Page 21 of The Gargoyle’s Glade (The Gargoyle Knights #3)

Merry

E verything had changed between Coltor and I. We’d shared little pieces of our souls, made gestures that couldn’t be taken back.

After I’d woken from my nap, he fed me some incredible soup, then rubbed an aromatic oil on my temples.

He insisted on working out the tension in my shoulders again, a cool towel against my neck and my feet back in an icy bucket.

He stayed until it was time to leave for his patrol and looked as though he regretted having to go.

He was quiet, but it was a soft silence, not one borne of frustration like I had seen from him before.

Conversation was sparse, but his hulking presence was a comfort, the low timbre of his voice soothing.

Now that I knew where his anger had been rooted, I could see it for what it was. Overwhelm. Concern. Strain. I would have bet anything that taking care of me was a balm on those raw emotions. In fact, I understood that more than most.

He’d hesitated to leave that evening, his big shoulders taking up my whole doorway, so I’d put him out of his misery and kissed him.

It seemed so silly, but his hesitant-turned-wholly-enthusiastic kisses revealed that all the others I’d had before were lacking in every way.

Coltor was all-in when he wanted something, and by the way he wrapped his body around me, the way his mouth fed upon mine, there was no question that I was undeniably wanted .

I tried to ignore how terribly empty my little cabin had felt since he’d left, but it was impossible.

There was too much space now, too much air.

And I couldn’t help but think of how gently he’d cared for me every time I saw the little family of carvings on my hearth.

For all his faults, Coltor was inescapably a good man.

And the truth was I wanted him too. More than I thought was possible to crave another person. I had no idea how we’d arrived at this place, but there was nowhere else I’d choose to be.

Thanks to his remedies and a good night’s sleep, I felt better than I had in days. Head clear and ready to make a trip to the markets for myself, I prepared for a day out of my cabin and away from the contracts I was spending my days working through.

Seir and Tap, apologetic over the omitted information about the time difference and concerned that I’d worked myself too hard in addition to the concern about the dust allergy, had set up a system so I didn’t have to go to the crossroads unless I really wanted to.

Seir delivered a crate or two of new contracts in the evening and would stop by to pick up any completed ones in the morning on his way out.

I was appreciative but hoped to return, if only occasionally, soon.

Some animals had moved along after the first crates had gone back to Tap with Seir, but it was a disappointing few.

The ones that continued to gather seemed restless, as well, like they were waiting for instructions or permission to do something.

The dozens and dozens of expectant eyes watching me had me constantly tense.

I was beginning to feel quite helpless about it all.

I stepped through the doorway, the familiar twisting sensation the least of my concerns. As I was spat out on the grounds of d’Arcan, it felt as though my head might split in two. I hit my knees and stayed there a moment, focusing on my breathing.

“Merry?” As I regained my feet, temples throbbing, Grace’s voice came to me as if I were underwater. I could hear Jacks making a racket from across the yard and glimpsed him rearing up on his hind legs, kicking and generally making a huge fuss.

“Is Jacks alright?”

“She’s tripped through a portal and is asking about the horse,” Grace muttered, shaking her head. “I can appreciate that, honestly, but let’s worry about you, yes? Are you alright?”

I forced a smile over the pain. “I’m fine. Just a little clumsy.”

Her sidelong look told me she didn’t entirely believe that, but she didn’t press. “Well. What can we do for you today?”

“I need to send something to my family. Can you tell me the best way to arrange that?”

Her whole face lit up and she led me inside. “Of course, my dear. Come with me. We’ll need to speak with the headmaster. Rylan?” she called.

“Yes?” He turned from where he was seated at the new family dining table as Grace hauled me into the dining room.

“Merry needs to send a package.”

“An envelope,” I explained. “But it’s money, so I wasn’t sure if there was a special way?”

“Ah. I’ve got just the thing.” His smile was broad as he got to his feet and took us down the hall.

Rylan’s massive black owl was perched on a tall stand near a person-sized hearth in a mostly empty classroom. Hearing us, he perked, head swiveling as he took us all in. I focused, prepared to hear him speak, but heard nothing.

“Archimedes enjoys a mission now and then. What do you say, care to take on a courier job?”

