35. Seir
Chapter 35
Seir
T he grocers was off one of the main streets near the center of town. As we approached, I realized it was a storefront spanning a full block, not just a small shop. They were more like a general mercantile, with everything from lumber and clothes to books and food, but they’d been “the grocers” for so long, that’s what they stayed to the townspeople.
Hailon pulled her hood up but hesitated as we got near the doors.
“I’ll wait around back. Meet me there when you’re finished.”
“No. I’m not leaving you alone anywhere in this town. We’ll be fast.”
Her mouth tightened, but she nodded. I pulled open the door and let her in first, marveling at the variety of things the large shop carried.
“Those are my favorite,” Hailon gasped and crossed to a small table displaying a crate of squat orange fruit that looked a bit like a tomato. “Persimmons. But the season is very short.” She sorted through the pile to find a few to her liking. “You have to wait until they almost look spoiled.”
“I can’t wait to try them.”
We weren’t terribly far from Revalia, but I wasn’t sure how close we were either. We gathered apples and potatoes, carrots and a small slab of dried meat.
“It’s a good thing we both enjoy stew.” Hailon sighed. A petite woman with bright orange hair approached cautiously. “Merry?”
“I thought that was you!” the woman whispered, glancing over her shoulder before reaching out to squeeze Hailon’s hand. “Are you finished shopping?”
I nodded that we were, and she helped ring us out. “Meet me out behind the store, okay?” Wary, I frowned at her, and Hailon was making a similar face. “You can trust me.”
We agreed, and by the time we’d rounded the corner, the little woman was bustling out the back door of the shop, bags in her hands and a smile on her face.
“Here, please, take this.”
“What is it?” Hailon asked, perplexed.
“Some of it belongs to you and some is food we can’t sell. I don’t have enough space to keep it all myself, and I hate seeing it wasted. You’re leaving, right? You need supplies.”
“I… Yes, thank you.”
“I always knew you’d come back.” Merry’s head bobbed, her orange curls bouncing wildly. “You were always kind to me, Hailon. Honestly, I never saw you be anything but kind. To anyone. What they say about you…” She frowned. “It’s not true. I know it.”
“Thank you, Merry.” Hailon cracked a weak smile. “You always did a good job, looking in on Sal for me when I left for the mountains. I’m sorry for the trouble. I didn’t know?—”
“Of course you didn’t. You don’t need to apologize.” She dug in her pocket and produced a key. “There’s a hunting lodge west of here. Take the trail that leads out of town near the cemetery, not the main road. It’s far enough out it’ll be late by the time you get there. Stay as long as you need to. Just leave me the key somewhere I can find it when you go. I promised Mr. Grummond I’d go tidy it for him before elk season starts.”
“Why are you helping us like this?” Hailon asked, eyebrows drawn together.
“Because you helped me. My mother. My sister. We would have all died three winters ago of that terrible cough if not for you. You fixed my brother’s broken arm last summer when he fell out of that stupid tree he was specifically told not to climb. You saved us, time and again, and you didn’t even want proper payment. Plus, Jacks loves you. That should be enough by itself, honestly. That horse doesn’t like anyone but me, except for you.”
The smile slipped from Hailon’s face. “Not anymore.”
Merry grabbed Hailon up in a quick hug. “Well, I bet if you spent some time around him again, he’d love you just the same as he always did. You had him properly spoiled with apples and carrots when you left.” Merry’s face went serious after she broke the hug, and she glanced around again. “Go on. Get out of here before they find you.”
“They?” I asked.
“The ignorant rabble who believe Hailon is to blame for all their problems. I heard rumblings when I came past the tavern earlier. They’ve already been drinking, so it’s safe to say they’re looking for trouble.”
Hailon took the key and squeezed Merry’s hand. “Thank you, Merry.”
“You’re welcome. Now, get gone.” She turned to go back inside. “I’ll see you again, one day.”
“Should you ever want to leave this place, I believe Revalia would welcome you,” I said. “There’s a big school there, d’Arcan. My brothers run it, tell them you know us.”
“I’ll remember that.” She smiled and waved as she ducked back inside.
“How about that, Moonflower? A little bit of luck found us after all. The good kind, this time.”
