Chapter Forty Eight: SEVENTEEN DAYS

****

I felt rested, less muddled. But lazy. The soft quilted covers of the bed didn’t want to be abandoned just yet so I lay there. Events of the previous night glided through my mind as I took account of my time spent in the Realm.

Seventeen days.

It had been seventeen days since the night I’d met a peculiar blue skinned man. My world had changed unimaginably. Demon – Lorez – Aoibheann – Salaar – so much had happened since then and so much remained to be revealed. I only wished the remaining rest was good, happy.

I hoped my journey to Khuzdoh would be uneventful and my attempt at breaking the mighty Scepter would be successful. And what’ll happen to Demon after that? I didn’t know and I supposed neither did he. And how does one become Queen, exactly? I didn’t know that either.

We’ll see!

I tossed aside the covers and got off the bed. Though I wasn’t my usual chirpy morning self it was time to meet the new day. I had my foot in the bathroom door when something resting on the single chair in the room caught my eye. Looked like folded cloth from a distance, and on close inspection – a three piece dress. It looked new.

I shook out the skirt and held it to my waistline to see how long it was. Its soft rippling ruffles fell all the way to my ankles and its brick red hues woven with muted golds seemed to gleam in the dim light of my room. The top had the same shades only more red than gold and it looked perfectly trimmed to my size. The chunri was black with tie-dye blotches of red and gold in the center and edges.

I loved the outfit!

After a quick shower I slipped into my new clothes and was leisurely admiring the cut and fit of that exotic dress when guess who burst into the room.

“I left my dagger here last night.” He roamed through the room, stopping for just a second to cast a critical glance at my reflection in the mirror. His eyes glinted impishly but he didn’t say anything and looked away.

“Demon.” I stared at him coolly. “When the door is closed, you’re supposed to knock.”

“Found it!” He picked up something shiny from the floor and stood up. “I did.”

“Louder! So I can hear it!”

“You got super hearing, Syhlain. You ought to have heard it.” He smiled.

“I was changing damn it! I could’ve been naked when you burst in!”

“Then lock the door next time.” He grinned. “You know how I’d hate to see you naked.”

He narrowed his eyes and stared at me. “You running a fever, Princess?”

“I mean it!” I insisted earnestly. “I know you hate it when I cry and whine and – so thank you for being patient. And for walking me home.”

“Well.” He stepped a bit closer. “I’m sure the pleasure was all yours.”

He chuckled and headed for the door. “Next time, I stay the night!” He warned playfully as he dashed out.

I stared at the door long after he was gone and wondered how many faces that man had. He had been especially good to me the previous night – almost out of character for him. He had sat with me for as long as I sat and then walked me over to Kabir’s cottage and to my room. He hadn’t said much all the while but his presence was comforting enough. It was as though he knew it too, which is probably why he had stayed.

The room had been dark and I didn’t want to make noise trying to locate candles and lanterns so Demon, very graciously, had used Nivis’s dagger for illumination.

“Keep it.” He’d given it to me and then left.

I must’ve dropped it on the floor while sleeping and – oh well. I sighed and headed for the living room myself. When I came in, I saw Kabir standing in the foyer kissing Ina goodbye. He saw me and waved a smiling farewell before he left.

“Morning.” I addressed the group left behind – Ina, Azure, Ogaz and Demon.

“Where’s he off to so early?”

Ina blushed as she looked at me. “He had some business.” The shyness of her response prompted my curiosity.

“What business?” I asked, meaning very well to pry for sure! I had a feeling it was something related to their baby. Oh, how romantic!

She looked at me and smiled, widely. It was as if she wanted to share her joy with someone too but a houseful of guests demanded decorum rather than celebration. But I couldn’t care less for propriety when she so obviously beamed with bliss. I stared at her, urging her to go on – say it!

She laughed, took my elbow and led me into the kitchen. Then, she said, “To pick some golden berries from the forest.”

“Golden berries? Whatever for?”

“They’re good for the expectant mother.” She smiled.

“I knew it was something to do with the baby!” Ina’s cautioning finger on the lip checked my loudness. I whispered, “No one else knows?”

She shook her head. “It’s sort of awkward to just come out and say hey! I’m pregnant! Perhaps some time tonight at dinner or something – I have to tell Ogaz. He is our elder.”

“Well, I’m ecstatic for you!” I hugged her.

After a scrumptious hot breakfast of strawberry pancakes with herbal tea, Ina left us in the parlor and went out to tend to her vegetable garden. Ogaz asked Azure for Nivis’s medallion. He placed the pendant on top of the table under the biggest window of the room and studied it for a second or two. He then picked it up and held it against the intensifying sunrays at a peculiar angle. The rays fell on the medallion and as soon as they passed through its blue center, they burned a clean hole in the table on which they fell.

“So that’s why the medallion didn’t protect him,” Ogaz murmured. Then he turned to us and said, “This is the Medallion of Protection, a special piece that was exclusively created for the Ice Sorcerer of Ducimus by the Sorcerer himself. You must remember that the kingdom of Ducimus is known for its wizards, warlocks and enchantresses just as much as it is famous for its warring Ducimas.

“This medallion protects its wearer against everything - all five senses and all elements except fire. Why? Because the only power who can actually control that particular element in the Realm is the Demon of Volttus. Nivis was torched because his medal couldn’t protect him against the fire demon.”

“That’s amazing,” Azure said. “We also discovered back in the forest that you can speak to whoever you want without anyone else hearing it. Now all we need is for one of these two to wear it and sneak into Khuzdoh and crush the Scepter.”

“Unfortunately that can’t happen,” said Ogaz, still studying the medallion. “The power of the medallion is not transferable. It will only work for the person who gets it firsthand. Nivis made it and wore it so as long as he was alive nobody could use it even if they took it away from him. After his death, the power of medallion transferred to the one who was the first to pick it off Nivis’s remains.”

“That’s one of the Richesse soldiers,” I said. “How come Azure can use it then? He stole it from Leon’s room. The soldier must have the power.”

“I was still in my beetle form and sitting on the medallion when the soldier took it to the room. I hopped off just before he handed it to Leon.”

“That was lucky that you got to touch it first then.” I said. “And by the way, you are a terrible story teller Azure, you keep forgetting details.”

“Yes, Azure, shame on you,” Demon said lazily, lying back in the lounger. “I’m half dying of suspense here.”

“Are you two ganging up on me?” Azure gasped. “I’m appalled!”

“You’re siding with me?” I stared at Demon. “I’m amazed!” “Full dead of boredom now!” Demon frowned.

Ogaz laughed. “And I’m thankful. Humsukh khadahn. Sa zarrun aur namish.” He gave the medallion back to Azure.

“Does this mean, that since Leon asked one of his soldiers to get it for him,” Azure said. “He did not know? How’s that possible?”

“Leon is a moron.” Demon shrugged. “He’d tell his men to jump into water for him even if his own pants were on fire.”

“For some men, fear rules over everything else.” Ogaz said. “Use it well Azure but remember this; it will not free you from serving the Demon.” “Demon is happy to hear that.” Demon smiled.

“And I’m not complaining.” Azure smiled. He wore the medallion around his neck like Nivis had and the pendant matched his complexion beautifully.