Page 19 of The Anointed's Paladin

“It must be past midnight,” She took to the air again. “Aren’t you tired?”

“I’m nocturnal, my dear. Not by choice, I’m afraid.” I replied. “Travelling with me means travelling at night. Perhaps we should let you rest, though. It can take some getting used to.” I considered her tiny form. No use exhausting her.

“Alright.” She said, stifling another yawn. We walked until we found a suitable clearing, and I set down my pack, and Nidori landed on a branch. Now I had to get her to make me a shelter. I could simply compel her, of course, but I hesitated. Something was tugging at me, a curiosity about how amiable she was being. Could I… try asking? What would happen?

“Could you help me?” I tried. She hopped up, eyes gleaming.

“I need somewhere to sleep that won’t let in any light. I’m rather sensitive to sunlight, see, and I get some nasty burns. Perhaps you could woodweave an enclosed space for me?”

“Oh! Yes, I can help with that!” She rubbed her hands together and then reached out to the ground. Another comforting warmth swelled in my chest, unfamiliar but thrilling. I pushed it away. She was clearly trying to get in my good books.

To my shock, roots as thick as my arm burst out from the ground, tangling together and growing into a dome- shaped shelter. It was big enough for me to almost stand inside, with a tall entrance that she covered with hanging vines. I had been expecting perhaps a small, cramped space next to a tree, just enough to block out the light, but this shelter was actually inviting. She panted, wiping some sweat from her brow, and sat down heavily.

Why had she made it so big and fancy? It had clearly taken a lot out of her, to go to all the extra effort. I hadn’t even asked her to. I stepped towards it, running my hands along the hanging vines over the entrance. There were delicate flowers laced through them. I ventured further inside. It smelled of fresh earth and lavender. The floor wascushioned by thick moss, spongy and soft. I felt a lump form in my throat as she followed me inside.

“Will that do?” She asked. “Sorry it’s not bigger.”

I leaned over to her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, which made her blush.

“It’s perfect.”

“Okay, now you stay in here and cover your eyes!” She said. “No peeking!”

I raised my hands, but my stomach turned as she left. I peered through a slit in my fingers, muscles tense. What was she doing? Why was she hiding it from me?

She was standing in the clearing, her tongue sticking out and a focused look on her face. Plants sprung from the ground beside her, and I twitched. Was she trying to escape? Had this all been to lull me into a false sense of security?

But the plants didn’t come for me, instead blooming around her and swelling with all sorts of fruits and vegetables. She clapped her hands in delight, and I felt my shoulders loosen. I continued watching as she made two smooth bowls; one big and one small, and started piling her harvest into them.

“Just a little longer!” She said, glancing at the shelter and dragging the big bowl closer to me. She put the little bowl down in front, and then frowned. With one last sweep, she grew some flowers between the two and then nodded to herself.

“Okay, you can come out now!” She announced. I lowered my hands and came out, an unfamiliar squirmy feeling in my chest as I took in the spread before us. I swallowed, unsure of what to say.

“Is this alright?” Said Nidori, voice suddenly tinged with worry. “I just thought, I haven’t had a meal with another person in so long, I wanted to make it special. Butyou don’t have to-“

“I love it.” I croaked, cutting her off. I cleared my throat and moved to the bowl, lifting it up and shoving some gosberries into my mouth. They were perfectly ripe, bursting with sweetness as I bit into them.

“You know, I can’t remember the last time I had a meal with someone either.” I gave her a smile. She flew towards me and I stiffened again, but it was only to wrap her arms around my neck.

Something occurred to me then, and I considered it deeply as her tiny, delicate body pressed into mine. It was possible that Nidori wasn’t just trying to flatter me or win me over. It was possible that she genuinely meant everything she said, and had made the shelter and the meal for me just because she wanted to. She’d decided I was worth doing nice things for.

Well shit.

As I raised my hand to rest on her back, I felt a warmth build inside me. It was as if she was a candle and her mere presence was heat and light and hope.

“I’m so glad we found each other.” She whispered. I held her close.

“Me too.” I said. Somehow, I had managed to find someone not only useful, but someone who made the world seem a little bit warmer.

I couldn’t stop looking at her as we ate together.

She followed me into the shelter after, chatting as I settled into the soft moss on the ground.

“Goodnight.” She said, fluttering towards the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I sat up.

“Oh. I was going to make a nest outside.”

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