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But what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Stone speaks of ‘Rosamunde’ in the harshest terms. He will despise me when he learns the truth.
Davido was quiet for a long moment. She suspected he’d reached inward for the right words. My dear, just try to be brave. Vojalie has told me that you will face many challenges in the very near future. Try, if you can, to trust in this process. It’s not an accident that you’ve been given the blood rose gift or that you, as Aralynn, are so compatible with Stone. But sometimes life must unfold in ways that disturb and mystify us. But if you have courage, and stay the course, all will be well. Can you lean on that for the time being, even if you can’t see the future?
For a moment, she felt as though everything about her life was veiled; her identity, what she knew about others, and about the guilt she bore. Only Davido and Vojalie knew everything. They were loving and kind and completely non-judgmental. They’d both, at different times helped her to make peace with her jumbled life.
Yes, I can lean on that.
Just remember, you must protect Stone at all costs. Watch your visions carefully over the next two nights and if you feel the smallest call to be by his side, ignore his anger, and stick close. I can’t impress this upon you enough. The entire future of the Nine Realms depends on Stone fulfilling his destiny and he won’t be able to do that without you, as both the queen and as Aralynn. Do you understand?
I do and I won’t let you down.
And now, my lovely wife is calling to me.
Davido? She had one more thing she needed to say.
Yes, sweetest queen?
I want you to know that as hard as the past several weeks have been and despite how frightening the immediate future seems, I’m so grateful you taught me how to become Aralynn. These changes have helped me to experience a kind of freedom I’ve never known before.
I am gratified that you’ve found pleasure, my dear. You’ve deserved it for a long, long time. And now, I must go.
Good-bye.
Though nothing in particular had been resolved, Rosamunde felt infinitely better after speaking with Davido. Essentially, she must ride out this storm. But how to do it without losing her heart completely to Stone, was not something she could yet see.
~ ~ ~
Stone had been sorry to see Aralynn leave. He felt the need to talk this out with her, but she’d been profoundly overcome, something he still wasn’t sure he understood.
For himself, he was beyond grateful to be free of his chronic blood starvation. Yet, he couldn’t see how he could take any extra time to be focused on a blood rose. He had an Ancient Fae to put in the ground.
Joseph appeared in the doorway, levitating so that he was eye-level to Stone. “So, you ready to bargain for some Guardsman apparel? I’ve got a couple of coats and leathers you can take a look at.”
“I appreciate it.”
He pursed his lips. “Follow me.”
Joseph levitated and led the way up the tunnel in a direction Stone intuited was fairly west with slight jogs to the north. Before long he flew in front of what proved to be a host of small rooms full of junk. As Stone moved, he had to keep his head lowered several inches and in some places lower still. Gremlins being as small as they were didn’t need ceilings of any particular height.
When he reached the space Joseph gestured to, Stone drew to a stop, turned to survey the available garments, then dropped his jaw. “Sweet Goddess, what the hell is this?”
“Exactly what you need, right Mastyr?” A gravelly, high-pitched chortle left Joseph’s throat.
Stone planted his fists on hips. Hanging on what had to be dozens of racks, in a very large space, were the traditional black leather, calf-length sleeveless coats the Guardsmen wore.
He snorted. “You think you have something in my size?” As in half the coats he was looking at.
Joseph levitated to Stone’s shoulder height. He stroked his chin. “For the right price, I’m sure we can find something that fits.”
Stone glared at the gremlin. “You are aware that these uniforms are stolen property and I could turn you over to the queen and have you jailed for this.”
“But why would you do that to the one who saved your life? As in me? I was the one who brought Kaden here to heal you. My good man, you’d be tits-up except for what I did for you.”
Forest gremlins lived a reclusive life apart from all other realm-folk and stole anything they could. In the past, if Stone caught sight of one, by long habit he usually fired off a blast of battle energy hoping to be rid of what he’d always thought of as a useless, thieving race.
To his knowledge, however, he’d never hit even one of the quick bastards. “Fine,” Stone said. “I owe you and I need to get out of here. What’s your price?”
Kaden called from a distant cavern room. “Give him what he wants, Joseph, or you’ll have Margetta tearing through your dwelling the moment she takes over Ferrenden Peace. This man is all that stands between you, your people, and the evil golden one. I have it on good authority she makes footstools out of your kind.”
