Chapter 21
"That face suites you much better. Rather than fretting over this curious son of mine, perhaps I should save my worries for the young girls of Distan." She giggled and shook her head. She seemed to be speaking more to herself than to the children. Her happy expression was indescribably beautiful, and for a moment Alistar forgot she was sick. "Even with Rodei's good looks, my Alie wouldn't mimic his father's recklessness with women." She spoke with an air of motherly caution, her silver irises gleaming like polished steel against her sunken face. "You wouldn't want to anger Kaila, now would you, Alie?"
"Auntie..."
Kaila looked away. He couldn't tell within the dimness, but Alistar could have sworn that her face had coloured.
"Hah!" grunted his uncle. "If he's half as bold as Rodei, he'll make more than one angry maiden in Distan." His mother raised her eyebrows, causing Raidon to shrink back. He coughed. "Of course, I'll see to it that he doesn't grow to be as shameless as my brother. Or any of yours, for that matter."
Alistar didn't know any girls aside from Kaila, but he already knew that he should be kind and courteous toward all of them. "What do you mean? Papa wasn't shameless. I'm going to be just like him!" He didn't understand, but he puffed out his chest at the mention of his father.
To his confusion, his mother only laughed.
I wish every day could be like this. His family members were wearing expressions that they hadn't shown in months. Even his uncle was chuckling here and there.
Only Alistar's mother could have turned the dismal mood on its head, and with only a handful of words, at that. He had no idea how he'd get on without her.
"Mama, I..." Alistar began, losing his words and finding them all at once as he took in her caring expression. "I don't want to leave." Quieter, he added, "I can't just abandon everyone."
Kaila remained silent behind hopeful eyes, though there was a sense of futility lingering in her frown. She'd been frowning too much lately.
"Alie," his mother said tenderly. "Nothing makes me happier than knowing you're soon to leave this life behind. Many great things await you, and I would be ashamed if you never got a chance to experience them. You are my one and only precious son. I can't bear the thought of you being holed up in here from your first days to your last. I just can't."