by Tina Hunter
She nodded her head slowly. It was clear he didn’t want to talk further on the subject, but for once she was lost as to how to change the subject. She looked around at the people sitting, laughing and eating around them.
Even Dorothy was enjoying herself with her new friends. Another jealous pang was quickly smothered by concern. Two of the older men were sitting awfully close to the young girl. She didn’t know if they were safe. Dorothy was her responsibility after all, and Malack would be the first to tell her that. She should have forced her way into the conversation earlier and gotten to know the people that Dorothy was eager to meet.
“They are good people you know,” her grandfather said quietly.
She glared at him before she could stop herself and he chuckled. “I didn’t have to read your mind for that one. You are glaring at Monia and her brothers like you just glared at me.” Lynn tried to calm her face and her clenched hands, but all she managed to do was blush and get angrier.
“Dorothy is a sweet child,” Gregorio said, “and if she really wants to stay here, I want you to know she will be welcomed and taken care of.”
Shock coursed through her. She had known Dorothy had wanted a home, and it wasn’t like Lynn could give her one, but to stay here just like that? What about Malack? Sure, he had issues with Inborn but he would get over it. He just needed time. And she didn’t know these people. It was one thing for her grandfather to know the minds of everyone around them but she didn’t. She didn’t know if these “good people” would do something to hurt Dorothy. She couldn’t allow that. Dorothy was her responsibility. She’d be the one to approve the people Dorothy stayed with.
“I think we should go,” Lynn said, suddenly wanting to be as far away from these people as possible.
“So soon?” Gregorio looked at her with sad eyes and guilt tugged at her.
“I’ll be back. I promise.”
“Don’t make promises you won’t keep,” Gregorio said with a steady gaze. As if trying to figure out if she meant it. Maybe not being in her head would be good for him too.
“When I promise something,” she said, reaching for his hands, “I keep my word.”
He grabbed her hands and smiled. It was a lovely moment that was completely ruined when his fingertips ran over the edge of her contract bracelet. He stared at it and then at her with a mixture of sadness and anger. Lynn pulled her hands out of his and stood up. She didn’t have to explain herself to him.
“Dorothy!” she shouted. The girl spun around with such a happy grin on her face that Lynn felt her resolve falter. Only for a moment. It was her job to protect Dorothy. “It’s time we get back to the inn.” She kept her voice light, with a friendly smile. Dorothy took it at face value and quickly said her goodbyes. Lynn didn’t bother with any, not even meeting her grandfather’s eyes as she left.
Before she could reach the top of the theater however, Patriza in her many layers of cloth stepped in the path. Her eyes challenged Lynn to keep walking. Lynn sighed and stopped.
“What do you...”
“Be careful,” the woman said, interrupting her. “When bloodlines merge, the resulting magic is... unpredictable.”
Lynn didn’t quite understand, but Patriza walked away before she could ask her anything else. The people here were all crazy.
She waited for Dorothy not far past the top edge of the theater. The cold wind whipped her untied hair into her face and stung at her eyes. She grabbed whatever she could and braided it quickly to shove under her hat. No point in trying to pin it up with all this wind.
Dorothy arrived shortly enough and was almost bouncing as they walked through the town back towards Eldridge.
“Wasn’t it the most amazing place... and the food...” Dorothy rattled on and on about this thing or that while Lynn tried to take the time to compose her thoughts. She wanted to talk to Dorothy about the people, understand what they were like and what Dorothy felt, but the anger and frustration of being around her grandfather and his mind invasions had set her on edge. Dorothy’s happy voice grated on her nerves like gravel and she couldn’t summon a single mask to cover up what she was feeling.
“Ok I get it,” she finally snapped. “It was wonderful. Can you stop talking about it already?”
Dorothy raised her eyebrows at her outburst, and Lynn felt even worse. And at the same time angrier.
“Is everything ok?” Dorothy asked with a giggle. Like her anger was something to laugh at.
