Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
CASSIAN
Sterling decided to stay in Ladiall for a few days while he sold his house and packed his things, so I returned to Fibbersnap Inn alone.
Breaking the news to Griffin and Olive was difficult, but they were kind and supportive, and they offered help in whatever way I needed.
Gertrude arrived at the inn before Sterling, bearing a large pack of supplies.
She explained her idea was not conventional, but she knew of an enchantment that could track a specific piece of text, and then she explained most Faian runes bore the same shape at their center.
She hypothesized we could track that shape using the enchantment to lead us to each stone in the forest, but only if they wanted to be found.
I told her they did, and we got to work.
It took a full day of work to collect materials and create the enchantment. Gertrude stayed in a room for the night but insisted I let her pay, and we spent the evening continuing to catch up.
“You know, Cassian,” she said to me while we chatted beside the fire in my room. “If you wanted to continue your apprenticeship, I could arrange something. We could correspond through letters, and I could come out to visit you once in a while to check your progress.”
“Really?!” I asked a little too excitedly.
She chuckled. “Sure. I loved having you as a student. Not many of my past apprentices were as enthusiastic about learning as you are.”
“Thank you, Gertrude—” I stopped to really consider the offer. What would I do with magic once my apprenticeship was over? “What’s the point, though? I won’t be a career witch. This is my job now.”
Gertrude folded her arms, tapping her glossy black nails along her upper arm. “My understanding of your goal was that you wanted to use witchcraft to help others. You don’t need to be a career witch to do that. Everything you’ve learned so far has helped you run the inn, hasn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes…” I said.
“That isn’t enough for you? Would you really be happy stopping your education now?” she asked.
“No, I wouldn’t.”
She smiled. “Then it’s settled. We’ll continue the apprenticeship.”
In the morning, she wished me good luck and returned to Ladiall, and I got to work searching for the rune stones.
The enchantment was a small glass orb that glowed violet when the text was near and dimmed when it wasn’t. I tested it by standing next to the boulder at the front of the property, satisfied when it lit bright violet.
It took the full day of searching, but by sunset, I had three rune stones in my cloak pocket. When I went out front to check the boulder by the sign for the final two, the boulder had ejected the rune stones onto the snowy ground. I wondered if Ponsaria had something to do with it.
I had all five stones.
I didn’t need to worry about uncursing them. I just needed to move them elsewhere. But where could I place them that wouldn’t cause problems? Could I lock them away in the attic?
No, I had a better idea.
I crossed the river bridge into the woods to the same spot I first met Ponsaria. I wanted her permission first, afraid of causing harm with my good intentions. I sat on the log with the stones in my lap and waited, shivering in the snow.
I heard her before I saw her. Her hooves crunched through the fresh snow until she reached me, resting her nose on my shoulder.
Cassian. You did it.
“Thank you for the help. Now I don’t have to sell the inn,” I said.
Wonderful. I’m happy to know you’ll be here. Is there something I can do for you? she asked.
“I have an idea, but I wanted your input first.” I lifted the stones for her to see. “These stones cursed the inn to make it impossible to receive money for services. I want to relocate them around the perimeter of your forest to keep humans from stealing its resources for money.”
Ponsaria paused. Would the animals inside the forest still be able to collect resources?
“Like what?” I asked.
Like a squirrel collecting acorns that a tree has dropped. Is that considered a transaction?
“I could still feed everyone when the inn was cursed. I could even provide services, but I couldn’t receive money for it. The squirrels will be okay.”
Then I don’t see a problem with it. Thank you, Cassian.
“Thank you, Ponsaria.”
When I returned to the inn after redistributing the stones, there was a line of guests to the door and a panicked Olive behind the counter.
“I’m so sorry, Olive!” I said, running to her. “I’ll take over. You go get started on dinner.”
Olive swept her messy hair away from her face. “Thank you,” she said, already running away.
I worked my way through half the line, so frantic that I started sending guests away before logging their information so I could help the next person in line.
“Welcome to Fibbersnap Inn, how can I help you?” I said while scribbling the previous guest’s name in the logbook.
“Hi, I’m here to apply for a job.”
The sound of his voice already had me smiling when I looked up. It was Sterling.
The sight of him paralyzed me. Traveling had messed up his dark, wavy hair, and his beautiful smile sat lopsided on his face, but he was handsome as ever.
I giggled stupidly. “Get over here,” I said.
