Into the Other (Alitura Realm Book 1)

by J. K. Holt

  “So,” Emmie said. “May I ask what you and the statue were discussing?”

  “Oh! I was just telling Peggy here she looks cold. Can you imagine that ocean wind hitting her? She’s not got anything on.”

  Tess had spoken with a serious intensity that Emmie immediately matched. “Right that, but she is a mermaid. Aren’t they more accustomed to the cold, perhaps?”

  “Might be,” Tess shrugged, “though she’s out of the water, you know- out of her element. I don’t know if the same rules apply for them then.”

  “Hmmm. You may be right. Maybe we could smuggle her a shawl?”

  Tess nodded. “And a knit hat.”

  Emmie looked up. “Not a worry, Peggy!” she shouted suddenly, causing more than a few heads to turn their way. “Tess and I will be dressing you shortly.”

  Tess snorted loudly, adding to the spectacle, and soon they were both laughing, caught in the frustrating and lovely sensation of surrendering self-control to the sensation of utter glee. Random passers-by gave them a wider berth, and Tess wiped a tear from her eye as she finally attempted to rein herself in. She and Emmie grinned stupidly at each another for a moment.

  “Ah, well.” Emmie said finally. “I’d rather not, but I do have to be on my way. I was just heading to work at the bakery. You’ll remember, from the stall that day?”

  “Oh, yes, right.”

  “It’s just down that way,” Emmie pointed north. “You’ll come visit soon, won’t you? My friends and I often frequent the Spilling Inn- you’ll know it, it’s just near the Muddy Gull?”

  “Yes, I was there once.”

  “Good. Come sometime in the evening and look for us; you’ll be very welcome. I’m quite happy to have met you again, Tess.”

  “Me, too.” Tess stood with Emmie.

  “Until next time, then? Ta,” Emmie said, waving as she walked away.

  Tess felt warm from the unexpected connection, absurdly pleased at the possibility of a new friend. She watched Emmie disappear from sight and then looked back towards the harbor.

  The boats were starting to come in. Sun glinted from the tips of waves, throwing pinpricks of light into Tess’s eyes, the kaleidoscope of colors both blinding and breathtaking.

  She supposed this was enough galivanting for one morning. She turned, brushing off the dirt from her bottom, and moved to greet the fishmongers on the docks.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Life at the shop was a series of starts and stops. With Tess more or less fully trained, Gowan became more comfortable disappearing, either to his room or into town, and Tess would be left to her own devices. She would clean, sort, sketch- anything to keep busy. She’d attempted just once to reorganize a small section towards the front, during a particularly desperate moment of boredom, but the sound that had escaped from Gowan’s lips as he’d discovered her handiwork was barely human- she’d not gotten up the courage to try it again.

  During most of the quiet moments, she would read, setting up at the counter on a stool, chin in hand as she flipped through tomes, searching for some morsels of information she might have missed that could aid in her understanding of Alitura.

  It was on one such occasion as this that Tess heard the sigh of the heavy door and looked up to find Emmie’s companion from the market removing his cap as he sauntered to the counter.

  “Hullo again. Remember me?” His hair was mussed, presumably from the wind, and his dark curls stuck out in all directions, seemingly against all rules of gravity.

  Tess frowned, feigning ignorance. “Hmm. No, sorry- we do get quite a few customers through here.”

  A look of confusion flickered across his face, replaced by a grin when he saw the corners of Tess’s mouth curl up in amusement. He played along. “Quite a few, eh?” He made a show of craning his neck to look down the nearest section of the shop. “Must be an unusual lull at the moment.”

  “Yes, well, it’s early. We’ll get more once everyone finishes breakfast and begins their day properly. Speaking of, I see you’re without pastries this morning.”

  “Ahh! So you do remember me.”

  Tess chuckled. “I do. And I should probably thank you again.”

  “For?” He quirked an eyebrow.

  “For saving my stomach the last time we met.”

  He inclined his head, eyes sparkling with a good-natured humor. “You’re quite welcome.”

  “I’m Tess Landry.”

