20. Chapter Twenty
Zyon stares at the fake stars with his hands tucked behind his head.
It’s as warm as a summer evening with a cool breeze softening the air to the perfect temperature inside the imagination cave, where winter can't access. We’ve worked over the last several weeks on fighting the monsters that I might meet on the mountain, and I’ve failed many times.
I’ve also made vials of potions to help with more supernatural beasts, but I’m no closer to the cloak and key to even start up the mountain.
Zyon has helped me so much lately that I’m often tempted to ask him about the key, but something holds me back.
We’ve rewarded ourselves with a day on the beach in the cavern for all the hard work.
It was something Zyon used to motivate me when I wanted to give up during battles.
Waves roll over our feet, and the chill of the water feels as real as any other I’ve experienced. The sand sculptures we’ve made are behind us, and I roll over onto my stomach to study how sad mine looks compared to his.
“What exactly is that one?” Zyon points to my lopsided dog.
“It’s a puppy.”
“Oh...” He tilts his head. “Still don’t see it.”
I roll over and poke his arm. “You’re so rude!”
“Am I? At least I’m not bad at art.”
“Arrogant king.”
He tickles me until I squirm so much it puts us chest to chest, and I beg him to take pity on my gasping lungs. “This is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. Maybe ever.”
“It’s not like you can truly remember that or anything else before a few months ago. What if you’re betrothed or even married? You only don’t remember her. She’s away visiting some kingdom or lives there until it’s time for your ceremony.”
He wraps his arms around me and plays with my hair. “It’s not like it matters unless the curse is broken.”
“You could be cheating on someone.”
“Is it cheating if I have no idea she exists?”
I close my eyes as the way he massages my scalp leaves me sleepy, and when he moves onto my neck, I’m almost a goner. “That’s unclear. Maybe not, but I doubt she’d forgive you either way.”
“Most likely that would be true, but you don’t have to be concerned. While I don’t have many memories, it doesn’t feel like there is anyone. There’s an emptiness here.” He touches his chest.
I want to say that could just be from losing his person, but I let it go. It’s not something I need to worry about because as soon as the mountain is over, so are we. I yawn and bury my face in his chest to take in his scent better. “But this is also the most fun I’ve had in a really long time.”
“Maybe when you break the curse. Maybe we could do things like this still.”
“You want to spend time with me when all of this is over?”
“Perhaps.” He goes back to playing with my hair and rubbing my neck.
“Perhaps sounds so confident.”
He says something else, but my mind drifts away until I awake the next morning, still in his arms. It’s not the first time.
There have been many nights of talking under the dome in his room that I’ve fallen asleep until morning.
On those mornings, he demands that the servants bring us breakfast in bed.
He kisses the top of my head and pulls away to sit up and watch the waves. “The castle is angry I stayed away all night.” He flinches.
“What is it? You do that a lot. It seems more and more frequent.”
He clutches his head and groans. “It’s angry with me.”
I hurry to gather our things as the beach melts back into the pool and brown rock walls. We put back on winter clothes, and he flinches every so often. By the time we land back at the castle, his face is scrunched in a continuous wince.
I grab his hand and lead him back to his room. “Is it only your head causing your pain?”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“Yes, but I was wondering if anywhere else is hurting, so I can create the right remedy.”
“It’s only my head. I’m being punished until the castle is satisfied I’ve paid enough.”
I kick the wall. “You’re such a brute of a building.”
He cries out and grasps his head with pale fingers. “Please don’t do that again.”
“Sorry. Do you feel up to taking a shower?”
He opens his right eye halfway. “If you are joining me, the answer will always be yes.”
“You saw enough of me at the beach but go get in the shower and turn the water to the highest setting you can stand. Stay under the spout until I call for you. Keep your face under the water.”
To my surprise, he obeys, and I grab Elton to make a run for the apothecary. I unlock the door with the key Zyon gave me and rush inside, gathering ingredients and laying them out on the standing table.
Aldric shakes his ivory beak around. “That smells horribly strong.”
“The smell will be lessened by juniper berries and act as one of the strongest pain relievers to any place it’s rubbed into.” I place it in a jar and make three more batches before making three other remedy alternatives.