She nodded, and between us, we crammed all the things Merry had given us into our packs. Then we took her advice, leaving Ravenglen behind.
The path through the woods was narrow and almost disappeared in places, but it led us to a small hunting lodge just as Merry said it would.
It was a similar configuration though only perhaps half the size of the little way-house cabin. It was a welcome respite, nonetheless.
When we finally arrived, the moon was high in the sky despite the sections of path I’d done my best to glide down with Hailon in my arms. I could manage that much fine, but not for long distances. It had been a quiet walk, my heart sore because my mate was so distant and sad, but I tried to allow her the space she needed to process everything that had happened.
“I’ll work on the fire so we can eat and heat some water for bathing if you want to get us a bit more organized?” I offered.
She nodded and sat on the floor, the assortment of items we had collected on our journey slowly expanding on the rug around her.
Off to one side was the wooden strongbox Hailon had liberated from that terrible house, the cooking gear and all the other gifts Widow Callahan had sent along with us, and the clothing and few other items she’d taken from Sal’s. The food Merry had sent, however, was a substantial pile. In addition to what we’d bought, we were set for a week as far as bruised produce and dented tins went.
“Oh.” Hailon’s voice dropped to a hushed gasp. “This must be what Merry meant when she said some of this was mine. I thought I’d lost this forever.” A smile tugged at her mouth, but it didn’t last. “She must have gone into the woods looking for me.” Tears shimmered in my beloved’s eyes as she held a small knife. “I’ve had this for my herb work since I was seven.” The handle looked to be made from cherry or another reddish wood, and it fit in her hand like the branch it was carved from had sprouted there. The metal of the blade was pitted and thin after so many years of use and re-sharpening. It definitely needed some loving attention from a bladesmith, but I could see that holding it again was like gaining feeling in a numb limb—effortlessly comfortable. I felt the same way about my favorite dagger.
“I’m very glad you got it back.” I accepted it from her to take a closer look. “I’m also happy to find you have an ally like Merry.”
“She was always good to me,” she said with a nod. “Probably as close as I got to having a friend, really.”
I frowned into the growing flames of the fire. “I’m going to go get some water.”
As I pumped water into a bucket, I decided I would never even come close to forgiving Sal for all she’d done. And I would find comfort in making creative plans for her demise until I could either obtain permission from Hailon to follow through or get it done without her knowing it happened.
“We never even used these,” Hailon said sadly after I’d filled the large pot over the flames with water so it could heat. When I turned, I found her holding up the little pots of nail lacquer.
“There’s time yet,” I grinned, taking them from her. “No time like the present, in fact. That’s going to take a while to heat, and we can feast on this lightly bruised fruit for days.” I sat next to her and took her fingers in mine. I used the purple color on her, the act of perfectly painting each of her nails like a meditation. “Nobody’s ever shown such fire trying to do something kind for me like you did at that market, Hailon. I like you jealous as well as greedy.” She opened her mouth to protest, cheeks bright red, but I didn’t leave her time. “Give me your other hand.” She complied, wet nails splayed wide over her knee. “I’ll be back long before this needs to be redone,” I assured her.
“Promise?” she asked. I looked up to find her expression melancholy.
I put the lid back on the pot and held her face between my hands, sure to both give her my full attention and get hers in return. “It doesn’t matter what they do to me, understand? I’m coming back. As soon as I possibly can.”
Hailon nodded, and I started painting my own fingernails with the black lacquer as she turned back to unpacking. She pulled a bundle out of the bottom of the bag that had been mine, eyebrows drawn together. “What’s this?”
I’d meant for it to be a surprise, perhaps for her birthday or Yule. But today was as good a day as any.
“Open it.”
She looked at me suspiciously but pulled off the outer layer of cloth. The second layer came up and she stopped, mouth dropping open.
“They’re beautiful.” She found the little hanger and pulled the small set of wind chimes up near her face. I’d selected a set that reminded me of a stained-glass picture that hadn’t been assembled yet. Hailon pushed the center bar, creating a pretty tinkling noise. “When did you have time to buy these?”
“You were waiting for cake, and I was getting tea.”
She stared at me, disappointment creasing her brow. “All I got you was nail lacquer.”
