“It is starting to look a little ridiculous.”
“Fine,” he said, throwing up his arms. “I’ll just waddle on down the road in my robe.”
“You don’t have to go, Tomias, but she is kind of right. I doubt she’s going to leave you alone about it.”
He rolled his eyes and rose from his seat. “I’ll be back. I’ll bring the packs in when I return. Stay out of trouble while I’m gone.”
“I’ll try,” she said, giving him a smile as he walked away. Fay took his place a moment later. The old woman regarded her with twinkling blue eyes.
“He’s not the only one that needs some work, you know,” she said kindly. “Come. Let’s brush through that hair of yours and find you something to wear until your clothes are cleaned and mended.”
Kirheen shook her head. “It’s really unnecessary. I don’t…”
One look and Kirheen fell silent. There really was no arguing with the woman. With a sigh, she followed Fay to a back room. A quick glance showed it to be a supply room for the bathhouse. Several shelves along the back wall were stuffed to the gills with fragrant soaps, pumice stones, and fluffy towels. Fay pulled a chair to the middle of the room and motioned for her to sit. There was a mirror on the wall before her and she stared at her reflection, at the tangled mass of hair falling to either side of her head. It was a mess.
She was brought back to a time after she’d won the battles, when she’d sat in such a way while Trista had done her hair and makeup. The thought nearly brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t spoken to Trista in so long. She hated the rift between them, despite her understanding of it. It was hard not to have the healer as a friend. Trista had always been so understanding of her struggles and never made her feel foolish about her own thoughts and feelings. Now she was just another person she’d lost to her own stupidity.
“You’ve seen a lot, haven’t you? You’re young, but you’re old enough to have seen the horrors of it all. I see it in your eyes.”
Kirheen gaped at the old woman. It was as if Fay had read her mind, but she couldn’t feel another presence in her head. You don’t need powers to know how another person is feeling. “I guess you could say that.”
“I see it in him too. You’ve both survived a great deal. It haunts you both.”
Kirheen nodded. “It’s true, but I’d rather not talk about it.”
“I can respect that. If you’ll permit, where are you and your companion heading?”
“South, to Val’shar. We’re going to check in on some family. It’s been some time since we’ve heard from them.”
The old woman nodded, her kind expression melting to one of concern. “Not the wisest course of action, but I’m sure you’ve heard that enough.”
“You’ve no idea,” Kirheen grumbled.
“I can imagine,” Fay smiled knowingly. She pulled a box off the shelf, opening it to reveal a variety of combs and brushes and tiny bottles of oil. She pulled a brush out of the mix and took to detangling Kirheen’s hair. Firm but gentle, she picked through every snag until her ashen hair was smooth as silk. It had grown long, hanging just past the swell of her breasts. “You have lovely hair, girl. That color is something else.”
Kirheen smiled. “Um, thank you. It looks much better now that you fixed it up.”
“Do not feel shame. Confidence, girl, confidence. You’re a beauty and you know it. Don’t deny yourself that knowledge. I’m certain your man friend would agree.”
“Who, Tomias?” Kirheen asked, genuinely surprised. “I think you’re mistaken.”
“Don’t be an idiot, of course that’s who I mean. The way he looks at you... He adores you and you seem to be doing a very good job ignoring it.”
Kirheen retreated inwards, hiding from her words. Her thoughts from the other night fluttered to the forefront of her mind. She felt foolish. Tomias cared about her, she knew that. They’d been through so much together. He’d been by her side through it all and in return she’d killed a part of him. Deep down, she knew it wasn’t her fault and that he would never blame her for what had happened to his brother. Despite that, there was still pain between them, a shared wound that had yet to heal. And while that pain existed in them, how could there be anything more?
The pain of losing Ian still lingered like a thorn in her heart. Perhaps it had been lust, a twisting of her emotions, a pulling of her soul towards something she couldn’t have, but it still hurt her. Her feelings for him had caused his death. She never wanted to be that vulnerable again, to have her heart opened only to have it slammed shut by the cruelty of life. “That may be, but there isn’t anything there. I assure you.”
