by Monica Doke
Melody grunted. “That is what they keep telling me. As if I have never dressed in finery before.”
“Hush now, no need for insolence,” Acacia replied.
Melody noticed her friend had a deep, sultry voice. Acacia was so small and delicate she looked like she should have a high-pitched voice. The voice Melody had always heard in her mind seemed more what she thought matched the woman’s face.
The Pramacretine wondered if that was just how she imagined it. The woman was many years Melody’s senior, but related to her with ease. The Serare were exquisite beings. Serare knew the nature of all things, they could see your truth even when you hid it from yourself and they were notoriously adept with the Ether in their minds. They could speak to others with their minds, or steal information, and they could move things with their minds. Melody knew the Serare were a mysterious race, which preferred to live away from mortals in their own compounds.
Acacia helped the young Pramacretine out of her bath and into her white gown. The Sararen woman tied the laces in the back loosely as she knew the Pramacretine liked. As soon as they were dressed, a servant knocked at the door. Acacia opened the door reluctantly, and allowed an anxious Haroah to bring in tea. Melody invited him to join them and they sat around the fire, sharing stories of their heritage. The vast differences in the races intrigued Melody. Haroah stood suddenly looking serious. His ears turned crimson.
“Pramacretine, I am so sorry. I am to tell you to report to the Pacretine urgently with your visitor,” Haroah reported. He inclined his head respectfully and quickly left the room. Acacia and Melody made their way to the Pacretine’s quarters. Melody entered first, pulling Acacia in by the hand. The Pacretine looked at them tentatively as they approached him.
“Melody, I know how you love-” Andover began.
Melody cut him off in a rush, “Please, Father. Acacia saved my life. She has always helped keep those in the dungeons healthy as they could be. You know, for all of those years she has been unarguably justified.” Melody stared at her father, wild-eyed and challenging. After staring hard at his daughter,
Andover nodded before he spoke. ”I have, upon yours and Genewen’s insistence, given this much thought, Melody. Acacia may be free of the prison. She may not, however, stray farther than the castle grounds.” Andover turned to Acacia and said to her, “I believe your reasons, I do. We must punish the murderer of an official, under the law. I keep you in the castle grounds not to keep you punished, but to keep you safe.” The Seraren woman nodded, but Melody thrust forward.
“I think these rules are ridiculous!” Melody bellowed. “People are rotting in there because they murdered bad men -” Melody started to argue, when Acacia held her hand up to the Pramacretine.
“Melody,” Acacia addressed the headstrong Pramacretine. “You are very young, and I love your passion. I admire your convictions. You must understand that what I did, all of us whom you reason to be justified, we knew what we were doing. We knew it was wrong. We did the last thing we could think to do. Since that night, I have thought of so many alternatives. I know that when I suffered, I acted rashly. I should not have murdered my husband. I should have sought help and preserved myself. I understand you see the injustice, as you should. Justice is never simple, child. It is complex. I will serve my time as my Pacretine orders, as my conscience dictates,” Acacia explained.
Melody’s eyes grew wide as she registered Acacia’s words. The Pramacretine felt shamed by her own outburst and she lowered her head. Melody realized that she behaved inappropriately, and felt very young and naïve. Andover stood and put his hands on Melody’s shoulders. She looked up at him. He was so tall, thin, and menacing. He looked youthful even with his white hair. Rumor suggested his hair had always been white. She remained unconvinced.
“Melody, my darling, you are as strong and brave as you are beautiful. I promise you I will mend the conditions in our dungeons, and I will work with these women to ensure their punishments are equal to their crimes. I respect Acacia’s character as I admire her veracity, as I do your own. Know this, however; you must trust me as a ruler now. You are growing up and it is time for you to recognize the intricacies of our laws and see me as more than only your loving father,” Andover gently chastised. Melody nodded, choking back a lump in her throat. Tears of embarrassment welled up in her eyes. Acacia took Melody’s arm to lead her out.
“Acacia, I wish for you to stay and speak with me. Melody needs to check on her brother. You may go to him later. We must discuss the situation which occurred in the prison this night passed,” Andover said.
