Chapter 28 #2
“It’s true that I don’t mind battles, but it’s hard to fight an enemy without liquid flying from your cup. I was most distressed to see numerous spills in the midst of the battle. Given the precious rarity of the coffee, that was tragic.”
“The moss didn’t seem to mind lapping it up. I think the moisture even helped it grow some overnight.”
“Coffee is a stimulant.”
“I would invite you to simply bring your cups over here, where the openness and greenery of our terrace will naturally soothe your elven sensibilities, but I suppose it won’t necessarily be safe for you.
Even now that you’re known to be the queen’s daughter—and probably not interested in assassinating her.
” Rylana lifted her eyebrows, curious about what she hadn’t heard of their conversation the night before.
How much had Fareesa and Sylin managed to discuss before the attack had begun?
Had Sylin come to believe without a doubt that she was the queen’s daughter?
“I don’t think I’ll be that safe, no,” Sylin said.
“Is that confirmation that you are the queen’s daughter? Did you remember her?”
“Are you prying into my personal life?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hm.”
“You can’t not answer me,” Rylana said. “Not when Jildarin and I were involved in setting things up so you could speak with the queen.”
“You mean you’ve been meddling.”
“Assisting in reuniting a long-lost child with the mother who believed her dead for decades. That’s a noble act.”
“Also known as interfering, interloping, and butting in.”
“Now, who’s been noshing on thesaurus pages? Look, I just need to know if you’re sticking around in Tranquility or leaving for the elven heartlands in the south to learn how to be a proper princess and train in the ways of governing an entire kingdom.”
“You need to know that?” Sylin asked.
“Of course. You’re my best friend. If you leave, I’ll have to start interviewing others for the position.
It’ll be difficult because the options on the table thus far aren’t very appealing.
My cousin is far too worried about my fertility, so she can’t apply.
My brother schemed against the diner, so he’s out.
The employees of the diner are fairly agreeable, if a touch eccentric, but since I’m their employer, we should maintain a professional relationship.
Besides, I don’t think Rolf or Gniknik would come with me if I wanted someone to jog and spar with. ”
“The goblin might spar with your purse.”
“It’s not lonely.”
“Are you?” Sylin’s eyebrows twitched. “You spend a lot of time with your new business partner.”
“I do enjoy his company.”
“I would hope so. He not only bought you a bedroom set, but he drugged a bunch of high-ranking elven warriors for you. Based on your feelings and hunches. Fairy-tale true loves aren’t purported to be that devoted.”
“Yes. After all he’s done for me this week, maybe I should get him a gift.”
“I would. My point is that you won’t be that bereft in the absence of my delightful companionship.”
“I suppose I would survive if you departed, but I would miss you. Are you going?”
Rylana watched Sylin and felt she was doing a noble job of not grabbing her and shaking the information out of her.
How Sylin could be so calm about the entire situation, Rylana couldn’t imagine.
Was she stunned? Indifferent? Underwhelmed by meeting Queen Fareesa?
The tiniest bit relieved to learn she had a living family member who’d cared enough to seek her out?
Sylin could have been any or all of those things, and Rylana would never have known. After all, Sylin had always been a master at hiding her thoughts and under-reacting.
“I do not plan to visit the seat of the elven kingdom in the south,” Sylin finally said. “Even if my kind didn’t have many reasons to detest me, I wouldn’t be interested in being involved in politics or meeting a lot of distant relations I can’t remember.”
“Did you remember the queen? Once you sat down with her? She’s not a distant relation.”
“I… She did seem familiar.”
“And hearing her say your full name also seemed familiar,” Rylana said with certainty, trusting she’d read her friend’s face correctly on that.
“Yes.”
“Maybe you could have a relationship with your mother without all the politics and machinations of the elven court and other families aspiring to take the scepter.”
“I gathered they all went together.” Did Sylin sound the slightest bit disappointed?
Like she might, if the queen had stayed, have been content to meet her occasionally for coffee?
“I’ve no interest in returning to the south, regardless.
I left a lot of enemies behind there, and the humidity was unpleasant to exercise in. ”
“Coffee originates in those latitudes. I’d think that would make you inclined to tolerate them well.”
“Thanks to gnomish vacuum-sealing technology, businesses here are able to acquire fresh coffee without any need for immersion in the thick, hot air.” Sylin looked across the street toward her chosen venue.
“You’re going to keep going there every day? Predictably?” Thinking of all the elves who had changed sides in order to attack her made Rylana worry for Sylin. Would she be any safer remaining here than if she went south with the queen?
“Twice a day most likely. I know you need me nearby to advise you when necessary.”
“I am woefully lost in life when left to my own devices.” Rylana considered Sylin for a moment. “Did you come this morning to advise me on something? I seem to recall you mentioning you’re not my therapist.”
“I am not, but I’m willing to jog with you and listen to you prattle about your family, love life, and goals.”
“That’s magnanimous of you.” Rylana remembered their conversation about dreams on the peak in the park.
“I might be up for a jog this evening. Though I think I’ve decided…
” She gazed around the terrace and noticed a few patrons in the street heading to the diner for breakfast. “Well, maybe for a season in one’s life, there’s nothing wrong with focusing on helping others fulfill their dreams. Maybe one can find contentment in that. ”
“A famous human philosopher wrote that the more people you help, the more potential you have to be enriched yourself.”
“Is that a tenet you hold dear as an assassin?”
“Assassins help a lot of people.”
“But those who hire them more so than those they target.”
“Naturally.” Sylin headed for the stairs.
Rylana started to follow her but remembered the hunting horn she’d tucked under the bar during the battle.
She retrieved it before striding after Sylin, but she bumped against one of the pots and dropped it.
It landed on a layer of moss, something the elves had tucked around the shrubs and trees to keep the soil moist. When Rylana reached for the horn, it glowed yellow, and she paused.
“You didn’t do that before,” she said to it, surprised.
Even when Bixtok had rubbed it free of dirt, the horn hadn’t done anything to indicate the nature of its magic. If not for the dog finding it and Jildarin saying so, Rylana wouldn’t have guessed it was magical.
The horn glowed brighter, and were the mugs carved into the feast picture shining blue?
Tentatively, Rylana touched the horn, half-expecting it to zap her.
Had something happened during the fight to activate its magic?
She hadn’t noticed it glowing the night before, but she’d been distracted.
It could also be that whatever tree this was that the plant master had tucked into the pot had magical properties.
It did have some of those trumpet flowers that had spat defensive thorns.
Could touching something else enchanted have caused the horn to flare to life? And what exactly did its magic do?
“What is that?” Sylin had returned to her side to peer into the pot.
“Something I picked up as a gift for my brother who enjoys antique hunting paraphernalia. Technically, I meant it to be more of a bribe than a gift.”
The blue mugs glowed brighter.
“Where did you pick it up?” Sylin asked.
“The dog Willow found it in the forest near Toadstool Rock while we were searching for enchanted morels. It was kind of buried near a log.”
“Maybe you should have left it buried.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“It’s glowing. Need I remind you of the troll curse and all the ill that happened after your castle started glowing?”
“I’m sure unearthing an old hunting horn in the woods isn’t going to unleash a curse.”
Shaking her head, Sylin walked toward the stairs. “Maybe I’ll travel south, after all.”
“Funny,” Rylana muttered and picked up the horn again, intending to stick it back in her quiver for the time being.
It not only didn’t stop glowing, but it warmed in her grip. Rylana sighed, wondering if she would get the days of rest and relaxation she’d been envisioning.