It was a lie. There was something there. She’d felt it that night after the swamp, that subtle pull, her mind drifting to thoughts she shouldn’t have been having.
Fay gave her a skeptical glance.
“We’ve been through a lot together. We’re very close and I’m not going to ruin that.”
“One day, girl, you’re going to have to open that heart of yours. It’s like a rose. Unless you let the light in, one day that rose is going to wither and then what will you have? Nothing but thorns.”
Kirheen felt her irritation surge. “What do you know?”
Fay shrugged. “I don’t. I’m just an old woman.” She picked up a bottle of oil and pulled the stopper. She handed the glass vial to Kirheen, motioning for her to dab herself with the perfume. Kirheen lifted it to her nose, breathed in the smell of apples and spices, and felt tears fill her eyes. A moment later she was crying in earnest, the bottle shaking uncontrollably in her hands.
Fay was a foolish old woman. A foolish old woman with foolish words and a foolish tongue. The vial was plucked from her fingers. Soothing hands gripped her shoulders and led her out of the room. She was guided up the steps, one by one, her tears falling all the while. There was the sound of a lock turning and then she was guided into a room.
She hit the bed like a sack of grain, sinking into the blankets while her emotions poured out of her. Fay stroked her hair and whispered to her softly. “You’ll be fine, girl. The path will find you. Rest now.”
CHAPTER 13
Tomias ran a hand through his hair, feeling an elated rush at the cleanliness of it, at the shortness. It had been years since he’d had his hair cut to such a degree. It was a strange sensation being able to feel the wind tickle his ears as he walked. He’d even shaved his beard. He ran a hand over his face, fingers sliding across the smooth expanse. It felt foreign and strange, and he wondered what Kirheen would think of his new look.
Fay was bound to be absolutely delighted. The woman was a hound, nipping at his heels with insults and demands. Despite her brashness, she’d shown them incredible kindness in the short time they’d known her. Underneath that hard veneer was a soft squishy heart and Tomias planned to let her know he’d discovered her secret.
Passing a shop window, he caught sight of his reflection and felt a twinge of pain, a shard of ice straight through his soul. His entire life, he’d idolized his brother. When Fenir had lost his voice, his hair had grown along with his anger and Tomias had followed suit. Now his brother, the other half of his soul, was gone. As much as it killed him to admit it, his entire identity had been wrapped up in his brother. With him gone it was time to carve his own path, to figure out who he was as his own person. Perhaps cutting his hair would be the start of that.
Pushing aside his sorrow, he made his way through town. He was still in his bathrobe and he lavished in the strange looks he collected. Anyone who dared cast him a questioning glance was greeted with his cheesiest of smiles. It was the simple pleasures in life.
The inn came into view as he rounded a corner, a bastion in an otherwise bland city. Despite wanting to show off his new haircut, he stepped past the inn and headed for the barn. Carri was tending to the horses when he stepped inside and she instantly perked up at the sound of his footsteps.
Her eyes grew wide, her expression puzzled. “Sir, you’re lik
e a whole new person. I barely recognized you. If not for that white hair of yours, I’d have been very confused. It looks nice.”
Tomias smiled. “Thank you, Carri. I appreciate it.”
She returned his smile. “I’m glad you and the lady decided to stay. Fay will take good care of you. She’s like that. She takes care of all of us.”
He was struck by the oddity of the inn. From what he’d seen, Fay ran the place by herself. If she had a husband helping her tend to the place, he’d yet to show his face. There were several children he’d seen bustling about the inn, carrying blankets, fetching water, and tending to the bathhouse. “So, you work for Fay. Is she your…” He had to think about the term. Family titles were still a befuddled mess in his brain. “…Grandmother?”
