Chapter 12 Lenna
Chapter twelve
Lenna
They were right. This was a big ask.
“Isn’t Esmeray in the Obsidian Kingdom? Wouldn’t she be there when we went looking for the Prism?
” The combination of the long day and the world altering information made her head spin.
Lenna rubbed her temples, eyelids drooping with exhaustion as she fought to stay awake and alert.
Her body was up against her mind, and her mind was balking, slowing to a sluggish pace.
“Queen Adara moved their uncle to the Obsidian Palace to rule as Regent. Esmeray isn’t there.
We aren’t sure where she is, but with Queen Adara’s command to capture and kill by any means necessary, coupled with the uptick of fae guards hunting her, Esmeray wouldn’t dare show her face in the Obsidian Palace.
The death of the Oracle changed everything.
” Laurent looked at Merrick, and Lenna noted the weird thing they did again–like a silent conversation.
Merrick stood up and clasped his hands together. “Right. Lenna, you must be exhausted.” He picked up his empty bowl and collected hers from the small table. “There’s a bed down the hall to the right. If you want to wash up, there is a washroom adjoining. Get changed, get some rest.”
Lenna awkwardly stood up. Her legs, tired from the day of adventure, wobbled a bit. Her thighs burned. She looked down at her clothes, and before she could say she didn’t have anything to change into, Laurent spoke, more to the fire than to her.
“We have some things for you to change into. They aren’t the best quality, but they’re clean.” He frowned–almost as if in apology. “Before we head to the Obsidian Palace, one of us will go into town and get you some new clothes if that is alright with you.”
Lenna smiled at the fae. He was trying so hard to make her comfortable here. It was the nicest thing anyone had done for her in a while. She held a hand to her heart. “Thank you, Laurent, that would be lovely.”
Laurent bowed his head slightly, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face.
Lenna took that as her dismissal, making her way down the hall to the small bedroom.
The door creaked open, revealing a narrow bed wrapped in thin burgundy sheets, a set of wooden dresser drawers that had seen better days, and a tiny washroom that Lenna made a beeline for first. She didn’t realize how long she’d held her bladder until her eyes fell on the toilet in the corner.
Then, making her way to the sink, she washed her hands, splashed water on her face, and stared at her reflection in the cracked mirror.
Her hair was crazy. She tried patting down the wayward red curls that frizzed out of control, finally giving up and wetting her fingers under the cool water in the sink, finger curling each section until the frizz lessened and the curls were damp enough for her to braid down her back, the length trailing past her shoulder blades.
She secured the braid with a small strip of leather she found on the counter.
Lenna wondered if the band had been Merrick’s–if this was the childhood home he’d briefly mentioned.
Stepping back into the bedroom, Lenna searched the dresser in the corner.
Some of the clothing was much too small for her, but she finally found a thin set of tan linen pants and a loose matching shirt to wear.
The pants were much too long, and she figured these could’ve been Merrick’s as well.
Turning to the bed, she pulled the scratchy sheets back and scooted into the middle, the frame creaking with the movement.
Her head rested against a pillow that was somehow both flat and lumpy.
But she didn’t care.
Free. She was free.
Today had been the wildest day, and half of her wondered, once she closed her eyes, if she would wake up back in the Doortan Manor, confirming this had all been a dream.