Page 34 of Stitches
And no hero’s flawless.
All that matters is the stories we tell.”
“What was that?”
“Hmm?” Levi looked at Ashmedai.
“You were singing along to the music box.”
“I was?”
Ashmedai furrowed his lovely black brows—then turned forward and called out before anyone else, “I’ll take it!”
The crowd pivoted to look at them, hushing in surprise as they confirmed who was laying claim. Levi wondered if Ashmedai never asked for something of his own, or if the people simply hated to disappoint him, for those who had seemed ready to throw in their lot decided against it.
“Ash has it,” Dreya confirmed. “The caravan will remain until the day before the festival to be loaded for the return trip. Thank you all.”
The remaining crowd began to disperse. At the same time, Ashmedai started forward, still holding Levi’s elbow, clearly meaning to claim the music box.
Levi planted his feet. “I had another daydream.”
Ashmedai stopped with him. “Just now?”
“No. I mean, I don’t think so. It was earlier this morning.”
“What did you see?”
“The woman I heard during the hunt. I know it was her because she sounded the same. She had red hair like me.”
“Like the boy from before?”
“Only she was human. She said, ‘Help me in the garden, won’t you?’ And then… Leander?”
“Oleander? There was a flower called that once.”
“That must have been it….” It all felt like a dream, like Levi could almost remember, almost understand, but truly grasping the meaning was just out of reach. He glanced shyly at Ashmedai, feeling small with those beautiful white-on-black eyes studying him so intently. “Do you think there’s something… broken in me? Is that why you want me to see Luccite?”
“Not broken.” Ashmedai tightened his hold on Levi’s elbow and lifted his other hand to gently cup the side of Levi’s cheek, his long nails tickling pleasantly at the edges of Levi’s hair. “Nothing about you is broken, Levi. You’re simply a mystery needing to be solved. Come, let’s get your music box.” He smiled, showing off his many fangs, which was almost enough for Levi to miss what Ashmedai had said.
“Mymusic box?”
“You know its tune and made an illusion of a horse just like the one inside. Clearly it is meant to be yours.”
Levi had wondered where the idea for a white horse had come from during the hunt, but he couldn’t possibly have seen something like it or the music box before. “Do you think I can see the future?”
Ashmedai chuckled. “In this kingdom, anything is possible.”
Daedlys was rearranging his cart with his keen telekinesis as they approached the carriages, Gordoc already heading away in the direction of the market, wearing a pout. Once Levi and Ashmedai reached Dreya, she was waiting to hand Ashmedai the music box with a smile.
“Enjoy it,” she said. “Oh, and… have either of you seen Luccite this morning? She’s usually here for delivery day. She’s the only one who loves seeing what Emerald sends each month even more than I do.”
“Preparing for us, I’d imagine,” Ashmedai said. “We have an appointment with her.”
“Ah. Tell her I missed her,” Dreya said and turned to close the carriage.
With little ceremony, Ashmedai began to present the box to Levi,only to hesitate and call out to Daedlys. “My friend, would you examine this for us?”
Daedlys had just finished levitating the final bolt of fabric into place and floated over to them. “Of course! Let’s have a look.” Like anything Daedlys held, the box seemed to hover on its own as he turned it and opened and closed it again, inspecting it closely. “Beautiful, to be certain. Are you interested in the type of wood or—”
