Page 22 of Elves and Espresso

“Well, you could have explained that to me a lot sooner. I thought he could see where we were.”

“What would be the point of running, then?” I asked, exasperation in my voice.

“I don’t know! I don’t understand anything that’s happening, and all your explanations are confusing!”

Chattering cut us off from under my cloak as Dewdrop’s little body peeked out. “She’s right. We must remain calm and quiet.”

“As long as you’re sure he can’t see us.”

“Aleixo, he can’t see us. He can’t see through objects. That would be ridiculous!”

“This whole realm is ridiculous,” he argued in a passionate whisper.

“You’re ridiculous.” It was the only response I had. “And he’ll be able to hear you a mile away if you do not cease speaking.”

Our exchange had gone on long enough for Suzette to enter the garden in front of the inn and startle when she noticed the Realm Guard. Always the hostess, she gave him a small bow and gestured for him to enter the inn. He obviously declined, and I saw her shake her head repeatedly. He must have been asking questions because all her answers were no. Until finally, she nodded yes.

I closed my eyes for a moment, hoping she hadn’t been put in a difficult position. She had done so much for us and had been so kind, I would hate for her to be out of sorts.

Holding my breath, I saw her raise a hand, then watched her point down a fork in the road—one we had not taken. I slowly let my breath out and heard Aleixo do the same. We watched the Realm Guard lean over her and then suddenly turn in a rush, his eyes landing directly where we were hiding.

“We’re in trouble, aren’t we?”

The Realm Guard walked with a purpose as he headed in our direction. My heart thundered in my chest as I wondered what we should do.

“Calista…” Aleixo’s voice grew more desperate with each passing second. “What should we do?”

I nearly jumped up and began to run, but something held me in place. Fear? Desperation? I couldn’t place it, but before I could have another thought, the Realm Guard stopped. Then, ever so slowly, he turned to where Suzette had pointed, then to her. His purposeful stride turned down the other path as he began to move away from us.

We watched him disappear, and it felt like ages before we could finally move. Neither of us knew what to do.

“We’d best remain here for the next hour or so before we keep moving.”

Aleixo had collapsed to the ground, his face buried in a pile of leaves. “Suits me just fine,” he mumbled.

Dewdrop crawled out from under my cloak, moved down my arm, and went to curl up on his back, patting it with two of her legs. If I hadn’t been afraid for my life, I would have laughed.

Chapter Twenty-One

“We’ll reach the portal tomorrow.”

The sun had long since set, and we were standing near a set of ruins the forest surrounded, overlooking the mountain range before us. The place we stood had once been home to the first palace of Wylionis, before the days of the realm guards, back when a king and queen ruled side by side. But that was a tale for another day.

An old balcony railing was still in place, and I leaned against it, looking out to admire the view, while pulling my cloak against me. The moon was mostly hidden behind clouds, but there were patches where the sky was clear. My skin only showed the stars shining through intermittently, so I was mostly safe. Mostly.

Dewdrop had curled up safely on a bed of soft leaves as soon as we arrived, and was already sighing her way to blissful rest.

“I wonder what it will be like returning home,” Aleixo pondered.

I didn’t want to speak; I didn’t want my voice to betray what I felt. Words I’d been longing to say were stuck, and I didn’t know how long I’d been wanting to say them.

“I’m sure you will settle in well enough.” The comforting words felt empty coming from me. I didn’t mean them, I truly didn’t.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to settle in again. It will feel…dull. Frustratingly dull.”

A shooting star lit up the sky above us and he turned to me, excitedly. “Quick! Make a wish!”

I couldn’t resist the laughter that escaped me. “I can’t make a wish, Aleixo. It would be like wishing upon kin.”