Chapter 14: Seri

Seri

I didn’t realize how tired I was until I tried to stand.

The conversation had distracted me just enough that I’d forgotten about the weight in my body, the dull pull in my shoulder, the way sitting upright for too long left me drained. But the moment I shifted forward in the chair and placed my feet on the ground, it all came rushing back.

Maeve noticed immediately.

“Careful,” she said, already stepping closer.

“I’m okay,” I replied, though it came out softer than I meant it to.

The room tilted just slightly, enough to make me pause. Caiden had moved closer too, not touching me, but close enough that I was very aware of him.

“We should take you back to your room,” Maeve said gently. “You’ve done more than enough for today.”

I hesitated, glancing back toward the shelves.

I wasn’t ready to leave yet, not when this was the first place that felt like it might actually help me.

“Wait,” I said. “Before we go, could you help me find something?”

Maeve paused.

“Of course. What do you need?”

“Something about the island,” I said. “Our history… or anything, really.”

I kept my tone light, almost apologetic.

“Just to help with my memory.”

That part, at least, was true.

Maeve’s expression softened, but then she glanced down at the book still resting in my lap.

“That's a history text,” she said.

Right.

I felt heat creep up my neck.

“Yeah,” I said, letting out a small, embarrassed breath. “I um...I'm just having a bit of a problem.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“What's the issue?”

I hesitated, because this was the part that could go very wrong.

“I can’t read it,” I said finally.

The shift in the room was immediate.

Maeve went still.

Caiden did too.

“What do you mean you can’t read it?” he asked.

His voice wasn’t harsh, but it carried more weight now.

I forced myself to hold steady.

“I mean the words don’t make sense,” I said. “I recognize that it’s a language, but I can’t… process it.”

Maeve frowned.

“It’s written in Gaelic,” she said slowly. “Our native tongue.”

Okay. We must be somewhere in Scotland. The Irish usually call their native language Irish or Gaeilge. At least I know I'm no longer in Ireland.

“That makes sense,” I said carefully. “I don’t think I’ve tried reading in it yet since I woke up.”

Maeve studied me, her concern deepening.

“You’ve spoken it your entire life. It's your first language,” she said.

My stomach dropped.

“I know,” I said, pushing through it. “That’s why it’s confusing. I can understand you when you speak to me, but when I look at the words, it’s like my brain just… doesn’t recognize them.”

That part was true enough to sell.

Caiden’s gaze hadn’t left me.

“Because we’re speaking English,” he said.

I looked at him.

“We are?” I asked, trying to play dumb.

I'm American, I definitely never studied Gaelic, even if a small part of my ancestry was Scottish. My mom's Mediterranean blood always seemed to overtake my father's anyways, at least in the looks department.

Maeve nodded.

“We switched after you woke,” she said. “It seemed easier for you to follow.”

That made my chest loosen just slightly.

“Right,” I said, like it was clicking into place. “That makes more sense.”

Maeve turned quickly, scanning the shelves.

“There may be something in English,” she said, already moving. “We don’t keep much, but—”

She pulled a few books free, flipping through them, then replacing them just as quickly.

I stayed where I was, trying to keep my breathing steady, and checked to make sure that my hands weren't shifting again.

You’re fine. Just stay calm.

“Here,” Maeve said, returning with a smaller book.

She handed it to me.

“This one is written in their common tongue.”

English. Perfect.

I took it, trying not to look too relieved.

“Thank you.”

I opened it.

And for the first time since I’d stepped into this library, the words made sense.

Relief hit so fast I almost laughed.

Oh thank god.

I forced myself to keep my reaction measured.

“This is better,” I said, letting out a small breath. “I can actually read this.”

Maeve’s shoulders relaxed just slightly.

“That’s something,” she said.

But the concern hadn’t gone away.

And Caiden was watching me more closely now.

“Your Gaelic is gone, but your English remains,” he said.

I nodded slowly.

“Looks like it.”

Maeve frowned.

“That shouldn’t happen,” she murmured.

No. It definitely shouldn’t.

“I think it’s just part of the memory loss,” I said quickly. “Maybe it just takes a while for me to remember older memories?”

That seemed to land better.

Maeve nodded, though her expression stayed thoroughly worried.

“That may be,” she said.

I leaned back into the chair, the tension easing just a little now that I had something I could actually use.

“Thank you,” I said again, glancing down at the book. “At least now I'll have something to do. I was starting to feel a little useless.”

Maeve gave me a small smile at that.

“You are far from useless.”

I huffed out a quiet breath.

“Debatable.”

She shook her head lightly.

“You should rest,” she said. “Reading can wait until you’ve regained your strength.”

I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again.

She wasn’t wrong.

“Okay,” I said.

Maeve stepped in beside me and offered her arm, and this time I didn’t pretend that I didn’t need it. I gave her the book and let her help me up, the movement slower than before, more deliberate as my body reminded me exactly how tired and in pain I still was.

We moved toward the door at a careful pace, my steps smaller now, each one measured. Maeve stayed close, steadying me without making it feel like I was being held up entirely.

Caiden opened the door and stepped back to let us pass.

He fell into step behind us immediately.

The corridor stretched ahead, the evening light softer as it filtered through the tall windows. The castle felt different this time of day. It was such a beautiful place.

We turned the corner toward my room and stopped.

Another guard stood outside the door, relief plastered across his young face.

How is everyone here so gorgeous?

He straightened as we approached, his posture shifting with purpose. "It's good to see you up, Princess Nymora." He bowed.

"Thank you."

I really need to start thinking up better things to say.

“I've got this shift,” the other guard said, his voice steady.

Caiden gave a short nod.

“I’ll remain until she’s settled.”

The guard stepped aside without question.

Maeve guided me forward again, but my thoughts had already shifted.

It wasn't just him.

Not just Caiden standing watch outside my door.

There are more of them.

Obviously, Seri. She's a literal princess.

I felt it settle into place as clearly as if someone had said it out loud.

Someone was always there.

Always watching.

Always waiting.

By the time Maeve helped me back into my room, that realization had taken hold fully, impossible to ignore.