“I hope you realize that it won’t be solved so easily.”
“Why are you having mood swings?”
“In fact, meeting with Kira could make the whole thing worse.”
“Stop avoiding the subject, Nyx.”
“All three of you are going to get hurt, little brother.”
Luke moves away from the wall and runs a hand through his blonde hair, pulling out the simple tie and letting it hang loose. He watches Nyx shift uncomfortably on the crate and fiddle with the thick bracelet on her wrist. His attention is caught by movement in the alley behind her, but the approaching thief is hurled away by the barrier. The crash causes people in the nearby buildings to yell and curse through their locked shutters. Luke ignores the noise and puts his hands on the crate to lean forward, his face inches from the caster.
“We’ve all heard you crying or seen you lose your temper without provocation,” the forest tracker whispers, searching his friend’s face for any hint of what she is thinking. “I know you told me to stay out of it, but I can’t do that anymore. Please tell me what this is about Nyx, so I can help. We need you at your best and you’re not even close.”
“I don’t know how to explain everything,” she admits while keeping her head down. She notices a pink shimmer on Luke’s wooden ring and green buds grow out of the top. “Looks like the Ring of Uli is changing with the season. I guess winter will be over soon, which means our trip south should be pleasant.”
“Are you terrified that Stephen will get you?”
Nyx tenses and her breathing becomes staggered as she remembers the touch of the man who wants to break her. “Wouldn’t you be scared of someone like him? He’s an unstoppable monster and the only reason we’re still standing is because he wants to play with us. It feels like it’s only a matter of time before Stephen claims me. I know you and Fizzle can fight him, but that isn’t enough. I need to be able to defend myself to feel safe. With Stephen, I’m helpless and I hate feeling this way.”
“We’re all helpless at some point in our lives,” Luke replies, leaning in to give Nyx a tight hug. He sighs when he feels her tense, calming her down with a gentle pat on the back. “The Dark Wind did the same to me and I was stupid. You can only do so much in this situation before you have to trust those around you.”
“The Dark Wind was my fault,” the caster whispers, wrapping her arms around the warrior’s neck. She struggles to hold back her tears and prays her friend does not notice the moist spot on his shoulder from her running nose. “Stephen did it to get to me. All of you are going to be used as pawns to control me and there’s nothing I can do to prevent it.”
“I cut him and Fizzle held his own,” Luke reminds her. He holds Nyx away and gets her to look into his chocolate brown eyes, a gold ring barely visible in the lamplight. “Gabriel wouldn’t put someone like Stephen in our way unless there was a way to win. I know he said our victory isn’t guaranteed, but he never said we’re destined to fail. Don’t let your fear make you weak because you’re the strongest person I know. I mean willpower and defiance because Timoran is physically stronger than all of us.”
“I figured that out on my own, little brother.”
Nyx turns into mist to escape the hug and reforms behind Luke, the forest tracker putting his hands in his pockets. He can sense her anxiety and the telltale heat of her running fire through her ebony hair. A distant scream makes him jump due to his sound sight creating a brief picture of someone getting attacked among the trees by a skeletal figure. For a brief moment, his back is covered in amber fur that disappears when he realizes that he would have to leave Nyx alone on the thief-infested streets.
“What else, Nyx?” he bluntly asks, walking around to face her. “There’s something else that you’re holding in.”
“I . . . you see . . .” the young woman awkwardly mumbles. Taking a deep breath, she grabs Luke by the hands and fixes him with a threatening glare. “Swear that you won’t tell anyone what I’m about to say. Not Fizzle. Not Sari. Not Kira. Not even the griffin and Stiletto spirits.”
“Those two and I kind of share a mind.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I swear to keep your secret from everyone.”
The caster lets go of Luke’s hands and is about to speak when she remembers they are in Rodillen. Fearing that a thief might overhear their conversation, she raises a dome of silence with subtle wiggle of her fingers. The shimmering energy bathes the street in a violet glow and several forms can be seen escaping the sudden illumination. Another crash is heard from the nearby alley as a young thief bounces off the barrier and lands in a pile of garbage.
