by JK Ensley
“What now?” he demanded.
“I wasn’t bothered by your bare chest, Alzeen. You need to cover your bottom part.”
She was blindly pointing toward him as she spoke. He looked down.
“Ahh… and yet another mistake.” He quickly tied the torn cloth around his waist. “Better?”
She slowly turned toward him, barely opening one eye to get a quick peek.
“Yes, much better. Gratitude, Alzeen.”
She smiled at him then. His face lit up with joy.
“Good.” He puffed his chest out, standing at attention. “Now, am I acceptable?”
“Yes, Alzeen.” She continued smiling, nodding her head slightly. “You are acceptable.”
“So… you accept me, then?”
He seemed overly surprised. She couldn’t help but laugh. Even though he was obviously a few years older than she was, he reminded her of a small child seeking his mother’s approval.
“Yes, Alzeen, I accept you.”
“Wow… you really accepted me,” he whispered, amazed. “I can hardly believe it. Someone like you… accepted me…”
“Alzeeeen… stop.” Her smile was so big her cheeks hurt. “You’re teasing, are you not?”
“No.” He furrowed his brow. “Why would I tease you? Do you want me to?”
“No, it’s not that. I mean, of course I accepted you. How could I not?”
“Because, you are so beautiful. And I’m… well, I’m just me, just Alzeen.”
She took a moment to actually look at this curious man, study him. Now that he was clothed, sort of, Jenevier marveled at his ornate markings and odd skin coloring. She liked the sharp tip to his nose and the way his stomach sank in at his hip bones, forming a tantalizing V shape, the bottom of which was now hidden beneath his makeshift covering. Her eyes lingered there a bit longer than she had intended as her mind played upon strange thoughts—thoughts she didn’t even fully understand.
“But… you are you, and I am me,” she mumbled to herself. “Why would I not accept you? You are… exquisite…”
She was mulling over why just the look of him had caused a stifling tightness in her chest, when his sudden cheerful words pulled her back from the dangerous path her mind was wandering down.
“That’s funny.” He snorted as he spoke.
She jumped a little, startled. “What?” She blushed. “What’s funny?”
“The fact this dirty piece of torn cloth made such a difference. I am the same Alzeen who rescued you from those nasty Pixies. But only now do you smile. I like it when you smile.” He looked down at his ridiculous purple garb. “Hey… Is it magic?”
She furrowed her brows and almost giggled. “Is what magic?”
“The cloth, does it contain magic?”
“Well, I guess in its own way, it does.”
“Truly?” He gasped loudly. “There’s magic within these threads?”
Jenevier couldn’t help but giggle when he began examining the torn skirt now wrapped about his waist.
“Well, you tell me, Alzeen. You made certain parts of yourself disappear. And at the same time, you made this huge smile magically appear upon my face.” She giggled and pointed toward her mouth. “What do you think, Alzeen? Sure sounds like magic to me.”
He looked up at her. “Wow… that is a magical smile.” He excitingly went back to examining his new clothing. “I’ve never had magic clothes before,” he whispered.
She watched him a while longer. He seemed so young, so innocent
“So, Alzeen?”
“Yes?”
He looked back at her as if he had forgotten she was still standing there.
“Tell me.” She crinkled up her nose at him. “What were your intentions?”
He tilted his head to the side. “My intentions?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He cocked one eyebrow. “Umm… I don’t under—”
“You said earlier it wasn’t your intention to offend me. Right?”
“…Yes.”
“So, tell me. What were your intentions?”
“Oh, yes.” He smiled brightly, speaking as if reading from an official invitation. “I was sent here to make sure you made it safely to the village.”
“I see. Well that was very kind of you, I suppose. Tell me. Who sent you?”
“The chief.” He dramatically deepened his voice to mimic the chief’s words. “Alzeen, go and collect the maiden. Bring her to me.”
Jenevier chuckled. “Indeed. Well that was very kind of you both. Odd you didn’t take the time to dress, but kind all the same.”
“Then, you’ll go with me?” he asked excitedly, clapping.
She inclined her head toward him. “As you wish. Lead the way, good sir.”
Jenevier made a sweeping movement with her injured arm and fell in step behind this strange child-like man. She took the opportunity to examine him more closely. He was lean but muscular. His skin was not tanned by the sun, but he was definitely not as fair-complected as she was. He had an odd tint to his skin.
“Olive perhaps,” she said absently.
“What did you say?”
Alzeen stopped so quickly she almost bumped into him.
“Umm. I was just noticing how beautiful the color of your hair is,” she lied.
“Gratitude. Thank you very much.” He smiled happily. “Yours is golden. I’ve never seen golden hair before. It kind of looks like sunshine. I like it.” He touched a single curl, admiring it. “So… tell me what you think of mine. It’s poor manners not to return a compliment, don’t you think?”
“Indeed I do.” She tilted her head slightly. “Your hair is… umm… lovely.”
He gave her a satisfied smile before turning and continuing on.
Alzeen’s hair was different from any she had ever seen in Ashgard. It wasn’t really brown and it wasn’t really red. It reminded her of the color of dried blood. It was extremely thick and probably long, but she couldn’t be sure. It stuck out all about his head with not much rhyme or reason to it.
