Chapter 31
Aella
Ipatted the dirt around the tractvine where I’d covered the snake-like part of it.
Only the bushy top needed to be out in the sun and air, along with the lone yellow bloom.
The flower moved to watch my hand as if inspecting my work to be sure I did it right.
I was glad it was the last of this plant species I needed to place in its new home. It was exhausting work.
The six of them were spaced far apart in my new garden to ensure they wouldn’t compete for nutrients or get in fights with each other. It was such a pain detangling them when that happened, so I’d learned my lesson long ago.
Darrow came and stood over me with an amused expression on his face. “Feeling better now?”
My mood had been terrible when we first arrived with the plants. How was I supposed to trust anyone when it always ended badly? At least my garden was faithful and would do anything for me. Getting them settled here had helped give me a measure of calm.
“Yes, a little,” I said, rising to my feet.
He glanced toward the crunchertrap that was still in its pot on the farthest end of the garden in a section I hadn’t cleared yet. It had snapped at every living and dead plant in the vicinity, tearing them all apart. That would save me some work later.
“All I have left is Wrath over there.”
Darrow gave me an incredulous look. “You named it Wrath—after the god?”
“Yes. They have a few things in common, like being angry and vengeful one minute and then doing something morbidly kind the next.” I shrugged. “Besides, it’s not really his name, so he can’t complain.”
He chuckled. “I wonder what he’ll think of that.”
“I don’t care.” Looking around, I noticed the rest of the plants were finally in place, thanks to my husband and the other helpers. “You finished the rest already?”
All I’d had to do was store the seeds for the plants that only came up seasonally, put away my personal gardening supplies, and get the tractvines in place.
Darrow, his friends, and the gardeners handled everything else with my instructions.
I still needed to settle the crunchertrap, but it was so cranky that I wanted everyone gone from the garden before I put it by the gate.
Otherwise, they might not escape without losing pieces of themselves.
“Yes. Most of the plants seemed happy to be here after they saw the place,” Darrow said, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t believe I’m considering their feelings now.”
“Did I fail to mention that as a bonus feature of being with me when we first discussed marriage?” I asked, shaking my head. “Oops.”
“It’s fine. At least I’ll never be bored with you.”
Ironic that another nameless god had mentioned something similar about marrying Darrow. “Let the others know they can go, and I’ll finish up here.”
“Actually.” His expression turned serious. “I’m going to need you to come to Jollure with me after you finish with…Wrath. I need to speak with my father and the prince first about what we learned at Ivory Castle, but that will give you time with your plant before we must go.”
He wanted to travel to Jollure now? Then, it hit me.
Darrow wanted to talk to Bogdan about his sister and probably see if his cousin knew anything else about the dark elves’ plans.
“Okay, I’ll meet you at the castle when I finish, but I’ll need to send a sebeska to my sister before we go.
She’s going to wonder about Tadeus and who knows what he’ll tell her. ”
“Of course,” he agreed.
My husband and the others left a few minutes later after putting the empty pots inside the shed.
I ran my gaze over the garden, pleased it was off to a good start.
My plants took up less than a quarter of the space, plus there were a handful that were already here I’d chosen to keep.
Though most of my originals had behaved themselves and seemed pleased with the new location, I could sense their crankiness at having their roots disturbed and needing to get reoriented.
Hopefully, they’d settle in a week or two.
With all the open space remaining, I’d need to start looking elsewhere for more, but I’d have to wait until the spring since fall was a terrible time to add new plants.
The crunchertrap was the only one I wanted to find a companion for soon.
I could spare a little magic to make sure that one adjusted smoothly despite the weather.
I headed over to Wrath, speaking in a soothing voice. “You’re okay. I’m going to get you settled in the ground, and you’re not going to hurt me, or else you’ll have to stay in the pot.”
Since it was capable of walking, I’d used a binding spell to keep it from escaping. I released the magic holding it and started to reach for the plant, but it hopped out on its own. Balancing on its sturdy roots, it took off running.
“Hey, stop, Wrath!” I yelled, dashing after it.
The crunchertrap stopped in its tracks when a large dark-skinned man in a robe appeared a few feet in front of it.
He was the nameless god who’d visited me a few times in the past, but I hadn’t seen him since he partially healed me in my uncle’s dungeon.
That memory was a little hazy since I was dying at the time.
He’d repaired enough of the damage to my head and throat so I’d live long enough for Darrow to rescue me.
I supposed I should act civilly toward him.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
Oops, that didn’t come out as polite as I’d meant. Possibly because the god had still left me in my own filth with numerous broken bones he hadn’t touched. He could have made me a little more comfortable during the hours I waited in delirium for rescue.
“Shoo,” he said to the crunchertrap, making a hand gesture for it to go away.
To my surprise, it calmly waddled away on its root legs.
I worried it might escape since the garden gates were open, but it went straight to the tilled soil I’d prepared for it next to the entrance and planted itself in the ground.
Then its giant, toothy flower head turned my way, and I could have sworn it glared at me, as if it were my fault that a deity had shown up.
The god turned to me and scowled. “You had sex with other gods. What were you thinking?”
“That was almost two weeks ago, and you’re just now coming to complain about it?” I asked, refusing to feel bad. It wasn’t like we had an official agreement, or I had any obligations to him.
“Druids and light elves do not belong to them, and I’ve marked you as mine.” He began pacing the gravel trail that ran through the middle of my garden before it split in two directions. “Not to mention, there is always a price to pay for our assistance.”
I shrugged. “They offered to help Darrow and me complete our mating bond, and the price wasn’t that terrible. We all enjoyed it. Plus, I didn’t have to open myself to deep feelings for a man who can’t return them, so it all worked out.”
Letting a goddess I didn’t know have control of my body, along with a god I’d just met, use Darrow’s, still felt like a life-altering experience.
I didn’t know if I’d want to do it again because it was intense, but I had no regrets.
It finally made sense why some couples offered themselves every winter solstice.
I’d never understood it before or been brave enough to try it.
“The female left a mark right next to mine on you just to perturb me,” he said, moving closer and squinting as if he could see the mystical stamps on my aura. “That means she can come visit you now and interfere in your life.”
“She can get in line with you and everyone else doing that,” I said.
He let out a dramatic sigh. “There is nothing to be done about it now.”
“Is that all you came to talk about, or is there something else? Dare and I have travel plans. My goal is to be back by dinnertime because I haven’t eaten since breakfast.” It was true.
While someone had brought sandwiches for us to eat for lunch, I’d been too busy to stop for them. My plants came first.
“Yes.” He gave me a frustrated look. “Tell your mate to concentrate on saving Zelthor and not to worry about the Karganoth king for now.”
I knitted my brows. “We’re trying to save the boy, but it’s a matter of finding a way into Porrine.”
“A path will present itself when the time is right,” the nameless god said.
“How?” I asked.
He gave me an enigmatic smile. “I’ve told you all that I can on the matter, but do heed my warning and pass it along.”
“Fine, I will, but he didn’t plan to do anything right away, as far as I know.”
“Oh, one more thing.” The nameless god glanced around warily before coming close to me and whispering in my ear. “Beware of that strange chicken. It is not what it seems, and if upset, it can be very dangerous—even more so as time passes and its powers in that form grow.”
I frowned as he pulled away. “We already figured out it’s not normal, but what do you mean?”
“That bird is not what it seems.”
Of course, he disappeared, so I couldn’t ask him to explain further.