“You must be really serious if you’re using this kind of magic,” Luke whispers more to himself than his companion. “What is it?”
“I’m not really sure about this, but there’s a lot of evidence about what I’ve been thinking about,” Nyx explains, wringing her hands. She stomps her foot and straightens her back when she realizes how foolish she must look. “I think I’m in love with Delvin. He makes me mad and happy at the same time with his advances. It’s sweet and he’s a very nice guy. Completely different from anyone else who has pursued me. So I’ve been thinking a lot about this and I’m not sure what to do. I was going to talk to Sari, but she’d force the issue and I feel awkward talking to Timoran about this. Don’t even get me started on what I did when I tried to contact my parents. Let’s just say my dad thinks I’m interested in brewing whiskey and my mom thinks I have an embarrassing rash. Anyway, I’ve been on edge because I don’t know what to do and it’s an odd relief to finally admit all of this.”
Luke opens his mouth to speak and snaps it shut, repeating the movement a few times. He shrugs and prepares for the worst when he says, “You should tell him.”
“What? No I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Imagine the mess it would make with us,” Nyx defiantly argues, jabbing a finger into the warrior’s chest. “Look at how much stress is caused by you and Sari.”
“That’s a different situation than you and Delvin,” he responds with an angry frown. He rubs his palms on the rubies embedded in his sabers’ pommels. “I have an open relationship with an absent ex-fiancée while I find myself emotionally drifting toward a gypsy who still talks about giving me up in the end. What you’re dealing with is nothing like this and I think you should let him know your feelings. He’s been honest, so you should be too.”
“We kissed in the Garden of Uli and I tasted his aura,” Nyx blurts out, unable to think straight. She rubs her eyes and licks her lips, a faint tingling on her tongue. “It was . . . amazing and it made things complicated. Not in the way you think. What if I really love him only for the taste of his aura? Also, Stephen called me a channeler and said that I’m a rare breed that gives off a scent to attract mates. What if Delvin only loves me because of my scent? That’s not how we should start a relationship.”
Luke takes Nyx by the shoulders and gives her a kiss on the forehead. Without warning, he takes a big sniff of her face and crinkles his nose. Shaking his head and swatting at the air in front of him, the forest tracker puts on a show about hating the smell. He stops when Nyx creates a tiny fireball in her palm and hits him in the rear. She puts the fire out quickly, blushing when she notices that the damage reveals his underwear.
“There’s an interesting scent that I can pick up with Stiletto’s sense of smell, but it doesn’t do anything for me,” Luke says, touching the burn mark on his pants. He gestures to the hole and waits for his friend to repair the damage with a wave of her hand. “I don’t think it’s all about your scent since Timoran caught it, but has no interest in you. If anything, it catches someone’s attention and the rest is up to the heart. Besides, I’ve never seen Delvin sniff at you like a dog and he took to you on sight in a building. I remember his reaction and you were too far away for him to get a whiff.”
“Good point,” Nyx replies, dispelling the silence dome and walking
away. She lets Luke catch up as she leads them toward the inn. “By the way, how is it going with mastering whatever powers you got at the Garden of Uli?”
“I’m fine, but I don’t think we’re done,” the young warrior claims, ignoring her groan of defeat. He is prepared to chase her, but the caster simply trudges alongside him in accepted defeat. “What’s the real reason you won’t tell Delvin? I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but I want you to say it.”
“No, you say it.”
“Fine, you big baby,” Luke casually states, moving in front of her to walk backwards. “I know you’re scared that you’ll die against the Baron. You’re thinking that there’s no reason to admit your feelings and start a relationship if you have no future. Why admit that you’re in love with Delvin and give him more of a broken heart than if he thinks his feelings are unreciprocated? I dare you to tell me I’m wrong.”
Nyx takes a swing at the warrior’s shoulder, but misses when he gracefully drifts out of reach. “I hate you and that wind movement trick you keep doing. Can you really blame me for thinking this way?”