Carri shook her head. “No, sir. We just call her Gran. I’m an orphan - err, was an orphan. Fay took me in when I was just a baby. All the children here are like that. We help her with the inn, and she keeps us fed and safe and warm. Like I said, she’s like that. She looks after us.”
“That’s very kind of her. You can call me Tomias, by the way. How is our Benny doing?”
Upon hearing his name, the horse whinnied. Carri beamed, racing over to him and giving him a pat on the nose. “He’s great! I washed and brushed him and patched him up a bit. He had a few scratches, but he’s feeling better now. I put all your bags in the corner there. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. He looks great. Thank you, Carri. We really appreciate all the help.”
“Thank you si-Tomias. What’s the name of the lady you’re traveling with? She’s very pretty. I wish my hair was as beautiful as hers.”
Tomias chuckled. “Her name is Kirheen.”
“Ooh, a pretty name too. Do you need help with the packs, sir?”
Tomias eyed the bags. With their supplies dwindled down to almost nothing, there wasn’t much to grab. “No, thank you though. There isn’t much there. Good work with Benny. He looks quite happy.”
“You’re welcome, si-Tomias.” Carri went back to work, running from horse to horse with more energy and enthusiasm than he’d ever possessed in his entire life. Slinging the packs over his shoulder, he made for the inn.
Fay greeted him with an approving smirk. “Now there is the young man I saw hiding beneath all that hair. You look much improved. Kirheen will certainly find you more agreeable. I know I do.”
Tomias narrowed his eyes. “That’s a rather backhanded compliment.”
“Those are the best kind, dear. Now, set those bags down and come sit here at the bar.”
Tomias sighed and glanced around the room. The inn was empty, not a soul in the common room. “I really should take these up to the room. I also need to find Kirheen.”
“She’s taking a nap and I’m not apt to let you disturb her. She’ll come down when she is ready and not a moment sooner.”
While he found her timing a bit odd, he shrugged, setting the packs down where Fay pointed. “Is she feeling okay?” he asked.
“She’ll be fine. She simply requested some time alone, time we’re both going to give her. You’ve had a rough journey, she deserves that much.”
“Fair enough.” It was a true statement, but one that claimed more knowledge of their situation than Tomias remembered sharing. He took a seat at the bar and watched as Fay began pouring some sort of dark liquid into a glass. It had the color of melted honey, a warm golden color that was pleasing to the eye. She slid it towards him, giving him a glare that warned of the consequences of trying to argue with her.
He’d had liquor before. It was one of the many things he’d tried in an attempt to blend in. He didn’t have a taste for the stuff, finding it too bitter and heavy on the tongue. Though it warmed him with an inner fire, he didn’t like the sensations that followed. It was a loosening of his being, a slight dampening of his inner restraints. It felt as though his thoughts would flow out of his mouth unhindered and out would pour his deepest secrets.
But there would be no arguing with Fay. Reaching forward, he picked up the small glass, swirling the honey colored liquid in lazy circles. Scents he hadn’t been expecting hit his nose; warm cinnamon, the sweet smell of honey wisp, and the slight bitter tang of something he couldn’t quite identify. He took a cautious sip, his eyes widening as the liquid coated his tongue. It was a surprising mix of flavors, more akin to a sweet dessert liquefied and placed in his glass than the bitter swill he’d tried before. “This…this is delicious. What is it?”
“Just a little something to lift your spirits. Drink up.”
The drink tingled as it slid down his throat, blossoming into a gentle fire as it reached his belly. He felt his shoulders slump, relaxing with the warmth that spread through him. He’d not drink another if she offered, despite how delicious it was. The last thing he needed was for his mouth to take off without his brain to lead the way.
“Kirheen tells me you’re heading south to Val’shar. A fool’s errand.”
Tomias took another swig of his drink, using the moment to get his story straight. “So we’ve been told, repeatedly. It doesn’t matter though. We’ve got family down that way, family that we haven’t heard from in quite some time and we’re starting to get worried.”
