* * *
It was a few months later during his eleventh birthday celebration when she began to think otherwise. She’d prepared a cake for him and even apologized for the lack of things that make a good birthday party.
“Oh, I don’t mind, my lady,” he said sweetly as he sat down across from her at the table. “You even decorated the house a little bit!”
The sorceress looked at the colorful baubles she’d hung around the room and laughed. “It isn’t really anything special. Someday I’ll give you a real celebration, with lots of delicious food and the most magnificent fireworks you’ve ever seen!”
Max’s eyes twinkled. “I-is that a promise, my lady?”
She realized that she had perhaps gone too far, but she could only smile. “Most definitely.”
“Gosh,” Max whispered, before taking a big bite of cake. “Wah gur yer gur ert?”
She took a sip of water from a glass goblet and laughed. “Chew, swallow, and then ask me again when I can understand you.”
Max’s face went red in embarrassment, but he did as he was told. “I said: why do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Why are you so nice to me? You’re the kindest person I know, and you have been ever since I came here.”
“Now, now, Max, let’s not get over emotional. I’ve only given you what you deserve.”
“But you do so much!” he exclaimed. “Not only for me, but for the forest. For people you don’t even know.”
Her eyebrows drew together, forming a heavy crease of concern. “That’s not true.”
“Of course it’s true!”
“I’ve failed, you know. I’ve failed... in the past.”
“Are you talking about the village I used to live in? Gee, my lady, that wasn’t your fault... It was the dragons.” He shivered at the thought, but didn’t shed any tears. It hadn’t been long enough for the wound in his heart to heal, but it had been long enough for him to learn how to control his emotions. That was one of the first things the sorceress had taught him. She always told him it was of the utmost importance that he remain calm, even in times of tragedy or turmoil.
“I know,” she replied. “I know.”
He couldn’t see what she was so distracted by, but he let it be for now. Over the past year or so, he’d also learned to be gentle with her, and to not poke his nose where it didn’t belong. She was a sorceress, so she had a lot of secrets.
The two continued eating the cake in silence, until Max thought of something he couldn’t wait to ask any longer.
“When’s your birthday, my lady?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Well, I just thought... since you’re promising me some big kind of birthday bash, I should be doing the same for you... right?”
She didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Not when he was being so openly kind to her for something she didn’t deserve. She couldn’t even bring herself to tell him her birthday. Someday she’d end up telling him too much information, and that would scare him and his perfect little world away for good.