“No, it’s not,” Lynn shouted. She stopped walking to face Dorothy, who looked confused. Well, Lynn would enlighten her. “Why did you think it would be a good idea to let Gregorio into your head? Just like that. No caution at all? And what, just because he said that whatever her name is a good person that you could just move in with her? What if they just wanted another Inborn around, huh? Did they tell you they are basically quarantined by the government? Is that a better life than trying to stick it out with Malack?”
“It’s not... I hadn’t...” Dorothy stuttered and Lynn felt better for a moment, now that Dorothy was feeling bad just like her. But Dorothy recovered and there was anger in her eyes too.
“I hadn’t decided if I wanted to stay with them or not but at least they were nice to me. All I’ve ever been to you or Malack was a burden. Something to hide. They didn’t care what I was. And Malack hates me, so yes it would be better than trying to live with him. So, you know what, maybe I have decided.” Dorothy crossed her arms and straightened her back as if daring Lynn to say something.
“You don’t know anything. I will be the judge of these people, not you. And only if I say so will you stay with them. Do you understand?”
Dorothy’s eyes narrowed to slits, “And since when did you become my mother? I don’t need you to take care of me.” Dorothy stomped off ahead, leaving Lynn to process. Dorothy’s words broke whatever spell of anger Lynn had been under, but it was too late to take it back. Since when was Lynn so possessive? Lynn followed behind Dorothy all the way to the inn and noted with increasing sorrow that the girl didn’t look back once.
Ten
~Thursday Evening Outside The Corrupt Harpy~
WHEN THEY ARRIVED at the Inn, Lynn was close enough that they entered through the door at the same time and Dorothy’s back stiffened at their proximity. The hall was busy and loud, but she could still easily make out her three least favorite men sitting in a dark corner of the hall laughing and drinking. Dorothy hesitated at the foot of the stairs as if she was unsure if she should head over to them or not.
“I need to talk to them if that affects your decision,” she said carefully. She didn’t like fighting with Dorothy.
Dorothy spun on her heel to face her. “You do what you want to do,” she said, her tears and red checks betraying her emotions. Lynn nodded, left her at the stairs, and headed to the table. The laughter died as soon as she sat down, and she rolled her eyes. Great. Just what she needed.
“Ah, the squeaker too,” Teodor said pulling out a chair for Dorothy to sit beside him. Dorothy didn’t look at Lynn or at least tried to appear like she wasn’t sneaking glances at her from the corner of her eyes. “Maybe the little one can settle the score. Who’d you think would take the egg in a collie shangle between a dragon and a gollum?”
“It’s called a fight, you big lug. Not a... whatever you said,” Simon shouted.
Lynn was being left out again. Why did everyone hate her just because she liked to keep things to herself? It was safer. Trust had to be earned over time, not just given away.
Dorothy seemed to think about it for a minute and then asked, “Would the fight be in the Drakar mountains or the volcano islands?”
“Neither,” said Simon. “This is based on their merits on normal solid ground.”
Dorothy nodded. “Then the gollum would win,” she said with confidence. Simon’s jaw dropped and Teodor slapped her back while laughing. Dorothy seemed to enjoy the manhandling.
“I told you,” Teodor said, pointing to Simon
.
Simon pulled himself up to his full seated height. “And how would you propose that this child knows anything at all about gollums and dragons?”
“Well,” Dorothy spoke hesitantly at first before gaining her confidence, “Gollums may be smaller but they are almost indestructible, just like the Dwarfs... er, Prymese.” She corrected herself but then continued, “A dragon can fly and it’s huge, but they break bones easy. A gollum would have the advantage.”
“Hrumpf,” Brutus said into his glass.
“Who did you bet on?” Lynn asked him. She realized as soon as she spoke that she was trying to be included in the conversation, like a child.
“I didn’t bet,” he said angrily, “We may be criminals now, but not all of us were. I don’t gamble.”