“Must never brush it,” she mumbled, louder than she meant to.
He sighed loudly and tossed his hands in the air.
“What are you saying now? If you want me to hear you, you’ll have to speak up.”
Jenevier was ready for his abrupt stop this time and kept her distance.
“Brush—I said the brush was getting thicker here.”
He smiled proudly. “Yes. That means we’re getting closer.”
“Closer to where?”
He casually shrugged his shoulders. “To the village.”
“So… what was the test?”
“Test?”
Alzeen stopped again, standing way too close for her comfort as he peered directly into her blushing face.
“Y-yes, what was the test I had to pass?”
“I know nothing of a test.” He cocked his head to the side and raised one eyebrow. “Do you like me? Would you like to lay with me?”
“Alzeen! What? Just… what?”
“Lay with me—would you like to mate with me now? Or would you rather wait a while?” He wrapped one of her curls around his finger. “You are quite lovely. I’ve never seen a real girl before. I think I like them.”
“What are you talking about, Alzeen?”
She had been stepping back from him as he spoke. Now, panic was washing over her.
“Girls—I think I like them. When I look at you, I get a funny feeling.” He pointed to his belly. “Right in there. It feels good. Makes my heart race, too.”
Jenevier swallowed hard and looked around. There was nowhere to run.
“There’s never been a human girl here before. Well, not since I’ve lived here. When we heard the news about you, the chief said I could have you if you accepted me. You’ve already accepted me. You said so.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I was just wondering if you wanted to lay with me now or wait until later. Or… we can do both.”
“W-wait.
Umm, wait just a minute, Alzeen.”
“Wait? For what?” He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you.”
She jumped slightly. “Oh my. Oh, umm… Tell me. What is your chief’s name?”
“Barachna. He’s very old and very wise. He told me what to say to you, and if you accepted me, we would be mates.”
He smiled again and clasped his hands behind his back, proudly.
“I-I see. Well… Alzeen, I am terribly sorry if I have misled you. Alas, I fear I am on a different quest. My apologies, but I must go meet a different chief. I cannot go with you to your village. Not right now.”
“Oh, but you must.”
He grabbed her arm and held tightly. When she visibly winced from the pain of the recent dog bite he was now squeezing, he quickly released her and stepped back.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” His cheeks flushed, he lowered his head. “I said I wouldn’t hurt you. Please forgive me. I just didn’t realize how fragile girls are.”
Seeing him standing there like that made her heart ache. She suddenly felt the need to protect him.
“Fear not, Alzeen. You didn’t hurt me. A disgusting old dog bit me before you came to my rescue.”
He suddenly perked up. “Oh, well, that’s no problem.”
Jenevier watched as he quickly ran off into the forest.
“…Alzeen?”
She jumped when he popped out of the brush carrying some unusual rust-colored leaves.
“Here, these will heal that right up.”
He swiftly went to work wrapping her arm, intricately lacing the leaves together. She was in awe of his handiwork. She smiled as she admiringly touched the neatly secured bandage.
“Oh dear, another one.”
He grabbed her cursed hand and made quick work of the bite there as well.
“Is this medicine?” She gasped. “Alzeen, my arm is already feeling better.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “It makes the pain go away. That’s all I know. But touch it not for three days, or it won’t heal right.”
“What’s it called?”
“The leaf?”
“Yes.” She nodded as she spoke.
“I know not what it truly is. I happened to sit down in a pile of them one day after I’d made the Pixies rather angry with me. And, well… the pain just went away.”
“That is the way most medicines are discovered—by accident.” She smiled, still admiring it. “Yet, how did you learn to tie them like this? It’s lovely.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t learn that.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It only seemed to make sense… so they wouldn’t fall off. You know—if I tied them like that.”
She smiled at him. “You are a natural healer, Alzeen. I am blessed you were my savior. Because of you—no more Pixies, no more dog—and now, no more pain.”
Jenevier leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. His beautiful olive skin turned bright red.
“Will you go with me now?” he begged.
“I cannot, Alzeen.” She lightly tapped his nose. “I told you. I have to go a different way.”
She saw pure panic suddenly amplified in his rust-colored eyes.
“But, you must come with me.” He grabbed her hands. “I never want you to go a different way than me. You’re my own little drop of sunshine. Remember? Besides, if I go back without you… they’ll beat me.”
He lowered his head… and very nearly stole her heart. She stroked his tangled hair. He sniffed.
“Shhh, now. Tell me, Alzeen. Who will beat you?”
“Our council. They don’t like me because I’m different from them. Barachna is kind to me. But if I disobey him—” His words broke off. “Just come and meet them. Please? They won’t harm you. I promise. They only want to look at you. I’m sure it won’t take too long. And then, perhaps they’ll let us go your way for a while.”
“I am on an extremely important mission right now, Alzeen. I simply do not have time to visit your chief. Not today. I don’t want to go a different way than you, either. Come with me the way I have to go for a while.” She took hold of his hand, tugging gently. “Were you told to return by a certain time?”
“No, just to return when you had accepted me… and we’d become mates.”
