by Imogen Sera
“I’m Maggie,” she offered.
“Hilda,” the woman said. She looked at Maggie up and down, taking in her filthy dress and unwashed hair. “So Maggie, are you running from something or to something?”
“To,” she answered right away, “and from. Both, I suppose.”
“What are you running from?”
Maggie paused. There was really no reason to lie to Hilda, this woman who’d helped her unquestioningly. “My husband,” she said finally.
“Unhappy marriage? Fallen for someone else?”
Maggie shrugged. “Both, again. It’s complicated.”
Hilda raised her eyebrows, and Maggie ignored it for a minute to take a long DRINK of ale. She began to tell the woman about her marriage, and before she knew it she’d launched into a detailed explanation of every event that had led to her coming here. She told her about being married at twelve, and Bradley’s frustrations with her, and about how she’d had to endure it for the sake of her mother. She told her about how she’d learned that the marriage had never been valid in the first place. She told her about Caelian, too, leaving out details about what he was, but thoroughly describing who he was. She told her about their letters, and how he’d stopped writing so abruptly, and that she was terrified of what could have happened to him. She told her about her decision to leave, and how she’d left her mother behind, and how she worried so much for her that it was painful to even think about.
“Wow,” breathed Hilda, when Maggie had lapsed into silence for a few moments.
It had felt good to get off of her chest. She felt lighter, somehow, despite the strange look the tall woman was giving her.
“First of all,” Hilda said, “does this Caelian have a brother?”
Maggie giggled at that, her tension gone. “Five!” she said, nodding suggestively.
“Perfect, I’ll take them all.” said Hilda, grinning. Her face grew gentler. “I want to help you. Stay here tonight, we’ll get you fed and put you in one of the rooms upstairs. I can get you a map to try to figure out where you’re going, and some supplies to take with you when you go.”
Maggie shook her head. “That’s too much, Hilda, I told you I can’t pay.”
Hilda looked her over thoughtfully. “If you want to pay, then when you find him, come back here and tell me what happened. I want to know how this turns out. You can pay me back then, if you think it’s necessary.”
“You’re wonderful, but why are you being so kind to me?” she asked.
Hilda paused. “I’ve been hurt too,” she said. “In a different way. But I wish there had been someone there to help me when I was picking up the pieces.”
Maggie nodded. Hilda rose then and went back behind the bar, busying herself. Maggie finished her second bowl of dinner and polished off her beer, her stomach protesting at the sudden influx of food. She tried to ignore it the best she could.
She stood after a few minutes of staring into the fireplace, and Hilda ushered her up the back stairs, into a tiny, pleasant room. There was a small bed piled high with blankets and a single wooden chair as the only pieces of furniture.
“There’s no fire in here,” Hilda said apologetically, “but it’s not too bad with the blankets. Lock yourself in if it makes you comfortable. Sleep as long as you need, Maggie.”
The comfort of the small room overwhelmed her, and Maggie’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Thank you,” she said, and before she knew what she was doing she hugged the much taller woman, tightly. “You don’t know what this means to me.”
Hilda patted her arm awkwardly, and Maggie released her. The tall woman left the room then, and Maggie wondered at the multiple bolts on the door, but fastened them all. She didn’t even change out of her filthy dress before collapsing into bed, exhaustion overwhelming her.
Her dreams were tinged in blue.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
She woke late the next morning, the sun nearly overhead, but for the first time in a week she wasn’t worried about making good time. She needed to recover from the toll her journey had taken on her, and she knew that without resting she would be significantly more likely to fall further behind.
She’d dreamed of Caelian, and in her dream he was close. He’d been watching her, from afar, and no matter how she’d tried to reach him, he’d stayed away. It had been a strangely comforting dream, but she wasn’t quite sure why she found it so. She only knew that when she’d awakened she’d been full of confidence about his wellbeing. She’d felt him.
When she found Hilda the woman ushered her into a private bathroom with a small, cold tub waiting for her. Nothing had ever felt so nice, she thought as she shivered, scrubbing the grime from her skin and combing the tangles from her hair. Hilda had disappeared with her gown, promising to wash it, and had returned to deposit a pair of soft leather leggings and a white shirt inside the door. Maggie pulled them onto her clean body, and although the pants were a bit long, once she rolled them up everything fit surprisingly well.
Hilda directed her to a place nearby that she could exchange her poor horse for a rested one, and instructed her to mention Hilda’s name. The man there was happy to do it, and Maggie felt a surprising pang at saying goodbye to her old mare. It had been her only companion since she’d left.
She returned to the tavern afterward, washed, dressed in clean clothes, and with a full belly. Confidence in her mission overwhelmed her, a pleasant change from the dreary hopelessness that had consumed her before.
She would find Caelian, she knew. He had to be alive. If they were a part of each other’s soul, then she would know if something terrible had befallen him. He was there in her heart, still, and she would look for him until that part was full with him again.