“Of course I can because you’re being an idiot.”
“A title I’ll proudly hold this time.”
“Don’t hold back for too long, big sister.”
“I won’t, but you promised to keep your mouth shut.”
“You have nothing to worry about. Your secret is safe with me.”
The pair reach the shuttered inn, which is disturbingly quiet for a time where everyone stays inside. Lights can be seen through the cracks in the shutters, but there are no sounds of movement or revelry. Nyx reaches for the polished door handle with a fireball ready while Luke draws his sabers and nods. She throws the door open and is about to hurl her spell when a small blast of water dowses the flame.
“Happy birthday, Nyxie!” scream all of the patrons, most of them already drunk.
Sari grins from where she is standing on the bar and wiggles her fingers at the blushing caster. She puts her hand on Timoran’s shoulder to help climb down, the gypsy showing signs that she is well into her drinking. With a big hug, she pulls the stunned half-elf further into the building with Luke following close behind.
“Did you know anything about this?” Nyx asks, whirling on the forest tracker.
“I’m as surprised as you are.”
“Damn it. I’ve been trying to cut back on my drinking.”
“This is a special event, but we’ll make sure you behave,” Sari promises as she puts a mug of ale in her best friend’s hand. She gently moves Nyx closer to Delvin, who is sharing a bowl of apple slices with Fizzle. “Here is your protector of body, mind, and dignity. Treat her well, Mr. Cunningham, or you’ll answer to me in the morning.”
Delvin chuckles and gestures toward the empty barstool next to him. “I promise to be on my best behavior and keep an eye on our beloved caster. You’re looking beautiful as always, birthday girl.”
“Keep that up and I’ll drink the inn dry within the hour,” the violet-eyed half-elf mutters, smiling as she sips at her ale. The genuine smile on the warrior’s grizzled face causes her to turn in her chair and face Sari. “Thank you, little sister. I appreciate it.”
“Best part is that since you were born on the Day of Darkness, we get to make the party last the entire day,” the gypsy happily declares to the applause of the patrons. The bartender joins in the celebration by clinking two full mugs and handing them to Timoran.
Luke waits for Nyx to look away before he pulls Sari to a quiet corner. “I’m all for this party, but where did you get the money?”
“From your money pouch,” she answers, a mischievous glint in her emerald eyes. “This is why you should never speak about your wealth when in Rodillen. You never know if a thief is listening.”
“I didn’t think you counted.”
With an impish grin, Sari leads him to the bar where he soon forgets that he is losing the most amount of money he has ever had at one time.
*****
Nyx’s stomach roars as she eyes the large cake in the middle of the table. Alone in Timoran and Delvin’s room, the champions settle into their chairs while Fizzle perches on the birthday girl’s shoulder. The purple dragon’s tongue stretches toward the chocolate cake, but is caught by a drunk Sari, who nearly puts her free hand in the exquisite dessert. Toasted marshmallows fringe the edges of the cake, the tasty decorations embedded in the thick chocolate frosting. The once smooth top is covered in tiny candles of various colors, preventing any message from being written. Buttons of whipped cream surround the sides, the goo so thick that even a stiff breeze is unable to budge them. Nyx waits patiently for Luke to pass out the plates and forks, her tongue licking her lips in growing anticipation.
“Why no apples?” Fizzle asks as he sniffs at the dessert.
“Because Nyx likes chocolate and marshmallows,” Luke calmly answers. He sees the look of disappointment on the drite’s face and tickles his friend on the head. “You see, we celebrate a person’s day of birth every year with a party that involves a cake. It’s the guest of honor who gets to pick the flavor and snacks. I promise we’ll make you a chocolate apple pie for your birthday when it comes around.”
Fizzle scratches his head with his tail and flutters onto the table to get a closer look at the chocolate creation. “Then Fizzle be patient. Happy birthday, Nyx.”
“Thank you, Fizzle,” the caster replies, giving him a kiss on his scaly head.
