Page 18 of Stitches
“And I would like for you to promise to be present for my opening act. Without spoiling the surprise, I have a gift for you.”
“For me?”
“I’m hoping it will be quite the spectacle, so I ask that you not get whisked away to other activities until after I’ve had the opportunity to present it to you at the opening.”
Surprised and warmed in equal measure, Ashmedai smiled fondly at his friend but was still eager to escape. “I will keep a keen eye on the time and be at the very front, I swear to you. Now—” he tried once more, meaning to sidestep Klarent, only for Klarent to turn on his own with a bright declaration.
“Levi! Lyssy will be so pleased to know you accepted Grillo’s request. He hoped you wouldn’t be too upset that he recommended you.”
The focus of Ashmedai’s drifting thoughts had come to him, with Grillo and Kenner continuing past with the loaded cart. Levi’s eyes were on Ashmedai at first, but they shifted shyly to Klarent.
“Oh, not at all. It was… enjoyable.”
Ashmedai could tell Levi meant that, yet there was something off about him, a twitch and hidden sorrow behind his eyes.
“Lyssy is watching the shop,” Klarent said, “but I’ll let him know. Now, Ash, remember, you promised to be at the opening of my booth.”
Ashmedai offered a small bow. “And a promise is something I never break.”
“I, um… I should head home,” Levi said once they were alone.
“May I accompany you?”
“Y-y-y-you….” Levi trailed off when he couldn’t contain his stuttering, collecting himself and finally answering with a short, “Yes.”
They walked a pace or two in silence, leaving the hubbub behind them, but eventually, Levi spoke again, as Ashmedai had hoped. He wanted Levi to feel comfortable speaking openly with him.
“So…. Ash, did you enjoy your festival work today?”
“Well enough.” Ashmedai smiled, pleased he hadn’t needed to correct Levi this time. “Some of Dreya’s tasks for me revolved around next week’s hunt. We tend to need more food come Festival Day, given people are more likely to indulge.”
Many things were edible in the Shadow Lands, but there weren’t many animals, and even fewer that were hunted for meat. The people dried most of what they caught to last longer, hunting only monthly and keeping a close eye on the various herds.
“Master Braxton can replicate some foods with alchemy, can’t he?”
“He can, and he does, but while nutritious, something replicated isn’t quite like the real thing. As I have heard from far too many citizens—it doesn’t taste the same.” Ashmedai chuckled, enjoying the soft smile Levi echoed back at him. “If I may ask, why did you wait so long to be among the people more?”
“I-I was nervous,” Levi said with a drop of his head. “I thought they might think me strange.”
Ashmedai stared at him in disbelief.
“I wasn’t born here!” Levi hurried to explain. “I was made. I didn’t know what others might think strange, especially with my stitches and… my eyes.”
“Let me reassure you,” Ashmedai said, “you are wonderfully unique, Levi, like everyone in the Dark Kingdom, but unique in a way all your own.”
“Isn’t that strange?”
“I suppose it is.” Ashmedai chuckled again. “You simply need to stop thinking that strange is a bad thing.”
“Even if my eyes match the Source Crystal?” Levi asked moredejectedly.
Something thick stuck in Ashmedai’s throat, but he managed to say, “It is hardly an unsightly color. The people trust in Brax. They’ll trust you. Has anyone proven otherwise?”
“No. Everyone’s been wonderful.” Levi smiled.
The distance from the market steps to Braxton’s tower wasn’t far, so Ashmedai slowed for their walk to last longer.
“What about you?” Levi asked, keeping pace with him. “You live in the castle all alone. Even Master Braxton made me so he wouldn’t be alone.”