“Bruty, if nobody ever gambled the whole world would dry up and die,” Simon laughed heartily as if he’d just told the greatest joke of all time. Lynn wondered how many drinks they’d had. Brutus seemed to nurse his drink, but Simon was having yet another one and Teodor had two on the go. He was even offering one to Dorothy who took a sniff, made a face, and then passed it back to Teodor.
“Well,” Lynn said, drawing all the attention to herself, most of it unfriendly, “I was thinking that since Brutus and Simon have been confined to the inn, perhaps you would both like to go home. Teodor and I can take care of things from here.”
“‘Fraid we can’t do that,” Simon said with an unpleasant grin. He held up his wrist for the whole table to see his bracelet. “We have to stay with you until you head home. Win or lose. Or lose and lose as it were.” He giggled to himself and Brutus smacked him on the back of the head. Simon yelped in pain and then pouted at Brutus. “You are a miserable person, you know that?” Brutus rolled his eyes and went back to focusing on his drink.
“And you are very talkative when you are drunk,” Lynn said.
“Well then, why don’t you leave the table so I can talk in peace and quiet,” Simon said. She sighed, but she knew when she wasn’t wanted. She got up without a word, just a glance at Dorothy who was making a point of not looking at her. Fine, if she wanted to stay with these idiots then she was welcome to their company.
As she walked to the stairs a familiar face walked in the front door.
“Declan?” she said as he approached, “Finished with your lady friend already?”
He grinned and Lynn felt the tight control on her emotions wearing thin. She wasn’t sure she could handle dealing with Declan in her present state. What she wanted more than anything was to just go to bed and sleep for a week. Or at least until she had to talk to her uncle again tomorrow.
“I was hoping we could chat in private?” Declan seemed uncharacteristically shy. Perhaps what he had found out was more of a concern than she had thought. She gestured toward the stairs with her head and led the way to her room.
Once they were inside her room and she had shut the door behind her, they both spoke at once.
“So there are...” “How was the...”
They stopped and giggled like they were fourteen again. Lynn watched him covering his mouth with his eyes closed, realizing how absurd it was for two grown adults to giggle over something as commonplace as talking over each other and also how little she cared at this moment. It felt good to laugh. Declan gained control first, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes.
“You first,” he said.
Lynn took a deep breath to calm the giggles and let out a long breath.
“Well then,” she began, “How was spending time with the princess?” Lynn saw Declan’s smile falter for a moment before his easy, confident smile returned.
“It was a fantastic way to spend the day. Like being at home with all the servants but with none of my family to ruin the mood.”
She cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow, “You really expect me to believe that?”
Declan shrugged. “It’s mostly true.”
“So what part wasn’t fantastic?”
Declan rubbed his hands over his face with a sigh and sat heavily on her bed. He stared out the window as he spoke. “I think I’ve met my match.”
“In what way?” Lynn couldn’t help feel the flip-flop of her stomach. Had he fallen in love with the Elf? No, that didn’t matter. She shouldn’t care. She sat down on the bed beside him, willing herself not to care while drinking in the sight of him so close to her. He took his time before responding, still not looking at her and making her stomach clench tighter with each moment. Finally, he turned to look at her.
“She is the one who let Simon out of the stocks. She didn’t want him to freeze and not be able to complete his job.”
“Complete...? She wants him to...”
“Stop you. Apparently, he’s trying to sabotage your whole mission. She let him go so he can continue to hinder the mission.”
“So, he is trying to stop me.” The wheels in Lynn’s mind turned. She’d have to find a way around him if she was going to get this job done.
“She told the fort one thing though,” Declan said pulling her attention back to the moment, “That people will try to steal something from the fort on Saturday.”
“Saturday,” Lynn groaned. The day she was meant to go to the fort to pick up Darkan’s crystals. Until her uncle showed up, it was her only opportunity to get inside. “Does she know about me and Dorothy?” The girl’s safety was still on her mind.
“If she got names, she didn’t tell me them, but I don’t think so. She didn’t seem too concerned since she is picking up her order tomorrow morning.”
