“That’s the one. I figured you didn’t take the time to read it over. It was basically her confession of what she’d done to Urien. Her dirty little secret, and the map of how she poisoned him. It wasn’t just Hemlock, but a binding curse that made the poison stay in him for prolonged periods of time.”
My mouth went dry as I sucked in a breath filled with trepidation. “You… Did you… The spell holding my dad hostage in his mind. Did you break it?”
“I almost did, yes. I stole Urien’s body and delivered it to one of Lane’s rooms in her mansion with explicit instructions on the next steps to take. They’re rudimentary, really. Any healer could perform them, now that the spell is broken. I wanted to do it myself, but breaking the binding charm took more out of me than I’m afraid I had to give. She armed the spell with several traps, which injured me beyond what I was anticipating. I don’t know why I underestimate her spell work. It was the fault of my own pride that I fell victim to her tricks.”
I dropped the orange, crushing one of the yellow velvet daisies. “How could you keep something like that from me this entire time? Let’s go back! I need to see him!”
“We will, darling. Be patient. My magic takes time to regenerate. I’ll bring you back soon enough. He’s not awake yet, anyway. Besides, your magic’s been drained from the transfusion. I doubt you’ll be able to communicate with him so soon.”
I cringed at my own dumb choice that might mute my father’s voice from me. “Seriously? How long until my magic comes back?”
Kerdik picked another orange from the tree and tossed it to me. “That one’s for eating, not throwing. It worries me that you’re so thin now.” When I was not amused at his coddling, he replied, “Patience, love. These things take time. Come and rest with me. Play awhile. The world’s got work enough for us when we return.”
When he drew near, I tilted my head up to gaze at him, chewing on my lower lip as I attempted the impossible task of figuring Kerdik out. “Bringing my dad back was your grand gesture?”
“Of course. I knew I couldn’t come back to you unless I presented you with a reason not to turn me away.”
I mulled over his assumptions that put a disproportionate amount of power in my hands. I didn’t quite understand it all, but that didn’t change the possibility of hope. “Thank you. Having my dad back? That’s a super big deal.”
“I was hoping it would be. Give his body some time for the charms to set in, and he’ll be ready for your smile soon enough. Until then, we rest here. We play. We stop fighting.”
“Well, if you insist.”
“I’m afraid I do.”
Kerdik extended his hand to me, and again I saw that signature note of fear that I would recoil from the contact. I slid my palm across his, sifting his fingers through mine and giving him a reassuring squeeze. “Alright, K. You convinced me. Let’s take a break together.”
Safe with You
Of all the things I never needed confirmed about Kerdik, one point was clear: Kerdik was a filthy cheater. “Alright, I know you mind-melded that one. You’re really just terrible at playing catch. And you’re not supposed to be using your magic! We’re supposed to be letting our mystical amazingness recharge, which means no tapping into it.”
Kerdik examined the orange in his hand, as if wondering how he might manipulate it without the use of his magic. “You’re no fun.”
“Actually, I’m tons of fun. You’re just a dirty, rotten cheater. Toss it for real this time. I don’t care if you miss.” I held both hands out to give him a wider target. “Pitch it here.”
Kerdik frowned, and then tossed the ball with aim that suggested I was two feet to the left of where I actually stood. “Well, that’s embarrassing.”
“Not embarrassing,” I lied to cover over his pride. “You’re new at this. Who’s there to be embarrassed in front of? It’s only me and the daisies here.” I picked up the orange and trotted over to him, letting the flowers kick up their tantalizing scent as I moved through the lush greenery. The air smelled like peach jam, freshly mown grass and possibilities. I stood behind him and lifted his arm, bringing it back and around, like my softball coach had taught me when I’d been much younger. “Just like that. Aim with your elbow, and your pointer finger will follow suit.” I helped him through the motion a few times.
He turned to smirk at me over his shoulder. “You seem like you know what you’re doing. You certain you aren’t using magic? You’ve barely dropped the ball at all.”
