscuous, we struggled.

We later decided on something that did not really mock anyone.

Something that suggested choice rather than shame.

I nodded gratefully.

When we finished, my hands ached faintly.

My cheeks hurt from smiling and my chest felt light.

"I l–love that we m–make them t–together," I signed quietly.

She nodded.

Her smile was tender. ’Me too.’

"Oh, I have things to t–tell you. There are g–guests in the palace," I said as I signed fast.

Her expression shifted at once.

"Men of n–noble standing," I continued, softer. "They h–have c–come for... J–Jacinta."

Patricia just stared at me, listening to my words.

"She is... the f–foretold m–moon," I said quietly, signing the words more easily than I spoke them. "T–the one from the prophecy."

"But what I wanted to tell you was the f–funniest part," I added softly, attempting lightness. "T–this morning, the s–suitor c–candidates were s–supposed to have b–breakfast with her."

I shook my head.

"S–she was excited as she left for the breakfast, but then I ran into f–four of them," I said.

That finally earned a reaction.

Her brow lifted faintly.

"Yes," I nodded. "Four."

I hesitated. "I–I ran into one just the previous e–evening, b–but the other t–three, I ran into them earlier today."

I opened my mouth to say more—but then froze.

The sound reached me first. It was distant, but I could hear it all the same—the sound of a bell.

The low chime that marked the end of the morning meal.

My eyes widened.

My heart jolted sharply.

I surged to my feet.

"Oh—" I whispered.

Patricia startled.

"I h–have to g–go," I said at once, hands moving quickly. "B–breakfast is o–over."

My chest tightened.

"She w–will s–send for me," I added breathlessly. "I c–cannot be m–missing."

Patricia’s face shifted into quiet understanding.

"I w–will t–tell you m–more l–later," I promised hurriedly, already stepping back.

I crossed the small space between us and wrapped my arms around her before I could think better of it.

She stiffened in surprise.

Then softened.

Her thin arms came around me gently, and I held her tightly. I was going to miss her. I had no idea when I would be able to get the chance to meet with her again.

"I will l–leave the b–bread and the a–apple," I whispered against her shoulder. "J–just in c–case you g–get h–hungry."

She squeezed me once before letting me pull back.

My hands moved quickly.

"I r–really h–have to g–go n–now."

I reached for the little book.

The primer slid easily into the hidden fold beneath my skirt.

I checked it by touch and ensured it was safe.

Then I lifted my hand and waved.

She waved back at me with a soft smile, and then I turned and rushed for the door.