“Now I’d say it’s time for a hot meal,” Malida announced, “and some scraps for your pet? The only payment I require for my hospitality is a full account of the things you have seen during your travels. We are living in strange times, and it pays more than mere coin to be informed.”
“Of course,” Finn agreed, thinking to herself just how right Malida was in her assertion. Information could be more valuable than land, ships, armies, or anything else that could be purchased with mere coin. She only wished she had more of it to share.
After getting Naoki set up in a bedroom with a large plate of meat scraps, Finn and Kai rejoined the others in the tavern. Kai was not pleased it had fallen to him to once again watch over the temperamental dragon, and he was kicking himself for not arguing. He wasn’t even sure why he hadn’t argued, except that being back in Malida’s home brought forth memories of their previous time there. A time when Finn had decided he was perhaps a decent man, and he had regrettably gone out of his way to scrub such an absurd notion from her mind. Perhaps he was still trying to prove himself decent, even now, though he felt he’d already done so several times over.
Malida hadn’t heard much hearsay of any bounties, so they deemed it safe for Finn to return to the common room, though she’d keep her hair hidden by her cloak, just in case.
Drawing himself out of his thoughts, Kai looked up from his seat at the round wooden table as a barmaid placed a massive bowl of lamb stew in front of him. He watched while everyone else received their meals, placed next to half empty mugs of ale.
Anna sat next to him, seeming to pay as much attention to the ongoing conversations as he was, which was little. With a sigh, he lifted his bowl and mug, then stood, moving toward the bar where Malida waited. He could have told her what she wanted to know later that evening, but decided he preferred her company at that moment, as opposed to his travel companions, especially Maarav and his men.
Malida watched him cross the room, a thoughtful expression on her round face as she wiped the perfectly clean wooden bar with a rag.
Reaching her, he set his meal down and took a seat on one of the tall stools. “Ready for my epic tale?”
She smirked. “I’m ready for you to tell me what’s going on between you and Breya . . . or is her name Finn?”
“I see you’ve already spoken with your daughter,” Kai sighed.
“I did,” she replied, “and now I’m wondering about a great many things. Last I saw Finn, she was sneaking out of my home at dawn. Now you are somehow back together, but not as husband and wife. Instead, you’re traveling with a large party. You never travel with large parties, so I assume that part is Finn’s doing.”
“Yes,” he sighed, wondering if he should attempt to keep the ruse going at all, “she’s a very demanding wife.”
“She’s not your wife,” Malida stated bluntly. “Did you truly think you could deceive me? I can see that you love her, but there is no clear understanding between the two of you.”
He blinked up at her, entirely dumbstruck. He knew Malida had been suspicious, but to have known all along? “Then why did you go along with it?”
She chuckled, then grabbed Kai’s ale to take a swig. “Why not? After all this time, I knew I could trust your judgment, and I genuinely like her. She’s a sweet lass.”
Kai leaned his elbows on the bar and buried his head in his hands, letting his tangled, chestnut brown hair fall forward. “I suppose I’ll start from the very beginning,” he sighed, “long before we came here the first time. It’s the only way I can fathom explaining it all in a way that makes sense.”
Malida took a moment to refill his ale from one of the large casks behind the bar, then gestured for him to go on.
He snuck a quick glance over his shoulder at his party, then began, “It all started back in Garenoch, when we met an odd, long-haired girl, and her elderly companion . . . ”
He went on to detail their entire journey, leaving out exactly who Finn was, and what she and Iseult sought. He told Malida of their long sea voyage, and detailed all that happened once they arrived back on land. He also admitted, though Malida already seemed to know, that Finn was never truly his wife, but that he really was trying to help her. He hoped in coming clean Malida would take pity on him, and would still allow him to stay in her home that evening. She was at least still speaking with him, which gave him hope she understood his reasons for lying.
As he finished his long-winded tale, Malida pursed her lips in thought. “So when you first came to me, you were simply attempting to help Finn find that man?” She nodded in Iseult’s direction.
