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Corey stiffen beside me, the tension emanated from him. The Goblin King? Now where had I heard about him before?
The nagging feeling was back. I looked up to where the stranger was, but the seat was empty. Left abandoned. He was gone. I readjusted my gaze, “Of course, if we hear anything we will let you know.” I offered a smile, as he dipped his head and left.
* * *
“SERRA IT’S LATE. I’LL walk you home.”
“Thanks Bern but I think I can manage.” I replied, following him through the door to the main room of the Rusty Goat. With the last of the dishes washed, we were ready to call it a night. My back ached and I was beyond ready for sleep. The fire in the hearth popped as my eyes scanned the room. Corey had already left, leaving the owner to tend to any stragglers that may come in overnight. As I approached the bar, I noticed a pile of coins sitting on the counter- one for each of us.
“I don't want to come in tomorrow and find out that you've disappeared too,” Bern said as he tucked his coin away into a pouch. “Too many have vanished, and I'm not taking any chances.”
I stuffed my own pile of coins into my pocket and looked up at him. “I wouldn't mind the company. It's been pretty lonely around here lately.”
Bern smiled as we bid goodnight before making our way out of the tavern and up the street. He walked beside me as we passed by the closed shops, their owners having long since left for the night. Drunken sailors lay passed out in the gutters, and a few stragglers stumbled past us on their way back to their rooms, arm in arm with a lady. It was well past midnight as we left town, heading off into the darkness together and down the road that would take me to my home. Bern’s voice broke the silence as we walked.
“How are you doing though, Serra?”
I hesitated before answering, it was not a question I was expecting from him. But it made me feel loved knowing he cared “I’m okay. Things have been. . . weird.”
“How so?”
I had no intention of telling him about Kaston’s visit or my visit to Conwell Manor. Those details I’d keep to myself. He didn’t need to know I was in trouble or that Kaston had threatened me. Fidgeting with my shawl, I glanced over at him. Bern was handsome enough. He was not overly tall, but he wasn’t short either. His dark hair was starting to turn white at the temples, the short strands sheered close to his head- allowing him the freedom from tying it back.
Working as hard as he did kept him in shape. The work he did down at the docks aided in his muscle tone, but his broad shoulders were enough to make you think twice before crossing him. In his younger years, I imagined him to be a very handsome person. However as time went on, his dark eyes started to frame with age and his movements grew slower. I could tell he was sad. Though the stress of his wife’s death and raising his girls alone would take its toll on anyone in his position.
“Just weird.” I offered, “I don’t know how else to put it other than I’ve forgotten things. . . only to remember them later. Moments of my life just vanishing then reappearing when I see something, hear something or in some cases smell them.”
We walked in silence, the only sound coming from the crunching of our boots on the gravel road. The gentle rustling of leaves from the swaying trees accompanied us as the night breeze brushed against our skin. The sounds of nocturnal animals filled the air, serenading us with their songs of the night.
A lullaby I knew.
“Ah, yes. Grief will do that. It tends to be temporary, but it can last a lot longer than you would think. I went through it for a while after my wife Malassa died.” he said, his lips stretching into a sad smile. “The doc said after she died, grief tends to cause cognitive impairments and memory loss in many individuals. Many who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. Your Nona’s passing was not easy for you. But it’ll pass Serra. Just give it time.”
I smiled at him as we approached the cottage, the familiar sight of it. The smoke that swirled from the chimney. It was home, Bern followed me through the gate and watched as I was able to push the door open with ease.
“What happened to the knob?” He asked, there was a note of concern in his voice. He studied it closely, testing it between his fingers. His eyes found mine again, his brows pulled together in confusion.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I yanked it open too hard the other day and it broke,” I lied, setting my shawl on the chair.
“Why don’t you come and stay with me and the girls. They would love to have you. They adore you.”
“Thank you, but I’m okay here. The garden is starting to sprout, and I’d like to stay close by. Besides, I have the iron fire poker.” I grinned.
His laugh bounced off the stone walls, “Okay. But I’ll investigate getting it fixed for you, with everything going on, and the girl going missing, it would set my mind at ease knowing it was fixed.”
“Thank you but you really don’t have to do that. I have been saving up to get it replaced.”
“Nonsense,” He paused, his eyes roving over the place before landing on the table. “What’s that?”
He’d noticed the emerald green box. I’d left it sitting out on the table. I’d been so busy with everything that I hadn’t thought to put it away. My face flushed as I glanced at it too, “Oh, it's nothing. A gift from someone.”
“Oh? A boy?”
I glared at him a smile spreading across my face. My mind wandered again, Bern had made sense. Grief does weird things to many of us but his comment still concerned me, “Good night, Bern.”
He laughed again as he left, “Good night, Serra. Lock the deadbolt.”
I closed the door quietly behind him, double-checking that the deadbolt was securely in place. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right, that there was more to my memory loss than what Bern had told me. But what was it? I tried to push the thoughts out of my mind, focusing instead on the box that sat on the table. The sight of it sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but stare at it, feeling a sense of dread that seemed to wash over me in waves. I knew what was inside- But the thought of opening it filled me with an overwhelming sense of fear.
