Page 69 of Ruby & Onyx

I was in such haste to get this done that I neglected some of the most important details of the blood oath. Secrecy and success should have been obvious inclusions, yet such conditions never crossed my mind. If this comes back to bite me, then I will have only myself to blame.

But there’s nothing that can be done about that now. All I can do is learn whether or not the spell worked.

Bracing myself for the pangs of failure, I open the door slowly. My body tenses with anticipation and nerves ratcheting up my legs.

What if this didn’t work? What if I wasted precious time chasing down a bogus spell? What if the spell succeeded but Guylita can’t help?

I’m doomed no matter what happens, aren’t I?

No, I can’t think like that. I have to do everything in my power to seek the truth before I sign my life over to the king.

I step into the hallway and hold my breath.

There’s nobody here. Not an invisible, nor a guard. Not the king, nor his court. Only a very dirty Moose. A trail of mud in the shape of his paws lines the floor leading from around the corner to where he stands. And no matter how hard I try to keep him from jumping on me, he just keeps trying. Little guy is persistent, that’s for sure.

He barks twice, tail wagging wildly, and stares like he’s waiting for something. I’m not sure what he wants, but he barks once more before scampering away. He pauses at the corner, where he barks again.

“What is it, Moose?”

His barked reply sounds almost like a cry, a desperate plea for attention.

Is he asking me to follow him? I suppose there’s no harm in it, so I oblige. He licks my hand when I reach him before continuing through the winding hallway. And unlike the study, not a single item is askew. For that, I breathe a sigh of relief.

I keep my eyes peeled for the invisibles, but every step I take without sighting one of them causes my stomach to turn.

Moose’s tail remains straight, nose is fixed on the floor, as we search for whatever it is that he’s trying to show me. Only Moose and the gods know what that something might be.

My heart ricochets in my chest when I find the invisibles guarding a door. Their red eyes, visible even in the daylight, don’t react as I approach. For the first time, I have the opportunity to fully take them in without panic obscuring my vision. Their pale skin is touched with a dull glow, and their crooked fingers hang by their sides. Their milky white heads are like a full moon cresting over them. They are fully corporeal amidst the waning daylight, and utterly terrifying. How did I witness them on that first day without bursting into complete hysterics?

But holy gods, it worked! It takes every ounce of self-restraint to hold my celebration inside. The last thing I want is for the invisibles to realize what I’ve done, for this spell is only useful so long as they’re unaware.

Moose sits next to me, eyes fixed on the door. Was he leading me toward the invisibles? Perhaps he’s smarter than I give him credit.

Suddenly, the invisibles step aside to allow Olly and Landers to swagger out of the room, each one carrying a bottle of mead. Moose barks at them with as much ferocity as a twenty-pound dog can muster.

“Ah, of course. My dear friend, Radya,” Landers slurs, slinging his arm around Olly’s shoulder. “How is my prince-y boy treating you?”

Olly doubles over to stifle his laughter, but that only increases it tenfold. They’re both bursting at the brim with giggles, and apparently drunk off their asses.

“Hello, Landers. Great to see you putting your mead to good use,” I clip. Dealing with Landers is the last thing I want. I might rather take on a pack of concos than deal with his snide comments right now. Couldn’t I enjoy just one hint of celebration before he ruined it with his presence?

“Mead? Oh, no, Radya. This isn’t my mead. This is one-hundred-year-old scotch. Distilled by a master at his craft. It’s finer than any swill you’ve ever tasted.” Landers casts a judgmental look in my direction, but it seems to take a great degree of concentration to do so.

“The only swill I’ve tasted is your gods-awful creation. So, yes. I’m sure that is far finer.” Seriously, what is the point of taunting me? What does he get from this?

“Are you two done? I saw a magnifi –” Olly stops mid-sentence and slaps his hand over his mouth. His entire body spasms as the hiccup erupts through him. “- Magnificent pie being prepared earlier today, and I’d like to –” hiccup “– Enjoy it with the both of you. Can you make peace until then?” He sways from side to side as his vacant eyes try to focus.

“No, you two enjoy your pie. I’m returning to my room.” I’m certainly not about to sit down with those two drunken fools.

“Oh noooooo,” Landers cries with feigned regret.

“I’m sure you’re quite devastated,” I say to Landers and then proceed to ignore him completely. “Olly, will I still see you tomorrow morning for our lesson?”

“Olly, Olly, Olly, why does she call you Olly?” Landers’ drunken buffoonery is starting to irritate me.

“Excuse me? That’s his name. Do you want me to refer to him as His Royal Highness?”

“Anything is better than Olly,” he bites as if the name offends him. Olly, on the other hand, appears more amused than anything.

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