In the Land of Tea and Ravens by R.K. Ryals Page B

you standing at your window at night. I’ve heard your promises, but you’re not coming back because of me. You’re coming back because you can’t live with your guilt anymore. You want me to drive you mad because being insane is better than being ashamed.”
    “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Grayson hissed. He set the plate down on the ground, leaving it to the ants.
    Lyric dropped the fork next to it. “At least I got dumplings first,” she mumbled. Her skirt stirred the dirt and grass as she stood, her eyes peering down into Grayson’s. “You didn’t come here for pity.” She offered him her hand. “You were an idiot, and someone died because of it. I get that. I understand it. Because I was angry once, and it killed my mother. You’re chained by guilt. I’m not only chained to guilt, Grayson, I’m chained to this world by tea. You want me to drive you insane, then come with me. Your wish is my command.”
    For a long moment, Grayson simply stared at her hand. He’d never admit it, but she was right. No one should wish for insanity, but he did. Even though, deep down, he was already mad from grief, shame, and guilt.
    “And if I take your hand now?” he asked, his gaze sliding up to hers.
    She smiled, the expression strangely sad. “I’ll take you to a mad tea party that never ends.”
    He took her hand.

 
     
    ~13~
     
    The Messenger King had chosen his betrothed. Standing on his balcony following his recovery, he announced his choice to the kingdom. “My bride,” he shouted, “shall be Mercy, the tea girl!” Instead of joyous cheers, his proclamation was met with gasps of surprise and slow, cautious applause. “The tea girl?” someone whispered. The king did not care. His eyes were only for his betrothed, his heart full and his spirit happy. Caelin , the king’s advisor, approved of the match. For the tea girl, despite her insignificant obscurity, was a wise, compassionate woman. She would make a good ruler. There was , however, her two sisters to consider. For there was jealousy brewing in the old merchant’s house by the sea …
    ~The Tea Girl~
     
    Lead me, Grayson thought to himself.
    He was turning himself over to Lyric’s touch, to the feel of her hand in his as she tugged him forward. She had surprisingly small hands, calloused but young.
    The house loomed ahead of them, the windows watching and the gaping door screaming.
    To a mad tea party that never ends , she’d said.
    The darkness swallowed them whole, the ghost-like furniture and black and white photos calling out to them.
    The ravens cawed, the sound scolding, but other than a quick glance upward, Lyric ignored them.
    “You came for this,” Lyric said once they entered the kitchen, her hand releasing his to reach for the tea kettle sitting on the portable burner. She’d been drinking a lot of tea since he’d last seen her.
    She bent, her fingers pulling apart her red backpack, her eyes sliding up to his. “My mother was much better at this. Honestly, I’m just passable. I never learned as much …”
    Her voice trailed off, and Grayson leaned down next to her. “Learned?”
    She pulled a Ziploc bag full of tea leaves free from her pack. “I never learned what she knew about making tea.” She opened the bag and sprinkled tea leaves into the pot. Adding a stick of cinnamon, she finished it off by pouring bottled water over the brew before placing it on the stove.
    Lyric’s gaze found Grayson’s. “There’s no turning back from this,” she said. “There’s no pretending you didn’t take this journey. No going home and trying to convince yourself it was a dream.”
    Grayson’s brow furrowed. “Show me,” he murmured.
    She swallowed. “There’s guilt, and then there’s a lifetime of fear and regrets. Guilt hurts. Fear makes us too cautious. Regret tears us apart. Sometimes,” she leaned closer, “being broken can be beautiful. If we can’t see the beauty in the pain, then we truly do go