“But Luelle loves to visit you, Tahti,” he replied.
Tahti peered around Ael, taking in Praxis before fixing her gaze back on Ael.
She growled at Ael, “Only you can enter. He’s not welcome here.”Her rough voice grated like fingernails on a chalkboard, sending a shiver down Ael’s spine.
“I will be out here when you’re done,” Praxis said nonchalantly, as he turned and leaned against the side of the cabin.
Ael watched him for a moment and then turned around and looked at Tahti again. “May I come in, please?”
She turned around and used a cane to hobble inside. “Come in and close the damn door.”
As he walked in, he smelled the pungent aroma of herbs and spices, with a faint hint of chemicals underneath, and saw the organized chaos around him.
Tahti had an assortment of jars containing body parts from creatures submerged in light brown liquid, rows of dried herbs hanging from the rafters, pots and pans stacked against the far wall, buckets of crystals lining the kitchen, and a small, tidy bed tucked in the corner. In the middle of the room, an iron cauldron filled with bubbling, neon-green liquid created a plume of smoke that rose through a brick vent in the center of the ceiling.
Tahti turned to him, and her green eyes glazed over to solid white.
Great, I love this part.
“Where is the dark stone? Why did you not retrieve itorSeda?” she asked. “You failed.”
“I know who has it.”
“We need them both. All of Xyberus is at risk. The dome will fall soon.” Her white eyes focused on him.
“I’m waiting for her to come to me before going back for it.”
Tahti continued studying him with unblinking eyes. “You have fallen in love with her.” It was not a question.
“I have,” he finally admitted aloud. He truly loved Seda. In all his centuries, he had never met and cared for someone as deeply as he did for her.
“We need her, King Ael. She is the final key, and sheneedsthat stone, amongst others.”
“You don’t think I already know that?” he snapped, losing his temper with the crazy woman. “She is all I can think about. I refuse to use her in any way that can harm her!”
She stared at him without saying a word for long moments. Ael stared back at her, refusing to show any submission to this ludicrous woman.
Her pointed ears twitched, and she lunged to her side, grabbing a squeaking mouse with her sharp teeth and knocking over the pots, causing a loud ruckus.
Praxis banged on the door. “Are you okay in there, Sire?”
“All is fine, Praxis,” he replied. He heard Praxis grumble then lean against the wall, patiently waiting.
Tahti chewed on the mouse, blood dripping down her chin, and slurped up its tail with her lips. She refocused her attention on Ael.
“Seda Arbor is the key, King Ael. There is no way around it. You need to take her with you back to Joro to retrieve the Dark Stone.”
“I refuse!” he shouted. “Seda has suffered enough in her life! She deserves happiness…here. With me.”
“You won’t find happiness unless you do. It’s the only way,” she emphasized.
Ael changed the subject. “I want that stone you gave Luelle to work again, please. Fix it for me.”
“There is no point. You will see her soon. Not worth the magical resources.”
“Are youfucking kidding me?” he seethed, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “When will Seda be here?”
“Soon.”
