Letting his attention drift back to the center courtyard, Jamie's eyes scoured the compound, simply observing the inhabitants as they continued their daily chores and tasks.
After taking a preliminary assessment of the area, the Rosendahl's eyes fell onto a small group huddled around the sparring grounds. Despite their trembling frames, smiles were plastered onto their faces; a marker of their mutual friendship and happiness. They didn't talk, didn't speak; such auditory expressions weren't required. The small group was happy simply because they were together.
While his numerous emotions were always carefully hidden with a mask of nonchalance, Jamie felt a small crack begin to carve its way onto his face.
Why couldn't Bryn be down there, sharing a sigh-inducing pun with Amelia? Why couldn't Montine be in the stables, stealing apples when nobody was looking? Why couldn't Gran be down there, whacking the dull idiocy out of thickheaded dimwits with her infamous cane?
The fissure grew at a disturbing speed. Pacing down the steps with sudden haste, the Rosendahl took long strides across the courtyard, jaws clamped together and hands clenched in fists. Ignoring the odd looks cast his way, Jamie stomped into the main hall, practically running up the stairs.
It was an orderly procedure. As if thoroughly rehearsed, Jamie strode inside his quarters, pressing the door shut with trembling hands. Seating himself on the edge of the mattress, the twin grabbed his stiff and inert pillow, shaking it in a fruitless attempt to give it extra volume. Setting the unchanged cushion on his knees, Jamie grabbed his blanket, bending it into quarters. Given the preternaturally crisp edges and the expert fold, it was more than obvious this event had been conducted before. Ever critical, the twin took nearly half a minute to line up the folded cloth with his cushion, ensuring the two layers were perfectly in unison.
His organization complete, the twin pressed his face into the combined structure and started to yell. He screamed, he screamed, and he screamed.
When Jamie left the room, the fissure was no more.