Hilda passed her a satchel while Maggie protested halfheartedly. She hugged the tall woman again, promising to return with Caelian.
“One of his brothers, too, if you can help it,” Hilda said, laughing.
Maggie left with renewed spirits. It was already afternoon and she wouldn’t ride far today, but the thought didn’t worry her. There was no hurry anymore. She had felt him, and she knew that whenever she found him he would be safe and waiting for her.
She looked through the satchel as she rode, and found her dress, folded neatly, with a bar of soap wrapped in a scrap of fabric. There a loaf of bread, a huge block of cheese, and several small meat pies. There were three boiled eggs that Maggie ate for dinner, not wanting to let them spoil. She smiled at her new friend’s thoughtfulness, and then her eyes widened at a glint of silver. Hidden underneath the food were four silver pieces, enough to pay for a week’s worth of rooms.
She rode happily until well after nightfall, and then purchased a bed for the night in a small village. She shrugged off disappointment when no one there had heard of Arnes, but continued on her way the next morning, hopes still high.
A town she came across in the mid-afternoon felt strange. There was an odd sort of other-ness to it, and she tried to ignore the way the hair on her arms stood up as she rode by. The sun seemed to play tricks on her eyes; the buildings were shimmering oddly in and out of focus.
She sped up her horse, trying and failing to not focus on her odd surroundings. There wasn’t a soul in sight, and the leaves didn’t even rustle with sound. She stopped abruptly, her horse rising up, when an old stooped man was suddenly blocking her path.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped, her hand on her chest, “I didn’t see you.”
“Obviously,” the man grumbled up at her. “You’re going the wrong way,” he added oddly.
“Excuse me?” she said.
“Check your map, Maggie,” he said.
She pulled it from her bag. “What about my map?” she asked, looking down, but he was gone.
So was the strangeness. The town appeared just as it had, but the shimmering was no longer, and slowly the sounds of people talking and the rustling of leaves returned. She saw a man walk into view, and then more people, and a minute later it was as if
nothing had ever happened. She earned some odd looks, sitting still on her horse in the middle of the road, map in hand and jaw hanging open, but she couldn’t bring herself to worry about it.
She found a small place to eat, and slid into a table in the corner of the room, needing some time to think about what had happened. Perhaps she’d fallen asleep as she rode, or maybe some of the food she’d eaten had spoiled. She sighed and reached into her bag, spreading the now familiar map over the table, studying it as she’d been doing almost constantly over the last two days.
She looked over it as she ate her dinner, her breathing finally even again after her strange encounter. “Check your map,” the man had said, but she’d checked it constantly and was no closer to discovering where she would find Arnes. A small road caught her attention, one she’d never noticed before, and as she leaned closer to examine it in the dim light of the bar she could see it had a strange shimmering quality, similar to how the whole town had looked when she’d first arrived.
She was sure the road hadn’t been there before, and she decided at once to find it and follow it. If she was as hopelessly lost as the strange old man had said, then it couldn’t get much worse. It would mean she’d been going totally the wrong direction for a few days, which was frustrating, but she was resolved to keep going until she found Caelian.
It was three days before she found the new road, which she’d outlined carefully on her map, afraid it would disappear again. The days passed quickly, now that she had at least an idea of where she was going. As the road wandered northward, the towns along it became more sparse. She followed it for a day, that way, and that night ended up needing to camp by the roadside. The next day there were no towns at all, not a single sign of life, and she became thankful for the small stock of food and water that she’d replenished in her satchel. She felt another surge of gratitude for Hilda and her unquestioning kindness.
On her second day along the deserted road, shortly before the sun peaked in the sky, the world around her seemed to change. In front of her, the grass looked more green, the sky more brilliant. More than that, everything was shimmering. Not everything, she realized, as she looked around, just the world in front of her. Behind her was as it had ever been.
She took a deep breath and surged forward, keeping her nervous horse steady beneath her. She felt dizzy as she rode, but a minute later it had passed, and the world had returned to normal. She glanced behind her and saw the shimmer was there now. She stayed on the road which was more like a rough stone path, by then, and as she looked ahead she knew that she’d arrived in Arnes.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Maggie stuck to the road, not knowing where else she might go, hoping she would eventually run into someone friendly who might guide her on her way. By early afternoon she could see a large structure in the distance, turrets stretching into the sky, and above it she could see large creatures with flapping wings. She shuddered at the sight, hoping she was small and unnoticeable enough to not become anyone’s lunch, but she rode on all the same. She could do nothing else.
It was a palace, she could see as she came closer. It was huge and white, with gold gleaming all over, surrounded by gardens that stretched as far as she could see.
Maggie gaped up at the towering turrets, stretching so high that they seemed to disappear into the clouds. Massive window-like holes covered the nearest tower, and she puzzled over them a minute before witnessing a great black dragon swoop into one, one wing flapping strangely, before disappearing entirely from view. She watched for a minute to see it come out a different window, but she didn’t see the beast again.
