Page 77 of Zel
“When I was still very young, one of her customers promised her a better life if she ran away with him, but he had no interest in children. She chose a better life.”
“But… you still kept the hairpin and considered it precious to you.”
“The time I had with my mother was precious. I grew to understand why someone might give up everything for a better life for themselves, and I still do not hate her for it. But it is your parents who are the ones worth emulating, Zel. In Lothar’s sanctum, when the other members of the guild rushed in, they did not hesitate for a moment before guarding you and helping you free me. They saved themselves with our pact, but even then, before you’d first screamed your way into the world, they made that decision to save you. I am glad you had them, and because of them as much as your own precious nature, you grew into a paramour worth keeping.”
Zel smiled like the sun they always reminded Ulrich of and wafted up that familiar scent of sunshine too as they lifted onto their toes to kiss Ulrich. “I am glad as well.”
“Master? Mistress! Uh…” A different little girl had come over and tugged on Zel’s tunic.
“How aboutZel?” Zel corrected.
“Are you hurt, Zel?” She indicated a bit of blood on the surface of Zel’s bracer.
“Oh! No, I’m fine. It isn’t mine,” Zel added in a whisper.
The girl nodded with wide eyes before running off.
Ulrich snorted as the two of them made for the door. “You are still a little wicked, you know.”
Zel didn’t for a moment deny it.
They hit the streets again to return to the Thieves Guild. Ulrich could still port them anywhere he had been before, but he saved that for returning to the tower, where they slept, took most of their meals, and enjoyed private time together.
They did often, however, enjoy their evening meals at the Thieves Guild with Zel’s parents. Such was the plan tonight.
“Mission accomplished, I assume?” Sophie kissed Zel’s cheek upon their arrival.
“Orphans fed and thieves made an example of,” Zel confirmed.
“Still taking good care of our treasure?” Gregor asked Ulrich, gripping his forearm in decisive greeting. He made a point of doing so each time they met, like a challenge to himself to never show hesitancy.
“Always, but they too take care of me.” Ulrich did not throw in Gregor or Sophie’s faces that they had once owed him a debt. He had come out the better in the end, after all.
Gregor had taken to calling Zel their “treasure,” which Ulrich considered a fitting endearment since neither “son” nor “daughter” was appropriate any longer.
Because of Zel and Ulrich’s frequent presence in the halls, a small indoor garden had been started in the kitchen capable of growing some of Ulrich’s same hearty vegetables—including the veryrapunzelthat had once been stolen from him. Although he had explained that much of its magic was depleted, and it was safe for anyone to ingest, few members other than Zel’s parents had dared to try any yet.
Twenty winters was not enough to forget someone melting apparently.
Sophie and Gregor had taken to leading the guild with fervor. They were well liked by other members, much as many had been wary and oftentimes envious of Zel. Some still were, for different reasons now given Zel’s magic and being wed to the fabled sorcerer in the wood instead of having slain him. But because Zel’s parents took far better care of everyone than Lothar had, envy was mostly overshadowed by loyalty and respect.
The Queen knew the Pipers as her liaisons now. When next her messenger had requested a mission, they had presented themselves as having taken down Lothar for her sake because he’d been planning to become her immortal equal and overthrow her. Whether she believed them or not, her following message had given them her blessing for the change in leadership—so long as they continued to be her puppets.
As far as she knew, they still were.
The Thieves Guild was bustling as usual, but as Zel had stated numerous times, more joyful than it had ever been under Lothar’s rule. The primary common room was packed with members, but none were yet dining, having waited for their leaders to join them. A head table was reserved for the Pipers and their generals who oversaw each unit—the pickpockets, the elite thieves, the assassins, the guards, the whisperers, and the cleaners.
Zel and Ulrich, the lone pair instead of a solo general, led the assassins.
There was also a member allowed at the table who oversaw the youngest recruits.
Rudy appeared just as the rest of them had taken their seats. He gave his nightly report before joining them, explaining that recruitment to the new Thieves Guild was going well. They had to be more covert than ever or risk the truth of their end goals getting back to the Queen, but though it might take a long while, Falchovari would see a day without an evil Queen or other immortal monarch. The time had come for something kinder, even if the road there would not be without its share of blood and wickedness.
Ulrich bore Rudy no ill will. He knew the motivation for Rudy’s actions had been love, and he could not fault someone for loving Zel. It was Zel who had made the decision to forgive Rudy, and Ulrich would always abide by Zel’s choices.
Rudy had also made private amends to Ulrich, and in a way that had been quite surprising. He’d caught Ulrich alone at the Thieves Guild a few days after the night of the full moon, when Ulrich had recovered enough to return to the city with Zel, who had refused to do so without him.
“You are giving me the pendants?”
