Page 53 of Swords and Curses

"So he's the fun one then," Saul joked, whose smile died on his lips when he saw the look Zalan was giving him.

"He might be the fun one, but he isn't the one that you call on when you are in need because he'll never be there." Zalan got to his feet. "The day is wasting, and I have defense wards to create."

"He is a barrel of laughs, isn't he?" Saul shook his head once he had gone.

"Stop provoking him, Saul," Eli warned. "My younger brothers are uncomfortable at the thought of coming together as it is. Both have their strengths and their weakness just like you and Balthasar."

As the men began to argue, Rosa turned to Nimue, who was sipping tea and watching them with a bemused expression.

"I know what you're thinking, Nim, and yes they are always like this," she said.

"I forgot how this family could argue amongst themselves." She looked over at Eldon before focusing on the toast in front of her.

"Are you guys talking yet?" Rosa asked quietly.

"A little and it always feels…forced."

"Lucky, you both have a lot of time," Rosa tried to reassure her. "You trusted each other once, so maybe you will again. Or maybe you both need to get drunk enough to stop being so self-conscious."

"Would you like me to show you how to decorate using magic?" Nimue asked, smoothly changing the subject.

It was latewhen Eldon finished talking with Zalan. He'd missed his uncle's deep thoughts and theories of the metaphysical world. Eli was forever the survivor and king, Vincenzo the dilettante, but Zalan had spent many years in the wilds of Eastern Europe and understood the deep connection with the land and forest Eldon had. He hoped that, together they could speak with the forest surrounding Gwaed Lyn, and get it to assist in protecting them should the queen come with her burning fury.

The night was clear, and the stars shone particularly bright as Eldon walked from the mansion back to the Wylt cottage. The lights were burning, meaning that despite time and imprisonment, Nimue was still a night person. Like he was.

He took a deep breath and looked at the stars above him. He'd forgotten how much they were alike. God, how long did it take him to forget that? Being back at Gwaed Lyn had been bringing forth old memories, but being around Nimue brought them up of Deryn and all the others he'd lost. A part of him wanted his old confidant back, someone he could finally tell all his stories and alleviate the burden of memory inside of him. Heaven help them both if that was the reason she'd been returned to him.

The lights burning through the windows flickered as Nimue danced into sight, her copper hair fanning out around her with each twirl. Eldon shook his head and tried to clear it.

He really shouldn't have drunk so much of Eli's scotch with Zalan. It stressed him out having Nimue so close, but having her die in his arms had given him a different kind of trouble altogether. He wanted to protect her and what was worse, try as he might, he could no longer be angry with her. He had brushed against the torment she'd endured for centuries, and it made him want to burn the Aos Si to the ground.

A small and selfish part of him longed for his quiet cottage on the Irish coastline, but he knew he couldn't abandon Eli again, let alone Rosa or any of the others.

This is why you cast the memory spell to begin with, because it meant you didn't have to worry all the time.

Eldon entered quietly through the back door and into the kitchen. Soulful jazz echoed from the lounge room, so he shrugged off his coat and followed the trumpets.

Nimue was sitting on the carpet with a fan of records around her. She looked up and smiled at him. "I like this time's music."

"It's a good fifty years old," Eldon said, pouring himself a glass of scotch from the decanter. He hesitated before asking, "Drink?"

"Yes, please," she said, accepting the glass from him. "I think Rosa smuggled a lot of Eli's alcohol to this little cottage."

"She's a Wylt. We all have a taste for a good stout and an old scotch." Eldon sat down on the carpet opposite her and leaned his back against the couch. "Are you going through every one of these?"

"I hope to. There are so many," Nimue said, studying the back of a Miles Davis album. "I missed music so much."

"If you are going to listen to jazz, you need to start with the best first." Eldon flicked through the pile. "This is a fine ladycalled Billie Holiday." Nimue changed the record over with a childlike glee that Eldon smiled at her.

"I see Rosa has been teaching you things during your time together."

As the crackling sounds of the record changed to the soulfulSummertime, Nimue began to sway.

"Oh, I like this. Her voice is so different and sad."

"Yes, I suppose it is." Eldon closed his eyes and let the music wash over him.

"Eldon?"

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