In the Garden of Gold & Stone

by Ryan Muree

  “What you did was remarkable. It was a miracle. I couldn’t believe it. You—” He stopped and sighed.

  She needed him that badly to risk her own life? She had said they needed him to help her species. Perhaps she was just that desperate, willing to die to save him because she wanted to let her sisters have the chance to live.

  Of course she did. He’d do the same for his brother. He had done it, several times, and he’d do it again. “You saved me because I really am the only choice you have for this ceremony with the queen, aren’t I?”

  Her gaze darted around the room with a lingering silence. “Yes,” she said.

  He nodded.

  Another silence between them swelled until he cleared his throat. “So what now? Do you take me back down to my cell? String me up?”

  She bit her lip and slowly lifted herself to her elbows. He adjusted pillows for her to sit up easier. “Can you handle the cell one more night? I’ll go talk to Brynn. I’ll get her to approve moving you to a better room. A room you deserve until the ceremony.”

  A room he deserved. “You think your queen will still let me free after the ceremony? After I did all this?”

  She shrugged. “Honestly? It’s too important that she doesn’t find out. I’ll handle it, and I’ll handle Drathella. I’m just not really sure what’s involved in caring for a human other than the basics.”

  He snickered. “You at least thought of water. Do I get to eat anything?”

  Her cheeks flushed again. “I hadn’t even thought of food. We only need to eat once… a week.” She swallowed, trying to hide her smile.

  “Once a week?” That sounded horrible. “How long is it until the ceremony?”

  “A few weeks.”

  His eyes bulged. “Well, yes, please. I’d like some food at some point. Preferably more often than once a week.” He couldn’t fight the grin reaching the corners of his mouth.

  She even laughed. A light bubbly laugh that made his smile widen. “Sorry, it’s just, we… never mind.”

  “As long as you don’t eat me, I’m fine.”

  She groaned and tossed a pillow at his head. “We don’t eat people!”

  “Maybe not you, but Drathella?” He lifted an eyebrow.

  She giggled again, and his heart raced a little. It felt good making her laugh.

  “You are definitely different from your sisters.”

  Her smile slowly faded, the light dimming from her eyes. “Just promise me one thing, and actually keep it this time. I know you don’t agree with our punishment for the crime, but we’re not beasts. Please just…” She took a deep breath. “We’re definitely not slitherskins, and we’re not beasts. Not even Drathella. We’re just… Tialans. Please, understand that.” Her deep, aquamarine eyes were reaching out to him, willing him to truly hear her.

  And he did. He understood. Beasts reduced them, all of them, to less than whatever they were. His brother had committed the crime, he willingly took his place, and she had risked her life to save him. He had treated pets with more respect.

  “I understand.”

  “And I’ll do the same.”

  He pointed to his chest. “You thought I was a bea—uh, a terrible creature?”

  She bit her lip. “Well, we’re told of your wars and enslavements and how you slaughter people…”

  He closed his eyes and nodded.

  “But I’ll do the same. I won’t assume the worst. You’re nothing like I expected either.”

  Here he had been screaming about the beasts locking him up, and she’d thought he had been one all along.

  He slapped his hands on his knees and stood up. “Do I get myself down there into my cell and lock myself in or…?”

  She smiled and slid her legs to the edge of the bed. “I can walk, if you help me.” He took her soft hand as she slowly rose. “I’m just wobbly, is all.”

  He held out his elbow and let her lead him back to his cell.

  CHAPTER 7

  After a night and a full day of much-needed rest, Nida darted through the halls for Brynn’s chambers. She wouldn’t make Rowec wait any longer. He was only back in that cell because he’d cared enough to get her back to her sisters for help.

  He had smiled. Laughed, even. He had taken her hand, helped her with her walking, carried her all the way back to the temple. He had saved her. He was… nothing like the stories.

  Maybe Ascara was right. Maybe there were more than just a few good humans.

  The heat rushed up her spine. His arm was strong with taut muscle over his forearm. But it had been gentle, warm.

  She picked up her pace. He’d seemed to have liked her human-ness, and he hadn’t cringed when he’d touched her. That thought made the whole temple a little warmer despite the night air.

  She skirted past sisters in the hallways, dipping her head in a slight greeting.

  Hopefully, Ascara was back in the kitchens, still cleaning up after dinner the night before. It usually took a couple days, and she was so grateful it wasn’t her scheduled meal to help with.

  But as per usual, Ascara had brought Nida some paratil juice and a few durlo seeds to help her recover. She’d have to make sure they got together later to talk. She wanted all the details of Rowec bringing her back and what was said. She definitely wanted to get Ascara’s opinion of him. They had a lot of talking to do.

  She moved through the temple, past the dining hall, and up to the third floor without running into Ascara or Drathella.

