Page 94 of Wind and Water
When her mate doesn’t respond, Farress says, “A few bruises. The elves were from the outskirts of the city. They wouldn’t say who led them.”
“I have a good guess.” Momma’s voice is low and muttered into her teacup.
If that’s the case, the trouble should die down now that Dierdre is getting help. “I also had some unwanted excitement last night. There was a woman who opposed my being here. She’s unstable and needs medical help. I think she’ll get itnow. I think Birdie believes she may have organized the others. Perhaps that will be the end of it.”
Jadar stands and paces. “You came here to help them. You almost died more than once, and so did Birdie. How dare anyone try to harm you within the city?”
I go to him and pat his back. “You lost friends in the same journey. How dare anyone oppose you being here?” I smile and wait for him to calm down. “There will always be those who want things to remain the same, even when that isn’t possible and the current situation is untenable.”
“Historically, that’s true.” Momma sighs and puts down her empty cup. “In our world, there are always groups who push for change and those who hold fast to the old ways. Sometimes they're right and sometimes they're wrong. This is the nature of evolution.”
An hour later, Liam steps into the clearing and the reunion continues until he says, “I’m sorry to break this up, but Wren and I have to go to the oracle with Aaran and Harper.”
I was having such a good time, I’d nearly forgotten about the stress of being brought before some group of high-up muckety-mucks.
We say our goodbyes for now and take the winding path out of the forest.
Liam takes my hand and offers Momma his arm. He leans in toward me. “I heard something from your mind when I said we had to go. What is a high-up muckety-muck?”
The outburst of laughter from Momma is a little over the top, but I can’t help laughing right along with her.
“You shouldn’t listen when you’re not invited.”
Grinning, he swings our arms as we walk. “I apologize, but will you tell me what it means?”
“People too big for their britches.” Momma is not helping.
Liam’s blank expression is priceless. “That made my understanding even worse, Birdie. Though I suspect that was the point.”
Once I get my laughter under control, I say, “It’s someone in authority who is pompous or self-important.”
While I was hoping he would say that my description is unfair to the oracle, Liam smiles and nods. “They have cause to be self-important. They are the oracle. They live longer than even a normal elf. They possess magic and knowledge that is unique to their vows. They’ve left behind all worldly things and live within a mountain, which they never leave. What I’ve seen of it is very comfortable, but a beautiful prison is still a prison. Though they made the choice, I suppose.”
“Great. Now you’ve made me feel bad for something I thought. It’s not as if I said it out loud.” I try to pull my hand away.
Holding it tighter, he lifts my fingers to his lips. “We all think they’re high-up muckety-mucks, my love. I suspect they know they are, too.”
“Well then, bring them on.”
Momma says, “They never come out of the mountain and see the state of the elves they serve?”
Shaking his head, he lets out a long breath. “I’ve never seen a member of the oracle outside of their mountain, and the only way in is through a portal they control. They are removed from the lives of ordinary elves.”
“How can they advise then?” Momma’s line of questioning is not making me feel any better about the coming meeting.
Liam looks into the sky. His handsome face is made even more irresistible by a slow smile. He points. “I think your friend is back.”
Squinting, I follow the direction of his finger, and the tiny movement of Adhar among the fluffy clouds catches my eye. “Oh! She’s come back.” I send her a warm greeting through my mind.
Hercraasounds far away, but hearing it fills me with joy.
As we continue the walk toward the castle, Liam says, “To answer your question, Birdie, the queen and our family spend a great deal of time with the elves we lead. We know of their pains and pleasures. We make it our priority to not only take advice from the oracle, but to advise them in turn.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, Liam,” Momma says it in a way that reminds me of how she spoke to a student who’d given a particularly thoughtful response to a question.
Despite all that’s happened and the stress of going to see the haughty oracle, I’m happy. It’s absurd, but being with Liam fills me with the kind of joy I’ve only dreamed about. The type that many girls dream about, but few ever find.
Rather than meeting Aaran and Harper in the castle, we say goodbye to Momma and continue around the north side to a stable, though it’s the fanciest one I’ve ever been in. The floors are wooden, but the rest of the structure is stone, and the stall doors are steel.
