CHAPTER 18 #2
“Just so we are playing fairly, Pressa, you and Naeve would hate it if other elven girls, friends or not, try to cut in on what you have going on,” Gand said.
“We both know that it is true. You both care if Delano and Deven found someone else.
Salaria does as well so you don't have an argument on why you hate each other.
Salaria thought that she was doing you all a favor by finding you jobs.
She didn't know that Fariday would be trying for more.
On the other hand, Pressa, Naeve and the others think that you have no ground to stand on.
Gloren is a good guy who you betrayed for the good life, they figured why shouldn't they betray you?”
“I have tried to make things right with Gloren, he doesn't even want to talk to me,” Salaria said. “He doesn't look at me anymore and when I corner him to force a conversation he only talks about work and finds a reason to leave.”
“And you are mad at him for that?” Pressa asked.
“I have the chance to take care of my family like you have a chance to take care of yours,” Salaria said. “I had to take it, like you had to take it. I don't want to jeopardize what could be. I just wanted to take care of all of you and you betrayed me.”
“Just like you betrayed Gloren, you aren't better than us,” Naeve said.
“I'm not better than you,” Salaria said. “But I am tired of being treated like the enemy when you both are doing the same thing.”
“No we aren't, we don't have to see ours or worry about anyone trying for them,” Pressa said. “So now what?”
“Now nothing,” Salaria said. “I miss you guys.
At home it is just me and Sylvia since Thaddeus doesn't want much to do with her.
I don't have any friends. Human women hate me on sight and make nasty comments when their husbands stare at me.
They think that I am going to introduce their husbands to girls like us.
I mean, I would so I can't hate them. Then I heard that all of you are having so much fun and I just want to be friends again.”
“But not with Baeve and the rest,” Pressa said.
“No I don't and neither would you,” Salaria said. “Just like neither of you want me to meet whoever these men are that you are with. I know that I am pretty and I know the way men look at me when I am in a room.”
“So what you are pretty,” Naeva said. “That never stopped your man from looking elsewhere.”
“Which hurt my feelings even more,” Salaria said. “But I am still not the person you want meeting any of these men. I just want to be friends again. It would be nice to come here during the day since I heard that you all live here now. Where does Vaeri live?”
“Not here, at least not yet,” Gand said. “I was thinking about renting the rooms to workers but the deal I have means that only women are on the top floor. I suppose that she could stay up there if she wanted.”
“So upstairs is only going to be for kept women?” Salaria asked.
“Looks like it,” Gand said. “With those two I am making enough to pay my workers. I am getting paid to build a spot for Pressa and Naeva’s family so I can make ends meet.
I think that I am doing pretty good. I made some rich friends since I have been here and Lord Richer’s daughter comes to see me often. ”
“You know Lord Richer?” Salaria asked surprised.
“Not him, just his daughter and nephew, we all do,” Gand said. “If it wasn't for her, Pressa and Naeva never would have met the people taking care of them.”
“Well I am happy that you found someone,” Salaria said. “And it is not the man that I am with. You both said that you were angry that you couldn't meet Sylvia. She has been here and neither of you even looked her way.”
“Because we were trying to make you mad and become mistresses or something,” Naeva said. “But she looks sweet enough.”
“How has he been?” Salaria asked. “I worry about him, I know he took our break up hard. He constantly had to fend off other Elves who thought I was too pretty for him and then lost out to a rich human.”
“He is hurt,” Pressa said.
“Dalarien has been trying to talk to him,” Naeva said. “Dalarien knows how the game is played. You saw a chance and took it. Gloren just started having some fun again when Elaina started having eyes for him. It can't really be called a relationship but it could get there.”
“I don't feel bad one bit for being nasty to any of you girls,” Salaria said.
“I missed you, but I don't feel bad for being insufferable.
I do feel bad for Gloren. I just want to see him and to just talk to him.
That day I came down here with Thaddeus, I wanted to help my friends out but I mostly wanted to see him.
I bought a lot of cabbages to hand out, I saved the largest one for him.
I picked it out myself, made sure there were no bugs on it and it was rinsed off.
There was a note inside, one I know that he didn't get.”
“I don't think that he wants anything from you, regardless of if he would want it if it was coming from somewhere else,” Gand said.
“Gloren doesn't have a lot but he still has his pride. Having a former friend feed you to show off her wealth with her new husband is not something that any man would want.”
“I wasn't trying to make him feel bad,” Salaria said. “I only wanted to help after leaving him. Everything that I do is taken wrong. If only we could talk.”
“For what?” Pressa asked. “You left, let him and Elaina see where their relationship goes. All you could do is get in their way and leave him confused thinking that there is a way for you two to get back together.”
“I don't want him to hate me,” Salaria said.
“He doesn't hate you, he is just disappointed,” Naeve replied. “Since we are being friendly and all, why are you here instead of home? If you are here, that means your husband is alone with girls you hate.”
“He is going to do whatever he wants whether I am there or not,” Salaria said. “He wanted me gone, he just wanted me to take Sylvia with me. When did the goblins get here?”
“For a bit,” Naeva said. “This is our hangout area. Gand hired them to work this place. It is becoming more like an inn.”
“Gary wants you back,” Salaria said as she looked at Gand.
“He heard what happened between you and some man. Well I heard it too, everyone heard about it. He feels bad for firing you. He told Gloren that if you are ever looking for a job that he would hire you back at double the pay, no questions asked.”
“I think I am better off here,” Gand said. “At least for a little bit. I am supposed to be taking a trip. Dalarien will be in charge of everything.”
“Where are you going?” Pressa asked.
“Ryan is going to ask me to take a trip with him,” Gand began.
“To Salta to see Lemara Mikel. Raylen is going to want to go as well.
I should be gone for about three weeks. One week travel plus one week there and another week coming back.
I'm not going to bother to pack since my fee will be for Ryan to buy me more clothes.”