He gazed down at his uneaten stew. “Yes,” he admitted after a moment. “I was only trying to help her find Iseult and her other friend, Àed, again, but I was worried someone else might try to collect the bounty on her. I still don’t know the meaning behind the bounty, or who originally ordered it, but at the time it seemed the safest option to keep her hidden, and to use a false name.”
He lifted his eyes to meet Malida’s narrowed gaze. “So you lied to me,” she began again, “to protect a young lady, even though you had nothing to gain, and in fact, stood to lose not only your partnership with Anna, but a great deal of coin.”
He frowned. “When you put it like that, I sound like a fool.”
“And even after she left you,” she continued, ignoring his lament, “you then went on to follow her. You traveled all the way to Migris, just to make sure she was safe, then sailed to a legendary tree, just so she could find answers. Now you’ve followed her all the way back to this Faie infested land, and in all of this, you have absolutely nothing to gain.”
He huffed in exasperation. “Is the point of this entire conversation just to make me feel like a blithering idiot?”
Malida smiled warmly. “I see my early speculations were correct, and yes, you’re a blithering idiot, but only if you won’t admit you love her.”
He took a long swill of his ale, relishing in the slight feeling of numbness it brought. There was that word again. Love. “I’d be a blithering idiot if I thought that it mattered,” he replied finally, seeing no use in denying it any longer.
Malida simply smiled, then slid his stew bowl closer to him.
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What are you thinking?”
She smiled wider and shook her head. “Never you mind. Eat your food and tell me more about what you saw in Migris. We’ve had a few travelers make it this way from the West, but it’s been difficult to believe what they’ve been saying.”
He took a bite of his now cold stew, then replied, “Believe it. Believe everything you hear. After the things I’ve seen and experienced, I will never question any odd Faie tales again.”
She nodded. “I trust your judgement, but I must ask, where are you off to now? Most travelers who’ve come into contact with the Faie are hiding in the smaller towns, or wherever else they can find shelter. Few want to brave the roads anymore.”
He took another long swig of his ale, draining his mug. “Anna and Finn are both on a mission for the same, um, item,” he took another swill, hoping Malida wouldn’t pry into what that item was. “I’m coming along to make sure they don’t kill each other,” he finished, lowering his glass.
Malida smirked and glanced over at the occupied table. “If it’s a fight to the death, my bet is unfortunately on Anna.”
Kai shook his head, thinking back to the few incidents where Finn had been forced to protect herself. Anna might be deadly, but she didn’t stand a chance against that sort of power. “I’ll not comment on who would win, but it’s better for all of us if that fight never happens.”
Malida nodded, then lifted her gaze past Kai. He turned on his stool to see Finn and Iseult approaching.
“I was hoping to check on Naoki before we search for rooms at one of the inns,” Finn explained upon reaching Kai’s side, her face shadowed by her hood.
He turned to see Malida narrow her eyes in thought before nodding. “No offens
e meant,” she began, flicking her gaze up to Iseult, “but I only trust Kai and,” she hesitated, “Finn to enter my home.”
Kai watched the blush creep up Finn’s face upon hearing her real name.
Malida rolled her eyes. “I know you were in trouble, I cannot blame you for giving a false name, and Finn is much prettier than Breya.”
Finn smiled graciously, though her blush did not lessen.
“I understand,” Iseult said in reply to Malida’s initial statement. He turned to Kai. “You’ll accompany her,” he added, no hint of questioning in his tone.
Kai sighed and stood, shooing Finn away from where she stood beside his stool to make room.
“And the two of you can find a few things for me in the cellar while you’re at it,” Malida added, an impish grin on her round face.
Kai gave her a questioning glance, wondering what she was up to, then nodded. It wasn’t the first time Malida had put him to work. He gestured for Finn to lead the way behind the bar, all the while wondering what the glint in Malida’s eye was about.