  She nodded to the two guards standing outside Brynn’s room and dipped between the two sheer crimson curtains at the doorway.

  “Brynn—”

  A clank of metal on stone followed by a curse from her sister pulled her toward the back of the room. The queen’s quarters had grown more disheveled these last few weeks. Lacy shawls and shimmery gowns were strewn across the floor alongside empty goblets. More than usual.

  “Why do I even bother?”

  “Brynn?” Nida followed the sound all the way into her sister’s dressing room.

  Brynn sat at her vanity, her robe half-off her shoulders and her scarlet hair unbraided and unkempt. She was fussing with small trinkets, opening and closing them in a hurry, smearing whatever lotions she had found on her shoulders and neck.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Brynn gasped. “Nida. Did you hear? The human, he came back!”

  How had she known he had left? Drathella, of course.

  She bit her lip and nodded. “Rowec. His name is Rowec.”

  “But isn’t it wonderful? Can you believe he had a change of heart and came back to help with the hatching of our sisters? To meet me? He apologized for everything. Not only did he take the place of his brother’s misdeeds, but he escaped and came back! Hah! He’s perfect!” She scattered several tiny glass bottles and cursed again.

  Nida held her breath. Had they truly averted catastrophe? Was this all going to work out? “You saw him?”

  “Oh, Great Tial, no. Are you kidding? Ascara told me everything.”

  That could have gone horribly wrong, but somehow Ascara pulled it off. Nida would have to thank her for that later. “But what’s wrong? Why do you look so flustered?”

  “What’s wrong? Do you see me? I look hideous!” Brynn shrilled.

  Some of her sisters were known to be a bit vain when it came for their time to molt, but Brynn had never minded before. A true queen, she had always handled it with grace, never batting an eye at what was inevitable.

  “You look fine. You look like you just woke up, is all.”

  Brynn clicked her tongue. “But I didn’t. I’ve been up for hours. Pacing and worrying—”

  “About what?”

  “About what?” Brynn shrieked. “What do you mean ‘About what?’”

  “Well—”

  “I’m still molting, meanwhile my most generous mate thinks we look ghastly and horrid. And can you blame him?” Brynn cried, eying her skin and green scales in the mirror.

  What did that
matter? “But like you said, Rowec came back. He’s willing to help. I’m not sure it matters to him, and besides, I don’t see any—”

  “Here and here!” Brynn pointed to two small spots nearly ready to pull off from the scales at her neck. “He’s right! It is hideous!” She threw her head down to the vanity and sobbed. Her strewn makeup and jewelry jingled and bounced with her melodramatics.

  “Brynn, I don’t think that’s what has him saying we’re hideous…”

  “What do you mean?” Brynn sat up immediately, tears streaming down her strong cheek bones.

  She reached for a brush and began running it through Brynn’s hair. “Well, to humans we’re very close to… to…”

  “Slitherskins.” Brynn practically growled.

  “Well—”

  “We’re nothing like that! They crawl around on their bellies in the brush. No legs, no arms, no hair. They have forked tongues!” Brynn shuddered. “What similarities could there possibly be?”

  She nodded. “Right, well, the point is we’re still pretty different to them.”

  “But I’m nice.”

  “And he doesn’t know that because you’ve been hiding away in here since he was captured.” She forced the brush through a matted piece of Brynn’s hair.

  Brynn whined. “I had no choice. I can’t let him see me like this.”

  “No, but you do need to get yourself together and see him soon. I also…” She stopped working through her sister’s hair.

  Keep him happy and feeling less like a prisoner, and he’ll behave. If he behaves, Brynn will accept him. Her sisters will be born. She took a deep breath.

  Brynn tilted her head and glanced back at her in the mirror. “What is it, Nida, dear? What’s wrong?”

  “I just want to move him out of the cell—”

  “But—”

  “Like you said, he seems to want to help us, so I think he deserves better. And he showed that he’s willing to come back. I don’t think he’ll leave again if we treat him with respect.”

  Brynn nodded. “You’re so smart. Drathella wanted to leave him in the dungeon. I thought that was a terrible idea. You know our last queen came to love her mate. Perhaps there’s still time for us. I want him to see me for the majestic creature I can be.”

  Nida began braiding her sister’s long red strands. “He’ll be hungry, too. He needs some food. I think humans eat more often than we do. He said so at least.”

  Brynn nodded repeatedly. “Of course. Of course. How silly of us.” Her hand caught Nida’s. “You’ve been caring for him, and I’m so happy for it. You have a kind heart, Nida. If he’s at all good, like the last mate and unlike his treacherous villagers, he should be able to see that in you. And if not, then we’ll find another male!”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. That’s what she had been afraid of. “I-I don’t think you have any time left to be picky, Brynn. The hatching is just in a few weeks—”

  “I’m sure he’ll come to love us soon. You know, your heart is why I gave you the hatchery to look over. You’re still Tialan to me.” Brynn patted her hand.