“Most magic doesn’t transfer up in Common. Your blessings did, but nothing else.” I leaned up on my toes to peck his cheek, and darn it, if he didn’t blush. It was totally precious. The pink flooding the green made for a sweet color contrast. “Thanks for my birth blessings, by the way.”
Kerdik’s smile turned bashful, his neck ducking into his shoulders as the tips of his ears pinked. “It was no trouble.”
“Well, I appreciate it. I appreciate it so much that I’m not leaving this meadow until you learn how to throw a decent pitch.”
He tossed the orange, and a little straighter this time, though his focus was so much on the aim that there wasn’t much muscle behind it.
“Good, but a little more power now. You can do it, champ.” I slapped him on the back and moved to my post across from him, so I could give him something to aim at.
This time, his pitch sunk truer, making it to my hands. I only had to stretch a little to the right. “I think that was better,” he ruled.
“You’ll be a pro in no time.”
“So this is what Commoners do to pass the time?”
“It’s what I like to do. Softball wasn’t really my thing, though – not enough contact and running around. Soccer’s my sweet spot, but I tried them all. Lacrosse, basketball, rugby, tennis, and one excruciating summer of golf.” I rolled my eyes. “That was a waste of my life. I don’t know why I thought I would like it. My lacrosse coach said I didn’t have the patience for golf, so I signed up for a semester of it just to prove her wrong. Lamest rebellion ever.”
Kerdik chuckled. “You’re a stubborn one, that’s for sure. I’m not sure if you get that from Morgan or Lane.” He caught the orange and considered his words. “Really, I think you get that from your father. Urien doesn’t come across as stubborn because he doesn’t make a big fuss when he doesn’t get his way. But if he feels strongly about something, he’s immovable. And he plans. Oh, how he plans. I had great fun with him when he was upright. He was one of my dearest friends. It was because of my friendship with Urien that I blessed you in the first place.”
“You really think you can get him back?” I was afraid to let myself trust the hope that made dormant parts inside of me bloom with new life.
“I know I can. The hardest part’s over. My magic isn’t healed yet – it took a bigger hit than I was expecting, but it was worth it. Urien was good to me. Looked at me with the same acceptance you do.”
“Aw, I’m sure you’re selling yourself short. If you didn’t parade around your ground-shaking abilities so much, people wouldn’t be so afraid of you.”
“Yes, but the fear is what keeps them in line.”
“So does love. They love Lane, and that’s why they followed her to Province 9. They fear Morgan, and they ran out on her.”
“I’m certain Morgan crossing you had a little something to do with that. No one wants to be on the wrong side of my wrath. I’m almost glad my magic is a little broken, so she can wait out her days in fear, trembling in dread of the day I come for her.”
I tossed the ball from one hand to the other. “But you said yourself, you can’t kill her. You put a protection on the Daughters of Avalon so that you can’t kill them.”
“Ah, but there is so much more to dominance than killing. So much more to fear than the final blow. There are the millions of blows that lead up to the finale. It will be my finest orchestration, composing Morgan’s demise.”
I frowned at him. “I don’t like this kind of talk. I don’
t want someone to have to die for the world to be right again.”
“What you don’t want is evil like hers roaming about unchecked.”
“What I don’t want is for my mother to be so terrible. Isn’t there hope that she’ll change? Isn’t there a way that someday she’ll be a better person?”
Kerdik caught the throw I lobbed at him, his eyebrows puckered in my direction. “She let your boy toy be killed, tried to marry you off to your uncle, threw you into a well and starved you, and yet you hold optimism for her redemption? Why? What possible use could her redemption serve?”
“I don’t feel happy thinking about revenge. I want what all girls want – for my mom to look at me and be proud, be happy at what I’ve become. I don’t waste my wishes, hoping for her to die. That’s grim, dude. I don’t think I’d want to live in a world where I didn’t have hope that people could change for the better.”
“It’s naïve,” he warned, “and it’s never going to happen. Morgan’s center of the universe is her own desire. She cares nothing for your life, only that it doesn’t outshine hers. And darling, there’s no chance for your light to bow to hers. You have faith in good things, and she has trust only in herself.”