  He took the hand she offered. “Tess. I’m Ashe Reed.”

  After a beat had passed, she dropped his hand reluctantly; it was warm and she was caught by an intense and sudden desire for physical contact with another. How long had it been since she’d been hugged? Held? She couldn’t remember.

  Ashe dropped his cap on the counter and leaned an arm against the weathered glass, sparing a glance towards the door in a way that struck Tess as almost paranoid. She took a guess. “If you’re looking for Gowan, he’s gone out. Or maybe you’re just hoping to avoid him.”

  “Eh.” He laughed, then looked away, caught out. “I borrowed something from Gowan a while back. I’m here to return it.” He reached into his coat and removed a scroll, handing it over to Tess. She glanced at it, noting the title (Wharfton Nautical Areas) before she flashed on a recollection of Gowan noting angrily during their first encounter that he’d lent out the information on … what was it? The sea dimple? And she was almost certain he’d mentioned the name Reed. Well, that puzzle was solved. Curious, she set it aside and turned her attention back to Ashe, cocking her head. “Why avoid him if you’re only returning something?”

  “Well…” He scratched his head, his dark curls dripping, sheepish in a way that seemed out of place on his tall, lanky frame. He struck her as someone normally self-assured, though at the moment a nervous energy seemed to hum through his aura. “Might be I told him I’d have it back right away. That was a good six weeks ago now. And Gowan isn’t one to mince words when he’s irritated.”

  Tess chuckled, inclined to agree. There was an honest transparency to Gowan that made him unlikely to spare feelings if he felt a tongue-lashing was owed.

  “I’m sorry,” Ashe said. “I don’t mean to speak unkindly towards him. I know you’re related. Emmie told me he’s your uncle.”

  Something clicked in Tess’s mind then, and the knowledge sent a welcome shot of spunk up Tess’s spine. She leaned back, a smirk playing on her face. “So, Emmie told you she saw me again. And she told you I worked here, as well?”

  Ashe hesitated, sensing a trap. “Yes. Why, what are you getting at?”

  “Nothing. Only that I don’t think you initially intended to return the map. But it was the best excuse for you to come here, wasn’t it? And Gowan left, oh, five minutes before you arrived? So let’s just assume you were watching for him to leave. Am I getting any of this right?”

  Ashe’s face had begun to redden as she spoke, confirmation in itself. To his credit, he didn’t deny it. He met her eyes and held them. His were a bright blue, crinkled now from the smile he was attempting to suppress. “I’ll say this. Given our first meeting, you’re not what I expected to find. I thought there would be a shy, cowering girl hiding behind a bookshelf that I would need to coax out.”

  Now it was her turn to blush, reminded of her first fumbling encounter with him. “Sorry to disappoint you. I can still go hide, if it’d make you more comfortable.”

  “Nah, no need for all that. I like this better, anyways. It’s good to be surprised in life.” He rapped his knuckles on the wood and stood up fully, his head close to hitting a low hanging beam. Tess wondered at his height- he must be a couple inches past six foot, at least. He didn’t seem to notice how intense it made his presence- like an newfoundland puppy who assumes he takes up much less space and is continually surprised by what he knocks over.

  Tess fought the desire to stand as well. Instead, she craned her neck back to look at him, miffed slightly by the disparity of power that came with the height difference.


  “Well, now that we’ve established that you came here to see me, maybe you could tell me why that is. As you’ve pointed out, I didn’t make the most memorable impression the first time we met.”

  “Now, who said it wasn’t memorable? Certainly not I.”

  “Ha. Ha.” She crossed her arms and cocked her head. “I’m waiting.”

  “Rot, you’re blunt.” He looked up to the ceiling. Coming up with a lie. Tess wondered at the need.

  Finally, he met her gaze. “Curiosity, mostly. We don’t get many newcomers in Wharfton, might be you’ve noticed. And if Gowan is the only company you keep, I’ll wager you could use a friend or two. Splinters, you’re probably dying of loneliness by now.”