  She had come to expect the underhanded insults Brynn gave her. Mostly because they were always softer than Drathella's, but also because Brynn genuinely meant well. Brynn loved her, not nearly as much as Ascara, but more than Drathella. She respected her, too, which was why Nida had to be honest.

  “Oh! You’re in the hatchery all the time,” Brynn continued. “Give him the room just off the hatchery. That should be nice enough.”

  One more thing. “Drathella needs to leave him alone, too. She’s the reason he escaped. She taunted him, and he used it against her. I fear that if she keeps coming around him—”

  “He’ll hate us even more and succeed next time he tries to run,” Brynn whispered to herself. “Fine, I’ll let Drathella know.”

  She tied off the braid in Brynn’s hair. “And you’ll see him soon? He’s been waiting to meet you. He wants assurances about the ceremony.”

  Brynn stood and made for her evening robes. “Yes, soon.”

  “Let him get to know you,” she said.

  Brynn paced the room, nibbling on one claw.

  “I can’t promise he’ll fall in love with you, but at least being friends would be nice. Maybe it would improve relationships between us and humans—”

  “What about a private dinner? On the terrace?” Brynn’s eyes lit up.

  Brynn hadn’t been listening. Not really.

  “Humans have private dinners, don’t they?” Brynn continued. “Private meetings for romantic opportunities? What a wonderful idea!”

  Wonderful? No, it was a horrible idea. He’d never go for that.

  She circled Brynn and helped her dress into an emerald robe. “I don’t think that’s right—”

  “What do you mean? It’s perfect. I’ll set up a time for my future human mate. It’ll be glorious. On the terrace we can see the stars. Humans like stars, right?”

  This would be a disaster. This wasn’t what she’d meant when she’d told Brynn to meet with him. “Brynn, I don’t think he’d be interested in something like that—”

  “Not interested in getting to know his future mate? How could that be? Look at me. You’ve got me all beautiful again. My hair is neatly braided, my robe and jewels look exquisite—”

  Brynn wasn’t understanding, and if she walked into this “private dinner” with the wrong expectations of Rowec and what he wanted to discuss, then it could end up worse.

  “Brynn, he wants to help. Don’t you think it’s a little soon to push him—”

  “All right, fine!” Brynn waved one hand at her. “Don’t worry. I won’t do it yet. I’ll think about it.” Brynn smiled, and Nida forced a grin in return.

  “Sister!” Drathella burst into the room, chest heaving in deep breaths. Her murderous glare immediately fell on Nida.

  Nida’s stomach turned. No matter what Drathella would say, she’d stand her ground. His escape had been Drathella’s fault, not hers.

  “Drathella, what is wrong with you?” Brynn’s clawed fingers went to her chest. “You nearly startled the hair off my scalp.”

  “Forgive me, queen—”

  Queen? Nida snorted. What happened to ‘sister’?

  “—But Nida is working with the human.” Drathella licked her lips.

  Nida’s heart sank. Her insides twisted into knots. What angle was Drathella playing? She swallowed. “What are you talking about?”

  “He struck me!” Drathella shouted. “And she just stood there. She helped him run into the jungle and escape. He’s long gone!”

  “I didn’t just stand there!” Nida yelled back. “He only got out because you were the stupid one to go inside. Anyone can tell in two seconds that he’s a fighter.”

  “So, you’ve been looking at him closely, huh? You were even touching skin when I walked in on you.”

  Brynn gasped.

  This looks bad. She wasn’t working with Rowec, and she wasn’t stealing her sister’s mate, or whatever else Brynn was imagining.

  “It was a handshake. He called it a handshake. It was me promising that if he at least met the queen to discuss helping us, I’d try to get him a better room, I—”

  “Nida, stop,” Brynn scolded, more like an older sister than a queen. “Drathella, why are you bringing this to me now? He’s already returned.”

  The color drained from Drathella’s face. If the blue had drained from her scales, too, Nida would’ve laughed.

  “He has?”

  “Yes, he returned of his own free will. He wants to help.”

  “He does?” Drathella squeaked.

  “Yes, but I can’t have you taunting him. Don’t go near him again, or you’ll have kitchen duty for the next six months, understand?”

  Drathella crossed her arms and pouted. “You’re just going to ignore that our mutant sister is getting close to the criminal?”

  “He’s not a criminal!” Nida shouted.

  A s
neer spread across Drathella’s face.

  “That’s enough.” Brynn folded her hands in front of her. “I will think on what we discussed earlier, Nida—”

  Drathella roared.

  “And, Drathella, mind your own business. I’ve changed my mind. Get to work in the kitchens, now. You’ll have it for the rest of the month.”