Renhala (18 page)

He brushes my hair from my face as he says, “Don’t blame yourself for what’s happened to you, Kailey. Karma is definitely making a point to enlighten you on the seriousness of what’s going on between realms. All I can tell you,” he raises my face to meet my eyes, “is to dig deep and take her warnings for what they’re meant. Prove yourself worthy of her attention.” He kisses me gently on my lips.

“Please don
’t tell my mother. It’ll break her heart. Just don’t tell
anybody
.” I’m embarrassed that I seem to be so vulnerable. “I attract crazies!” I start crying, burying my face in my hands.

Ladimer then kisses me gently on my forehead and whispers, “I
’m not crazy.” He then pulls me up from the ground, lifting me in his arms. “Come on. I know a place where you can rest peacefully,” he says, “though it seems there is no place sacred anymore.” All I hear is “sacred,” and suddenly the world goes dim.

*********

Remnants of dreams melt away as I awaken, a single tear falling from my sleepy eyes. I open them slightly, and see Ladimer’s back before me—my savior. His warmth is inviting, and I snuggle close to him, wanting to soak into the safety of his mere presence. The alcohol affects still lingering in my blood, I sit up slowly and begin kissing his ear. He turns his sleepy face and I kiss his lips, gently. The mere scent of him brings a warm, inviting, and familiar sensation to my senses.

He smiles, but suddenly his eyes open. He holds me back from him. “Kailey, we can’t do this. I
’m not who you think I am. I’m...” His breath smells like warm mead. “Believe me, I would
like
this, but it’s not right. We have both drunk more than our fair share. Things shouldn’t happen like this. And my history...” He seems thrown askew. My eyes search his face for something—something to explain his actions. Then my energy feeler emerges, also seeking an answer. A sense of strong refrain is my only clue.

“T
hen just hold me, please,” I plead. I turn with my back to him and lie, teary-eyed, facing away from him. I speak no more on the matter, for fear of humiliating myself.

Our surroundings suddenly become clear through my eyes, and all thoughts of rejection dissipate. My eyes focus sharply, and that’s when I scream.

Chapter 24

Egotistical

If she disturbs my sleep again, I will eat her while you watch
.
This comes not from around me, but rather inside my head. The power of these words pours over me, yet as I read the energies around me, my fear lessens. I do not feel threatened, but still stand my guard as the egos I sense seemingly make the room feel smaller.

“Oh, come on, Greer. Imagine yourself in her position.” Ladimer still holds me tightly.

I shall never be able to compare myself to a human, the scrawny things that you are.

The massive and magnificent creature is curled around us, providing an encasement for peaceful privacy. We are surrounded by a wall of green, opalescent scales that reflect the fire sconces, warmly lighting the area around us. The dragon smells slightly spicy, like cinnamon.

“You
’re gorgeous,” I say, awestruck. 

Oh, please, don’t try to flatter. That will get you nowher
e
, I hear, again inside my head.

“You
’re telepathic.”

Wow, Ladimer she’s a bright one. Do you have any other two-word sentences for me? I think maybe I
’d rather have you scream.
I hear the boredom in his voice.

Greer adjusts his position, and the ground moves with him. I grab Ladimer’s leg.

“Kailey, Greer here has done us a great favor letting us sleep in his presence,” says Ladimer.

Greer turns his head toward us, and I feel the fire stirring in his insides. His eyes come close, and they are just as awe-inspiring as his scales, but a bright blue.
Kailey, your friend here did me a favor once, and I owed him. Do not think, though, that I owe any other favors. We are even.
 

I turn to Ladimer, asking him with just my eyes what favor this dragon is speaking about. “Our great friend here once suffered a nasty cut from a gang of meeples,” says Ladimer in a respectful tone. “I happened to be in the neighborhood and heard his suffering. I was afraid to get close, but seeing a creature as mighty as he suffer made me want to help, so I healed him.”

We eventually found those pests and I had a nice, tasty snack that day. Nice texture and crunch if they’re cooked just right.

“Dear Greer, forgive my being frank, but can I ask you why you
’re awake?” I say, suddenly remembering Lupa’s serious face as she spoke of Greer.

