“Are you sure you’re rid of her?” Reynard asked, his eyebrow raised doubtfully.
“She thinks I’m a drunkard, so I’m pretty sure she won’t be back,” the older man chortled. “I guess all that wine I drank was good for something.”
Shaking her head and hiding a faint smile, Ami left the two men and crossed to her room. There on her table sat Bally’s clothes, neatly folded. Relieved to see them, she lifted the shirt to ensure it was in good condition, then touched her sweater fondly. Recalling the small siren Rey had carried wrapped within it, her heart ached. What would they do if she didn’t make it?
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the dark mood aside. Lin had to get better. There was no other option she could accept, and she would make the best of their situation until the newest member of their party was well enough to travel and they could flee.
Looking down at her dress, she knew she would continue to wear it, despite the return of her other garments. She didn’t want to create an issue with the elves by disrespecting their customs, but at least she had the outfit she would don when they left that beautifully wretched place.
Refolding the items, she left them on her table. Returning to the central location, she discovered that the Mate had exited in pursuit of a fresh conquest, and Rey sat alone in one of the chairs, looking forlorn. Standing next to him, she ran her fingers lightly over his hair to toy with the loose ringlets that hung down to cover his face. “We should go for a walk,” she announced quietly.
“Thanks,” he grinned up at her, his cheeks flushed at her casual caress. “I know you’re trying to cheer me up.”
“Absolutely, I am,” she replied, kneeling beside him and leaning against the armrest. “We’re friends, aren’t we?” Staring into his hazel eyes, she could see a darkness within them, almost brooding. Something troubled him deeply, and it would take a bit of cunning to discern what.
“Always,” he agreed, patting the back of her hands and producing a smile. Standing, his motions stiff, he indicated the exit with a wave of his hand. “After you.”
Smiling up at him, she led the way, but at the top of the stone passage, she paused, the hesitation clear on her delicate features. “You go first. I insist,” she stated breathily, wafting a hand at them as casually as she could muster.
“Are you afraid of the stairs?” he asked with a laugh, taking a few steps ahead of her.
“No, just the fall,” she replied with a giggle as he led the way down and she followed, trailing the wall with the tips of her fingers to keep it close.
Descending single file with Reynard in front, Ami watched the back of the man before her. He slouched, dragging his feet, and she could see the tiredness in his thin frame. Perhaps he is aware of our precarious position and equally unwilling to speak of it, she mused. If he were her ally, convincing the others would be considerably easier when the time came, and that thought pleased her.
Reaching the bottom, her resolve to cheer him doubled. Slipping her fingers into his, she grasped him firmly. Guiding him down the path, away from the palace, her long gown floated around her ankles as she walked beside him, lightening her mood. A small grin reached her lips, and she felt genuinely at peace in his company.
Elves came and went, but no words passed between them as they sauntered along. Swinging their hands gently, Amicia enjoyed the comfortable silence, and a large smile covered her face when they made the last turn and entered a magical garden attached to the one containing the bath springs.
“What is this place?” Rey gasped, sensing a change in the air as they entered through a gap between two large hedges. About ten feet in height, the wall of greenery shielded the plot from the path, effectively ensuring their visit there would be private to all but those in the towers looking down.
“This is part of the Sacred Gardens of Jerranyth,” she explained, releasing him as he pulled ahead of her. His eager excitement visible, he skipped from plant to plant, inspecting the various blooms.
“They’re like the flowers near the sirens’ waterfall,” he observed.
“Yes, very similar. They hold an ethereal quality, and their nectar is precious to the elves.”
“Sounds ominous,” Reynard laughed anxiously. “Ghost flowers. Haunted… or cursed.”
“Are you afraid of the queen?” Eyeing him warily, Ami dared to ask at his interpretation of her meaning.
Turning to look at her, Rey’s lips puckered as he formulated a response. However, before he could speak, their moment was interrupted by the maid who cared for Oldrilin, who burst through the opening in the shrubs and jogged towards them.
“My lady,” the girl gasped, out of breath from her quickened pace to get there. “The siren, Oldrilin. She is awake and has asked for you to visit her bedside.”
“Oh my God!” Amicia squealed, grasping Rey’s arm and squeezing it with joy, “we’ll discuss it later, love! Lin is awake and asking for us!”
The announcement scattered his thoughts, and he fell into step beside her as they left the enchanted space. Their pace much faster on the return trip, they passed their tower and then the fountain on the way to the infirmary, but no elf stood guard to block them from entering.
Instead, they were shown to the small room that the mermaid had been assigned without any kind of hassle. Her bed was empty when they entered, giving them pause until they noticed that the tiny creature sat in a large chair, a cup of warm liquid surrounded by her hands as she sipped it.
“Oldrilin!” Rey shouted, then remembered his manners and lowered his voice, “I’m so happy you’re looking so well!”
“Rey Daye,” she replied, smiling up at him.
Flanking her, the couple each took a side and knelt next to her, placing her slightly above them on the high-backed seat. Lifting her merdoe out of it’s hiding place, Ami pulled on the string at the back of her neck to free it. Holding it out to Rey in her open left palm, she waited for him to place his right across it, as they had done many times before.
