“Oh. It is. Completely different, that is. I’m not going to lie. There are some things I miss. Hot showers would be at the top of the list. But now that I can heat water instantly without setting everything else around the tub on fire, I don’t mind so much.”
He chuckled and I elbowed him, knowing he was remembering my mishap with trying to heat water. It had been a good thing I had had the sense to try it outside.
Jasper was thinking the same thing. “I’m just glad you were outside. I don’t think Tara and Ben would have wanted to rebuild their house after just acquiring it.”
“I mean really, I was never the kind of person to want much, or do much. I had a few good friends, I went to school, and I rode. Now that I’m here, I still ride and it is a hundred times better because my horse can talk.
My best friend from there is here as well.
As for school, well, how more perfect could this be? I wanted to be a vet. To heal sick and hurting things. And here, I’m a healer.
And now that I am here, I have the one thing that I couldn’t find there.”
“Oh?”
I smiled. “The most sought after bachelor on the queen’s guard.”
He laughed.
Thinking about home made me think about my parents. A small lump formed in my throat.
Jasper’s arms tightened around me. “What’s wrong?”
I shrugged. “Nothing, really. I just...it sounds so childish. Especially after hearing your story.”
“What?”
“I miss my mom and dad.” The tears I had been holding back ran down my face. “I miss them so much.”
Jasper turned me so that I was cradled in his arms and held me against his chest. He waited until I was done crying before he spoke.
“Would you like to go see them?” he asked softly.
I looked up at him. “Do you think I’m allowed?”
He laughed. “Who is going to stop you?”
I sat quietly, not sure what to think. “I never even thought that was an option. I just assumed that now that I was here, I had to stay.”
He shook his head. “It’s not like they can take your cross stone away from you to keep you here. You don’t need one to cross over.”
“Hmm.” I started to get excited. “That would be great!”
He smiled at me. “When do you want to go?”
“Oh. Well, after Wellfore. I would hate to miss it. That and I don’t want the shed full of halters all winter long. Plus, I want to see Tara and Ben race, and Fillian is going to take me to the healers’ booths so I can get some of the rarer herbs and roots that don’t grow around here. Oh, and then I have a surprise for you that I hope you’ll like for the night of the ball...” I was so excited about the fact that I was going to see my parents again that I was talking a mile a minute.
Jasper laughed.
“Speaking of the ball, you have to get me your jacket so I can put the new buttons on it.” A few days a week now, I would ride to Fillian’s and help her with her patients. I was having a great time learning from her, and in return for my help, she had started to pay me for my time. I had taken some of that money to buy Jasper new pants and a jacket. The pants were a beautiful dark brown color and the jacket a dark blue. On my way home with my purchase, I had come across a vendor who sold a variety of buttons. My eyes had been drawn to a set of silver buttons with dark blue and brown veining. I wanted to replace the existing buttons on the jacket with these new ones.
“I still don’t see why you went and spent your hard earned money on me,” he complained.
“Because. Tara told me that everyone dresses up to the nines for the ball, and all you had to wear were your buckskin pants and one of your tunics. You are one of the queen’s captains. Don’t tell me you didn’t have the proper clothes before giving everything up because of me.”
He shrugged. “I’ve told you more than once. If there was a ball, I usually made sure I was on patrols. And I didn’t give it all up because of you. I love our life here. I could have tried to get you to move to Pinsaber, you know.”
I smiled at him. “I know. And I love our life here, too. I also love how you look in your new jacket.”
“And what about you? If I’m to be all dressed up, shouldn’t you be as well?”
I shrugged. “Tara said she has something that might fit me.”
He frowned but left it at that.
I gave him a kiss and got up off of the floor.
“You are looking very pleased with yourself, Hayden.” Jasper was trying not to smile.
I tried to look shocked. “Now, why would you say that?”
He laughed. “You are just as bad a liar as me. Now tell me what you did.”
I shook my head. “Nope. It’s a secret.”
He got up off the floor in one fluid motion.
I looked around, trying to find the quickest escape and started to laugh as he slowly walked in my direction. “You can’t make me tell.”
He grinned and shrugged. “We’ll see about that.”
I ran towards the door as fast as I could. I made it outside, but my success was short lived. I felt his arms go around me and I was lifted off the ground.
Jasper put me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Put me down!” I was laughing so hard I was finding it hard to breathe.
He quickly did as he was told but smothered my thoughts of victory by laying me on my back and straddling me.
“Don’t make me do it, Shlova .”
“I won’t tell!”
He shrugged and laughed. “I think you will.”
I squealed then sucked in a breath as his fingers found my sides. If I had one weakness, Jasper knew it. I was extremely ticklish. I tried to wiggle out from underneath him.
“Just tell me and I’ll stop.” He was laughing almost as hard as I was.
Tears were running down my face and I thought my sides were going to split. “Ok! Ok! I’ll tell!”
He stopped tickling but stayed on me.
“I bought something else. But it’s a surprise. I want to show you later.”
