Page 33 of Outside the Veil
“That horrible shriek is an owl? I thought they just hooted.”
Finn reached over to pat his foot. “Listen a moment.” A mile distant, another owl called in answer. “That’s her male answering.”
“Dios.” Diego plunked down on the grass, shivering. “I never realized the woods would be so loud.”
“The man sleeps like the dead through machines thundering past his window all night and thinks a few crickets too loud?” Finn muttered.
A rabbit rustled in the leaves and Diego startled, edging closer. Take good care of him,the wise woman had said.He needs a friend so badly now.He watched the lean muscles inDiego’s arms stand out in hard relief as he shuddered. Such an endearing contradiction of vulnerability and strength, but it was the white-hot spark of Diego, such a brief flame but oh so bright, that drew Finn like a hapless moth to the bonfire.
“You should go back in. You’ll catch your death out here.”
“Just for a bit. Maybe I’ll get a blanket and sit out here with you awhile. Keep you company.”
I’m not the one needing company, m’boy.Finn rose onto his elbows. “Help me up, then. I’ll come in with you. Perhaps it is a mite chilly out here tonight.”
“No, no, you need to stay outside, don’t you? To get better?”
“It is enough to be out of that blasted city.” He stretched the truth, but not too much. “Come. You’re turning blue.”
Inside, Finn found he approved of the open main room. Almost like being outside, windows comprised one wall and much of the high ceiling. An ottoman large enough for four men to curl up together stood in front of the fireplace and Finn indicated he would sleep there.
“Bring your blankets. Sleep with me.”
Diego frowned, hesitating. “Finn, I don’t think…”
“Just sleep. I give you my solemn promise. You are distressed and will rest better with someone by your side, I think.”
“I don’t suppose you’d consider putting on some clothes?”
“More than willing if it puts you at ease.”
After some thuds and rustlings upstairs, Diego returned with a pile of blankets and the soft, black pants he had given Finn to sleep in that first night.Small victories. Take what you can get.
“How did you know the owl was a she? And who she was calling to?” Diego asked, as he slid under the blankets beside him.
“I speak owl quite fluently. And deer and boar and duck and mosquito, to name a few.”
“Wait. How could anyone learn to speak mosquito?”
“Easy enough when you’ve been one. Though I don’t recommend it.” He wanted so badly to pull Diego close and hold him chest to chest, but he had given his word. Most promises he wouldn’t care whether he kept them or not, but a promise to Diego was somehow different.
“I thought it was too difficult to become something that small.”
“When I’m ill, yes. When I’m whole and sound, it’s possible. I tried mosquito form one summer simply to see what it would be like. The end result was rather messy and nasty.”
“What happened?”
“A thrush ate me. I had to choose between escape and being digested, which leaves no guarantees of being able to piece one’s self back together afterward. So I escaped.”
Diego gazed at him with rapt attention. “How?”
Gods, it’s hard not to kiss him.“I became a crow. Bit too large for the thrush to hold in his stomach. As I said, the results were messy. Lost my taste for bird for quite some time after that.”
Diego’s nose wrinkled and then he laughed. “No, really. You’re making that up.”
“Would that I were, boyo. But it’s a good story either way.”
“It is.” A smile appeared, though Diego’s gaze had gone far into the distance.
