Page 9 of The Gargoyle’s Glade (The Gargoyle Knights #3)

Merry

D espite the difficult time I’d had winding back down after the strange interaction with Coltor and the squirrel, I was awake the moment the first rays of daylight spilled through my window.

I pulled myself from the impossibly comfortable mattress feeling so well rested it was like I’d slept a week instead of a night.

A slow morning was not really something I knew how to have, so after dressing and a quick tea, I went out to take a walk. Back home, there was always work to do, somewhere to be. Adjusting to no clock ticking in my head, guiding every move I made, was difficult no matter how welcome.

First, I wandered the path between my cabin and the portals.

Then, I took another pass by the hot springs, dipping a hand in each of them, amused by the temperature differences despite the way they sat directly next to one another.

I wandered further down, taking a peek at the buildings still under construction, curious when the stone kin builders would arrive.

If I hurried, they’d never notice I’d borrowed a few of the tools they’d left lying around.

I collected the items I wanted, then quick-stepped back to the little cabin, hopeful that when it came to something like putting in garden beds, asking permission was unnecessary. If for some reason it wasn’t, I’d just do my best to ask forgiveness.

The builders had tossed the string and stake off to the side once they were no longer needed, so I’d snatched them up for my own uses and set about marking off three separate rectangular beds.

After that was done, I used the clever trenching spade attached to a rod like a gardening hoe, turning the soil over and defining the shapes of the beds as I worked.

The feeling I was being watched made the skin on my neck tingle. I turned my eyes to the sky, spying some birds circling above me. I glanced around, finding nothing more unusual than a squirrel in a tree nearby—probably my brazen snack thief—and continued working.

It warmed up rapidly as the sun took to the sky, and I was covered in a sheen of sweat before long. I was determined to finish and return the tools, however, so I kept on at as fast a pace as I dared, pleased to find the little beds in decent order after perhaps an hour or so.

I slipped inside to get some water and to wipe a cool wet cloth over my face and neck, then collected everything I’d borrowed and returned it to the construction site.

Not a moment too soon either. As I was headed down the little path toward Hailon’s cabin, voices chased on the breeze behind me, signaling the work crew’s arrival.

There were perhaps two dozen stone kin men and women walking in ones and twos down the path from the portal, smiling and clearly ready to work.

I didn’t even need to knock, as it turned out, Seir came around the corner of the cabin with his arms full of firewood just as I approached.

“Good morning!” he greeted me enthusiastically. “Did you rest well?”

I sighed, turning my face into the sun. “Perhaps the best I’ve ever slept.”

His ever-present smile broadened, giving him a dimple as he gestured for me to follow him into their little house. “I think this place is partially responsible.”

“And here I thought it was the incredibly soft mattress and the ability to take up as much of it as I wanted, with no sibling stealing my blanket or kicking me in the shins all night.”

He laughed outright as he stacked the logs by the hearth. Hailon turned from where she stood in their kitchen. “Merry! Oh good, you’re right in time for breakfast.”

Not wanting to impose, I waved my hands. “That’s okay, I had a little something earlier.” Unfortunately for me, the fruit and bread I’d eaten with my morning tea hadn’t stuck with me nearly as well as I’d thought, and my stomach whined.

Hailon raised an eyebrow and pointed at their dining table. “Well, that’s settled. There’s plenty.” She leveled me with a look that told me she understood my refusal, but it was unnecessary.

“Thank you.”

I sat, the pair of them working together to bring the plates and cups to the table for all three of us. It was marvelous synergy to watch, like they were tethered by an invisible string.

“So, what’s on the schedule today?” Hailon asked, buttering a slice of thick toast, then smearing on jam. I absently wondered aloud if I could collect enough of the little black berries to make a batch for myself.

“I bought this jar in the city, but I’m sure there are plenty of berries. I could help you gather some up, along with doing the canning,” Hailon offered.

“That would be nice. I ate a few last night, and they’re definitely ready.”

“What else do you need for that?” Seir asked, clearly thrilled by the prospect.

“Sugar and jars. Perhaps a lemon or two.” I shrugged. “Jam isn’t complicated.”

“Make a list.” Hailon nodded. “You always were really good at this kind of thing. Perhaps you can teach me.”

“You did just fine, as I recall.”

