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Chapter 12

I barely make eye contact with Eydis as days pass. There are very little words exchanged between us. I don't want to hear her excuses. The fact of the matter is, she didn't even try to see me. She worked. If she knew she would pick work over me, why get my hopes up.

With my skates in hand, I leave the dorm room to get to the ice rink. The walk is short. But even if it is long, I would not have mind. It isn't nearly as cold as it is in Hell. Plus it is warming slightly, melting what little snow we have.

Spring is around the conner now. In Hell, spring was always marked with festivals and good food. Spring meant a new start, for the harvest to be good, for the days to be longer. People loved spring more than I ever did. Spring meant that my ice time was over, and I would have to wait months before skating again. But spring would be different here. There will be ice year-round. I can skate year-round.

"I heard the ice is soft today," Ari says to me as I walk into the rink.

I've heard that phrase before, but I don't know what it means. Ice is always hard and cold. How could it be 'soft'?

He chuckles as he shakes his head. "I'm guessing you never skated on soft ice. Be ready to get wet. I heard the rink is having a hard time cooling itself. The pipes are old and broken or something. Warmer weather means softer ice."

Poor infrastructure in the Motherwealth is something I never imagined. It is the Motherwealth for Walter's sake. If anything will be flawless, it would be here. I remembered the light up map Yuri had the night I got here and how it refused to work. Maybe the Motherwealth isn't as flawless as I thought.

"Isla! Get over here," Irena shouts.

I nearly jump to her, not wanting to keep her waiting. I brace myself for anything she might say.

"We never had a chance to discuss your skating performance."

I swallow. There it is. What I hoped she would forget. The conversation that I never wanted to come. My skate, even though I gave my all, was probably not up to her standards. It was probably terrible. She hated it, like she hates most of my skating. Nothing is good enough for her even when I am breaking my neck to do her will.

"It was a great show. Most of the officials there are already talking about having you come again."

My mouth drops only a centimeter before I regain my composure. Out of everything she could have said, I was not expecting that. Irena does not give complements. At least, never heard one from her.

"You have massive talent. Something the Motherwealth has not seen in decades. You should be proud of the skill you have."

"Thank you."

"When you have a chance, write to your parents. Thank them for giving you such talent."

I would if I could. Neither would know how far I've come. My mother, the one who taught me everything I know, would be so proud. If only she could know. That fact makes my throat tighten just a little.

"Any letter's that need mailing, I can deliver to the post office."

It had been a few weeks since I left Hell, and I have not heard anything from Kol. He said he would write to me. Until now, I have been so busy, I forgot about that. But now that she mentioned it, I wanted to know why I hadn't received any messages.

"Where do we pick up letters?"

Irena rose her eyebrows. "I'm surprised your roommate hasn't shown you the mail room. That's where all the letters come in." With that, she walks out of the lobby to get onto the ice.

Anger towards Eydis rises with me. Another thing to make me hate her. She told me I could trust her and I did. But once again she let me down. There could be letters from Kol just waiting for me. I could have written to him by now if I knew we had a mail room. If Irena never mentioned it, I might have never known.

"Are you going to get your skates on?" Ari asks, snapping me from my thoughts.

I nod as I turn my attention towards him. "Coming."

There was no more time to think about how Eydis continues to let me down. It is skating's turn to consume my thoughts.

___________________

The ice is soft like Ari told me. Every move I make, I feel my blades dig a little deeper into the ice. Every move is harder than normal. My black skating pants are soaking wet from falling. I do not like soft ice and would do anything to avoid it.

By time practice is finished, I am frustrated, cold, and damp. I am in no mood to talk to anyone or be nice. So, it is not a great moment when I hear Ezra's voice call my name.

Ezra waves at me as he approaches. "Hey," he says with a smile.

I force a smile at him, trying my hardest to be friendly. At least he didn't see the practice. Now that was rough. Nothing to be proud of.

"Hi," I reply, taking off my skates.

"You looked great out there."

My smile slides off my face for a second before I tack it back on. This time with pins. "You should join me out there some time."

He nods as his father walk up to us. Almost instantly his smile slides off his face and the conversation about skating dies out.

There is silence as I exchange glances between his father and him.

I have never been this close to his father before. Ezra looks so much like him. Same colored eyes, same golden curls. The only difference is that he is at least three fingers taller than Ezra.

His father clears his throat as if clueing Ezra for the next step.

"Telvi, what are you doing next Friday?" Ezra asks as he scratches the back of his neck.

I shrug as I put my skates in my bag. Friday is a training day. I would be here. "Nothing."

His father smiles widely then claps his son's back, causing him to stumble towards me. "Ezra would love to invite you to the Commonwealth charity event and gala."

"You don't have to..." Ezra starts.

"I would love to," I say quickly, not thinking further. It sound lofty, like a fever dream to go to a gala. I am not even sure what a gala is, but it sounds fancy.

"Great. We will send a driver to pick you up at five. Don't worry about attending the last of your practice. I'll tell Irena you are leaving early."

"Looking forward to it."

Ezra gives one last smile, but there is something in his eyes, apologetic maybe. For what reason? He turns back towards his dad and together they walk out of the rink.

