Chapter Seventeen
Andi
Those girls are going to be the death of me.
Within half an hour of meeting the governor’s daughters, I had been ready to leave. After they had ran upstairs at that first meeting, I’d followed them into a trap. I doubt it was set for me; however, I was the one who got its repercussions.
The girls rushed into a room and slammed the door shut. I knocked on the door, receiving no answer, but dust floated down from the impact of the door banging. So, I know this was the right door.
“I’m coming in,” I announced before swinging the door open.
I paused at a clattering above, frozen in my tracks just as a bucket of ice-cold water fell from the ceiling.
I stood there inhaling sharply, as the frozen water soaked into my hair.
My blood seethed, but I impelled myself to remain calm.
After all, they were just children acting out against their absent dad, looking for attention.
I wouldn’t hold it against them.
For now, at least.
The giggling girls were falling over laughing at my misfortune.
“That was so funny,” I fake-laughed with them. “How about we do some learning now that we’ve got that out of our system?”
Megan and Eliza composed themselves and strutted over to a table beside the window. Books were scattered across the table and piled on the windowsill. I glance at open workbooks with sloppy handwriting.
They like games, so I would incorporate that into their learning. Elana learned better when I made a game out of it, maybe these girls will follow a similar method. Following them to the table, Megan pulled out a chair for me to sit on.
Manners, good to know they are in there somewhere.
A booming croak made me jump out of my skin as I was about to sit. On the chair was a very large, warty toad. Shuddering, I had hurried out of the room and downstairs.
Myles almost keels over laughing at my tale.
“It’s not funny,” I grumble at him.
“You’re right, it’s not, I’m sorry,” he says, wiping tears from his face. “Will you go back? There are other options.”
“Oh no, I’ll go back. I’m not scared of them, and they need to know that,” I say, picking up a piece of bread, biting it off angrily. “I just need to figure out the best way for them to listen.”
Myles couldn’t stop chuckling. “At least he paid you for today, he must not expect you back.”
Unlucky for them, I was stubborn and wouldn’t let them get the better of me.
It will take more than a toad to scare me away.
And after all, we’re only staying a few days, and the extra coins would be handy for the rest of our journey.
I’m positive I can hold off. Sipping my tea, I ask, “How was your day? Certainly better than mine.”
“Infinitely better,” he said. “The smith’s is quite busy. He works as a farrier too since there’s none near Cyvail. Henry was happy to have the help.”
I smile at him encouragingly, but it feels bitter. I shouldn’t resent Myles having a good day at work when mine was utterly horrible, and it is good to see him laugh.
Since Vendyl and dying, he has been distant, guarded, and this feels more like our old selves.
Perhaps staying here could erase the pain we have both suffered.
Myles never wants to talk about what happened.
I can’t imagine dying and being brought back to life was an easy feat, but keeping it all in, can’t be good.
The night draws in quickly as we climb up the stairs to our room. While Myles washes up, I pick up a paper with an interesting story on the front cover. But before I even read a word, a drawing tucked underneath catches my attention.
Checking Myles is still occupied, I pick up the drawing by the edges, trying not to smudge any detail. I recognise this face.
The pointed ears, the oval eyes. Why would Myles draw the Elven barmaid?
“What are you doing?” Myles says harshly.
Caught unawares, I accidentally drop the drawing on the ground. Turning to him shyly, I say, “Sorry, I was just reading the paper and saw it. Is that the elf downstairs?” I ask curiously.
Myles’ face softens, “Yeah, it’s not often you come across an elf. I was inspired to draw her.” Picking up the drawing from the floor, he examines it. “I messed it up anyway,” he says, pointing to the side of her face where it looks smudged. He sets it on the desk and heads to bed.
I’m glad he’s drawing again. Back to himself.
I’ve been worried over nothing.
Everything is fine.
I wake before the sun has risen; a faint pink glow lighting up the sky.
I surmised the girls would be in a kinder mood in the mornings, before their mischievous streak had woken.
But it’s a little too early, so I wait in the quiet tavern, sitting in a corner booth for a more respectful time to appear at the house.
Making sure to order a hearty breakfast to keep my strength up. With these girls, I’ll need it.
The sun arises from its slumber, engulfing the town in a captivating light, orange and yellow streaking through the window; creating a glistening path along the floor, glimmering off the glasses on the bar, creating a rainbow reflection on the walls.
I’m so entranced by the flickering colours, I didn’t see the elven barmaid place my food on the table and slip onto the bench opposite me.
Her tense stare weighs on me, my eyes flip to her before turning my head, I try not to focus on her golden eyes, alluring as they are.
I force myself to look away to save from being enthralled.
“What are you?” she asks bluntly.
I stare at her, baffled. “Um… What am I? I don’t know about ‘what,’ but my name is Andi.” I rolled her strange question about in my head, what did she mean? I’ve never been asked such a bewildering question before.
“Sorry, it’s just I can sense your magic, it’s radiating from you, and as you can see, I’m an elf.” She pushes her hair behind her ears, pointing at the arch. “So… what are you?”
“What do you mean you can sense my ‘magic,’ I don’t have magic.” I feign laughter.
The elf gazes at me while her head tilts, holding out her hands towards me, then closes her eyes.
“It’s oozing from you. You really need to learn some control.
” A beaming smile spreads along her face.
“If you’re worried that I’ll tell people, I promise I won’t.
