Page 32 of Mushy Stuff (Guardian Mates #1)

I carry Lydia through the corridors toward the tunnel that leads to the servant quarters.

All along the corridor, where there used to be gilded golden details on the walls and ceiling, there is now flaking, crumbling, and melting gold.

There were previously golden statues lining the hallway, and now there are old bodies lying on the floor in puddles of crumbling, melted gold. Lydia gasps when she sees them.

“He…he turned people into gold statues. He encased them in gold to kill them and now that all of that gold is melting off of them. Oh gods, they look mummified. These poor people.” She buries her face against my chest and starts to cry .

The door leading to the tunnel is propped open when we get there. I assume it’s because all the other servants went this way to leave.

We quietly walk down the tunnel and immediately go to Nanni’s room.

When we walk in, Nanni and Pampa are anxiously waiting for us.

There are a few bags packed and waiting by the door.

Pampa jumps up and runs toward us as soon as we walk into the room.

She stops short when she gets a good look at all the blood covering me.

She gives me a wide-eyed look but doesn’t ask about it.

Nanni walks over to us and asks “Is that Lord Varik’s blood? Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

Nanni nods her head. “Good.” Then she smiles at Lydia and says, “You must be Lydia. It is very nice to finally meet you.” She turns towards Pampa. “This is Pampa. She’s Wold’s sister. I’ve been raising her here at this estate the same way that I raised Wold.”

Lydia practically jumps out of my arms and exclaims, “Nanni! I’m so happy to finally meet you. Wold has told me a lot about you.” Lydia starts to raise her arms like she is going to hug Nanni but then remembers all the blood. She looks down, a little embarrassed. “I’ll save hugs for later.”

Nanni gives Lydia a huge smile. “I feel like I should clarify that Nanni was just the nickname that Wold gave me because he couldn’t say my real name, which is Nannitem.”

Lydia hugs my waist and says, “That’s adorable!”

I don’t remember any of that, and I’m suddenly embarrassed by it. I just smile at them and scratch my neck awkwardly.

Nanni sees my discomfort and gives me a sweet smile. “It’s a nickname that I love though. I’ve asked everyone to call me Nanni since Wold first started calling me that.”

Lydia turns to Pampa and gives her a huge smile. “It’s so nice to meet you too! You are so beautiful…and you look just like Wold! I’m so excited that he has family.”

Pampa gives her a shy smile. “You are just as pretty as the servants said you are.”

Lydia thanks her and says, “I’ll give you a big hug just as soon as I’m not all bloody anymore.”

Nanni interjects, “Then let’s get you two cleaned up. We need to leave soon and not have you two covered in blood.” She rummages around for something to help us clean off

Pampa looks excitedly at Lydia. “Wold said we can come live with you and him!”

Lydia gives me a quick uncertain glance, then she says, “Oh that would be perfect!”

Nanni hands me one of Lord Varik’s plush towels, and I begin scrubbing all the blood off me. Then she brings Lydia a dress and says, “I asked Faylen to give me a spare dress for you. I had a feeling you might end up with ruined, bloody clothes.”

Nanni wipes the blood off Lydia’s face, arms, and chest, then helps her change into the new dress. As soon as the dress is on and laced up, Lydia spins around and startles Nanni with a huge hug. She releases her, and sweeps Pampa up in a hug as well.

We gather the bags that Nanni and Pampa packed and immediately leave to start our journey back to my territory. It will be a long walk, and I am concerned about Lydia being able to walk the distance.

Nanni pauses. “Let’s see if there is a cart and horse. Lydia has had a difficult time over the past couple of days; it might be a lot for her to walk all the way there.”

As we walk toward the stables, a female voice calls out to Nanni. When I turn, I see that it came from one of the females that had been in Lydia’s room.

Nanni rushes toward the female. “Faylen! I’m so glad that you are safe. Are you leaving?”

Faylen gives her a shy look and blushes a slightly deeper orange. Then she says, “Yes, I’m leaving with Allium.”

She turns to look over her shoulder. There I see the cat-like Guardian cook watching us. He is holding the reigns of a horse and has a large pack on his back. His scent is all over the small female.

Nanni gives her a knowing smile and says, “I’m glad that you two finally got together.”

Faylen smiles back at Nanni. “Me too. We are going to the nearest town to look for work. We even mentioned opening an inn for travelers.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. I’m so glad I got to say goodbye to you. Good luck on your new adventure.” Nanni gives Faylen a tight hug, and I can see the tears starting to slide down her cheeks.

Faylen then comes over to Lydia. All my muscles tighten at the thought of a threat to Lydia, but she just looks at Lydia and says, “I’m so sorry for everything that happened.

It was never any of my idea. I think we could have been great friends if we’d met under different circumstances.

Thank you for helping to free us from… him . ”

Lydia gives her a hug and says, “I understand completely. Maybe one day Wold and I can come visit you.”

After their embrace, Faylen walks back to the cook. He helps her up onto the horse, then climbs on behind her. He nods to me as they ride away.

** *

Once we are inside the stable, I am relieved to find that there are still two carts and several horses left.

Nanni says, “Pampa and I will hitch one of the horses up to the cart.” They head toward a white mare. The horse doesn’t seem nervous around them, so I assume that Lord Varik made them do this a lot. Lydia wanders over to them and pets the horse, then watches as they hitch her to the cart.

Once they are done, we walk the horse out of the stable. Nanni and Pampa ride up front to guide the horse, while Lydia and I lay down in the back.

Pampa turns around and excitedly says, “Nanni says she will show me how to drive the horse! Don’t worry, Wold and Lydia, I will drive us to our new home!”

Nanni laughs and shakes her head. “Pampa, turn around and pay attention. They have had a long night; let them rest.”

As soon as we get moving, Lydia curls up against me with her head on my chest. She whispers, “Thank you for saving me, Wold.”

As I curl up with her, I whisper back, “I will always come for you, my little sprite.” Before I know it, we have both fallen asleep.