“You shouldn’t encourage me not to forgive her. You shouldn’t push me toward revenge. You hurt me, too, you know. If I didn’t forgive you, then where would we be now?”
I could tell Kerdik wanted to defend himself, but closed his mouth instead, showing us both that he was capable of growth. He dipped his head in my direction, humbling himself instead of arguing. “You’re a princess, if ever I saw one.”
I tossed the ball to him. “We should get going, if you’re feeling up to the trip. I’m sure Lane’s freaking out right about now.”
He caught the orange, but instead of throwing it, trotted it over to me. “Eat this first. And when we get back, you’re sitting down to supper first thing. There are some maladies even my magic can’t fix, so take better care of yourself.”
I dug my thumb into the orange, ripping it open and tearing out a segment. The juice ran between my fingers as I handed him a section. “Here. It looks real good.” I shoved a bite into my mouth and savored the light citrus that coated my tongue with pure sunshine. It was the fourth orange I’d eaten to appease him.
He looked at the dripping fruit, and then at me, as if I was joking. “I don’t need to eat to live; you do.”
“Sure, you don’t need this to survive, but what’s the point in living forever if you never enjoy the fun things? Eat a bite. It’s warm from the sun. Super way yummy.” I didn’t take no for an answer, but kept the orange piece outstretched to him.
Instead of taking it from my me, Kerdik wrapped his fingers around my wrist and brought my arm closer so he could eat straight from my hand, like a giraffe at the zoo. He tilted his head to the side, considering the flavor that danced in his mouth. “Wow, that is better than I remember.”
“When’s the last time you had an orange?”
“I want to say ten years ago? Fifteen? Time doesn’t mean the same to me as it does to you.”
My mouth dropped open with a loud guffaw. “Are you serious? You can straight up grow fruit trees from nothing in a blink, but you haven’t had an honest to goodness orange in ten or fifteen years? That’s bonkers. Seriously, K. You need to live a little. Have another bite.”
Kerdik grinned at me, and then held his mouth open, silently asking for more. I fed him another piece, letting his plump lips close on my fingertips. “That’s delicious. My, I am talented.”
I chuckled at his self-compliment, but then noticed his forehead was slick with sweat. “You alright? You were looking better for a minute, there, but now you’re going downhill again. What gives?” I walked with him over to the orange tree to get him under the shade. We sat beneath it, our knees pulled up and resting against each other’s.
“Regeneration takes time. A few more days, perhaps.”
“Days? Um, not to be a child about it, but Lane’s probably freaking out that I’ve been gone this long. I should probably be getting back.”
“Then I’ll come with you.”
I chewed the orange segment. “Are you sure about that, chief? Lane’s not going to be as forgiving as me about the whole leaving me bleeding in the tub thing.”
Kerdik nodded. “If you need to get back, I’m the only one who can take you.”
“Oh, right.” His shoulder pressed to mine while we ate, polishing off two more oranges before I begged off. “It’s so good, but I’ll get sick if I eat another one. Too much citrus for one meal.”
I made to wipe the juices off on my teal cotton shorts, but Kerdik motioned for me to give him my hands. With water he produced from his palms, he washed me off, and then thumbed a few stray lines of juice from my chin. He took a chance and kissed my cheek, warming the skin before his arm wrapped around my shoulders. “I like it here with you.”
“Where exactly are we?”
“This is my meadow. It’s my special place.” He leaned his cheek on my head while he trilled his fingers up and down my forearm. “I’ve never brought anyone here before. I didn’t know where else I’d be safe.”
“You’re safe with me,” I promised. I craned my neck to glance up at him. “Am I safe with you?”
Kerdik’s expression grew solemn. “On my honor, I’ll never hurt you again as long as I live.”
