AO 5 Ch 42

Chapter 42

After escaping the city, I went back with my anchors to where we had buried our loot from the attack on the supply depot. We were able to make massive progress using Cyam, I was less concerned about some mage sensing our magic than escaping Fargo.

After grabbing the goods, we got back on course to meet up with Lord Valken and Eva. The supplies helped us buy a new carriage and horses, so we didn't have to use Cyam going forward, which would have announced to any upcoming city that I was a powerful mage.

We had traveled for a few days, and were now in a waiting game. Which, was incredibly boring.

I leaned against the window in the tavern, watching the street of the small town. There were only two places to stay, and there was no sign of Eva or Lord Valken.

"I'm sure they'll show up," Emlyn said. 

"Yeah, of course they will." I was quick to agree with her. After all, why wouldn't they?

My eyes drifted back to the window as that question echoed in my head. We had taken a significant detour to pick up the goods. Part of me wondered if we had missed them at the rendezvous point. Otherwise, this situation did not make sense. They should have arrived in the town first. 

"Valken probably dragged her away. Perhaps the princess was in too much danger," Emlyn tried to reassure me. 

I grunted, not particularly wanting to agree or disagree. "It'll be fine," I said, waving away any concern. "They're both adults, and they can do whatever they want." 

My table of anchors squinted at me.

"What?" I held my hands up. "They are. They're adults. They can go do whatever it is that they want to do. I'm not currently, nor was I ever, in charge of their actions." 

"Ard." Emlyn gave me a tone of warning. 

"I'm fine. Don't 'Ard' me." I glared fiercely back at her. 

"All right." She held her hands up. "You're fine. Absolutely fine. Nothing's wrong. Nothing whatsoever." 

"Why, thank you. I'm glad you're wise enough to understand." My words only caused her to snort. Even I knew that I was spinning my carriage wheels in the mud, but saying that did nothing to help the situation.

"I like it better when you're not pouting." 

"Pouting? Me? Never. I'm just realizing that they may have run off. Which is okay, just not what I was expecting." I was in a hurry to make any excuse that didn't involve having to admit I felt like I had been dumped.

Eva had been making a courting gift for me, even. But that was gone. Along with her and Uncle Valken. Sometimes only when you lost something did you realize how much you wanted it.

"Or just give it a couple more days," Emlyn tried to reassure me. She reached over and rubbed my thigh while I went back to looking out the window.

Worry twisted in my gut. I just didn't understand why they wouldn't already be here.

"Have you heard about Fargo?" One of the people in the inn was gossiping loudly.

I placed my drink on the table and took a sip. Listening to the other table.

“I heard a whole platoon of monstrous Vel'Shae tore the city apart and killed the Lord," a townsperson said.

"A whole platoon of Vel'Shae? No way. If they could have done that, they would have done that long ago," another argued around a mouthful of food.

"Well, I for one just hope that maybe this thing will come to an end. I've lost two nephews to this stupid war and now apparently my supplies are going to get gypped because the closest city got sacked." One grumbled, taking a big swig of her drink.

"The city didn’t get sacked. I heard…" another of the rumor mongers argued.

It was the same gossip I'd been hearing over the last day. Rumors had been spilling out from Fargo with the travelers. Apparently, there wasn't just one Vel'Shae because no, that would have been too difficult. Instead, the rumors ranged from an elite dozen to several hundred. Each of which then regaled the Lord of Fargo as some sort of heroic figure. One who fought them off valiantly and nearly killed them all, only of course to lose his life.

That, and the stories that spoke of an angel coming down and fighting the demonic Vel'Shae as if they were some sort of monster, and a higher power from the gods had come to spare the people of Fargo. That one made me choke on my beer the first time I heard it. Given what Carmilla had proclaimed, it was concerning to say the least.

However, that wasn't to say that everything had been bad. Through my fight with Carmilla, I had realized I needed to test my use of magic and soul a little further. Each element performed a little differently.

I also had watched Carmilla's fight carefully and in replaying it and I realized she was using her control of certain elements to move her body. This had given me a lot of thought on how I could advance my own use of magic and I was determined to take my magic in a different direction.

Every Avente mage was interested in creating a grand spell, and while I could certainly go that direction, I knew I had to learn to use magic differently. Carmilla using her magic to essentially become an anchor had opened my eyes. It also showed me that King Martin was likely going to fight far differently than an average mage. I would need to be prepared to meet him there and overcome him. That was something to work on after Eva and Uncle Valken were safe.

"Hey Ard," Emlyn nudged me to rouse me from my musing. "If you're going to stare out the window, you should probably pay attention. Who's that?" She pointed down the street.

Eva, with her hair matted down and sticking in every direction, had come into town carrying a small sack and looking exhausted.

I squinted. "Sure that's her? It's okay, I'll wait for her to come here."