“Yes, Pacretine,” Acacia replied, releasing Melody’s arm.
“Melody,” Andover said as the Pramacretine reached for the doorknob. Melody turned warily, “take the Callfah lad for a walk. He is unaccustomed to high stone walls.” Melody nodded and left before shut the door on her father and Acacia’s conversation. Once she stood in the hall, alone, Melody pressed the back of her hand against her eyes, battling the surge of sorrow as it struck her. A moment later Melody heard footsteps. She looked through her hands at a passing figure. It was Jax. He did not seem to notice her, even after she called his name. Melody felt curiosity well up inside of her and decided to follow him, just to quell it. He walked quickly down the corridor and then turned. He stepped into a room in the northern wing of the palace. Melody followed silently, then stood by the half open door and listened. She heard nothing, so she peeked inside.
Jax sat at a desk in Serendipity’s study. He looked solemnly, almost sadly through the papers and things filed away in the desk. Melody wondered how he got past the privacy spell. Serendipity had not only been a powerful C'ghalie woman, but a scholar. She spent her life in the northern mountains learning to wield Ether from ancient Fae. There are Fae of all different races who are the extremely powerful because they are Ethereal. Melody wondered how powerful Serendipity had become. Jax sighed heavily. Melody stepped through the door of the study, crossing her arms. Jax did not notice her presence and continued to search for something in the former Macretine's desk.
A few moments of watching the Conjurer passed until Melody cleared her throat to speak, “It is a lovely room, is it not?” Melody thought of the young Conjurer’s hands on her waist and felt anger for her trust in him. Jax looked up sharply as she shot him with questions. “What are you doing in here, Callfah? And why did you not answer me when I called to you in the hall?” Jax stood defensively. He appeared to be mortified.
Jax answered in a mollified tone, “I did not hear you, my lady, and I apologize. I came in here to calm myself. I grew up with stories of Macretine Serendipity, which drove me here. I should not have come in here without permission, I am very sorry.” Jax looked so vulnerable Melody felt her anger fall apart. Her countenance softened and she came over to the desk beside him and picked up a round, black sphere that seemed to glimmer.
The sphere was very small, about as large as Melody’s palm. The object floated just above her hand as she held it up between them. She waved her hand over it until a small blue light swallowed it. She let her hands drop and the sphere remained in the air. Jax stared, his eyes watering from the intensity of the light. Melody then blew on it and it leaned slightly. She continued to blow, very lightly and the orb began to spin. Melody touched the orb with her forefinger. Jax watched as land, green and yellow, spread across the entire object, leaving large portions blue.
Upon realizing what the object did, Jax opened his mouth to speak. Melody held up her finger, to stay his response. She touched the globe again and the land cracked and spread apart, she left her finger on it and Jax could see very small cities spread out over it. Jax leaned forward. Melody removed her finger and whispered ‘show me Father.’ Jax gasped as the globe spun quickly until it stopped. The land began to grow until objects became visible. The scene magnified until a small room where became visible. Andover and Acacia sat before them, tiny in the orb. It appeared as though they were discussing something. The globe spun
again without word, and continued spinning.
Melody’s eyes widened and she glanced at Jax. He could tell she did not expect the globe to move again. The globe stopped brusquely. Rovingae's face burned in red on the globe's surface. Melody cried out and grasped the object. It turned black once more, and held no motion. She stared down at the object, stupefied. Melody struggled to calm her heart. She looked up at Jax, all of the color had drained from his face and neck, and he seemed to have stopped breathing. Melody walked over to him and put a hand on his arm.
“It is okay,” she whispered, “She could not have seen us. It is not a two way object, just a map.” Jax looked down at her. He put his hand on hers. The color did not return to his face, but instead, a look of misery. Melody's concern emerged when she asked, “What is it, Jax?” Melody looked him in the eyes. Her sapphire gaze cut through him like a sword.
“Melody I - I,” Jax stammered, his voice cracked with effort. She looked at him questioningly.