He rounded the counter, dropping his bags to the floor when he was close enough for me to tackle him with a hug. I kissed his face repeatedly. “You didn’t have to stand in line,” I said, pressing my face into the crook of his neck.
“I thought it would be cute,” he said.
“It was rude of you to keep me waiting.” I pressed a soft kiss to his bare neck.
“Excuse me!” a woman at the counter shouted. “We’ve been waiting!”
“Right, sorry,” I said with an insecure laugh. I turned to Sterling again, who was still holding me around the waist. “Do you want to start your training right now?”
“You look like you need the help,” he said.
I laughed. “I do.”
Sterling caught on easily. The work was certainly easier than solving crimes and catching criminals, but he was good at it. He was polite to everyone, and the guests adored him. He remembered things so well that I only had to tell him everything once.
By the time we reached the last guest, I told him to check her in on his own while I watched. The older woman stepped up to the counter, pulling her cloak tighter around herself to keep out the cold.
“Good—” Sterling paused, but I didn’t know why. He had already greeted many guests tonight. “Good evening. Welcome to Fibbersnap Inn. How can I help you?” he continued.
The woman opened her mouth but hesitated, narrowing her eyes. “Good evening. I’d like a room for one night, please.”
“Of course. Name?” Sterling asked, dipping the pen into the jar of ink beside the logbook.
“Beverly Meadows.”
Sterling began writing but stopped and looked up at her. “Beverly…”
“Yes?” she asked. “Do I know you? You look awfully familiar.”
“Perhaps,” Sterling said, finishing her name in the logbook. “Are you from Ladiall?”
“Yes, sir. What’s your name?” she asked.
“Sterling. Thorndrop.”
Beverly clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sterling! Oh, of course I remember you, darling! I’ve been so worried since they took you away. What a relief to see you! You’re all grown up!”
I pushed myself off the counter, more interested now. Was this the woman he told me about?
“I didn’t think you would…” Sterling said. “The kindness you showed me in my youth stuck with me through my whole life. It changed me as a person. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“There’s no need. Are you happy now? Did you make a good life for yourself?” Beverly asked.
“I did,” he answered. “Thanks to you, certainly. I have a good job, and I live with my partner, Cassian. He owns this inn.” He gestured to me, and I waved with a smile.
Beverly smiled wide, and it was so genuine, I understood why Sterling never forgot her. “How wonderful! I’m so happy for you,” she said.
“How are you? Still running your shop?” Sterling asked.
“Oh, yes. Not much has changed for me. How much do I owe you for the room?” she asked.
I stepped forward. I didn’t want to intervene on his first solo check-in, but I couldn’t take her money. “Free of charge, Beverly,” I said. “In fact, you’re welcome here at no cost anytime you like. I’m very grateful for what you did for Sterling.”
“He told you?” Beverly asked.
“It meant a lot to him,” I said, reaching in the drawer to give her the last available key.
Beverly smiled at the two of us. “Thank you so much.” She took Sterling’s hand, holding it between hers. “Truly, Sterling, I am so happy to see you and know you’re okay.”
“I’m happy to see you too, Beverly. I hope you come back to visit again,” Sterling said.
“Don’t worry, darling. I’ll be around,” she said. “If you’re ever in Ladiall, stop by my shop. You’re always welcome.”
When Beverly retired to her room, I turned to Sterling. “That was the last room. Where will you sleep?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck and looking up at him.
Sterling smiled and kissed me gently. “I guess I’ll have to sleep in the stable.”
I laughed. “It’s pretty cold out there. You need someone to keep you warm?”
“Yeah, maybe,” he said, holding me closer.
“You might as well sleep in my bed, then.”
“Hmm…” He pretended to think about it. “But where will you sleep?”
I giggled against his neck. “You sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep on you. How does that sound?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
STERLING
“Good morning, everyone! It’s a new day, and I have great news,” Cassian said to Griffin and Olive, who gathered in his office before the morning rush. I stood with him behind his desk with my arms folded behind my back.
“You’re not selling the inn?” Griffin guessed.
Cassian pointed at him. “That’s right. The curse has been lifted.” He moved his finger to point at Olive. “And soon I’ll have enough money to pay out your part of the will, Olive.”
“Oh, Cassian, I don’t—”
“And,” Cassian interrupted her, “Sterling is a permanent part of the team now.” He slid his arm around my waist and grinned with his eyes closed. “And he’s my boyfriend.”