He looked at me, trying to see if I was blocking the fact that I was lying. Seeing and sensing that I wasn’t, he smiled. “Ok, then. I won’t tickle it out of you.”
I laughed. “Thank god! I almost peed my pants!”
He got off of me and helped me up, his laughter shaking his whole frame. “Well, we can’t have that now, can we.” He took my hand and we made our way back to the house.
Jasper stopped when we reached the door. He turned me so he was holding both of my hands and smiled.
“Venurn mairen, Shlova .” He bent down and gave me a long, soft kiss.
I melted into him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close.
I looked up and lost myself in his eyes. My smile grew and I stood on my tip toes to kiss him again. “Welcome home,” I whispered back. I took his hand and together we walked into our own little house.
*****
The next day we went to Luke and Mel’s to help them finish up the last of the renovations they were doing on a cave they had found not too far from our clearing.
Zane and Dawn picked the pond to settle down. When they couldn’t agree on whether they wanted a house or a den, Shanus had suggested they compromise. Everyone grabbed a shovel and began to dig. When we were done, half of the house was underground, the other half above. To anyone who didn’t know any better it would look like dwarves lived there.
Shanus, Prense and Phlann went to stay with Dodge and the Winged Ones.
“Won’t they get cold with no house?” I asked Jasper.
He shook his head. “They are more like horses than humans when it comes to braving the elements.”
Brice was invited to stay with Fillian and Brinnan. They had extra rooms for when sick beings came to be treated.
Before we could blink, Wellfore was upon us.
Dodge had offered to help carry all of the halters I had made ba
ck into town. He stood patiently while we harnessed him and hooked him to the wagon Jasper and Ben had made.
“It was great that Ben remembered he had this harness. This will save us about three trips!”
Jasper threw another of the bags of halters into the wagon. “Definitely. It will be great to bring everything back, too, once the week is done. If you don’t mind doing this again, Dodge.”
Dodge snorted and shook out his mane.
I gave him a hug. “Thanks, buddy.”
“Aunt Hayden, can we ride in the wagon?” Tyler was running out of the woods, his brother trotting after him in wolf form.
“Do you mind?” I whispered to Dodge before answering.
He shook his head.
“Of course you can,” I answered him. Trent shifted back and both of them proceeded to give me a hug.
“Thanks, Auntie!”
“Don’t thank me, boys. Thank Dodge. He’s the one pulling.” I laughed.
Dodge was then assaulted by a wave of thank yous and hugs.
Luke grabbed a bag of halters and threw it into the wagon. “How many did you get done, Hayden?”
“I made twenty of each color. Blue, red, pink, purple, orange, brown and green. But I don’t really like the green ones, so I’m not sure if I’ll put those out. I swear I followed the measurement you gave me, Mel, but the color I got was all wrong.”
She grinned. “Using gin berry leaves to dye is tricky. You’ll get the hang of it.”
Tyler and Trent jumped into the wagon.
“Zane and Dawn are still meeting us at Tara’s?” asked Jasper.
Mel nodded. “Yes. They should be there already. Dawn wanted to go get more supplies to make more pies. She’s sure we’re going to run out.” Mel and Dawn had made pies to sell at the street fair.
Luke looked a bit green.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
Mel laughed. “Serves you right for trying to eat a whole gin berry pie.”
He smiled. “But they’re so good.”
Jasper came back from in the house with our bag of clothes for the week.
“You made sure you packed your things for the ball, right?” I asked him.
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, Shlova. Though I still haven’t figured out why I have to be dressed up if you’re not going to be.”
“I told you. Tara said she has something I can wear. She’s great at stuff like that, so I’m not worried.”
“If I have to dress up, you have to dress up,” Luke elbowed him in the side.
Jasper laughed then looked at Mel. “Where’s your dress for the ball.”
“At Tara’s.”
Luke looked into the wagon at the twins. “Alright, then, boys. Do you remember the rules while we are in town?”
“Stay close to you or mom,” started Trent.
“Or Uncle Jasper, or Aunt Hayden,” Tyler grinned.
“And?” pressed Mel.
“Never mention to anybody that Aunt Hayden is Aunt Hayden,” continued Tyler.
Jasper chuckled at the wording. But the truth was that the less people knew I was back, the less the likelihood that someone would decide to turn me in for some sort of reward.
“And?” I asked. “This one is the most important. Even more important than not telling anyone about me.”
Tyler elbowed his brother. “It’s your turn.”
“Oh. And most of all, we can never ever shift while we are there.”
Jasper looked at both of them. “Ever,” he stressed.
Even though there were quite a few beings in Sageden that knew of them and accepted them because of their relations to Jasper and I, we knew that the majority of the strangers coming were not going to be as understanding when it came to having dogs at their festivities.
“Ever,” both of the twins repeated together.
Jasper seemed satisfied with their answer and nodded. He smiled. “Let’s get going, then.”
It was a bit slower of a trip with Dodge pulling the wagon, but we managed to make it to Tara and Ben’s by the middle of the afternoon. The day was beautiful and the sun was shining. I was amazed at how many people were already in the village.