After checking on Naoki, Kai showed Finn the way to the cellar. She’d felt a little wary descending the dark, rickety staircase beneath a trap door within the bedroom Malida shared with her husband, but she figured she owed Malida a great deal. She’d gladly carry up whatever supplies she needed.
They’d only been down in the space for a few moments, searching the various barrels and storage crates by lantern-light, when Malida’s daughter came thunking down the stairs, a piece of parchment in hand. She offered the parchment to Kai, glared at Finn, then retreated.
Holding his lantern aloft, Kai’s eyes skimmed the list. He sighed. “It seems Malida thought of a few more items for us to carry up.”
Finn widened her eyes, then plucked the parchment from his fingers. He held the lantern toward her so she could read what was written. She didn’t even know what half of the items on the list were, let alone where to find them in the cramped, dark cellar.
“Is this punishment for lying about my name?” she questioned in disbelief.
Kai smirked, but did not answer.
Finn had a feeling he knew exactly why Malida was punishing them, but instead of explaining, he took the list to glance over it once more.
Finn crossed her arms as he stuffed the list into his breeches pocket, then set the lantern down beside a crate, crouching to examine its contents.
She watched him clearly avoiding her gaze. Why was he suddenly so uncomfortable. Malida’s list obviously meant something more to him. She began tapping her foot impatiently.
He glared up at her. “Yes?”
She scowled, wishing he would take the hint. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He observed her face for several moments, then sighed and rocked back on his heels, still crouched. “I told her everything,” he admitted. “She knows we were never husband and wife, and she knows why we lied to her. She does not know who you truly are, or what you seek, but she knows everything else.”
She blinked at him for several seconds in the dim lantern light, utterly shocked. She couldn’t fathom a reason why he would have done that.
“Oh don’t look so surprised,” he muttered, turning back to the crate.
She crossed her arms. “I’m justified in being surprised. I’ve come to expect lies from you, and truth only when you have no other choice.”
He glared at her. “That’s not true. As far as I’m concerned, the only lie I ever told you was who I was in the beginning, and you told the same lie yourself.”
She felt her expression falter. Pursing her lips, she tried to think of the other lies he’d told her. Surely there were more. She had very good reason for being angry at him all the time, didn’t she?
“Let me see the list again,” she demanded.
He looked up at her, but did not offer the list.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot, suddenly feeling embarrassed.
He smirked, his eyes twinkling with sudden merriment. “I’d expected a few more insults.”
Ignoring him, she bent down and plucked at the parchment sticking out of his pocket, soon tugging the list free to peruse. “You’re right,” she admitted. “I have no remaining reasons to be angry with you. You’ve more than made up for kidnapping me, and I suppose things have ended up alright . . . as alright as can be expected, at least.”
He stood, looking slightly stunned. “Was that an apology?”
She glared. “Yes, and I’ve given them to you before, so don’t look so surprised. Now please tell me why Malida would like us to spend the entire evening in her cellar.”
His shoulders slumped in defeat, but he did not speak.
“Go on,” she pressed. “You’re already brimming with truths tonight, so you may as well continue.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “She seems to think I’m in love with you,” he stated bluntly, “and I imagine this is all part of some grand scheme of hers to force us to spend time together. Time without any of the . . . others.”
Suddenly she wished he was a liar. She opened her mouth to speak, to in some way make light of what he’d said, then a stack of crates crashed down in the far corner of the cellar. She met Kai’s gaze for a split second, then he snatched the lantern and rushed toward the sound with Finn hot on his heels.
The cellar was like a maze, filled with rows of stacked storage receptacles. Finn tried to keep her breathing steady as she raced after Kai, telling herself that the crates had fallen on their own, and that no one had been in the cellar listening to them. Listening to what he’d just said to her.
Reaching the source of the crash, Kai came to an abrupt halt. In front of him stood a small girl with sallow skin and stringy black hair, trembling in fear. The tattered tan cloth of her shapeless clothing showed patches of her frail flesh through numerous tears. She looked up at Kai and Finn with small, muddy colored eyes.
