Page 27 of Ryld's Shadows
“You better watch your back, orc! That fuckingsulitekshould be locked up or put down.”
Ryld stopped. Hank halted jerkily too, or he might have collided with him. “I used to believe that was my name. Because I knew no other until I was grown,” Ryld told Cress. “You can’t hurt me with your words, or your hands or your looks. If you had lived with the drow, they would call your insults childlike. Also, I kept all the mean things people told me about you secret because it’s impolite to tell. They don’t like you, though. Not any of them. You should know that.”
It wasn’t nice to say that, but he didn’t want Hank to hit Cress again, so he touched Hank’s arm and made for the doors.
Hank’s smile was back, the crooked one that looked like it might snag on his right tusk. “That was very brave. A lot braver than sucker-punching the jerk.”
“You are my friend, Hank. That’s brave enough.”
Hank made a sound between a hum and a chuckle before he touched Ryld’s hand again. He didn’t grab it or yank on it, just waited until Ryld had twined their fingers together for the walk back home.
* * * *
My Esteemed Friend
Kai knew it was ridiculous to feel a rush of pride at being addressed that way by an elven queen. Hard-wiring couldn’t be helped, he supposed. All things considered, though, it was lovely that Lady Jessamine had replied so quickly. They’d had no tech to speak of in the Minnesota Elvenhome where Kai had been placed after crossing over years ago. Landline telephones. Very few televisions. Certainly no Netflix. Most of the elves there had claimed to despise human inventions. It hadn’t helped the oppressive atmosphere one bit.
Pacific Elvenhome was much more progressive and had embraced technology with enthusiasm. Lady Jessamine’s emails sometimes even stated at the bottom that she had sent them on her phone. It was a lovely change.
I hope I find you and your darling husband well. Work continues apace on the new grove. While we can’t rush the infusing of power into ancient trees, the grove is already a place of peace and healing.
News of your young friend is, as ever, fascinating. Physical manifestations are not unheard of, but I needn’t tell you that. On my home plane, some drow battle mages had this power and through means both fair and foul, some of our mages learned something of its workings. None in my recollection have been as powerful as your young friend, but I have two mages here, both of whom survived the Great War on my plane, a conflict we all otherwise wish to forget.
Since it is a matter of harnessing this power rather than learning to use it, I wonder if my mages might be of some use to you in training Ryld?
We are far apart and yet but a thought away in this world. Please keep me updated and let me know if there is anything I might do to assist.
Fond regards,
Lady Jessamine
Kai did not heave a happy sigh when he finished the email. He didn’t. The world of queens and courts were so far behind him now and a little friendly flattery had never turned his head. Still. It was nice to have someone interested, someone who wanted to help.
Certainly not the first time Lady Jessamine had offered her assistance either to AURA or to Kai personally. While AURA had been reeling from the lich queen incident—so many dead, so much damage both physical and emotional—Lady Jessamine had donated funds for repairs and had convinced the kolle to send structural mages to ensure the AURA building wouldn’t collapse. Kai had admired the feat of diplomacy even then, prior to being in contact with the aelfe queen himself, since the kolle were reclusive and generally unwilling to leave their homes.
Then when Kai had been on the verge of pulling all his hair out trying to procure government funding for the server farm Research so desperately needed, Lady Jessamine had come to the rescue again, throwing her considerable personality and the weight of her title behind the effort. She had moved bureaucratic mountains, and for that, he would be eternally grateful.
“Lady Jessamine says she might have mages with knowledge of Ryld’s manifestations,” he called through to the kitchen where Tenzin was making something that smelled heavenly.
“Does she? That’s good news, love. Maybe you should set up a conference call.”
“That’s an excellent thought.” Kai made a note on his phone, excitement thrumming through him. The thrill of discovery, of process, of…oh, somethingnew. It would sustain him through a very great deal.
Belatedly, he shut down his tablet and hurried into the kitchen to see if his husband needed help with dinner. He’d most likely be in the way, but it was best to ask.
“I take it your experiment with pairing Hank and Ryld is going well?”
“It is, dearest. From the moment I heard about Hank…” Honesty. One must be honest. “Er, eavesdropped on a conversation between officers about Hank, where they were shaking their heads over his physique and his restraint with those goblin young, I wondered if he would be a better choice.”
“Mm, I agree. A much better choice. Although…” Tenzin shook his head and said, “I’m probably worried over nothing.”
“What, Tenzi?” Kai hitched himself up onto one of the kitchen stools, alarms sounding in his brain. “What worries you?”
Tenzin lifted a lid and stirred its contents, seeming to gather his thoughts. “Culturally they would be better suited than the aelfe or humans that were Ryld’s previous minders, but I do wonder how much Hank knows of Ryld’s past.” He set the spoon down in the holder and shook his head again. “I’ve read Ryld’s file, a very thick file. It’s like reading a horror novel.” He glanced over at Kai, concern etched on his brow. “Do you think Hank has an understanding of his… I hesitate to even call it his upbringing.”
Kai winced. He couldn’t help that either and it was difficult not to squirm on his chair. “Tenzi…much of my past would also be considered a horror novel. Have you…? That is, would you want all the details? I would tell you everything. I simply thought that perhaps you didn’t want to know.”
Tenzin took his hand. “Beloved, in that you are correct. I don’t need or want to know anything you don’t wish to share. But you are very different from Ryld. You have control of your magic. The circumstances of your birth were quite different. I don’t know if that matters to anyone or not, but it seems unfair that Hank might not fully understand. That sounds horrible of me, doesn’t it? Like I’m judging Ryld. It isn’t that. But Ryldisdangerous.”