“Rey Daye,” the siren repeated once he could understand her. “How good of you to see me here.”
“Aye,” he nodded vigorously, “you said the elvish medicine was excellent, and indeed it has proven so.”
Her wide blue orbs staring at him, the mermaid’s expression remained tense, causing Ami’s heart to beat faster. “Lin, is something wrong?” she asked, placing her free right hand on her tiny shoulder.
Gazing past them, Oldrilin did not reply, instead taking a moment to assess their surroundings. Then, in a much quieter voice, she said, “Their power to heal is great, but no strangers are welcomed in the halls of the elves. No visitors darken their great galleries.”
“But we were welcomed,” Rey countered, matching her whisper. “They have given us food, clothes,” he indicated his companion’s fine gown, “even a suite to share while we are here.”
Glaring at him, the mermaid did not reply. Instead, she drank from her bowl of broth. Finishing it off, she pushed it towards Ami, who took it from her, breaking the connection with Rey as she stood. Tentatively placing the dish on a small table, she once again offered the man her palm when he had risen beside her.
“Take me to your suite,” Oldrilin commanded once he had accepted the appendage. “Words we must share, but only for our ears.”
Nodding, he didn’t argue. Instead, he dropped the connection and pulled the blanket from the bed and offered it to her. “You need to stay warm, and it’s a long way for your little weak legs. I’ll carry you.”
Her mouth open, Lin prepared to argue her ability, but Ami cut her off, “Oldrilin, Rey has carried you for days, when you were wrapped in his arms as safely as he could keep you. Trust him to spirit you to our rooms, and we will prepare a place there for you to rest.”
“You cannot take her out so soon!” the maid interjected, presenting herself at the door, where she had been listening from the other side of the portal.
“Nonsense,” Amicia replied. “She is on her way to recov
ery, and we wish to take her as she belongs with us,” she stated firmly, glaring at the girl while lowering her chin angrily. “Do not trouble yourself. She will be well cared for.”
Her face a pasty white, the girl stammered, “I have been charged with her care and healing. Please, do not remove her from me.”
“I’m afraid I must,” Ami insisted, glancing around to ensure they would leave nothing of importance behind.
Rey had already wrapped the tiny body in the bedding and hoisted her to rest against his chest. Bulkier than Ami’s sweater had been, he maneuvered to get the right hold before he announced, “We’re ready. Thank you for seeing to her,” he said to the maid with a curt nod before he marched out of the room with Ami close behind.
Out on the path, the couple scurried along. The siren remained hidden inside his comforting arms, but those that they passed turned and stared after them, as if well aware of what he carried.
“Rey,” Ami gasped once they had reached the stairs. Looking up at them, she scowled. “I’m growing rather tired of this climb.”
“Aye, me too,” he agreed, mounting them at the same time, “but we can’t leave, and this is where we must stay.”
Following, she felt relieved that at least one of her companions seemed to be aware of their plight. “Bally and the Mate seem perfectly happy here,” she informed him when they had reached the top. “They aren’t going to want to leave.”
Unwrapped, Oldrilin acquired her balance as Rey knelt before her. “Leave we must,” she asserted once the couple had again joined hands across the magical shell.
Nodding, Rey agreed, “We understand. But it will take time to convince the others.”
Smiling, Ami added, “Yes, a few days I’m sure. We should keep this between the three of us until we are ready to make our claim and try for our escape.” Hearing noises echo up the tower, her pleasant expression disappeared. “I hope that isn’t Piers back with another girl already.”
Noting the noise as well, Rey whispered, “Aye, we’re not alone. Perhaps it is the caretaker in the rooms below.”
“No,” Lin informed him, her crystal blue orbs roving around, taking in the walls and furnishings of their lavish suite. “Someone climbs, I am certain.”
Dropping their connection and moving farther into the room, Ami and Oldrilin took seats before the small fire as Rey added a few logs from the stack next to the hearth. Evening had fallen upon them in their travels back and forth, here and there, and it would be time for dinner soon; another long journey if they could not find a way to avoid it.
When Sadrir appeared at the landing, they pretended surprise at her arrival. “Good evening,” Amicia smiled sweetly, offering Rey her customary hand to include him in the conversation. “Thank you for the return of my clothing.”
“As you wished, my lady,” the elf maid replied with a small curtsy. Seeing the siren relaxing in one of the chairs, her jaw dropped in surprise. “It is time soon for this evening’s feast,” she announced, her voice quavering.
“We would like to be served here tonight,” Ami informed her in an authoritative tone. “And we will need accommodations for our small friend here. Is there perhaps something that can be done for her?”
“Yes, my mistress,” Sadrir bowed again. “I will have dinner brought up and a table set for you here. And a bed can be added to your quarters if you should like.”
“Put it in mine,” Rey corrected. “You can trade it for my table instead.”
Glancing between them, her features puzzled, the girl nodded. “Yes, of course. We will return shortly with all that you require.”
As soon as she disappeared, he began to laugh. “Did you see the look on her face?”
“This whole place gives me chills,” Ami retorted, wiping her brow with her free hand. “No smile is genuine, and every word must be measured.”