Her earnest expression had me laughing. “I love my lacquer. And you got me much more than that, Moonflower. You’ve given me everything I never knew I was looking for. Besides, that very night you also got me a substantial serving of righteous vengeance, don’t you recall? I feel like that more than makes up the difference.” I leaned in and kissed her, taking my time with it as I felt her soften beneath my fingers.
I gently held her chin with my thumb and forefinger, mapping the shape of her lips with my own, breathing her gentle exhales and tasting her with my tongue. I was committing everything to memory, so I’d have something to think back on once I left her for Hell. I didn’t care how short the separation might be, I wanted to always have such things freshly available in my mind. When I pulled back, the frustration was gone from her eyes, and her cheeks were flushed with color.
“Are there any other surprises?” she asked. “I’m not sure I can handle any more today, though these are really wonderful, thank you.”
“Actually…” I got up and dug in my discarded pants pocket, producing the little round mirror. “I showed you this before, but we got distracted before I could tell you about it. This is a scrying mirror. You can use it to get in touch with my brothers if you need to.”
“Don’t you need it?”
“I can find another way to get to them from Hell if I have to. Or perhaps Vassago can make one for you. Hopefully we’ll either have made it to Revalia or be close before I have to leave, but it’s worth knowing how to use it either way.” I settled in next to her, then earned a squeak as I pulled her into my lap instead. “Speaking specific words activates the magic. I want you to practice them with me, they’re in the old language like my sigil.”
We started with the first word, the unusual tongue curl at the end throwing her several times. I clapped proudly once she got it right. The second word was easier and only took her a few tries. We practiced putting the two together, then moved onto the third, which was a very simple single syllable.
“Alright, now all together,” I said, and she recited them all perfectly. I kissed her on the cheek with a loud smack .
“How will we know I said them right? What if whatever in me that cancels magic effects the mirror too?”
“My brother has a mirror as well, and it will activate if you did. I’m hopeful we’ll get lucky and the mirror is a kind of magic you don’t affect, but we’ll know shortly. We don’t look alike, my brothers and I. Vago is the pompous sort, very posh. White hair, silver clothes?—”
“Miss me already, Seir?” Vassago asked, and his face came into view inside the mirror. As I was behind Hailon, it was her face he saw in the glass. “Hello, there. My apologies, you must be Hailon?”
She was too stunned to speak. I could understand, the magic required to do such a thing was nearly unfathomable, and I’d been used to being able to use it for a very long time. Finally, she found her voice again. “Yes, hello.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. To what do I owe the honor?”
“I was just teaching her how to use your little mirror.”
“My little mirror ?” Vassago scowled lightly, every word properly enunciated in his irritation.
“I’m leaving it with her when I go back. Just in case she needs something.”
“So, it’s not all magic that’s affected by her then. Rylan will be pleased to have some new information to obsess over. When do you leave?”
“I’m supposed to be sent back by tomorrow evening.”
“I see.”
He turned his attention to Hailon. “Please feel free to use the mirror any time. I’m near one in my classroom most days, but there are others throughout the collegium as well. I’ll let the rest of the house know, so they are never ignored when they alert. We’re here for whatever you need.” He swept an arm across his chest and bowed his head gracefully.
Pompous prick. His precise, gentlemanly gestures had always made me smile, and this was no exception. At least until Hailon blushed, and then I rolled my eyes as a tiny thread of jealousy worked itself under my skin.
“Thank you, that’s very kind.”
My brother smiled, eyes shifting to me. I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. “Have you made it to your destination?”
“We’re on our way to Revalia, actually.”
“Is that so? I thought you were bound for Ravenglen.”
“My business there was finished much faster than expected,” Hailon said.
“How wonderful. We’ll be very happy to see you both.” Vassago smiled, then shifted his eyes to me again. “We could easily come retrieve you, if you’d like. Save you some travel time? There are several options for that, in fact. Some with wings, some without. Though I understand there may be a bit of a… complication with flying where you’re involved, Hailon.”
“Yes, chances are high that anyone trying to use shifting-based magic within close range of me would find their abilities either gone or limited.”
