Page 25 of The Elven Healer's Apprentice

“Prickly, standoffish,” I clarified. “Ass though he is trying to keep everyone at a distance.”

“Believe it or not, he used to be worse. Pardon me a moment.” He caught the attention of the chef and gave detailed instructions about what was needed. The cook nodded and started giving orders to his staff.

While the servants began gathering supplies, the shadow elf turned back to me. “You best rest your feet for a bit,” he suggested as he gestured to the table and chairs tucked into the corner near the hearth. “I suspect Merlon is going to set off toward the compound the moment you reach him. Are you hungry?”

I shook my head. “I just want answers. You said Merlon wasn’t always like this?”

Casimir laughed. “He used to be worse. When we met, he was only a teen and so uptight that we feared he would never relax. It took years of Illeron, Emrys, and me working on him to get him to talk, let alone accept teasing. Emrys grew closer to him than any of us; still, we all trust him. But even now, he almost never requests help or reaches out to us. We must initiate contact most of the time.”

Recalling the messages from the king and Casimir’s abrupt appearances, the pattern held with my experiences since Merlon had returned. “Aside from Sina and Lippin—”

“Lippin?” His dark eyebrows rose.

“Merlon’s assistant,” I explained. “The faun.”

Confusion flickered across his features so subtly that I almost missed it. “I thought you were his assistant.”

“It is complicated.”

“I had hoped Merlon would’ve simplified things by now.”

I clarified briefly about Merlon’s refusal to give me a title or define my role. Casimir’s amusement grew as I described the situation, but before I demanded he explain himself, a young hobgoblin approached. She bowed to us both with a cheerful smile and offered me a satchel that weighed less than my supply bag.

“This should be enough for the journey home. I included some bedding and extra clothing should you need them,” the hobgoblin explained.

I hefted the satchel cautiously. The sides weren’t bulging, and it hung comfortably. “How?” I asked.

Casimir grinned. “She applied a folded space spell. Justine could’ve included an entire tent in there and it would still weigh the same.”

“Truly?” I rested my fingers against the smooth leather. A very slight tingle tickled my fingertips, but it was so subtle I would’ve missed it after living among magic for over a year.

“Don’t worry.” Casimir stood. “Merlon will be able to work the spell to extract the contents. It will require very little effort to do so, even in his exhausted state.”

I peered up at him. “What do you mean? Merlon is tired, but we all are.”

Casimir shook his head. “I suspect he is faring far worse. Before he left Emrys’ palace, he performed an extensive healing on the queen. Between that and the past few days, he spent more magic than most of us produce in a year. I am surprised he’s still making sense and functioning as much as he is.”

Resisting the desire to point out Merlon wasn’t making sense, I followed Casimir back through the house. Who turned down the opportunity to rest in a comfortable bed before heading home? And why refuse the offer of a shorter route both in time and effort?

Casimir escorted me to the gardens within sight of the gate. Merlon’s tall form stood beneath a great oak tree a short distance beyond the property's edge. Taking a slow, deep breath, Casimir frowned at the healer’s back. “Be gentle with him, Adela. Don’t let him shove you away. He needs you more than he realizes.” With that, he flashed me a sad smile before he bowed and faded into the shadows beneath the bushes alongside the path.

I sighed. Exhaustion pulled at my bones, making me ache. After so little sleep over the past few days, the last thing I wished to do was hike across Eldarlan with a grumpy elf, no matter how much he intrigued me. I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. Merlon needed me. Summoning what little reserves I had left, I crossed the boundary line of Casimir’s gardens. The wards tingled as they passed over me, but not unpleasantly so.

“Ready to set off home?” I asked as I approached Merlon.

He startled, making me wonder if he had been sleeping on his feet. Pushing off from the tree, he surveyed me from head to foot. “Will those shoes work for walking?”

I looked down at my serviceable leather boots. They were the only shoes I had. “They have functioned well so far.”

He nodded wearily before jutting his chin toward the satchel Casimir had given me. “The folded space spell can hold the heavier satchel. It will make it lighter for us to carry.”

“Can you do that?” I lifted the bags from my shoulder. “Casimir said your magic is lower than is healthy for you.”

Merlon laughed low and soft. “Cas being observant, as always. Yes, I am depleted, but not dead.” Claiming the light pouch, he made a motion with his free hand that caused magic to flare. I flinched. “Open the bag and set it on the ground.”

I hesitantly obeyed.

“You need to stop flinching around magic,” Merlon muttered as he began loading the contents of my hastily packed bag into the never-expanding satchel in his hands.

---