There was a woman seated near a fountain, her hand shielding her eyes as she looked up at where the dragon had disappeared. She looked down after a minute and noticed Maggie as she was gawking at her surroundings. Maggie watched nervously as she approached, and waved awkwardly once she was close.
“I don’t know you,” the woman said. She was very pretty up close, despite a severe face; tall and slender with chin length black hair.
Maggie froze, trying to form a concise explanation of why she was there.
“Wait,” said the woman, studying her. “I do know you. Margaret?”
Maggie raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yes. Maggie. Do I know you?”
The woman smiled then and it transformed her face into something warmer. “I suppose you wouldn’t. I’m Mira. I helped care for you at Dragongrove.”
“You’re… human, then?” Maggie asked quietly.
Mira laughed at that. “All of the women here are, and there are more every day, it seems.”
Maggie’s heart gave a painful lurch at that, though she wasn’t sure why.
“Can I help you find something?” Mira prompted after a minute, eyeing her bag and filthy gown.
“Caelian?” she asked, before she could stop herself. “Is he here? Is he alright?”
“I believe he’s well, now. I’m not sure if he’s here,” she said. “He’s been keeping to himself. No one here tells me anything.” Her gaze flicked over to where the black dragon had disappeared.
“Do you know where I’d find him?” Maggie asked, unable to contain the tremor in her voice.
“I’ll help you find someone who will know,” said Mira, and then linked her arm with Maggie and guided her toward the palace entrance.
They made their way through the gardens, Mira occasionally glancing skyward, as Maggie’s heart beat nearly out of her chest. To be so close after so long, she wanted to dart inside and yell his name like a madwoman. There was something that she didn’t understand, though. If he was set up here, comfortably, then why hadn’t he written to her once? Perhaps he was over his infatuation with her. Her chest squeezed painfully at the thought and she pushed it from her mind. She couldn’t afford doubt now.
They entered through massive doors, obviously built to accommodate a dragon. Maggie couldn’t help but gape up at the room they entered into, many stories tall and walls covered from top to bottom in murals. They passed a tiny woman with short blonde hair who made a beeline for them, curiosity plain on her face, but Mira stopped her from speaking with a sharp shake of her head.
“Olive, do you know where Lily is?” Mira asked.
The short woman frowned, then nodded. “The queen’s rooms, I think.”
Mira nodded and then continued to pull Maggie along with her. “Lily was also at Dragongrove, for a much longer time than I was.” she explained. “She knows everything that happens around here. She’ll know where Caelian is.”
“The queen is… Ingrid?”
Mira nodded. “Did you meet her?”
“Briefly, just after I recovered.”
“She’ll be pleased to see you,” Mira said. “Although she’s not here right now. The whole court is gone, except us humans. They’re off doing something that I’m sure Lily knows all about. They’ll be back this evening, I believe.”
They climbed four flights of stairs together, and at the top Maggie was sweating and out of breath. Mira was as composed as ever, all grace and effortlessness. They crossed paths with someone who could only be a dragon shifter. He towered over the both of them, with a massive chest and arms clearly visible under his clothing. He had black hair hanging loosely to his shoulders, and when he passed them he did a double take.
“Maggie?” he asked.
Her eyes widened and she nodded.
“I’m going to find Caelian. He’s away from the palace right now.”
“Is that a good idea?” Mira interjected, seeming reluctant. “You’re still—”
He interrupted her with a sneer. “Some of us understand the importance of a mate.”
Mira stiffened, her arm still locked with Maggie’s. “Fuck you, Tarquin,” she said simply, then turned and guided Maggie away. They followed down a long hallway with dozens of portraits lining the walls.
“I guess that answers that question,” said Mira, not acknowledging her outburst. “Caelian’s not here, but he’ll be
back soon.”
Maggie’s heart fluttered in her chest. Soon.
“You look exhausted,” Mira said, glancing over at her. “I don’t really want to subject you to Lily if I don’t have to, and we know where Caelian is now. Would you like to get some rest?”
Maggie looked at her, surprised. “That would be nice,” she admitted.
“The chambers attached to the queen’s apartments are all claimed,” said Mira, thinking aloud, “but I’m sure there’s a spare room somewhere.” She looked up then and smiled impishly at Maggie. “I know just where to put you.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Caelian had searched all along the route from Haverbrook to Arnes, and had seen absolutely no sign of Maggie. He’d stopped in each town, asking inside every establishment for a woman, alone, with yellow wild hair, but he’d heard nothing. Despair began to overtake him, and he’s flown home several times to beg Morwich, the old human mage, to assist him in finding her. The stubborn old man had waved him off, muttering vaguely, and Caelian had left with no idea of whether he would help or not.