“Jax, what is the matter? Are you ill?” Melody asked as worry filled her mind. Jax opened his mouth and closed it again. Melody put her hand against his forehead to check his temperature. The young man squirmed away from her touch and stood up quickly from his seat.
“I must go,” he whispered. Jax bowed and ran from the room. Melody stared after him, uneasy and curious.
“Was it something I said?” Melody asked the empty room.
…
Thane stirred. Melody smiled at him.
“How are you, Brother?” The Pramacretine asked. Thane groaned as he pulled himself into an upright position.
“I am okay Melly…,” the Healer said, grinning at his sister, “my ribs hurt, but you know how well I heal.”
Melody smiled slightly before she replied, “I do, and I suspect you will be good as new by this evening. A fact which I find most convenient since I need your help.”
“Help with what?” Thane asked cautiously.
“Well…” Melody began, considering her situation, “I think something is wrong with Jax.”
“What do you mean, Mel? Is he ill?” Thane asked, concerned.
“I do not think so, but I do not know. I am not a Healer, you see,” Melody replied, smiling. Thane looked at her sideways, completely confused.
“I really like him, Thane,” Melody confessed, “I really like him and I know he is hiding something. I found him in Serendipity’s study this morning and he looked so… forlorn. He looked miserable. I want to know what he was doing in a private room, and with such a fragile reason. He is so very polite that such disregard surprises me.”
“That is very odd, Melody. He has shown you tremendous respect and I do doubt he would be in there if there were not some specific reason. Did he stay in long?” Thane asked.
“No, I saw him go in and after a few moments when he did not emerge I went in after him. When he passed me in the hall, he did not see or hear me. That is odd, is it not?” Melody queried.
“Yes, very, as you can see,” Thane replied with a smirk, “he is smitten with you, I know he would always notice you if he were not very preoccupied with something.”
Melody nodded, uncertain of her new friend before she continued, “I hate questioning my friends, but I think I have learned something recently. Something I have to learn quickly - I am a target, and people are not always what they seem.”
“Your trust is beautiful, Melly, but you are correct. Your role, even as just a Pramacretine, is a public one, an enviable and vulnerable position. Someone could use you against us. And you know what being the Divine will mean,” Thane replied sadly. “You are very strong, but also very kind. I will help you but you do need to learn to protect yourself on more than a physical level.”
“I know,” Melody replied, her face in her hands, “I do not like to distrust. What my mistake hurts him? What if I am right and he hurts me?”
“You will heal. He will heal. We all do,” Thane assured her. Melody hugged her brother gratefully.
“Where do you think we should start?” Melody asked him. Thane emerged from his bed and pulled on a vest and boots. The Healer's hair flailed wildly about his head, but he never really seemed to mind.
Finally, he turned to speak with a shrug, “I think you should speak with Jax, Mel. Sometimes the path to the truth is straight to the source. If he is less than forthcoming, we may consider less direct routes. I believe he will trust you most of all.”
“Very well,” Melody replied.
Lies and Butterflies
Melody went to the kitchen to fill a basket with an assortment of snacks for her walk with Jax and several oranges for Willow. She met Jax next to the gargoyle in the front of the garden. The warm, bright day welcomed her. Jax leaned on the gargoyle, allowing the sun to embrace his face, neck and arms. Melody saw he had not tied his tunic higher than just above his stomach. She could see scars across his chest and stomach and felt her curiosity stir. The Pramacretine did not know how to ask him about the scars. She stepped up to Jax and he looked down at her. He looked apprehensive. Melody smiled warmly.
“Are you well today, Jax?” Melody asked. Jax smiled.
“I am embarrassed, only.” Jax said, casting his green eyes to the ground.
Melody offered Jax the basket to carry, and the young man accepted it. He carried the heavy object with relative ease. A wonton expression flooded the Pramacretine's face as she spoke, “Please, do not have shame with me.”
“Melody, I -” Jax looked at her with uncertainty and longing. Melody felt her stomach lurch.