"Ard," Emlyn said my name with the tone that she used to get my attention. "This is not the time to play coy. Get up, go greet her just as excitedly as I know you want to."

"Really Emlyn? Throwing me at other women?” I fidgeted a little.

“If I have to, I might physically throw you in this instance. You've been moping for the last two days, and now that she's finally here, use some of that energy and just tell her that you care." Emlyn nudged my shoulder with hers.

I paused for a moment, but Emlyn was right. I had truly missed having Eva around the past few days. Grabbing Emlyn, I gave her a kiss before I pulled away, tapping my chin in thought. “You know, I had this sudden idea, and maybe I should go greet her. It looks like she's had a hard time."

Emlyn sighed at my stubborn antics, but she still had a smile on her face from our kiss. "You don't go anywhere without an anchor."

She slid out of the seat behind me and put a hand on her hip right next to the pommel of her blade before following after me.

I was already about to leave her in the dust as I rushed out of the inn and flagged Eva down. "What happened to you?" I shouted, looking at her state and grabbing her by the shoulders. A small trickle of life magic in my palm moved into her, though she didn't seem to be in any physical distress.

"Ard, I swear. Did you curse that wagon before you left?" Eva sounded exhausted.

I squinted at her. "No. Should I have?"

She grabbed my head and pulled me down for a swift peck on my cheek. "No, and I'm sorry, that's not how I should have started this conversation. Arden, it is fantastic to see you. Thank you for welcoming me into the town. I am, however, in no mental state for pleasantries. That wagon has lost two wheels, cracked an axle, and one of the horses went lame. Currently, uncle is overseeing the wagon and trying to cobble together a second extra wheel. I don't think it's going to work. I was so fed up, I walked the last three hours into town."

That Valken had allowed it spoke volumes. She must have been driving him up a wall.

"That sounds actually horrendous." I grabbed her and gave her a big hug. "But I'm happy that's all that happened." I hesitated. "I was starting to worry something had happened to you, Eva." I paused again, unsure what all to say.

Yet, Emlyn spoke up for me. "And he was mopey. He wouldn't stop watching the window and saying, 'Where are they? Are they here yet?’” Emlyn mimed her best Ard impression, which at this point was actually decent.

Eva fought to keep the smile from growing on her lips. "Was he disappointed?"

"Terribly so," Emlyn said, making Eva laugh. "I hope if you're going to need to spend a long time away from him, you'll at least let him know first. Otherwise, I'll have to deal with mopey puppy Ard again." Emlyn clicked her tongue. "But, I'm glad you're back, and in good condition. Why don't you and Ard come stay at the inn for now, and I will send Zuri and Aurelia with what they need to replace possibly a whole wagon. We happen to have picked up a spare to get here." She hooked a thumb over her shoulder.

"That would be fantastic." Eva let out a breath of relief. "Yes, yes, that would be incredible. Let me go get a bath, and then," she glanced at me, "dinner tonight, and I'll tell you all about our adventures."

"That'd be wonderful." I gave her my best charming grin.

"Would you like for me to take that bag for you?" I offered, already beginning to reach for the bag. Eva held it tight to her chest, revealing the shapes within. There was clearly a thick book amid lumps of clothes. I raised an eyebrow. "Is that the book you've been working on?"

"It is. And it's done," Eva said. "One passably good thing about the delay was that I was able to finish it with the extra nights." She blushed slightly, no doubt thinking about giving me the courting gift now that it was finished.

"Do I get to find out what's in it now?” I prodded.

She raised an eyebrow, the blush only deepening on her face. "Maybe you can come to my room tonight. I'll let you take a peek." With that, Eva darted inside the inn.

I was left standing there, a little dumbfounded, as I turned to Emlyn. "Did that mean what I think it means?" I wiggled my eyebrows excitedly.

"Yes, it does." Emlyn answered.

"Okay, good. I was worried there was some princess talk that I didn't translate. I actually am a little proud of her. That was a lot bolder than I expected."

Emlyn pursed her lips together. "Perhaps we shouldn't let her and Maribelle talk as much as they do."

"They talk?"

"Oh yes, Ard, we all talk about you," she said pointedly before gesturing for me to head back inside the inn. "Or did you want to hang out outside waiting by the door like an idiot?"

"Well, I certainly prefer not to do anything like an idiot," I shrugged and headed back in. "Besides, it sounds like I need to wash up myself."

***

I had asked Maribelle at the last minute, in the middle of some nowhere town, to make a private dinner for Eva and me. And what she managed to pull together was, quite frankly, incredible.

Outside of town, on a small ridge that overlooked a large field, Maribelle had set up a simple table. It wouldn't stand up to a storm, but it would suffice for the night. The chairs I was fairly certain she had brought from somewhere else. Of course, she had hidden the cobbled-together table under a lovely, dark, nearly black cloth while she was doing all of this. It seemed she had also prepared food for us and procured a bottle of wine.