“The tongue of the elf is practiced with lies,” Oldrilin informed her.
Rey noted the droop of her small body, its cause unmistakable. “I’m going to put you up in my bed, Lin. And don’t argue. You need a bit of rest, and we will wake you for the meal when it arrives.” Holding up his hand, he indicated the portal to his room, fully expecting her to enter on her own. When she failed to move, he added, “I can carry you if you would rather.”
Her face drawn into a heavy pout, Oldrilin appeared more childlike than ever as she stomped past him and entered the small chamber, pulling the door closed behind her.
Giggling at her coerced departure, Ami observed, “She will be back swimming in the sea in short order, I believe.”
“Aye, if we ever get close to it,” Rey agreed, dropping Ami’s hand and taking to the balcony while they waited for their dinner to be served.
A Queen’s Gift
Clomping up the last few steps to their suite, Bally could hear loud voices, as a debate seemed to be taking place in the common room. Reaching the top, he called loudly, “Is it safe to come up?”
He joked of course, but his three companions understood his trepidation, and Ami replied, “Yes, it is. Don’t be silly.”
“Ah, good,” he laughed, daring to venture in farther with exaggerated steps. “From below, it sounded as if you were having a fight.”
Looking guiltily between the other two, Piers shook his head to rid his dark mood. “We’re eating here tonight,” the older man informed him. “Oldrilin has been carried up from the hospital. She’s asleep in Rey’s room.”
“Oh, I doubt she’s sleeping,” Baldwin laughed, “not with the way you three were carrying on. But, I’m glad she was well enough to be moved so she could join us.”
“Aye,” Piers agreed with a scowl that didn’t match the sentiment, instantly enlightening even the youngest of the group to the reason behind the argument.
“You didn’t want them bringing her here,” he suggested, glancing between the three of them.
“No,” Ami supplied with a click of her tongue. “He doesn’t trust her,” she clipped. She didn’t trust the elves, so they were even on that front, but she hadn’t bothered to mention it at the moment.
“Well, she’s Rey’s friend, and we brought her here,” Bally pointed out with an open palm. “Where else is she going to go?”
Having stated the obvious, the younger man had essentially ended the discussion. Lin had become a part of their group, whether the Mate liked it or not.
“That’s right,” Rey agreed forcefully, “so she’s here and here she will remain until we depart.” His words hung in the air and no one disputed them. After a long silence, they each fell about their business of preparing for their evening meal.
If Sadrir had reservations about providing the group with a dinner in that evening, they were not evident when she arrived to see that their needs were tended to. To the contrary, the couple who managed their tower made a brief appearance, while avoiding all the pleasantries any of them would have expected from polite society. The elf maid gave them orders, and they saw that the group received the utmost care.
A bit stocky, even for a short elf, the man brought in extra wood and stacked it next to the hearth, ensuring the room would be a comfortable temperature. Next, he delivered a service tray filled with dishes, which he placed on the table so that each could dine in comfort. Then he carried in pitchers of water and basins for each of their rooms, as had been provided for Piers previously.
An equally plain specimen, the woman saw to their meal, which consisted of freshly-cooked game meat served with a thick sauce. Bread and slightly boiled vegetables were provided as sides, and a collection of cheeses the group had never before savored were all placed in the center of their large, round table. Finally, an oversized cup of warm broth was provided for the siren.
The meal being ready to be served, two bottles of elvish wine were presented, with gem-encrusted goblets to drink from. The places set, the couple disappeared, and Sadrir inquired, “Will there be anything else, my lady?”
“No, I believe this is everything,”
Amicia replied, happy with the arrangement. “Thank you, Sadrir. It looks lovely.”
“You are welcome, my lady,” the girl replied with a bow as she turned to leave by way of the stairs.
Alone, the group glanced around at one another before Rey excused himself to retrieve their newest member. The other three each selected a comfortable, cushioned chair and began serving their plates. When he returned with the mermaid, Reynard folded a blanket and placed it in the seat so that the smaller woman could reach the table and sit with the others properly, then helped her by lifting her and placing her upon it.
Turning her plate before her, Ami caught a fit of giggles, then laughed out loud. Noticing the glares of the others, she fought to stifle her rude behavior to no avail. “Sorry,” she murmured while trying to catch her breath.
“What’s so funny?” Piers snapped, still angry that he had lost when it came to the siren.
“Nothing,” Ami replied, calmer as she inhaled deeply and blew the air out through her nose. “I was just thinking about being on the ship, cramped in your quarters. Especially that first night, after sitting with Rey the entire day. I didn’t realize then how dear you would all become to me,” she finished in a quiet voice, a tear glistening in her eye.
Her sentiment took the edge off of his rage a bit, and the Mate stared at her flushed cheeks. He glanced at their smallest member, who sat sipping her broth from a spoon. “I’m sorry,” he huffed, directing the comment to the latter. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Oldrilin waved her hand, brushing away the apology and smiling at him across the huge feast. If she held any hard feelings, they were not visible on her small features.
Attempting to lighten the mood, Bally announced, “I’ll have Animir join us for dinner tomorrow if that suits everyone. I would love to introduce him to our siren,” he beamed.
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