Page 90 of Oaths & Vengeance
Lord Gannon nodded. “Do it then, so you’ll have more time to accomplish what you need—and make amends with her.”
“Of course,” I agreed.
Now, how to regain Aella’s good graces? I’d need all the time I could get to plan for that.
Chapter 39
Aella
The night after my disastrous birthday trip to see Darrow, heavy rain poured down on us. It was rare for late summer and sent my plants into a growing frenzy while also encouraging weed growth. Two days later, I set aside time to pull weeds and prune bushes. Sariyah had taken a week off to visit me at Ivory Castle and joined me in the garden. She understood how much I needed a friend right now with everything happening in my life, and I loved her for it.
“If this plant licks my cheek one more time, Aella,” she began, clenching her eyes shut as it did it again. “I’m gonna…”
“Be grateful it likes you so much,” I finished before she said something to offend the tullipworm.
The plant was very affectionate and harmless as long as she didn’t upset it. If she did, the saliva, for lack of a better term, could insert an element into its secretion that would make her skin itch for days, no matter how much she washed. Sariyah hadn’t spent enough time in my garden to know all the species' personalities. She only knew which ones were carnivorous to avoid them. It was the reason I had her pulling weeds near the less volatile plants.
She sighed as she pulled more errant sprigs. “I know this is all my fault. If I hadn’t given you that snapper berry bush seedling for your twelfth birthday, maybe you wouldn’t have morphed this garden into such a hazardous place. Honestly, the elf who sold it to me said they were difficult to keep alive, but it would be fun to watch you try.”
“I love you to this day for that,” I said, bumping her shoulder with mine. Our hands were filthy from digging in the dirt, or I would have patted her on the back.
She cast her gaze skyward. “And I’ve cursed myself ever since for that terrible idea.”
“Aella,” Tadeus called from the archway. “Is it safe to come in here?”
I beckoned to him. “Sure. Just bow to the crunchertraps before you pass them.”
“Bow?” he asked.
“Think of it like a secret password,” I said, sharing a sly grin with Sariyah. “I’ve been teaching them, so they’re less hostile to people I like.”
He gave me a dubious look. “I feel better when you threaten them before I try entering.”
“Tadeus, stop being a baby and get in here.”
My cousin eyed each of the crunchertraps warily, then gave each of them perfect bows that would have done justice to the king. Then, he straightened and marched forward. He nearly jumped out of his pants when both plants leaned forward to rub themselves against him as he passed, but I suspected they were merely pleased with his show of respect. My plants had feelings, after all.
As Tadeus continued, he eyed some of my other cantankerous plants and gave them bows as well. Sariyah and I watched him, bemused, as he slowly made his way toward us, carefully using the stepping stones since we were about ten feet off the main cobbled path.
“Honestly, I think you grew this whole place just to vex me, Aella,” my cousin said as he stopped a few feet from us. One of the tullipworms reached out and licked his hand, making him shout. “Ahh!”
I sighed and shook my head. “It’s not my fault you are at odds with nature.”
“At least I grow friendly plants back home,” Sariyah said, giving me a pointed look.
“Anyway.” Tadeus gave us perturbed looks. “I came to tell you that Orran sent an invitation for you to visit this evening and have dinnerwith his people. My father already has plans and will be leaving within the hour—no idea what he’s doing—so I’m to escort you there.”
That was rather last-minute notice, but if the Andalagar leader wanted to see me, he must have a good reason. “Fine, but Sariyah is coming with us. Her grandmother was from the southern tribe, so he shouldn’t object.”
“Do you think I’ll get to see a Pegasus?” Sariyah asked, eyes lighting up.
I nodded. “The Andalagar have hundreds in this territory alone, so they’re hard to miss.”
“Oh, I’m definitely coming with you.”
“That settles it.” Tadeus looked us both over. “You ladies have two hours to bathe and change before we go, so I suggest you finish here quickly.”
We stepped out of the portal onto the Andalagar territory. As before, the waves crashed onto the beach a mere fifty feet away with the current tide. A cerulean turtle slowly worked its way along the sand, paying no attention to us as we passed but often lifting its head when the water touched its feet.