"Sometimes that batshit crazy woman pulls off some truly impressive feats." Emlyn spoke with appreciation for the scene in front of us.

“This is beautiful.” I agreed.

Emlyn patted me on the shoulder. "Come on, we have to go back and get Eva. And then I think Maribelle is going to make me hold food?" She said the words like a question.

"Better you than me," I replied, following after her. "When it gets dark on that bluff, it's going to be beautiful," I said, already imagining how perfect the dinner date would turn out. Somehow, I felt nervous, my palms sweating at the idea, which was silly. I was Arden Aldis, four sphere mage, and apparently, distant royalty. Not to mention, Eva had shown interest and was making me a custom courting gift, one that I hoped she would bring to dinner with her.

On the way back to the inn, my anchors were fanning out, making sure everything was safe for me. They took my protection seriously to a level that even I had to consider where I went. Zuri noticed me and gave me a nod before slipping back into the tavern.

"She's going to get her," Emlyn clarified.

"Oh, that's nice. Can she get my laundry too?" I was getting anxious.

"No, Arden, no one wants to clean your socks." Emlyn joined in, knowing I needed to fill the nervous silence. But a moment later, a beautiful woman stepped out of the inn, Zuri a moment behind her.

Eva, with her chin-length black hair that curled just at the tips, wore a velvet red dress that showed off her neck and bust line beautifully, along with a bejeweled choker that had sapphires in it that matched her eyes. She held a leather-bound book in her hands, and I was absolutely captivated by her beauty.

"Oh, excuse me," I said, blinking away the stupidity she had briefly inflicted me with. "I was looking for Eva. I don't know if you've seen her. She's, well, gorgeous." Those words earned me a snort.

"Don't make me laugh too hard. This thing is pulled tight," Eva smirked. “Breathing is difficult.”

"Oh no, whatever shall I do if your dress decides to remove itself?" I asked. She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smile that spread across her lips.

"Careful. I think caution is going to be thrown to the wind tonight, Eva. With you looking like that," I trailed off, clicking my tongue, and let her mind fill in the blanks. She smiled, and I made a sweeping motion.

"If you'll follow me this way," I led her back the way we came, as if I was the one to set up the scene. My anchor said nothing, simply smiling as we walked. 

"So, Eva," Emelyn tried to make conversation, "I heard you ran into a little trouble on the way here."

"That would be an understatement." She grumbled.

"And that when you got here, you blamed Ard, asking him if he... What was it? He cursed your carriage?" Emlyn asked.

Eva pursed her lips and held onto my arm, the book clutched in her other hand. "Don't know if I would phrase it quite like that," she replied hurriedly.

I cleared my throat and glared at Emlyn. "Don't harass my date.”

“I'm not... Ugh, fine." Emlyn rolled her eyes before turning to Eva. "You are lucky. You should see what Ard has prepared for you.” She smothered her jealousy before pulling aside some branches to reveal the ridge on which we had dinner prepared. 

Eva gasped, holding her chest. "It's lovely."

"Well, thank you. I can't take all the credit. Actually, I can take pretty much none of the credit. My anchors all pitched in, it seems. You've at least made a decent impression on them. Otherwise, knowing this one," I hooked a thumb over at Emlyn, "she would have sandbagged the whole operation."

"I would not," she said, rolling her eyes. "We want to talk about sandbagging? Maybe we should--" 

She tried to keep talking, only for Zuri to come up behind her and cover Emlyn's mouth. "You two enjoy!" Zuri pulled Emlyn away, and I turned to Eva, who was lightly holding on to my arm. 

"Thanks." She said, looking up at me.

"For what?" I led her over to the table and pulled out her chair. 

"For this. You didn't have to.” She told me.

“You know, Eva, sitting there at the inn, waiting for you for two days, I realized maybe I care a little more than I like to lead on. That, and my curiosity for what's in that book is killing me. It's all about what's in the book, really. You promised me a peek, and I am very excited for the peek." I grinned, knowing I was playing with double meanings. 

"Well, if you'd like a peek, then I think we can make sure that happens." She had a wry smile that spread across her lips as she took her seat. 

"So, the book," I lifted my head slightly, giving it a curious glance.

"If the court knew that all it took to bag the Arden Aldis, four sphere mage extraordinaire, was to pique his curiosity, then I think the Zenovian Court would be an absolute madhouse at trying to figure out what would make you the most curious." Eva told me.

I shrugged. "I am what I am, and I don't hide it. Instead, I just decided to let the world deal with the consequences of someone like me. But enough about that… what's in the book?" I gave Eva my most charming smile.

AN - Book ends on 44.