I put my skates in my bag as I try to wrap my head around what happened. Why do they want to invite me? Why did Ezra seem like he did not want me to attend? Was he embarrassed of me? Because I am from a Commonwealth?

"So, looks like one of the governmental families have taken a notice in you," Ari says, sitting down next to me. "Lucky girl."

"So what, that's nothing," Constance mutters, limping towards a bench. Her whole right side is wet, much like my own. "Just because they're interested doesn't mean Slag."

Ari rolls his eyes. "It's not like you have been to a Motherwealth party."

Constance frowns.

"Telvi is special. She gets to socialize with them. You gotta tell me what's it like," Ari gushes. He sounds desperate.

"Constance, can I have a word with you?" Irena asks with a tone that send shivers up my spine. I have heard that tone only a few times. It means business. It means deep disappointment.

Constance nods and with her head down, she walks towards Irena.

Once Constance was out of earshot, Ari turn back to me. "Constance has been battling a few injuries long before you arrived. I think they're getting worse," he explains under his breath like it is forbidden.

"Is Irena going to tell her to take a break?"

Ari shakes his head. "Constance has taken enough breaks. I heard rumors that Irena wants to end her contract and send her home."

For a moment I feel sorry for her. I know how much being here means to her. She loves skating and loves the Motherwealth. Every chance she has, tries to prove herself to Irena. It is a strange kind of devotion. But that isn't enough. Poor girl just wants to skate. Like we all do.

My head snap her way when I hear wailing cries from Constance. She drops to her knees and Irena lightly pats her back.

If she isn't so mean, I will feel even sadder for her. But I suppose this is life. Not everyone can stay here at the top.

"Do you know when she will return to her Commonwealth?"

Ari shakes his head as he slings his bag over his shoulder. "Nope. I suppose it will be in a day or two. The Motherwealth likes to move quickly. Anyhow, great practice today. I know skating on soft ice is never ideal, but you skated like a champion. Just keep in mind that when summer comes, the ice will be even softer."

Softer than this ice? Impossible.

Ari smile just as the lights flicker on and off, leaving only the emergency dull lights shining. "Looks like another energy shortage. I would recommend you get back to your dorm before you aren't able to open the door."

It sounds like he speaks from experience. Sleeping in the hall without a bed or sheets sounds like a nightmare. No thank you.

I shoot up from my seat and grab my skates. "See you tomorrow."

"See you then."

When I walk into the dorm, Eydis is there waiting for me with a cake in her hands. "This is from my commonwealth. We often bake apologies. I had to ask someone to use their kitchen to make this. I know I messed up. I should have been at your show. Will you ever forgive me?"

I look at the light brown colored cake. It nearly matched Eydis' skin tone. It is slightly lopsided with white frosting oozing from the middle. Eydis is not a master baker that is certain, but the thought is there.

The sincerity in her eyes tells me she means every word. Staying mad at her is too hard. Too exhausting. I don't think she set out to hurt me. There is too much good in her. I felt that.

"Yeah, I'll forgive you," I say finally.

She beams then places the cake on the desk, next to her textbooks just as the power shuts off again. Wasting no time, Eydis lights a candle. Holding the candle close, the light of the flame dances across her face.

"Son of a twister. You got to be kidding me. They say this place is perfect..." her voice trails off before looking towards the door. Her eyes flicker back towards me. "I'm really sorry, Telvi. Please know that you are so important to me. I never want to miss another one of your shows again."

She is the most important person to me in the Motherwealth. I like the confirmation that she thinks the same. "I forgive you."

She wraps her arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. I melt under her touch. "I'm so glad. I couldn't stand the icy feelings in this dorm any longer." She pulls out of the embrace and turns back to the cake. "Alright, cake. Do you want a big piece or a small piece?"

Sweets are on the top of the do not eat list that Irena gave me. She would not approve of this. But it has been so long since I've had something sweet, and this is a special occasion. One slice of cake would not hurt anything. Irena wouldn't even know.

"A big piece."

"Good. That's the only way to eat it." She winks then pulls out a butter knife from a drawer. "Just don't tell anyone I have this. We aren't supposed to have weapons of any kind."

A butter knife is hardly a weapon, but I'm not about to correct it. "Your secret is safe with me."

She cuts into the gooey cake. Frosting pours out of it like liquid.

"I was my first time making this," she admits.

Clearly. I think it's underbaked. "It looks good though."

"I hope." She chuckles and hands me a piece on a plate that she probably stole from the dining hall.

For a few minutes, we eat in silence by the light of the candle. It casts a hazy soft light in the room. It makes me want to be closer to Eydis to see her better.

"Do you know about the mail system here?" I ask hesitantly as I finish the last bit of cake. I am afraid I will rock the newly patched boat but I don't want to wait any longer.

She places a piece of cake on a plate with a frown. "Yeah, I know it."

"My brother told me he would write to me. I am waiting for his letters. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because the mail system is not reliable. It comes and goes and pieces get lost. I've been checking for you, hoping you would get a letter and surprise you."

A lump comes to my throat. "So I have received no letters yet?"

She shakes her head. "Not one." She reaches for my hand and gives a squeeze. "But that doesn't mean no one is writing you. Things get lost here, more often than not. It's probably that." 

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