  “How charitable of you,” Tess replied, prickling. She wondered at her assumption that he would lie to her; perhaps he was only embarrassed by the truth- that he pitied her. If there was anything she’d learned to despise over the last year, it was pity. “Well, you’ll be relieved to know that I’m just fine. I assure you, I’m very capable of making my own friends.”

  Ashe had spotted his error. “Oh, well I didn’t mean to imply-”

  “That I’m helpless and pathetic?”

  He held up both hands. “Look, I’m sorry if I offended. I- I take it back, what I said about you needing friends, truly. I only meant that I was wondering if you’d like another few. Me, maybe? And Emmie. She likes you.”

  Mollified, Tess took a breath. She bit the inside of her cheek and squinted up at him- his aura, if anything, had grown with his anxiety.

  Ashe took it as cue. “I grew up here in Wharfton. Small enough town, I know most everyone. I could introduce you around? I know you’ve got your uncle, and he’s very well-respected, but I’m sure you’ve noticed he isn’t the most social creature. And it can be hard to break through some of the social circles around here without someone to help bring you in.”

  “So, your motivation is… to be my friend?” Tess said.

  Ashe squinted at her. “You’re awfully suspicious, though I’m not sure why. You’re a pretty girl with wits- I can’t imagine I’m the first person you’ve met who would want to get to know you.”

  I’m suspicious because I can tell that’s not the whole story; you’re lying about something. Or at least omitting some truth. Of this, she was certain. But she couldn’t deny that Ashe made a good point. And hell, she was lonely, at least for friends her own age. She’d always had solid friends through school, though even they had started to fade into the background after she’d lost Maggie. They’d been so supportive during the illness, so kind. They’d rallied around her after the death. Then, they’d just…faded. Perhaps Tess hadn’t recovered in the timely manner they’d expected. Or maybe they were just sixteen and needed more fun than the grief-tinged company Tess could offer. Regardless, she’d lost the true company of friends long before coming here. The loss had been but a dull ache, drowned out by the consuming pain of Maggie’s death; Tess had barely noticed.

  Now, though, Tess felt the tug of desire towards connection again.She’d liked Emmie immensely. And Ashe, ironically, had an earnestness to him that was endearing, despite the fact that he was hiding something. Besides, she was confident she’d get the truth from him eventually. And she could hardly be one to judge those who didn’t immediately share all their secrets with her upon first meeting. Trust was earned.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I think there’s a good chance that I may have overreacted a bit just then.”

  “There now, see?” Ashe said. “That didn’t hurt at all, did it?”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  “Do you know a boy named Ashe?” Tess queried over dinner.

  Gowan set both elbows on the table and looked at her plainly. “Do you mean Asher Reed? Aye, I know him. Why?”

  “He came by the shop today while you were out. Returned your map.”

  Gowan snorted. “Bout bloody time.”

  “Right. Well, he asked me to meet him and a few friends at the Spilling Inn tonight.”

  Gowan watched her. “And?”

  “Nothing. Just wanted to see what you thought.”

  Gowan shrugged. “I’m not your keeper. It’s after hours, you can do whatever you want with your time.”

  “No, I know. I just mean- I guess I wanted your impression of him.”

  “Trouble-maker, but not the serious sort. Family are decent folk, run the bakery two streets north of here. You could do worse than him and his lot, I suppose, though I’ll admit I know little about them as a whole. I could ask Bev, if you’d like.”

  “Bev? The woman who runs the Inn?”

  “Aye. She has two children- they run with Ashe a fair amount.”

  “Oh. Well, thanks but no, please don’t ask her. You’re already pretending to be my uncle- no need to play the overprotective father as well.”

  “Suit yourself.” He tucked back into his food. “You going, then?”

  “I suppose.” She pushed at her food, and Gowan sensed her indecision.

  “My, the level of excitement. I do believe it’s normal at your age to have peers to spend time with. No need to be so glum now it’s actually a possibility.”

  “Ugh.” Tess dropped her fork. “If I skip on the way out the door, will that make you happy?”

  “No. I just waxed those floors yesterday. Don’t go scuffing them up.”

  “Don’t you mean I waxed them?”