I appreciate that little one. Well, I, like many a dragon, am sworn to protect areas of Renhala. Meadow’s Edge,
was at least one of the most, if not the most, peaceful places in this realm. We never knew of strife, theft, or murder, and things here were pleasant. Many came here to relax and release their troubles. But recently, a great vibration reverberated through the air and through my mind. It awoke me, and I have not been able to shake the feeling of despair. Ladimer, I request you find Gunthreon for me, for I would like to discuss the situation with him. And as a personal suggestion, I say head east, to Socola. Whispers on the wind speak of Neda and mutiny, and Trudon’s death shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Socola? Really?” says Ladimer, suddenly looking forlorn. “They do say
‘we all meet our maker.’ Your wish is my command,” says Ladimer. “Thank you, Greer. I did not want Kailey to give up on Meadow’s Edge. It’s important that she feel home here.”

This last statement holds something more than I feel I know. “What do you mean?”
I feel Ladimer flinch.

You mean—she doesn’t know?
Greer laughs in my head, and it rumbles throughout my body.
Go ahead, Ladimer. What do you mean?
I taste the sarcasm.

Ladimer is uncomfortable, for he fidget
s as he sits. “I mean that—well...Kailey, you were born here. Meadow’s Edge is your birthplace.” He stares at me, holding my hands.

I laugh and say, “No, I was born in Stroger Hospital, Abscondia.”

Ladimer and Greer look at each other. Ladimer says, “No, you weren’t.”

“But my mom told me
... ” I stop mid-sentence, my childhood becoming a blur as the lies dissipate to make room for the truth. As I examine both Greer and Ladimer and reach for the feeling of truth in their energies, I know they are in fact telling no lies.

Your mother, what a card!
Greer laughs to himself.

“Greer—you know my mom?”

Yes, of course I knew your parents. Why, your mother is one of my favorites. I valued fighting by her side in some distant battles. Ah, she is a beautiful creature.
He leans in closer and examines me closely, as I hold my breath.
You actually resemble your father. No offense.

I look at Ladimer as connections are made by my brain.
Gunthreon and Ladimer: friends. Gunthreon and my mom: friends. Ladimer and my mom?

Ladimer twists uncomfortably as he stands. “We will go find Gunthreon for you, and I will ask him to meet you here. Thanks again for your safety. We were both able to sleep soundly.” He sneaks his hand in mine, already such a comfortable and familiar feeling.

Sleep? Is that what you humans call what you were doing?
I feel the blood come to my face in embarrassment. Greer lays his head back down and opens a small passageway for us to exit. As I walk by, I cannot help but feel his scales with my hand as I walk by. I see his one eye open and wink at me as we leave.

Thank you, great Greer.
I think this last thought with respect, and notice a small altar-type ledge at the entrance of the lair. It is laden with precious stones, chalices made of gold, and other priceless gifts apparently given to Meadow’s Edge’s great dragon. I reach in my pocket and pull out the gray rock I picked up yesterday and place it on the altar.
I think
this is just as beautiful.
 

After a touch on the forehead from Ladimer to relieve my sudden headache, he tries keeping ahead of me to get to Gunthreon first, but I keep up with him. After deciding that anger toward my mother is worthless, I decide that knowledge of my history might prove much more worthwhile. “Why am I the last to know everything?” I say. “You know my mom? What was my father like? What did he look like? When did I leave here?” 

“We must find Gunthreon and send him to Greer. We can talk later. Stop asking me all those stupid questions. I don’t know everything, you know.” He’s perturbed, so I just settle on daydreaming.

Lupa’s cottage is ahead, and I see her and Gunthreon tending to her many fruits and vegetables. Kioto is barking at the many strange creat
ures roaming the nearby meadow, but once she spots me she bounds towards us at full speed. She stands on her hind legs after reaching us, looks me directly in the eye, then kisses my face. She jumps down and smells Ladimer, then licks his hand. He caresses her head as we walk to the cottage.

Lupa has an amazingly green thumb, and I only wish that my patio planter of cherry tomatoes would actually grow tomatoes, let alone plants
nine feet tall. I pick a plump ripe bluish berry as we walk through her garden and know I don’t even need to wash it since everything here is pesticide-free. (Lupa did, however, warn me about the topola bugs, which resemble flying chocolate sprinkles—cute, but one accidental swallow and you’re in the bathroom for three days.)

“Remember when I said I had some of the best teachers?” says Gunthreon, as we arrive, seemingly in love with not just the woman of the house but also the pepper plant looming before him. “Lupa has taught me many a trick. If only I could get my plants back in our realm to grow like this. Just imagine what my tomato and onion tart might taste like! Just too damn bad she cannot seem to grow roses—her favorite. Must be the soil.”

“Gunthreon, Greer requests your presence, immediately,” Ladimer yammers, totally unaware of the culinary inventions that could be created from the produce around him.

“I will see him at once,” replie
s Gunthreon. “Kailey, what did you think of our Greer?”

