Page 9 of Wind and Water
A burst of laughter escapes before Birdie covers her mouth. “You’re in big trouble now. I’m willing to bet this will be a doozie.”
Wren has, in a few moments, made me feel like a schoolboy who spoke out of turn, and rightfully so.
“Elves think humans are weak and useless. Humans are believed to have no magic and no value to the elven way of life. Many believe that is why the old ones closed off the worlds from each other.” I can’t contain my chuckle. “However, I learned within the first minute of finding you that weak is the last thing you are, since you brought me to my knees with one kick.”
How she manages to blush and look proud of herself at the same time is one of a hundred mysteries about Wren Martin that I yearn to uncover.
“Momma, it’s getting late. Should we have another round or call it a night?”
Finishing her ale, Birdie swipes her hand across her mouth. “I’m plum tuckered. Y’all can stay, but I’m going back to the flat.”
“I’m not letting you walk these city streets all alone. Besides, we’ve been running all over hell’s half acre all day. I want to get into my comfy clothes and put my feet up.” Wren follows her mother.
I walk with them back to the rental apartment. I’ve seen inns all over, but when I asked Birdie about this rental rather than a hotel room, she said she likes to have her own kitchen and more than one room to stomp in.
While the women go into the bedroom, I grab my pack and head into the bathroom. I take a quick shower and change. I’m going to bring this shower idea back home. It’s a brilliant way of cleaning up without all the fuss of a bath.
On the second day in this world, I bought myself two pairs of human denim pants and soft short-sleeve shirts. My uniform jacket made me look too out of place, and using a glamor for clothes is a waste of magical energy. I also purchased something called lounging pants, and I’m a bit too fond of them. It’s like walking around naked while being covered up. The material is soft and stretchy. On the day before we left London, I went back to the store and bought two more pairs.
When I see the bedroom light go out through the space below the door, I make up the couch with sheets and a blanket and lie back. It’s too early for sleep, and the television might keep the women from sleeping. I think of how I’ll convince Wren to leave everything she knows to help Domhan, a world she knows nothing about.
Maybe the oracle can find another way to defeat the witch queen and break the curse. I’d prefer one that doesn’t include putting Wren in mortal danger.
The bedroom door creaks slightly as the object of my thoughts steps into the living room. In a flimsy pair of pink shorts and a top that leaves her midriff exposed, she’s alltemptation, and I’m all frustration. “I thought you might still be awake.”
I point to the still-light sky. “It’s still daylight. I can’t sleep yet.”
“This is Scotland in the summertime. It will be light another hour.” She sits at the edge of the other end of the couch.
Moving my feet to the floor, I watch her. “Are you unable to rest?”
“I don’t want you to think I don’t like you, Liam. It’s hard to dislike you despite you initially trying to kidnap me.” She blushes and looks at her hands as they twist in her lap, then fusses with her silver ring with its dark blue stone. It’s one of her creations that she favors and wears much of the time.
“I’m flattered and glad to know you don’t hate me.” It takes all my will not to stare at her smooth, full thigh. “I find you brilliant, talented, and funny.” I don’t mention how beautiful she is because I need to protect myself from whatever is happening here.
Wide-eyed, she gapes at me. “Do you?”
“Yes. Why does that surprise you?” I sit with my back against the rolled arm of the couch and face her.
“I have refused to do what you want. I wouldn’t think you’d have anything nice to say about me.”
“One thing has nothing to do with the other. Besides, it’s not whatIwant, it’s what my world needs. I was ordered to come here to find you and ask you to return to Domhan with me. If it were up to me, I would leave you to live a happy life here.” Too much truth might not be a good thing.
She smiles, which makes my heart leap. “So, you like me, but you also have a job to do.”
“My world needs you, Wren. My liking you is beside the point.”
“Not to me.” She slips under the bottom end of my blanket and crosses her legs as she faces me. “I’m ready to know why you want me to come with you. Tell me about this curse and the prophecy.”
“I’m not certain telling you about those things will benefit my cause.” I long to pull her across the four feet that separate us and hold her against me. I want to breathe in the lilac scent of her skin and hair and whisper things that will make her want to writhe against me. Instead, I pull the covers over my expanding shaft and sit in the same manner as her.
There’s that smile again. “Not telling me won’t either.”
She makes a good point. “Thirty years ago, a woman named Venora Braddish used evil magic to usurp the rightful elf queen, my mother. She took the great white tower and poisoned it with her dark magic. She turned good elves into shadow demons and forces them to kill in her name. She amassed an army, both elven and demon, for her cause. She ravages and kills, all while gathering magical power.
“The curse was only in part her doing. She cast a spell to ensure no elven man would ever come to power. Her purpose was to keep herself on the throne, as she thought one of her lovers might try to take her place. The old gods must not have liked her magic as they twisted the spell, and now there have been no female elves born in thirty years.”
Wren gasps. “That’s terrible. Humanity would be devastated. The damage would be nearly impossible to recover from.”