  He fixed her with a look. “Your point?”

  “I have none.”

  “Precisely.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The lanterns were just being lit as Tess slipped out into the street. An opaque mist curled along the cobblestones, climbing towards low lying windows and eddying in the purple shadows. Among the fading light, auras of distant villagers danced as if ghostly fireflies in Tess’s vision, and she took a moment to reorient herself among the inevitable feeling of unreality of it all. She fought her brain in moments like this, as if trying to placate a confused child who feels that something isn’t right but isn’t certain what it is, or even if they want to fix it. At times, this world threw her more than a bit off-kilter.

  She kept her footing on the slippery cobbles, grateful once again for her steady, if boring, shoes, and spared a glance upward, across the deep blue of the autumn sky. The town was hurtling towards winter now, its residents responding by hiding under lay upon layer of clothing as they trundled down the alleys and disappeared into their homes. This street was a mix of residences and businesses, many combined as Gowan’s was, and Tess had come to recognize the faces of many local tenants, though few acknowledged her with more than a glance or curt nod. Though not unfriendly, Tess had learned from these recent weeks of venturing out among the people that both Gowan and Ashe were right- it was hard to break through a slight, if pervasive, feeling of privacy at best, distrust at worst. She was a new face. Therefore, she was an outsider. Destined to stay along the periphery of their lives.

  Tess admitted, albeit begrudgingly, to herself that this was the exact reason she needed Ashe and Emmie’s help in pushing in. Though she’d be damned if she admitted it to Ashe.

  Her gut clenched with nerves as she climbed the few steps to the Spilling Inn, slipping in after a large man smelling of brine who blocked her view of the interior. The man stopped short just inside the door, seemingly unaware of the blockage he created as he craned his neck this way and that, searching for his party. Then, with a loud “Oi!”, he pushed off again towards the bar. Heads momentarily turned in the direction of his call, and were instead treated to a startled Tess. She lowered her eyes, shrugging out of her shawl and hanging it on a peg near the door before searching herself for a familiar face.

  She spotted them shortly, congregated in the same back table that she’d glanced Emmie last time. Emmie was there, as was Ashe, and two others she didn’t recognize. No one at the table had noticed her yet, and several of them appeared deep in conversation with each other, possibly arguing, though she couldn’t
be certain. Reluctant as she was to interrupt, she couldn’t dawdle at the front forever, and she slowly wove through the tavern, squeezing through a couple of close tables until Emmie saw her, smiling and announcing her loudly, as if to hush the ongoing conversation. “Tess, hullo! Come and sit next to me, there’s plenty of room.”

  Emmie scooted down the bench to allow for Tess. Ashe flashed her an apologetic smile, confirming Tess’s suspicions that she’d appeared at a slightly inopportune moment, before making introductions around the table. The girl opposite Emmie was introduce as Rosalie, though she interjected with a “my friends call me Rosie” in a way that invited interpretation- Tess had the distinct impression that it was meant more as a warning against over familiarity than an invitation to friendship. Rosalie was of medium built, with long copper hair and a pointed nose. She had lovely lips, but they had affected a slight scowl since Tess joined the party. Perhaps she was unhappy about being interrupted during a disagreement- Tess vowed not to take it personally. She flashed Rosalie a friendly grin, to which Rosalie’s scowl remained unchanged as she picked at a spot on the table with a knife and affected a look of boredom.

  The other boy was a welcome contrast to Rosalie’s cool reception. Large ears framed an eager, freckled face, and shaggy blonde hair covered what might have otherwise been an overly prominent forehead. He smiled broadly at Tess when it came to his introduction, displaying an endearing gap in his front teeth. He was introduced as Fish by Ashe.

  “Sorry, was that ‘Fish’ you said?” Tess queried.

  “Well, that’s my nickname. I’m Edric, but no one calls me that but me mum.”

  “Alright, Fish it is. Unusual nickname though- is there a story behind it?” Tess had settled herself on the seat by now and was buoyed by the warm welcome being exhibited by three of her four companions. Rosalie, committed to her act, continued her study of the table.