“Not really, we traded for most of our pantry stores. We always focused on ointments and tinctures. Food was very low on the priority list.” She waved her fork around thoughtfully as she chewed her toast. “Actually, I’m betting Grace has a whole schedule for buying things like jars and preserving vegetables. We should ask her.”

“Perhaps a quick trip into Revalia then? I was also hoping to get some seeds,” I said.

“The climate here is really very nice, I think if I get some in the ground we could have a decent harvest before a hard frost hits. Rylan seemed to like my suggestions for the gardens at d’Arcan, so I was hoping he could include a request for me when he orders.

” I had a tiny bit of coin left, hopefully that would be enough.

Seir nodded. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Coltor said the winters are a bit milder here than Revalia, not to mention somewhere further north like Ravenglen, but the ground still freezes for several weeks at least.”

We finished breakfast while making a list of things we’d like to try to grow. Flowers, vegetables, herbs. Nothing was off-limits as long as we could find plants or seeds.

“I’ve always been good at the collecting part, but the rest was never my strong suit.” Hailon sighed, and her vision lost focus as she recalled her life before.

“I’ll show you what I know. We’ll have your pantry full in no time.” I offered her a smile, and she returned it, hope sparking behind her multicolored irises.

“I’ve got to get going,” Seir said, leaning down to kiss Hailon on the cheek as he moved to take his plate to the sink. “I’m meeting with Tap.”

“We can walk you,” Hailon said. “Leave those”—she gestured to my dishes—“I’ll do them when we get back from the city.” She grabbed up a satchel, and we all made for the door.

The sound of hammers and saws was audible even from a distance as the stone kin worked on the new cabins.

“They’re so fast ,” Hailon marveled. “A couple of days or so per building. It’s truly incredible, one day there’s basically nothing there, the next there’s a whole house.”

“They’ve been slowing down a bit. It’s about a day to get the basic structure up, another for walls and such.

Another few for plumbing and cabinets. Several more for beautifying touches.

I think several of them realized that they enjoy this assignment and if they finish too efficiently, it’s going to end before they’re ready to move on.

” Seir’s smile was broad. “Can’t say as I blame them. ”

“Who else is being placed out here?” I asked.

Hailon shrugged. “I don’t think there’ve been any official assignments yet.”

The screech of a large bird had me looking skyward.

It looked like the ones keeping an eye on me earlier were still following me around.

I’d counted three, but the small group doing graceful turns on the wind had grown to four.

Before, I never would have noticed beyond quiet admiration for how beautiful they were.

Now, I was unsure if I should brace for an experience like I’d had with the little owl at Ophelia’s, or expect the normal kind of interaction I’d had with the squirrel.

“Hello sir,” Seir said jovially to a fat brown rabbit with a fluffy white tail that scampered across the path in front of him.

Then the creature stopped, sat up on his little hind legs, little nose wiggling, and looked me right in the eye. I froze, then I swore. Like the owl it was, then. The hold the rabbit had on me was not as powerful as the little yellow-eyed owl’s, but I was still stuck in place.

Friend ? The little voice was clear enough.

“Yes, hello. I can hear you.” The rabbit accepted my response with a long blink before hopping away.

“Alright, Merry?” Hailon asked.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I shook out my shoulders, trying to loosen away the residual sensation of being paralyzed.

Seir stared, but as usual, seemed more amused than surprised. “Hailon didn’t tell you?”

“Oh, she did, but it’s quite another thing to see it in person.” We resumed walking, but at a much slower pace. “You greeted him too. Was that just you being friendly?”

“No, I can hear them too. Though I suspect my ability has more to do with my demon nature than anything else. I’ve never had a bonded creature.

Neither has Vassago, but with a bit of effort, he can hear Rylan’s bird as well as Greta’s.

I’m not sure about Calla’s cat, but she’s a bit different as she’s stone kin. ”

“Wait, the cat is stone kin?” I recalled the oversize feline that had rubbed against my legs outside the paddock, realizing it had been far more than a cat and I had actually heard it say hello to me after all.

“Indeed, it’s fascinating to watch her fly.” We approached the portal, and Seir dipped down to kiss Hailon. “My brother Tap manages the contracts for familiars. I’ll speak with him.”

“Ophelia said she’d be sending him a message as well.” I suddenly remembered the leather volume in my bag. “She gave me a book, but I haven’t had a chance to read through it.”