Fay frowned. “It isn’t a kind thought, but one might say you’d be better off forgetting that family ever existed and keeping north where it’s safe. I’ve seen the impact of the fighting, seen people here in my inn touched by it. It’s devastating and it can only get worse from here.”
“That’s a rather pessimistic view of the world.”
The woman clicked her tongue against her teeth. “It’s reality. We can pretend and hope and pray to the gods until we’re blue in the face, but the truth of the matter is, the royal family isn’t going to just stop slaughtering the gifted once they feel safe. They won’t stop until there isn’t a drop of power left, at least here in Taverin. I can’t speak for the rest of the world. They all have their own view on things, but here, the massacre is just beginning.”
“You speak as though we might support those with powers. That’s awfully presumptuous of you.”
Fay arched a brow. “I didn’t get to this age by being an idiot, boy. You may or may not have the gift yourself, but you and the girl, you aren’t murderers. There is kindness in you both and kindness doesn’t allow for the kind of atrocities happening in Val’shar. It doesn’t allow for the murdering of innocents.”
She was an intelligent woman. She seemed to have a sixth sense about her, as if she were reading his thoughts, following the labyrinth of his concerns and feelings on the subject. He checked his mind. There was no pressure, no tingling of someone trying to slip through his walls. Whatever gift she had, it wasn’t the same as what they possessed. “You’re right. We sympathize, but we also have no desire to get caught up in things. Don’t you think in time, the gifted will start fighting back? I’ve heard talk of rebellions.”
A sharp snort. “The rebellion, as noble a cause as it is, is only the equivalent of kicking a hornet nest. They’ve riled the royal family and they’ve returned the favor in blood. From the way some of my patrons speak, that city might as well be flowing with it. Executions happen every day and I doubt the royal family stops to check if their suspicions are valid. Enough of their own kind burn right along with the gifted.”
Tomias felt ill, his stomach twisting with her words. “Why? Why do it? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Power. It’s no small secret that the royal family is without the gift. Those with powers are a threat to their reign and such threats can’t be left to grow.”
“And what about the rest of the world? They just sit by and let it happen?”
Fay shook her head. “There is an unspoken hostility between us and Sharmir, that much is known. Sharmir is a supporter of those with the gift and was a refuge for those seeking solace from the royal family. However, they are scholars and peacekeepers, not warriors. If Taverin ever turned an eye towards them in e
arnest, if those threats were ever made real, it would be devastating. The only people that could stop them would be those to the south in Korinth, though they aren’t much better. They practically worship the gifted and think them gods amongst men. They’ve militarized their powers and it wouldn’t surprise me if at some point they decide to use it. As for Miridin, they are just ducking their heads and staying well away from the conflict, though for how long who can say.”
He still hadn’t wrapped his mind around how large the world was. The struggles happening on one continent alone were enough to make his head spin. To think there was even more going on beyond the borders of their own land was too much to take in. Giving a solemn frown to the liquid in his glass, he tossed back the drink and hoped it would burn away the unease churning his gut.
“An appropriate response,” Fay smirked. “It isn’t you that needs convincing, is it?”
Tomias shook his head. “No, unfortunately. I’d be easy to convince. I already know this is a bad idea. I know how dangerous it is to be anywhere near that conflict. We’ve already run into trouble along the way and it’s bound to get worse.”
“And you can’t change her mind?”
“No. She’s stubborn. Not only that, but this is her family we’re talking about. She isn’t going to give up until she knows they’re safe, even if it means putting herself in danger.” It wasn’t the truth, not even close. He couldn’t change her mind because he didn’t want to. She’d spent her entire life being controlled, being told what to do and how to do it. He wasn’t about to put a leash on her and tell her she couldn’t do something. All he could do for her was be the voice of reason, to make her at least question her decisions before her emotions got in the way. And he’d be there to support her, whatever those decisions may be.
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