“And you’ll be going with her?”
Declan looked at the ground, “yes.” Such a little word. Why did it fill her with so much dread?
“What’s wrong?” she asked lightly, putting her hand on his.
He startled at her touch and scooped up her hands, squeezing lightly before he traced her knuckles with his thumb. That was something he hadn’t done since... that night.
“I’m so sorry for everything I put you through, Evie. I know it was cruel, but I thought I could just forget you. Or you’d move on. And now...” He gazed up into her eyes and then suddenly his lips were on hers. Passionate and warm. She didn’t resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and his hands pulled her closer to him.
Then it was over. He pulled away and stood up. “I...” He cleared his throat. “I’ll meet you tomorrow. Here. Before lunch. I’ll explain... we’ll talk tomorrow.”
He shut the door quietly, leaving her staring at the space he had just a moment ago occupied. What in the world was that? she thought.
She flung herself back onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling. Trying desperately to process what had just happened, or at least process the information he had just given her. But all she could think about was his lips on hers. The way he had pulled her against his chest, how she could still smell him on her. And he wanted to talk. Tomorrow. She smiled, and it quickly turned into a grin. How was she ever going to sleep with that thought to keep her attention? Tomorrow.
Tomorrow came far too early and with not enough sleep powering it. She had needed a few drops of laudanum just to calm down enough to sleep and found that the magic-infused potion was very effective.
Lynn groaned as she pulled herself out of bed. Dorothy pulled the blankets over her head and didn’t move again. If she was still mad at her, Lynn could accept that. Declan’s kiss played repeatedly in the back of her mind, as did the events of a certain night a little over a year ago. She’d have to make him miserable for a while for breaking her heart back then, but she already knew she had forgiven him. Lynn pulled on her trousers and realized she didn’t want to dress like a man today, despite the freedom it gave her. She wanted to look like a woman. She wanted everyone to see she could be a lady if she wanted to be. Plus, she had told her Uncle she would dress like herself today.
It took much longer to get dressed. The corset she had was thankfully one she could pull together in the front and the gree
n dress she had stolen back in Iridan was flattering now that she had altered it to fit. Next was hair and makeup. There was a little mirror on the wall, and she pulled her hair back into a large, loose bun and that made her eyes look narrow, but with a little charcoal and a touch of rouge, she looked as good as any upper-class lady of Iridan.
As she studied her appearance, she glimpsed Dorothy watching her from the bed. She turned and caught the girl staring, making Dorothy red-faced with embarrassment.
“It’s all right,” Lynn said with a soft tone. “I can teach you if you want?”
Dorothy looked caught between interested and weary. So, she was still upset with her.
“I’m sorry about our fight yesterday,” Lynn said, sitting down on the bed. “I guess I’ve just gotten a little protective of you.” A thought crossed her mind, and she grinned. But she couldn’t tell Dorothy about Declan, or who he really was, or that if she ended up living in Iridan with him that Dorothy could come live with her there. Not yet. Not until she knew what Declan had planned for them.
Dorothy cocked her head to the side, “What?” she asked.
“Nothing,” Lynn said, “Today’s just going to be a good day. I can feel it.”
“Ok,” Dorothy responded looking skeptical, and laying back down in bed. Lynn stood up. Dorothy needed more time. That was fine. She had places to go anyway. She packed away her makeup and clothes, leaving the new laudanum on the bedside table in case she needed it again tonight.
“I suppose you’ll be fine if I’m out until lunchtime?”
Dorothy waved her hand as if telling her to shoo. Lynn let out a single laugh and then followed the girl’s instructions. Her uncle would be waiting for her.
The main hall was already full of people ordering their breakfast. She ordered a pastry and watched the patrons while she ate. No one from her “team” was present. Just as well. If Dorothy needed anything she seemed comfortable enough with them to ask. And now that she knew to dress like a boy Lynn felt more secure in leaving her alone.
