CHAPTER 21 #2
Lenore’s eyes flitted over to the satchel. She needed to know what was in there.
“Could you check Charie too?” she asked. “Hesper also went after her.” The other woman froze, then quickly shook her head.
“Oh no, I’m fine.” Charie’s eyes darted between them, a nervous edge to her voice. “I got word—through Hesper—Thalryn Beren needs me right away. I’ll be leaving now—”
“Think of it as a wellness check?” Lenore persisted.
“No, I—”
“Enough. I’ll give you a brief look over,” Edmund said. He glanced at Lenore once more, reluctant to tear his gaze away from her before he moved onto Charie.
“I think I dropped an earring over here, so let me just check in the meantime!” It was true what she said, but she didn’t care if she ever found it again.
Lenore skirted back, pretending to look around, and crouching over.
As soon as their attention wasn’t on her, she turned slightly.
Her hand reached into her pocket, and pulled out Pip.
It stared at her inquisitively—about to chirp before Lenore gave it a subtle shake of her head.
In the quietest whisper she could muster, she said, “The bag. Please check it.” Pip glanced toward Charie, then nodded.
As soon as it flew up as a tiny dot of light and snuck toward the brown satchel, Lenore saw a faint frown tug at Edmund’s lips as his eyes flitted to the side.
Pip hid just beneath the bag, sensing that the Vesren noticed a shift in the air.
His sharp perception spurred Lenore to hurry to Charie, distracting the pair with a flurry of questions as she stood on the opposite side.
“Couldn’t find my earring, but oh well. How’re you doing?” she asked. “Are you feeling alright? Vesren, is she okay?” She shot a glance at Edmund, watching him blink a few times before he silently dismissed what was on his mind.
“Nothing’s wrong with her physically,” Edmund said. “But you’re clearly shaken up, Charie.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “Did something like this ever happen with Hesper before?”
“No… no. It took me by surprise too, but really, Lenore, you need to see a healer right away!” Charie winced at seeing Lenore’s ear up close. She pursed her lips after, then murmured, “I’m sorry I didn’t get to take you. Thalryn Beren really needs my help right now.”
“With what exactly?” Edmund asked. His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why were you here with Hesper in the first place?”
“Hesper went to fetch me since Beren needs a hand getting lilifras for the Simurgh’s Blight.
He finally found a patch of them. They’re really delicate, so I suppose he’d prefer someone that could harvest them with a lighter hand.
” Charie squirmed under his assessing gaze.
“My apologies, Vesren. I know you already assigned me to help—”
Edmund cleared his throat sharply. “Assisting Beren is a higher priority, never mind it.”
Lenore thought back to when she was last with Charie. She didn’t notice another werewolf approach her and Charie at the training grounds. She wasn’t that distracted, was she? If Hesper showed up, he must’ve been pretty far… So how did he get her attention?
“It’s fine,” Lenore said. “I don’t think anyone expected that to happen, right?” The shadows on Charie’s face said otherwise.
“Yes…”
Lenore gripped the side of her dress. She nodded, then caught the slightest shift of movement from the bag. The flap rose and fell subtly. Her breath hitched.
“Well,” Lenore said, a touch too loudly. Two sets of eyes snapped to her. She hesitated before reaching out timidly, brushing the tips of her fingers against Edmund’s upper arm, then letting her hand rest there. “It’s thanks to you for coming to our rescue.”
Edmund’s cheeks flushed red. In turn, heat bloomed across Lenore’s face. Her smile turned coy, and a sparkle of appreciation lit up her eyes as she tilted her head.
“Thank you, Vesren,” she said softly. Her hand gave him a light squeeze and she felt the strength of his muscles beneath her touch.
He was stunned silent for a noticeable beat, his eyes transfixed on her. Lenore felt her chest flutter as shyness swept through her, and she tucked one arm behind her back.
“You did have... good timing, Vesren,” Charie said, breaking the quiet between them. “I’m not sure what we would’ve done otherwise.”
Edmund retreated from Lenore’s touch right after, looking at anything but her. He turned away from them, opting to focus on the trees.
“I didn’t do more than the bare minimum,” he said quickly. “Anyway, Charie, you’re clear to go unless you have anything you want addressed.”
As Charie shook her head, Lenore glanced at the bag and saw the flap lift just enough for Pip to wriggle through the tight space, a small glass vial in its grasp. Inside, something black pulsed slowly, as if it were breathing.
Charie shifted her weight, turning her head toward the satchel at her side.
Lenore yelped, bringing up her hand to her ear. Both Charie and Edmund looked at her, sharing the same look of concern.
“Sorry,” she said. She added a wince. “Maybe it’s a lot more painful than I thought.”
“We’re going now.” Edmund immediately shifted into a wolf. A sharp burst of air left his nostrils. “I’ll escort you there.”
“I’ll get going too,” Charie added quickly. “If we don’t see each other again, I’ll see you at the Upper Moon Feast prep tomorrow, Lenore.” She tried to smile at her, but it never reached her eyes. “I hope your ear heals up fine.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Within a blink, she was darting off in her wolf form. Lenore silently noted she went in the same direction as Hesper.
Where’s Pip? Her eyes searched afterwards, trying to find the chirpy creature.
There was no sign of the light sprite, and she was certain it must’ve been hiding behind the dense sprawl of branches.
“Um, Edmund,” she said. “Which way is the clinic?”
He raised a brow at her. “You’ll just be following me.”
“I know that, but…” she groaned in her head. Think of a better excuse for him to look away! “Are we going through that path?” She pointed ahead of her, and Edmund looked out toward where she pointed.
Pip, I hope we’re on the same page! With Edmund distracted, she lifted the dusty-blue layer of her dress, waiting with bated breath.
A glimmer of light caught Lenore’s eye, and soon a tiny figure shot toward her like a shooting star from the branches above.
She could just make out the details of Pip’s form right before it entered her pocket with the vial.
The hard object pressed against her leg briefly until Pip jostled around, making itself comfortable.
Soft pats against her leg were her way of high-fiving the sprite, and to look as if she was adjusting her dress.
Internally, she let out a sigh of relief.
Edmund’s ear flicked, and he looked around at the air. His eyes squinted with suspicion, but was distracted when Lenore joined his side as a wolf. He glanced around once more, then shook his head to himself.
“We’re not going the path you pointed out,” he answered. “But we’ll be going this way.” As he began to lead, he added, “If I’m going too fast, let me know.”
Lenore’s ears perked, eyes widening. “Did you... I’m sorry, but did you just give me the blessing to set the pace?”
“You’re injured.” He gave her a sideways glance, then scoffed lightly. A teasing edge softened his warning. “If you’re already going to abuse what I said by going as slow as a slug right now, I can revoke it.”
“Please don’t,” she said with a light laugh. “I appreciate it.” Her tail wagged, and in response, Edmund’s tail gave a light wag of its own.
She could feel Pip’s light tickling her, as if it was giggling at their exchange. It was a relief to her then that the sprite couldn’t feel the jittery nerves and the warm thrum in her chest as she stayed by Edmund’s side.