“Well, I did indeed accept you, Alzeen. But since we have not yet mated, there’s really no need for you to hurry back. Right?”
“…I suppose so.”
“Come, Alzeen. Walk with me for a while.” She tugged a little harder on his hand. “Don’t go a different way than me.”
He smiled. “If I do this, will you lay with me?”
“Umm… probably not.”
“But maybe?”
“No, not maybe.”
“You smiled when you said that. I saw you.”
She chuckled. “Are you coming, or not? Do you wish us to be parted? What if we never meet again?”
His eyes widened. “No, promise me that will never happen. I don’t ever want to go a different way than you.”
Jenevier smiled as she squeezed Alzeen’s hand. And with no resistance at all, he let her lead him back toward the stream.
Chapter 29
Margy
(MARR-jee)
Jezreel had been cooped up in that little musty old room for days. She stepped back into the parlor and stretched her arms.
She yawned. “Ugh, I starve.”
While waiting for the oven to heat, she decided to look through the herbal recipes in the little rusted box Marlise kept in the cabinet.
“Let’s see here… for fever, for warts, foot tonic, bellyache, true love. Now, that one sounds interesting.” She chuckled. “What else have we got? Here’s one for toothache, headache, rose water, Potion #4…”
Jezreel swallowed hard, staring blindly at the crackling fire in the old stove while her tears dripped from her chin as rain.
…Potion #4… damn.
With no word back from Alastyn, and no progress to be found in the secret room, Jezreel could see only darkness and doom ahead for Jenevier… and she was powerless to stop it.
“What use am I, truly?”
She thought about trying to make the precious Potion #4, just so she could smell the glorious fragrance of her absent friend. In the end, she decided it would just be too painful.
I’ll soon go mad if I just sit here, dwelling upon horrid things.
She put the old stained recipe cards back in the box and gazed out the window. Even though the seasons only vary slightly in Ashgard, she could tell the change was fast approaching. All of nature seemed to be busily preparing for the tapering temperatures soon to come.
Jezreel walked out the back door and breathed in the deliciously crisp, cooling air. Marlise’s herb garden caught her eye. It was suffering terribly from lack of attention.
“Well… I did make a promise, after all.” She sighed. “Best get to it then. No point in just moping about uselessly.” She half chuckled to herself. “Might as well work while I mope.”
After pulling weeds for a while, she stood up to stretch her back and noticed Mrs. Trinken was standing at the end of the row, quietly watching her.
“Well, hello there, Mrs. Trinken,” she said through a smile.
The silent woman did not respond.
Jezreel dropped the weeds, dusted off her hands, and headed over to speak with her unexpected visitor.
“Beautiful day, is it not?”
Still, the older lady did not speak.
“Are you well, Mrs. Trinken?” She furrowed her brow. “Is something wrong?”
When Jezreel reached the edge of the garden, Margy grabbed both her hands and held tightly.
“Child, don’t go. Terrible things will happen to you if you go.”
“Go where?”
“To the mountains in the south. You won’t find your friend,” she warned. “And you’ll never return here.”
“But I wasn’t—”
“I d
on’t see it unless you’ve decided it,” she interrupted.
“But, Mrs. Trinken… I’m useless here. There’s nothing I can do to help.” She tossed her hands up in the air. “I feel futile, helpless, ineffectual, a waste of a good friend. Just choose one. It’ll apply.”
“There’s so much you can do right here. You just need guidance, child.” Margy quickly looked around to see if anyone was there. “You found the room already. You simply don’t know how to use it yet. That’s all.”
“But how did you—”
“That’s not important. Listen now. Jenevier’s safe. I still see her light. It glows as bright as ever. But, I have this gnawing feeling she won’t be returning here for quite some time. I didn’t see that just yet. Only felt it.”
“So what am I supposed to do until then? Wait and wonder?”
“That would be wisest, yes. The evil Prince of Wrothdem can never reach her where she is now. That much I do know. He can’t go there.” Margy winked and shrugged her shoulders. “He’d never even make it through the gate.”
“So, she made it to Valadrog?” It wasn’t truly meant to be a question; she was just thinking aloud. “She actually did it. Wow…” She smiled. “All on her own—all the way to the Thralldom Mountains.”
“She’s not there yet. Well, at least I don’t think so. She hasn’t met Valadrog. But she’s beyond Merodach’s reach. That’s for certain.”
“Ugh. I can’t sit here idle, doing nothing,” Jezreel moaned.
“You should. But I know you won’t. I think your handsome young friend is getting ready to go on a long journey of his own real soon. The thing for you to do now, child, is to take over for Marlise. I’ll tell you if ever I see a change. The whole village needs you to stay right where you are. And, since it really is Jenevier’s responsibility to carry on the craft, you’re helping her most by taking up her part here.”
“Mrs. Trinken, I can’t do that. No matter how much sense it makes, I just can’t.”
“Tamar Broden desperately needs a healer, child. I can see clearly. This is your path. Yet, I can also see you in putrid darkness. The choice will be yours. But know this. If you follow your friend, your light goes out.”
“So, either I try to help and die in the process. Or I do nothing to help and live? There has to be another way.”