Griffin and Olive glanced at each other and smiled.
“No…” Griffin said.
“I had no idea,” Olive lied.
Cassian giggled. “I know. We hid it so well.”
“Congratulations on quitting the force, Thorndrop. I knew you were better than that,” Griffin said.
“We’re so happy to have you here,” Olive added with a big smile.
“Thank you both. I’m still learning, so if I make a mistake, I hope you’ll let me know,” I said.
“Yes, same for me. I’m still learning too,” Cassian said. “Please don’t be afraid to correct me. And please tell me if you ever need anything.”
“You got it, Fibbersnap,” Griffin said. “Is that all?”
“That’s all. Does anyone have anything for me?” Cassian asked.
Griffin shook his head, but Olive wrung her hands.
“Great,” Cassian said. “Let’s—”
I squeezed Cassian’s wrist. “Olive, did you want to say something?” I asked.
Olive looked up fast, and then she smiled. “Oh… It’s nothing.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I was just wondering if…”
“What is it?” Cassian asked.
“Well… now that the inn is busy again, would you consider hiring my oldest boy, Jack, to be our new stable hand? He’s a good, hard worker.”
Cassian raised his eyebrows. “Jack…?”
“You don’t have to answer now. I just thought I’d put it out there,” Olive said with a polite laugh. “It could be good for all of us.”
“I don’t know how I didn’t consider that before. That’s a great idea!” Cassian said. “When can he start?”
“Oh—I’ll talk to him tonight!” Olive said. “Thank you!”
“Are you kidding? Thank you! That would be a huge help!” Cassian said.
The rush arrived as soon as we ended the meeting. Cassian taught me about the check-out process, and it was hard to listen while distracted by the beautiful mouth instructing me. I figured it out, though. Mostly.
During a slow stretch, Cassian fell into my arms, exhausted. “It hasn’t been this busy since… well, since your donation idea,” he said.
“That’s great,” I said, kissing the top of his head. He smiled.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Anything,” I said.
Cassian hesitated. “What’s going to happen to Jasmine?”
I rubbed my hand up and down his back and sighed.
He was still struggling with his complicated feelings about Jasmine, and I didn’t know if telling him would help.
“All things considered, the crime was not very severe. She might not have faced a harsh punishment if she hadn’t lied directly to an officer for weeks, obstructing the investigation, and she will face heavy charges for casting the mind-altering spell.
They’ll probably contact us for our testimony soon.
Jasmine appears to remember everyone but you, so Ezzila will probably face charges as well when Jasmine discovers she can reduce her sentence by sharing the blame with the witch who performed the magic, but Ezzila might not receive any punishment at all.
She could get out of it if she has smart legalers. Do you want me to find out more?”
Cassian burrowed his face against me. “Do I want to know?”
“Would it matter either way? Jasmine isn’t coming back,” I said.
Cassian’s breath warmed my chest. “I suppose not. I wonder if she’ll ever remember me.”
I squeezed him tighter. “Maybe someday, when you’re ready, you can figure out a way to restore her memory. Willorunia says anything is possible with magic.”
“I don’t know…” Cassian stepped back, resting his hand on my arm. “I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for that. It hurts to know she quietly resented me while I thought we were best friends. I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” I said, kissing his forehead. “She was a convincing liar, and of course you didn’t suspect her, because you never would have done that to her if the roles were reversed.”
“No, I wouldn’t…”
“You don’t have to keep her in your life, Cassian. The person you thought she was doesn’t exist,” I said.
“But she’s family.”
“My parents are my family, but I haven’t spoken to them in years,” I said.
“That’s different.”
“Is it?”
Cassian looked me in the eyes, frowning. “They’re not your family.” He lifted his hand to my face, brushing my cheek with his thumb. “I’m your family now.”
My smile snuck up on me. “And I’m yours.”
Cassian admired me before pulling me into a kiss. “I wouldn’t trade you for anything or anyone. I love you, Sterling.”
“I love you too, Cassian.”
Time passed, and Cassian and I learned to love the profession together.
Becoming as hospitable as Cassian was an adjustment, but focusing on the warmth I felt when Cassian cared for me helped me pass on that care to other people.
His love made me a better employee, but it also made me a better partner.
As selfish as it was, I was grateful to Jasmine. Without her, I never would have found a lifetime of love at Fibbersnap Inn.
End