I kiss Aldric on the beak and wave as I hurry back to Zyon. To my surprise, he’s still under the shower spout when I return. He’s left the bathroom door open a crack, but I’m careful not to let my eyes wander inside.
I lean against the door and yell into the crack. “You can come out now.”
He does a few moments later with only black pants hanging low on his defined hips. I bite my lip, and my cheeks set on fire when he smirks.
I avert my eyes and point to his bed. “Get in so I can cure your pain.”
“Should I strip for this remedy?”
“We are working on a place that does not require you to be naked.”
“I should have complained of groin pain that needed desperate relief.”
I swing my bag back over my shoulder and take a step back. “Seems the hot water has cured you. I will see you at breakfast.”
He grips the side of his bed, and his face tightens. I set my bag on the table and pull out the ointment, guiding him over to the bed and lowering his head onto my lap once I get situated against his headboard. His breathing is rapid, and the sheets scrunch in his fists.
I place generous amounts of the ointment on his temples and work up to his scalp.
It takes several minutes for his face to relax, and I repeat the process five times.
His body loosens as his breathing evens out.
I keep massaging him through his nap and place sage leaves across his forehead that should absorb any pain left.
Once the thin blue leaves turn black, I remove them and go back to kneading his head.
“You’re a miracle worker.” He wakes for only a moment before returning to sleep.
Maximo catches me on my way back to my room and hands me a small box. “This is from the king to thank you for curing his headache. It’s the first he’s had relief from one without suffering for hours after they start. He says to use it whenever you need light.”
“He only gets them when he leaves the castle for too long?” I stick the box in my bag to open in private.
“Whenever he displeases the castle. They make him grumpy, to say the least, and he can only stay in bed in the darkness when they are at their worst.”
Maximo bows and heads back the way he came, and I enter the long hallway to my room.
The marble floors shimmer under the prism chandeliers.
The smooth white tiles shine so greatly that I can see my distorted reflection in them.
All the paintings change every few days, so I stop to appreciate the new images they’ve shifted to.
I study one of a white cat sitting in a wicker basket, wearing a large red bow as big as its head.
It has one blue eye and one green, making it a stunning sight.
My mouth is covered, and I’m dragged backwards down the hall.
I elbow my attacker, but it doesn’t land where it should, so I stomp on their feet, which also proves useless.
The hands release my mouth and shove me into a room.
I free the dagger from my thigh, only to realize there is no flesh to stab into.
“What’s that going to do to me now?” Ruax’s wolf snout chomps at me.
“What do you want?”
He moves his hands up and down. “What does it look like I want?”
“Your body back, right? I don’t believe that is possible. Your corpse is probably pretty decayed.”
“It’s a crisp. He burned it.”
“Okay. What do you want from me then?”
He pushes his back against the mahogany door to block the only exit in the small bedroom that holds only one window, a bed, and a little dresser. “Help. I want your help.”
“What makes you think that even if I could, I would?”
“Because you’re tough on the outside, Neera. Iron tough, but you’re also the kindest person I know. You’ll help me.”
“How?”
“Help me get a body. Please. You know so many remedies and magics that you must know something.”
“Well, I don’t. Move.”
“Not until you promise to help me.”
I dash to the window, shove it open, and hop over the sill. “There’s nothing I can do for you.”
He grabs my wrist before my feet can touch the ground. His bone fingers bite into my skin. “This necromancy of his is dangerous. Unnatural. You should look into magical abilities in the library. There are many different ones, but there aren’t any on necromancy.”
“And?”
“Go to the library and ask the librarian for books on necromancy.” He drops me so suddenly that I slam into the ground.
A thorny vine pierces my leg, and I use items in my bag to clean my wound.
Ruax stands in the window, watching me bandage the large gash across my calf. “The library, Neera.”
By the next morning, my ankle swells and turns purple around the bandage. I use some of the extra pain remedies I compiled for Zyon’s head on it, and it improves the limp I’ve gained. It’s enough that Zyon doesn’t notice when I stroll into breakfast.
The fire in the fireplace flickers blue with the occasional purple sparking on the edges.
The color changes are a neat trick I have yet to ask Zyon about.
His eyes are pinned to the window and the abundant snow blowing wildly around.
His entire face lights up when he spots me sliding into my chair as though I’m the best thing he’s seen. “Good morning.”