“There are certainly other ways. In any case, I look forward to visiting with you in person soon.” Vassago nodded and turned his attention to me as Hailon excused herself for a moment. “The carriage as well as someone with wings can be on the way shortly, if you think that’s wise?”
“I do. Thank you, Vago.” Relief swept over me. Hailon would be protected one way or another. “We’re in the woods outside of Ravenglen. I have until tomorrow evening, but I wasn’t sure that was enough time to cover the whole distance on foot. We haven’t had much luck with horses—they seem bothered by Hailon’s power. But having someone with her when I cannot be would offer great relief.”
“Understood. We’ll think on that, perhaps there’s an incantation that we can use…” His gaze went distant and thoughtful.
Hailon returned, and we discussed how she’d know if they were trying to contact her through the mirror.
“Like a scream? That’s terrifying.” She frowned.
“But effective,” Vassago defended his choice. “Kettle noises are ignored, I’ve found.”
“Fair enough,” she muttered.
“Thank you, again, Vago.” I waved to my brother and then swept my fingers across the glass, ending the conversation and cutting the magical link. “See? Nothing to it.”
“Sure.” She muttered the words under her breath a few more times. When I was sure her quiet words weren’t going to accidentally activate the mirror again, I put it to the side, setting it on one of the packs.
I took her hands in mine. “Swear that you won’t hesitate to use it.”
“You’ll be with me. Or they will, right?”
“That’s the plan but swear. Please,” I insisted, unable to shake the slithery sensation of nervousness under my skin. “Use the mirror. Summon me back. Whatever you need to do, you do it. Do not hesitate. Promise me.”
“I promise.” She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re very bossy, you know. I took care of myself among those people my whole life. I survived that house for a long time. I just have to get to another city at this point, one where there are demons and mages and stone kin, right? Everything is going to be fine.”
“I know you did. And I know how capable you are. I’ll accept being a little bossy if it keeps you safe.” My lack of humor made her fall serious as well.
“Why does the mirror work near me? That doesn’t make sense.”
“There are many kinds of magic. You didn’t deactivate the wards around the ruins, either, and you felt their effects. Those are similar things. Maybe you don’t have any effect on enchantments, only innate magic.”
“I wish I understood this more.” She pinched the bridge of her nose.
“We will figure it all out,” I promised. “You have a mage and a mystic already looking into things. Not to mention an earth witch and an alchemist.”
“Your brothers? And their wives?”
I smiled. “Yes. We’re all just as curious as you, Hailon. We want to help.” I waited for her to digest my unspoken words. She had a family. Support. She didn’t have to go through any of this alone, even if I had to leave for a bit. I stood and found the hot water was steaming, so I added it to the tub, tempering it with cold until she told me it was perfect.
Hailon slid in, knees tucked to her chest in the small space.
“Head back,” I instructed, pouring a pitcher of water over her hair. It was nearly half white, the strands turning at a fascinating rate.
She washed her body as I worked on her hair, her silence a good indication she’d slid back into her thoughts.
“What did that letter say? The one Sal gave you. From my mother.”
“I’m not sure. Not completely, anyhow. I think it’s written in fae.”
“Fae?”
“Yes. For all the time I spent with Van in that realm, I didn’t pick up more than a few words of the written language. I can make out tavern menus pretty well, but beyond that, I’m useless.”
“Why would she write it in fae?”
“That would be an excellent way to encode her message if she was trying to keep secrets, beloved. Don’t worry though, Vassago’s wife can help with that.”
“You don’t have to do all this for me.”
She felt so far away again. I hated it. I thought the bath would help, but she was still frozen, stuck in her mind and detached from her feelings. “Perhaps not, but I get to, and that’s a thrilling new development I’ll happily take advantage of as often as possible.” I winked at her, and she softened a fraction, standing up out of the water so I could wrap her in one of the respectably fluffy towels the lodge stocked.
“Are you finished here? We should get some rest.”
She surveyed the clutter all around her and yawned. “I suppose. What about you?”
“I’ll be awake long before you. Plenty of time then.”
I scooped her up, depositing her on the bed before going around the room to extinguish the lights. As I slid in behind her, she relaxed into me. I wound my tail around her ankle, my arm across her hip, the other stroking through her hair.
I dozed off looking forward to a day where I didn’t have to sleep any other way.