Kai held his free arm out to herd Finn back away from the girl. “I don’t think she’s human,” he muttered. He aimed the lantern at the girl, illuminating her gaunt face.
Finn pushed his arm aside. “She’s also terrified.” She lowered to one knee, bringing herself down to the girl’s eye level. She couldn’t have been more than seven. “What are you doing down here?” she asked softly.
The girl took a deep breath, and Finn noticed gills, like those of a fish, flexing along the underside of her jaw. Not human indeed.
“I’m hiding,” the girl croaked, her voice barely audible. She lowered her eyes to the ground.
Kai moved to kneel beside Finn, bringing the lantern along with him. The girl’s skin shimmered in the light. It took Finn a moment to realize it wasn’t skin at all, but scales.
“Is she a Merrow?” Kai whispered, gazing at the girl in awe.
Finn nodded. “I think so. They live in rivers and ponds, don’t they?”
“Yes,” Kai replied, “and don’t they also entrance humans, much like the Sirens?”
Finn took a moment to scowl at him, then turned back to the girl. She was only a child, not some dangerous Siren. “Where are your parents?” she asked softly.
The girl shrugged. “We came in from the river to hide from the Dair, but I think my parents were taken. I’ve been down here a while. There’s lots of salty fish in that barrel over there.” She pointed to a nearby receptacle that seemed mostly empty.
“The Dair?” Finn questioned, forcing her voice to remain even. She knew others of her kind had returned to the land along with her, but what could they possibly want with the Merrows?
The girl nodded. As if reading Finn’s thoughts, she answered, “The Dair control the earth. The Faie are the earth. We cannot resist them.”
“What do the Dair want?” Finn pleaded. She didn’t want to scare the child into going quiet, but she could sense she was close to the answers she desperately wanted.
The girl shook her head. “I don’t know. No one knows where the Dair came from, why they left, or why they ha
ve returned. We know only that we must fear them.”
The girl tensed at the sound of someone walking across the wooden flooring above. The footfalls stopped somewhere near the cellar stairs, then began to descend.
Finn and Kai both looked over their shoulders to see who approached, and when they looked back, the girl was gone.
Chapter Five
“We need to leave,” Iseult stated, ignoring the slightly stunned expressions on Kai and Finn’s faces. His heart was threatening to leave his throat. If he had not overheard that man . . .
Finn continued to glance at the empty space behind them for some reason, but there was no time for explanations.
“An Fiach is here,” he explained, hoping to get them moving. “They are looking for someone fitting your description,” he looked at Finn, “and yours,” he turned to Kai.
“Me?” Kai asked, slack-jawed. “I haven’t even swindled anyone recently.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he growled. “They outnumber us three to one. We cannot risk remaining in Ainfean tonight. Maarav and the others have already gone to purchase horses. They will meet us on the road.”
Kai sighed. “Let’s go.” He put his hand at the small of Finn’s back to guide her onward.
Iseult resisted the urge to part Kai’s hand from his body. For now, they needed to focus on escaping unseen.
He followed the pair back toward the stairs, then grabbed Kai’s arm before he could follow Finn up. “The bar mistress suggested you would guide us out the back entrance.”
“Yes,” he replied simply, “but we need to fetch Naoki first.”
Iseult took a steadying breath, then followed Kai up the stairs. He’d forgotten about the dragon. An unfortunate complication when their objective was stealth.
He reached the landing to find Finn already in a room across the hall, trying to calm the frantic dragon down enough to bundle her in a cloak. It wasn’t going well. Kai moved to help her, and got a talon across his palm.
“Try to be calm,” Iseult instructed as he approached. “It will soothe her in turn.” He imagined the same principles would apply to dragons as horses. They could sense their master’s moods. If you wanted a calm, obedient horse, you had to be calm and in control . . . qualities with which Iseult rarely struggled.
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