“I’d be happy to pay.” I addressed both the owl and the mage and was amused to get a similar expression of interest from them both.

“He does love a good vole or rat.”

“Anything you like, I’ll be happy to get it.” I cringed, but Rylan winked in a way that reassured me I would not be personally responsible for obtaining the rodents.

Archimedes stuck one of his legs out, talons open like he was requesting the item. “Do you have the envelope?” Rylan asked.

“Oh, of course.” I dug it out of my pocket and handed it to Rylan, who passed it to Archimedes.

“Where is he going, exactly?”

The bird looked directly at me, his golden gaze intelligent and intense.

I was proud that I managed not to look away and pleased his eyes didn’t paralyze me.

“Take it to the big market off the main street in Ravenglen, if you please. They’ll get it to my mother.

Her name is on the envelope and there’s a letter inside. ”

Archimedes bobbed his head. It was then I heard a faint voice. Help friend. Journey. Treat. Then with a powerful flap, he flew out the window Rylan had crossed the room and opened.

“Is there anything else we can do for you today?”

“No, thank you very much.”

“Anytime, Merry.” Rylan gave a graceful bow, and I did a terrible imitation of a curtsy.

After allowing Grace to care for me with tea and honey cakes, I went to the paddock to see Jacks, who thankfully had calmed quite a bit. I fed him an apple and some carrots from the bucket near the gate, and he mouthed at my bracelet while I scratched his nose.

“I won’t be back for a few days,” I told him, resting my aching head against his.

“I’m not feeling very well. You behave, alright?

” Jacks looked at me in a way that had me convinced he understood, and I fought back tears as I threw my arms around his neck.

“I bet if you could, you’d help me figure out what I’m supposed to be doing.

” He nickered gently, and I gave him a squeeze.

“Maybe one day you can join me in the glade. Can horses use portals?” I tilted my head, and he snorted, but I was unsure if that was a yes or no.

“Long way around perhaps, then. No matter. For now, stay here and get some pampering, yes? I’ll come see you as soon as I can. ”

I walked away before I got too worked up and forced myself back to go back to the glade, worried I’d lied to Jacks for the first time ever as the portal split my head wide open before it spat me back out.

I dragged myself back to my cabin and slept for nearly a whole day. I felt slightly better upon waking again, but the persistent banging in my skull remained.

Even if I didn’t see Coltor, there were new carvings waiting for me on the porch almost every morning. The variety of beasts on my hearth had grown nearly as vast as the actual animals still hanging around. He’d even made me a squirrel.

Unable to focus on the writing in the contracts, I took the little book Ophelia had given me and sat on the porch steps.

I turned several pages, finding a word here or a phrase there that made sense, but not much else, just like every time before.

Frustrated, I kept flipping while walking the garden beds, encouraging the little plants to grow with some gentle leaf pruning.

I looked around at the closest animals. “Thank you for taking care of the bugs and weeds. That’s very helpful.” I wasn’t sure where it came from, but I did hear a faint response. Welcome. Friend. Help. Pledge now?

There was some gentle stirring as I started off toward Hailon’s, but they followed at a respectful distance instead of crowding me along the path. About the time I crossed by the hot springs, I realized the words on the page in front of me were easily understandable.

I stopped walking, stunned by what I was seeing.

The words were suddenly clear, each and every one. I turned the pages again and again, finding the same. As I skimmed through a lesson on interspecies communication and went to turn the page, I stopped short. My wrist was bare.

I spun around, looking at the ground, wondering how long my bracelet had been gone.

“No. No, no. It can’t be.” The sound in my head narrowed to a muted hum as panic sank in.

My father’s stone. One of the only things I had left of him.

After he’d been missing long enough to be presumed dead in the mine collapse, my mother had fallen completely apart, and she’d never been able to put herself back together.

I missed him terribly; he was the light in our tiny family of three.

I hadn’t been without my bracelet since it had been passed along to me.

I dropped the book as I went to my knees, sifting through the grass and weeds with my fingers, sobs working their way into my chest.

“Help me, please!” I cried. “Find my bracelet. It has to be here somewhere.”

Help! Friend, help! Look!

Several animals sprang to action, rummaging in the foliage and soil with me. I crawled around in a blind panic for what seemed like an eternity, but still came up empty-handed.