Crashing at My Place
I’m not sure what state I was expecting the mansion to be in when we returned to it, but out and out panic wasn’t in the forecast. The servants were rushing around the house, one of them screeching to a halt at the sight of us near the entrance with a shrill, “The princess has been returned to us!” Then she shrieked at Kerdik’s close proximity, and tore down the hall to escape him.
A collective noise of relief echoed in the nearby hallways, and one of the servants ran through the mansion shouting the news. This place really needed an intercom system. Lane bolted toward me from up the stairs, wild-eyed and ready for a fight. Her finger flew in Kerdik’s direction. “You! Make off with my daughter again, and you don’t want to know what! Rosie, are you okay?”
My answer didn’t matter because I couldn’t get out word one as more people poured into the foyer. They wanted to come near me, but were too afraid to get near Kerdik. Lane crushed me with a fierce hug that showed me exactly how scared she’d been. “I’m fine, Lane. Honest. We just went away for a little bit so I could rest. Kerdik was afraid someone would mess with my body while it was weak.” I shot Kerdik a look that told him I wouldn’t rat out his secret that it was he who’d been too weak to defend himself.
In response, he threaded his fingers through mine and squeezed, like we were two children with a secret. “I returned her safe and sound. You’ve no need to worry, Elaine.”
Lane ripped her body from mine, furious that he was speaking calmly when she’d been so clearly freaking out. “Don’t tell me not to worry when my only daughter vanishes into thin air! This girl is my world! You don’t just make off with somebody’s world and expect everything to be cool. Get upstairs!”
Kerdik rolled his shoulders back, letting Lane know he would tolerate her mouth only so far. I tugged him along so things didn’t get any worse. His hand was turning clammy, and his grip was slackening. “Come up to my room,” I urged him, noticing when he stumbled slightly. Then I lowered my voice to speak into his ear, “Can you make it?”
He nodded, though none too convincingly.
Draper came bounding in from outside, mud up to his knees. “Rosie!” he cried, clutching his chest as if he might have a heart attack.
I waved him over, and did my best to take charge of the situation. “Everyone, I’m real sorry to have made you all worry, but I’m back now. I’m just tired, so I’m going up to my room to sleep, if that’s alright.” I shot Lane a look that told her to get the staff out of there quick.
She caught on, though not without an inquiring look that demanded an explanati
on sometime soon. She shooed everyone out while I waved Draper toward us. He kicked off his boots and ran to swallow the distance between us, sweeping me up in a hug that told me how scared he’d been. “Never again!” he roared. “Never disappear like that ever again. I can’t tell you how out of my mind it made me to have you gone all over again.”
I kissed his cheek and squeezed him, taking the opportunity the closeness provided me to whisper in his ear. “I need you to help me get Kerdik to my room.”
Kerdik glared at me for betraying his secret, but said nothing as he clung to the banister, his chest heaving. “I’m fine.”
I spoke quietly to Kerdik. “We can trust Draper and Lane. Bastien, too. If you collapse on the stairs, then everyone will know. This way, your secret’s contained.”
The fear on Draper’s face was plain as day. He was wary to touch Kerdik, but managed a hand on his elbow. “Easy, then. One step at a time.”
Kerdik jerked his arm from Draper, indignant at having his wounded pride so closely examined. “I said I’m fine. I don’t need help up the stairs. I’m Master Kerdik. All of Avalon bows to me.”
Draper quirked his eyebrow. “Would you like me to bow right now, or would you like me to make sure you don’t fall down the stairs? Your call.”
I wrapped his green arm around my shoulders and moved us slowly up the winding steps. “For all the power you have, you are such a guy. Seriously, dude. We’re helping you, and you’ll stop being a baby about it.”
We made it up eight more stairs before Kerdik’s eyes grew panicked. “My body isn’t safe here! We need to go back to my meadow.”
I shook my head. “Draper and I will watch your body to make sure nothing bad happens. I won’t leave you the entire time. I’m getting you up the stairs without everyone watching. See? Your secret’s safe.” I had one hand on his taut abdomen, and the other around his hips, knowing he only trusted me to anchor his body.
Stupid Girl Page 10