“Please go see him, sooner rather than later,” says Ladimer, pleading with his eyes. “I’ll take Kailey around for the day before we leave. Maybe you could do with some souvenirs?” he says toward me. He expects to divert my attention. For the time being, I allow it.

“He’s sarcastic, but likable,” I say to Gunthreon. I steal a glance toward Ladimer meant for Gunthreon. “Greer, that is.” 

Gunthreon looks like he agrees. “Make sure to pick up a replacement teacup.” 

“Crap!” I knew I broke that damn cup.

*********

So, first thing, I find a replacement cup, even though it just doesn’t feel the same. Every shop in Meadow’s Edge is teeming with items I feel I need to own, or at least buy for someone, don’t know who, but someone would love them. I know that, by the time we get home, I’ll owe Ladimer my whole life’s savings. I was hoping that currency in Renhala would be something easily accessible, like geodes or sunflower seeds, but they use gold: coins, jewelry, nuggets, whatever weighs the required amount. I see Ladimer place a few gold chains on the counter. “Philip’s mom won’t miss them, right?”

I respond
, “Maybe you shouldn’t say that in front of karma.”

He laughs, loudly. “Let
’s just say I have a hefty savings in the karma bank.” 

A snow globe with a beautifully detailed wooden base that I think my mom would love catches my eye. Inside is a miniature cottage and lilac bushes, with a mini Greer floating around. I pick it up and shake it, watching Greer fall over on his side. I continue shaking until I’m satisfied with him right-side up. I push a button on the back, and it actually emits the scent of lilacs.

For Bu, I get a stuffed dog whose collar tag is the rune of Meadow’s Edge. When you squeeze
him,
he farts, and
it, too,
smells like lilacs. Amber is getting a pendant from my favorite metalsmith, so I tell Ladimer we shall see him last. Also, I should get something for Conner, since I never did actually call him back after Spa de Serenite
.
What to get a man I hardly know, but am very attracted to? I contemplate asking Ladimer, but feel that may not be the right step to take.

We scan the last store, and that’s when I see it.
Perfect!
It’s a small plaque made of slate, and engraved in simple block letters is “The truth shall set you free.” We pay and head to my favorite metalsmith’s forge.

As we approach the shop, we notice the doors are shut tight and the
lights inside off. “Funny,” mutters Ladimer. “Mortimer is always open.” Ladimer tries the front door, then puts his ear to the door, but nothing. “Let’s try the back entrance,” he says, at the same time that shouts come from within. We step quietly. My monk’s spade is warm, and I see Ladimer reaching inside his shirt, no doubt for his blade. 

A man shouts from inside. “This has turned from a request to a demand, Mortimer! If you do not cooperate, we shall see how loud you scream when your precious metal penetrates your precious heart!”

A loud crash has us both on our toes, not daring to be seen before we can figure out who is causing the ruckus. The back door opens, and a rather large man comes limping out of Mortimer’s shop in a hurry. As he runs around the corner, I catch a glimpse of the hands and know this man is the one from the barn. 

“Let’s check on Mortimer,” I whisper
, grabbing Ladimer’s arm, restraining him from chase.

We enter the shop and find Mortimer sitting, startled by our entry. I walk to him and ask if he’s hurt, but he’s mainly stunned, petting his tabby cat, rather voraciously.

“Mortimer, what’s that guy want from you?” asks Ladimer.

“He was just a customer who wasn’t pleased with an order, that’s all,”
responds Mortimer. “So what may I help you with?”

I can tell Ladimer is not happy with the response, but he chooses not to pursue the matter. “Kailey here would like a pendant for a friend of hers,” he says as he watches the back door.

“Hmm, good friend, or just acquaintance?”

“Best friend, if you must know. Her name is Amber.” I flash him my biggest smile.

“Beautiful! How about something representative of her name?” says Mortimer. “I have a pendant with a beautifully enrobed specimen of amber. It’s not gaudy, and it sits wonderfully upon the womanly frame.”

He wanders to the front of the store and comes back with a small, handmade wooden box. He opens it slowly and shows me a most beautiful piece of amber, with a few small specks of something within it. It
’s undoubtedly older than me.

I turn to Ladimer and tease
, “Predate you?”

He smirks and says, “You
’ll never know.” He pinches my cheek as he looks around the shop, clearly checking to make sure nobody else is hiding from us.

“I think it
’s perfect, Mortimer!” I say. I hug him and question how on earth he is able to lift a mallet with his small frame. “Ladimer, pay the man, please,” I say with regality, as if I am the queen of England. I then walk around, admiring all the beauties in the shop.