I just can’t figure you out. I’m Kali, I’m from an old tribe of elves called Skiah. Most of which have died out now.”
Shaking my head, I ask, “Skiah elves? Never heard of them.”
Kali’s head tilts subtly. “We don’t hail from here, we come from the mountains in the far east of Yiren. There’s only my sister and me now. I haven’t heard of any others in ages.” A wave of sadness washes over her, disappearing as quickly as it came.
Kali might know about the temple we’re heading for, but I don’t know her enough to spout all my secrets, especially after she just divulged one of my biggest. I make a mental note to mention it to Myles later, together we can come up with a conniving way of asking without revealing why we’re heading there.
Kali’s gaze makes me feel on edge; her gold eyes, sparkling in the sunlight, are wide and unblinking. I try taking a bite of my food, but I can’t with her watching me. I never could eat with folk staring, a quirk of mine I’ve never been able to get over.
“So… what are you? Come on, I need to know.” Kali’s hands clasp together in front of her, biting on one of her long nails.
I shrug. “I don’t know. I have only just found out about the magic. I know nothing of it, where it came from, why I have this specific magic, or how it works.” The air around me feels thin, making me lightheaded. “Maybe you can answer me this? How can folk track someone’s magic?”
“Easily,” she replies too quickly.
“Okay, have you heard of someone using an object to track it?”
“Are you being tracked?”
Taking a large sip of my coffee, I ignore the question. Kali’s eyes harden, scowling at me in disappointment. I don’t think I’ve heard the end of this. Changing the subject, I ask, “What do you know about the governor and his daughters?”
“You’re tutoring them, aren’t you? That notice has been up for so long. No one ever lasts. Those girls are mayhem.” Kali chuckles, pulling her blue knitted jumper up to cover her face, hiding her laughter.
My eyebrows raise. What have I gotten myself into here? She adds, “I’m sorry. Look, those girls have been left to run riot since their mother died a couple of years ago. The governor doesn’t know how to handle them. His house is a mess, he is a mess, and his girls are… well… unruly.”
Staring at my plate in front of me, my stomach suddenly feels like there’s a brick in there.
How can I teach these girls anything if they don’t want to learn or feel they don’t have to?
I could just show up, ‘teach’ them, take the payment, and run.
We’re not staying long anyway; it’s not as if what I do will drastically change their lives.
A voice shouts on Kali, she slides out of the bench and heads towards the bar, leaving me to my thoughts.
Thoughts that are still stirring in my head as I leave the inn and walk absentmindedly to the governor’s house.
The gates are already open or have been left that way since yesterday.
Probably the latter. The governor seems to have lost his way since his wife’s passing.
Kali didn’t say how she died, but by the looks of this house and the governor, it was sudden.
I wander around the substantial yard, taking in my bearings.
The garden is huge, with archways leading to other areas behind the manor, although mostly overgrown.
Dead flowers wither on the ground, the grass is knee high, and the trees are in dire need of a cutback.
Under all the foliage, a paved path leads away from the house towards the woods, similar to the paths we made with Dad in our woods.
The secret hideouts, Elana called them. We spent hours making houses for faeries or inns for bugs and insects.
I am curious to follow the hidden path, wondering if I would find a similar play area, but before I can, a high-pitched yelling drags me back to the present. Disheartened, I dawdle back to see what the commotion is about.
Megan and Eliza are standing beside a large tree with a rope swing tied to a branch, an old, threadbare rope.
I’m surprised it’s still attached. Both have a grip on the rope as they shout and scream at each other, back and forth pulling and tugging until the rope snaps and both girls fall backwards, landing in a mud puddle.
I resist the urge to laugh as I step out from my hiding place, and their heads turn as I approach.
“Oh no, what happened?” I ask, pretending I haven’t just watched the whole hilarious act.
“She did it,” they both say in unison, pointing at each other. I stand over them with my arms folded across my chest, frowning while slowly shaking my head.
“Well, it’s broken now. Doesn’t matter who’s at fault.” I reach out to help the girls up. Eliza takes my hand gladly as I pull her to her feet. Megan scoffs at me and pushes herself up.
“Go get cleaned up and I’ll meet you in the sitting room, I think it’s about time we start learning something, don’t you?”
I try to mimic Mum’s stern voice when we did something wrong.
It must have worked as the girls stomp off in a huff, but at least they do as I say.
I walk up the stairs to the front door. Governor Thran is slouched on a chair outside on the porch, watching the bustling streets, a bottle of brandy in hand.
He pays me no mind as I walk past him and into the house. Turning back, I look at him in pity, knowing he lost his wife and is lost himself.
“Can I get you anything, Governor?” I ask politely, but he is silent. I wonder if he heard, but then he holds the bottle up, shaking it, swirling the contents around. I turn and walk into the house.
Scrutinising the chairs and couch, neither looking particularly clean, I find the cleanest one I can and lay a blanket over the seat, just in case.
The girls loiter in the hallway. I wave them in, and reluctantly, they obey.
Choosing to sit together on the couch opposite me, they are unaware of the filth on which they sit, or they’re just used to it.
I feel pity for these girls; their dad really needs to wake up and realise how bad things have gotten.
Megan and Eliza stare at me as I hand them a book each, with different reading levels that I think they should be at by this age, and they eye it with suspicion.
“Let’s see how good your reading is.” With a groan, they open their books.
I let out a little triumphant sigh.