“They have a great kitchen here and the chef let me make the cake,” Sari announces with a proud smile. She empties her last mug of ale before sitting down, her body still quivering with anticipation. “I didn’t light the candles since you like setting things on fire. So, blow them on and make a wish.”
“Why are there forty-eight candles?” Nyx asks with an accusatory smirk. She counts them again to make sure she is right, each one above her real age making her feel like the cake is part of a prank. “I’m only twenty-one and this is too much for a joke. I’m surprised you managed to get so many candles on the cake.”
“I’m more concerned with Sari’s instructions on blowing,” Luke mutters, grunting when the gypsy’s foot strikes his shin. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“I overheard someone at this table mention that their birthday happened while we were in the Garden of Uli,” Delvin says with a yawn. He jerks his thumb at Timoran, who groans and goes back to his tankard of rum. “We’re a family, big man, so we’re going to celebrate. Timoran is twenty-six and you’re twenty-one. We added your ages and added one for Cessia, which is a custom of my people. Figured it couldn’t hurt.”
“Thank you, but barbarians do not celebrate birthdays like this,” the scarred warrior claims, wiping his mouth on his leather bracer. “The family has a celebratory meal and, if one is of age, a hunt. This is entirely unnecessary.”
“Please blow out the candles after I light them, big brother?” Nyx begs, flashing a pouting face that makes Luke and Sari laugh. She waves her hand and her friends feel a sharp flick to their foreheads. “Don’t make fun of the birthday girl.”
“Only because it is your birthday and you asked nicely,” Timoran says with a bow of his head. “Also I am curious to see how this cake tastes and I assume you will deny me a slice if I refuse you.”
Nyx pulls the cake closer and takes a deep breath, the shimmer of a spell appearing on her lips. With a gentle exhale from the caster, all of the candles ignite and the flames dance as she sings an Elven birthday song. Her final word is still in the air when Timoran carefully blows out the enchanted fire, his fear of magic still strong enough to make him tense. Before Luke can cut the cake, Nyx snatches a marshmallow off the top and pops it in her mouth. She leans back with her arms crossed and her eyes closed, happily savoring the tasty snack.
“I heard some-” Delvin begins to say before Sari covers his mouth.
“Presents!” the gypsy yells, pulling two small packages out from behind her. She moves her hand and gives the w
arrior an apologetic hug. “Thank you for letting me throw this party for Nyx and Timoran. You’re such a good friend, Delvin.”
“Don’t mention it,” he says while rolling up his sleeves.
“First, I’m sorry I didn’t have time to figure out a good present for Timoran. I did the best I could while we on the road,” Sari explains, watching her friends open their presents. She reaches out to steal a marshmallow, pulling her hand back when two of the smoking candles swat at her fingers. “As for Nyxie, this is a delayed apology. When we were kids, you had a favorite toy and I broke it when we had a fight. I never got you a replacement, but I used some contacts, your teachers, to find one while we rested in Gaia last week.”
Timoran holds up a set of bracers and turns them in his hands, a broad smile growing on his face. The gift makes him realize that it has been years since he has bought new gear or done any definitive maintenance on anything other than his great axe. He takes his old, beaten pair off and slips the new ones onto his forearms, tightening the leather straps and tucking them into narrow slits. The flexible, metal-studded plate is finely polished and he notices a hidden sheathe in his left hand bracer, complete with a simple knife.
“Mr. Hissy!” Nyx exclaims, hugging a stuffed hydra doll to her chest. Red tongues of felt emerge from the dark green toy’s seven heads, disappearing when the half-elf breaks the tight embrace. “Thank you, Sari. I know I told you it was okay when we were kids, but I was really angry with you. I figured you would make up for it before you left. I take back everything bad I said about you during that first week of misery.”
“Mr. Hissy?” Luke asks with a chuckle.
“I talked to your mother when we were in Haven. You carried a blue, wool blanket around until you were six and called it Lady Mommy,” the caster defensively snaps. She holds up her new toy and makes it stick its tongues out at her friend. “Can you cut the cake?”
Sleeper Of The Wildwood Fugue (Book 7) Page 3
