Monsters & Magic

“So? What are you going to do?” Seth asked, sitting himself on the cushion beside Cora. They had been waiting the better half of the day for the others to return from their search.

Cora kept her eyes on the map, taking a bite of the bread roll in her hand. After they had finished preparing the ingredients for the stew, Mattias had rolled up the map to put it away and Cora had stepped out of her comfort zone to ask to see it. She had spread it out in the center of the arranged cushions. Its features were fascinating, unlike anything she had ever seen. “I already told Mattias.”

Seth huffed. “Well? What did you tell him?”

“You’re the nosiest person I’ve ever met,” she said, finally looking at him.

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It’s not.” Cora looked back at the map. “What’s up here?” She pointed toward the top of the map, on the other side of a line of dark pointed things.

“That’s the northern mountain ridge. I don’t think anyone really knows what’s beyond it.”

“Oh…” She leaned down to look closer, as if she might be able to see what was there if she looked hard enough… she couldn’t. “I told him I want to stay,” she finally answered, straightening her back and stretching it until it popped.

“Hah! I knew it! That’s why Matt told Idris to ask around the market!” Seth bounced on his cushion.

“Stop calling me that.” The healer’s voice came from the other side of the room and they both turned in time to see him wiping his hands on the rag. “Marin is awake,” he commented.

“Oh,” Cora said.

“How is he?” Seth asked at the same time.

“In pain, but healing,” Mattias answered.

A hard knock at the door stole their attention and Seth jumped up to open it. He gasped as Maya and Rio walked in, a girl between them with her head down, black hair covering her face.

“You found her!” Seth announced.

“We did,” Maya answered, her tone flat.

Tension rolled off them in waves as they crossed the room in silence. Maya led the way into the cot room followed by the girl. Rio did not bother going with them, taking a seat at the table instead.

“That was fast,” Seth remarked, taking the seat beside him.

“It wasn’t hard,” Rio answered with a smile. His voice was much lighter than the deep baritone Cora had expected based on his height.

“Where was she?” Seth pressed.

“Down by the docks.”

Maya emerged from the cot room, flipping one shoulder of her cloak behind her. “I’m done. Someone else can deal with them.”

“Why? What happened?” Seth asked.

“That girl thought she could leave her responsibility behind and run away to the islands.” She shook her head. “We found her at the docks, sick as death.”

“I will go check on her then. Thank you for your help,” Mattias said.

“Good for you. I’m done dealing with them.”

“They’re just kids,” Seth pointed out.

Maya turned her scowl on him. “Then you deal with them.”

Mattias paused halfway between the table and the room where the children waited. “We will.”

Rio stood and put a hand on her arm. “Let’s go home,” he suggested.

When she met his eyes, her expression softened slightly. She nodded and the scowl returned when she addressed Mattias. “Don’t call us unless you need us.”

Mattias smiled. “Agreed.”

She stalked to the door, Rio right behind her, and flung it open. “It’s about time,” she commented, waiting for Idris to enter before she and Rio left.

“Why is she so angry?” Cora asked. “Shouldn’t she be glad they found the missing girl?” The woman’s mood had shifted so much since the time they had left in the morning, Cora wondered if something had happened while they searched.

Seth shrugged. “Maya doesn’t have a lot of patience. Don’t take it personal.”

Cora frowned. “What do you mean?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mattias slip into the cot room.

“Maya is one of the gifted, remember? She can teleport. I’m guessing that’s probably how they got here if the girl was so sick. It takes a lot of energy to use magic,” Seth explained.

“Where did they find her?” Idris asked, pausing on his way to follow Mattias.

“By the docks,” Seth answered.

Idris nodded but said nothing, heading toward the cot room..

“Are the other gifted like that?” Cora asked, keeping her voice low. If the most powerful in Phaedra were also short tempered, that could make them dangerous.

Seth laughed. “No. You’ve already met Matt and Idris, and Felicity is probably the sweetest person in the whole world. It’s just Maya who has a short fuse.”

“Oh…” She glanced toward the front door, thinking over the way Maya had acted, and wondering how she treated Rio. He seems happy…

Mattias announced his return with a deep sigh.

“How are they?” Idris asked, meeting him at the other side of the table.

The healer shook his head. “It’s been a long day for both of them. I’m going to let them rest and we’ll get things straightened out tomorrow.” He turned his attention to Cora. “I can set up an extra cot for you to use but it won’t be a long-term solution. I don’t have room for permanent guests.”

She hesitated before answering. “Okay…” Being put on the spot always messed her up.

“Alright. Come with me.” He did not wait for her to agree before heading toward the door to the other room.

She resisted the urge to look at Seth to see his reaction. Instead, she followed Mattias in silence.

The room was just as bright as the one with the cots, with two sky windows letting the sun light in. Two single beds sat against opposite walls. One had a blanket spread neatly across it, partially covering a small pillow. The other looked like its blanket had been balled up and tossed from across the room.

“Here.” Mattias regained her attention as he pulled down a large basket from a shelf on the third wall. “You can have one of these.”

She took the basket and set it on the floor, crouching next to it to open the lid. Inside were blankets in every color she could think of, each folded neatly in a row. A silent “wow”, left her as she moved her hand across them.

Mattias paused in the doorway, a large bundle under one arm. “Take your time.”

Cora did not respond, her attention focused instead on the basket of soft rolled up blankets in front of her. What reason could there possibly be for someone to have so many? Back in the city they were a hot commodity, especially during the cold season. Before she could pick one out, Seth came bounding in, interrupting her thoughts.

She paused to look at him. “What?”

“We said we would help you find a Shield, right?” The smile he wore grew wider as he waited for her to respond.

“Yeah,” she said slowly, crossing her arms.

“Idris could be your shield. If you want,” Seth announced.

“What?” It took a moment to process what he had said.

“It would be perfect,” he went on as if she hadn’t said anything. “You already know each other so you don’t have to find someone new.”

“Oh,” was all she could think to say.

“So? What do you think?” Seth pressed when she did not comment further.

Cora frowned. “I don’t know…” His intensity made it hard to think.

“Seth.” Mattias came to stand in the doorway, gaining their attention, and she felt some of the pressure lift. “That’s enough. It’s not your offer to make.”

“Sorry.” He stopped, then added, “I got excited that’s all.”

He ignored Seth, turning to Cora instead. “Would you like to talk to him?”

Cora gave a shrug, careful to keep her expression blank. “I guess…”

She thought she saw the shadow of a smile on his face. “Alright, come on, Seth. Give her some space.” He waited until Seth had gone out to speak to Cora, keeping his voice low. “The decision can wait another night. Think about it.” Then he disappeared, leaving her alone.

Cora sat back, her stomach twisting into a knot. Delta’s warning joined the questions spinning in her mind. Would it be better to try and find a stranger? It would be easier to go back to the city instead. The memory of snow covered streets and freezing wet clothes had her second guessing that option as well. Her gaze drifted up to the window and the clear blue sky on the other side.

Finally, she hauled herself up off the floor and gritted her teeth. Mind made up, she squared her shoulders and headed for the door.