Page 51 of Grounded (Convergence #1)

“Why don't you go down to the village, Miss?” Aga, the cook, suggested as she made a pot of tea for Liria.

Another reason the staff were so integral was that without them, Liria would truly feel alone.

They'd quickly become like family to her.

She didn't know if they felt the same or just took pity on her, but they were all very kind.

Even the head gardener, who was notoriously gruff with everyone else.

He often brought in bouquets for her. Yes, they were getting paid to be there and be nice to her. But still, Liria appreciated them.

“I shouldn't.” Liria stared out of the kitchen window at Thax in his chair. The fucking house was massive, but that was the only place he wanted to be. Right in front of the spot where he had almost jumped.

“We will watch him.” Aga handed Liria a mug of tea. “I'll have Girin stand guard. I swear, Master Thaxvarien won't come to any harm while you're gone. Not by others or himself.”

They all knew Thax's story. Liria hadn't wanted them to speculate, so she told Aga and asked her to pass the information on.

Maybe that's why they were so kind to her.

She had also told Aga about the other night.

Only Aga, though. The entire staff didn't need to know their employer was suicidal.

Except that if Aga asked Girin to guard Thax, she'd have to tell him.

“I don't know.” Liria sipped the tea.

“Girin is strong. I think that's one of the reasons the Speaker chose him to be the steward here. He can restrain the master if necessary. And he's discreet. He won't speak a word of it to others.”

Restrain him. Liria shuddered at the words. “No, don't restrain him.” Liria looked at Aga. “He can't be bound.”

“I understand, Miss. But Girin will have to hold the Master back in some manner.”

“I told you, you don't have to call me Miss. Call me Liria or Li.”

“Well, you won't let me call you mistress, so I have to make due.” She tapped Liria's nose as if she were a child.

Liria smiled.

“Oh, there's that beautiful smile. Come on now. Master Thaxvarien will be fine for a few hours without you. I'll send Girin outside. He can sit on the wall so that he's between the master and the, uh—”

“Fall?” Liria supplied.

“Yes,” she whispered. Then she ran a hand over her face. “It's just so terrible. And he's such a handsome boy.”

Aga, who was in her fifth century of life, was starting to show signs of age.

Just a few wrinkles and gray hairs, but it was enough to give her the gravitas of an elder.

Just like the Aethari, Medeans looked young until they neared the end.

And then they aged quickly. Maybe it was nice to have a warning.

But Liria didn't think waking up to see proof of your dwindling time was reassuring.

“He's a good man. Chosen by the Source of Magic.” Liria stared out the window at Thax. “I have to have faith that the Source will help him past this. I can't imagine he'd be chosen only to be tossed aside.”

“It rather feels as if he has been.”

Liria looked at Aga. “Yes, I've struggled with my feelings and had that very thought many times.

I've even screamed at the sky. But it feels wrong.

I think he's being tested, but only to show all of Para how strong he is.

Or maybe to make him stronger. Either way, there's a reason for what happened.” Liria sipped her tea.

“He's going to change everything, Aga. You watch. He's going to turn Para upside-down.”

“If you really believe that, then why can't you go down to the village and take some time for yourself?” Aga lifted a brow at her.

“Oh, that was smart.” Liria wagged a finger at her. “Maybe you're right. I should get out of this house for a while.”

“Yes!” She grabbed Liria's mug. “Go! Shoo!”

Laughing, Liria went to the bedroom and changed. If she was going out, she wanted to look her best. It had been weeks since she had left the house after all. So Liria put on a lightweight dress, grabbed her leather bag, and headed out.

She could have taken the trav. It would have made for a smooth, comfortable trip. But then she would have been encased in the steel and glass converged conveyance. If she was going out, Liria wanted to be outside the entire time. So, she opted for a biwheel.

Sliding the bag's strap across her chest, Liria went for the line of biwheels along the wall of the carriage house.

They were all ground models, not a single winged skycycle in sight.

But that was probably for the best. Liria pulled the back hem of her skirt up to the front and tucked it into her waistband, creating a loose pair of pants. Then she chose her vehicle.

After settling onto the wide, leather seat, she activated the engine with her thumbprint.

A soft whir started, and the converged engine lit softly, indicating it was ready to proceed.

Hands on the steering bar, Liria navigated the two-wheeled convergence out of the carriage house and onto the cobblestone driveway.

Right before the front steps, it circled a fountain.

But she was down a bit, just past the front garden with its willow tree, so she just turned right.

The enormous estate took up a good ten acres, with most of that acreage between the house and the gate.

The road curved down the hill, through orchards of apples, peaches, and pears.

On the left was a statue garden, the stone people shifting position as she passed.

Liria knew it was only convergence and that such statuary was very expensive, but they gave her the creeps.

She put on speed to pass it. But then she came to the strip of woodland just before the gate.

Sunlight shone through the web of branches overhead, and birds sang.

It was a perfect day—blue sky beyond those branches.

Liria wished Thax were on a biwheel beside her.

She could just see his smiling face. Hear his laughter.

How had that carefree, happy man—the man who had smiled even when he was ostracized by his own people—become the angry, bitter, broken thing Liria had left behind?

Unlike the main door of the house, the gate didn't read auras.

So it didn't open at her approach. Liria had to stop and dismount at the gatehouse so she could push open one of the tall metal panels.

She left it open and drove out onto the main road that bisected the town.

A few yards down the road, homes appeared on both sides with vegetable gardens or fruit trees in the front yards.

Liria's family had stayed in houses similar to these, the old architecture featuring walls made of stone and coral.

But they preferred to rent places down by the water.

Why vacation on the coast without an ocean view?

The road evened out. She had reached the flat land by the bay.

Pulling back on the pedals, Liria slowed down and entered the main part of town, with its shops and restaurants.

A sense of nostalgia washed over her as she remembered walking those streets as a child.

Her favorite shop was right there—Mallin's Sweets.

They were just as Liria remembered, with the bright yellow stripes on the awning and displays of shiny candies and fluffy marshmallows in the window below.

A bright red runind kite flew just below the awning, tethered by a cord of light.

It floated on converged currents that it created, bobbing about to catch the attention of passersby. Especially the children.

There were also several shops for foodstuffs and skyhook markets—floating stalls tethered in a similar manner to the kite, with glowing chains instead of a cord.

Vendors worked those lofty stalls, bobbing above the grounded shops.

A woman called up her order as Liria drew abreast of a fruit stall, and the vendor sent down a basket full of oranges.

People on the sidewalks waved to her. No, they didn't know her.

They were just friendly on the coast. Of course, they were.

What did they have to be unfriendly about?

Ironically, the only angry people in the whole of Thennis were living in the nicest house.

Liria found a spot to park her biwheel and locked it with her thumbprint. No one else would be able to start the vehicle. Not that anyone down there would try to steal it. Crime was virtually nonexistent in Thennis. Must be the sunshine and salt air.

Repositioning her bag, Liria looked around.

And had no idea where to begin. She wasn't much of a shopper before she'd met Thax, and nothing had happened since then to change that.

But she wanted to explore the town, and this was the main portion of it.

So, Liria strolled down the sidewalk, peering at the window displays, trying to find something to pique her interest. The phantom veils were interesting.

A device in the window moved them about, showing off the trail of illusions they left behind.

The three out on display created mist, butterflies, and stars, and the trails wove together to form a delightful landscape.

So beautiful, but where would she wear something that fine? No, not for her. Liria walked on.