The Conjurer sighed and said, “I brought you something.” He held his hand out and dropped a small egg into her palm. She looked at it quizzically.
“What is it?” She looked closer and corrected herself with a grin, “What is inside, I mean?”
“It is a Dragon. One of the last of its kind, a pygmy. If it hatches, it will not grow larger than a raven. I found it in the Fae forest. I do not know how old it is. When I remembered I had it I thought of you - small and fierce,” Melody smiled glowingly and put the egg safely into a napkin and into her pocket.
“Why might it not hatch?” Melody asked him.
“Dragons left our world long ago, but many of their eggs were left behind, thought to be dead or not viable. Dragon eggs are strange and mysterious. They only hatch when they are ready. The conditions have to be ideal. The Dragon will not emerge until if feels warmth, love, comfort, safety and curiosity,” Jax explained.
Melody laughed, “I wish we all had that option!” Jax smiled, but it faltered. Melody noticed but was careful not to comment. Instead, she led him to a pavilion surrounded by flowers and spread her blanket on the ground. She pulled him down so they could sit together. Finally, she said, “I have to ask you something.”
“Okay,” Jax replied, clearly uncomfortable. He sat across from her.
“Why were you in Serendipity’s study? Please tell me the truth,” Melody questioned, careful not to break eye contact. Jax finally looked away to stare at his hands in his lap. He paused for a long while before attempting to continue.
“I needed to find some information,” Jax said without looking up.
“Why did you get so upset?” Melody asked. Jax sat for a long time looking very uncomfortable.
“I like you, Melody,” the Conjurer finally said, surprising her, “I did not expect to come here and like all of you as much as I do. My father -” He stopped abruptly and looked into the Pramacretine’s face. Melody waited quietly for him to finish. When he did not speak, she decided to save him.
Melody moved closer to him, her expression forgiving as she spoke, “I like you too, Jaxon. I just - I need to be around people who will not hurt me. You can understand why I may be concerned, right? You have been less than perfectly honest.” Her tone was not accusatory, only honest. Jax nodded, his expression warring between desire and fear.
Melody moved beside Jax and leaned back against the wall of the pavilion. The Pramacretine. His skin was c
lear and tanned. He must have spent a lot of time out of doors. She wondered how he handled being in the palace for so much of his time.
“Jax?” She asked quietly. He looked at her questioningly. “What happened to you?” She indicated the marks. He looked at his bare skin and blushed very heavily.
A look of fear crossed his face before he answered, “These each have stories. They are not pleasant stories, Melody, they are not stories to be told on a day as nice as this one with a woman as lovely as you.” The Conjurer discreetly closed his shirt and smiled. Melody laughed.
“That is very clever, Conjurer, to flatter a nosy woman. I will not pry,” she assured him earnestly. Jax smiled appreciatively. The Pramacretine stood and stretched before declaring, “Let us walk, Callfah.”
“As you command, Pramacretine,” the Conjurer answered, standing. He picked up the basket easily and offered his arm. They made their way around the gardens speaking of plants and weather. They spoke of politics and laughed at stories of Thane when he was younger. After they nearly emptied the basket of all but oranges, Melody and Jax came around a corner to a wisteria, which had long grown over. It made complete circle. Melody laughed and ran inside it. Jax followed hesitantly. He really did not like small spaces.
Melody laughed and grabbed Jax by the hands. He flinched at her touch. Melody chose to ignore this as she spoke, “This is the secret circle.”
“I can see why,” Jax said with a crooked smile. Melody leaned against the trunk and dropped Jax’s hands. As a timid animal might, testing the safety of another species, the Conjurer moved closer to Melody and smiled.
Melody closed her eyes and leaned her head back. With her eyes closed she said, “This is where you tell secrets to someone. The wisteria never tells a soul.”
“Do you have secrets?” Jax asked as laughter filled his eyes.
“Do I seem like I do not?” Melody asked with a laugh.
“Maybe,” Jax admitted. Her falsely stricken look caused him to laugh, “I only mean to say that you seem very open.”