We went around to the back of the house and Dodge backed the wagon into the pen that held Peena and Goop.
Once free of the harness, he nuzzled my face and went off to find where the Winged Ones were congregating.
“Do you think we should bring the bags into the house for the night?” I asked Jasper.
He nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.”
We could hear Zane laugh as we entered the house. “That’s what you said three pies ago!”
Dawn laughed. “Ok. But I mean it this time. This is the last one for today. We have to get ready for the ball after this.
The house smelled wonderful.
“It smells great in here, Dawn,” I said and dropped my bag of halters on the floor.
She peeked her head around the corner. “Thanks. How many more bags are there?”
“Four.”
“Zane, go give them a hand.” She gave him a playful pat on the bottom as he walked by. She winked at me and I laughed. Mel came into the house and we left the bags for the men.
“Did you find a jacket that would fit him?” I whispered to Dawn as we made our way back into the kitchen.
She snorted. “No. The man is huge and we are living in a town full of tiny people! He sat there and sulked and whined, and complained. And when I couldn’t find one that fit, he smiled, shrugged, and said ‘I guess I don’t have to go, then’.” She laughed. “So I got Tara to measure him, pretended she was going to make him a tunic and I had to go buy material and she made him one.” She stopped talking. The men were coming into the house.
“We’re going to go see if Shanus, Prense and Phlann have made it here yet.” Jasper leaned down to give me a quick kiss.
“Alright. Don’t take too long, you have to get ready.”
He wrinkled his nose at me.
Mel gave Luke a kiss. “Take the twins so we can finish up here.”
Zane turned to Mel. “You know, I don’t mind watching the boys tonight. You could find Fillian’s niece and let her know she doesn’t have to watch them.”
Mel grinned. “I might just do that, Zane. Thank you.”
Jasper opened his mouth to say something.
“Nope,” I cut him off. “Not an option.”
Luke laughed at him. “How long has it been since you’ve made it to this thing?”
“Six years.”
The water I had been in the process of swallowing promptly made its way up and out of my nose. Dawn slapped me on the back while I coughed and sputtered.
I found a rag and wiped my nose. “Why did you stop coming when you started to see me?”
Tara had come downstairs and she laughed. “Remember the whole ‘most sought after bachelor on the guard’ comment I made?”
I nodded and smiled.
“Well, you put Jasper in a town that is suddenly full of unfated women, and the poor man has to beat them off with a stick!”
I started to laugh at the mental picture I was getting.
Jasper was glaring at Tara. “There was no point in coming. A lot of people come here to see if they can find the one they are dreaming about. The first two years I started to see you I thought of going but was out scouting and was too far away. After that, I had run into Tara and knew you wouldn’t be here, so I didn’t bother.”
“You know, you never did tell me why you were so sought after.”
He frowned. “Remember when you laughed when I told you why I hadn’t mentioned I was a captain before I knew we were fated?”
I smiled, then my eyes widened. “No! Really?”
Tara smiled. “Don’t act so surprised, Hayden. Just because you wouldn’t pick a relationship simply for ease of life or convenience, doesn’t mean people didn’t do it over there either. Jasper is one of the queen’s most decorated captains, he is young, and definite
ly not hard to look at. With his income from his position and everything he should have inherited from his father, he’s more than a great catch.”
Zane laughed. “If they only knew.”
Jasper and his friend grinned at each other.
“Only knew what?” Even Tara looked confused.
“About the money.” Zane was still laughing.
“There isn’t any,” Jasper explained. “When my parents were killed, I did get what was theirs. It was shocking actually. We never lived a grand life. I had no idea we were wealthy.”
“So what did you do?”
Jasper looked at me and shrugged. “There is an orphanage in Pinsaber. I stayed there for six months until I became of age. I took all of the money, sold everything that I could, and gave every penny to them. I didn’t need it. And every spring, when the queen pays her guard, I get that sent to the orphanage as well. I just keep enough in case I need to buy anything I need to live.”
I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a soft kiss. “And he says I’m amazing,” I mumbled.
“You’re not upset?”
“About what?”
“The money.” He was looking at me closely.
I went from mad, to insulted, to understanding. I supposed some women might have been.
I felt him tense at the first, his mouth twitched at the second, and he relaxed at the third.
“No. I’m not upset. I love how we live.”
He smiled and kissed the bridge of my nose. “And that’s why I hate balls. It means I have to go buy good clothes. Which is another reason I didn’t come.”
“That was the only reason I used to come. To look for Dawn,” grumbled Zane. He looked at her. “But you were never here.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Well, to be fair, dear, you were never at our fall fair either.”
He laughed. “So now,” he took her in his arms and kissed her softly, “there is no reason for me to go. I’ll just stay here. I don’t have a jacket, and no one is allowed without one.”
She shrugged.
“Oh, Jasper? Would you mind doing me a favor if you’re going through town?” Tara gave him a slip of paper. “Ben is out and about and I forgot to tell him.”
He looked at it and nodded. “That’s the third shop a few streets down, right?”
Crossover 'The Chosen One Trilogy: Book One' Page 17