I blinked, trying to absorb the conversation as much as possible while reeling from how casually they were discussingtheLilith and Lucifer. The way the pair of them were being discussed as, well, a pair. I picked at my toast and watched them talk, nodding or giving short responses where appropriate, my thoughts too fast for me to sort through them or speak coherently.
“Care to take a walk outside?” Seir asked me after the snacks and tea had been depleted. “I did promise you sunshine.”
That, at least, I could answer. “Yes, please.”
He walked ahead again, gesturing this way and that as he pointed out where the best berries grew, the easiest place to find a bunny, should one want to, and even his favorite shrub. Hailon glanced behind her shoulder more than once, a look of amused apology on her face. Tap loped slowly beside me, looking around with one corner of his mouth tipped up.
“You get used to him,” he told me again, barely louder than a whisper. The words tripped down my spine, the timbre of his voice strangely resonant in my chest.
I closed my eyes and tipped my face up, the sun bright and warm, as promised, and the air fresh and crisp. “He’s just enthusiastic. It’s actually really sweet that he’s so proud of his home.”
Tap nodded his agreement as we turned down the path that Seir had indicated would take us to where others lived. The dirttrail widened a little, clearly very well-traveled. Before long, a cabin with another building next to it came into view.
I was too busy staring at the incredible stained-glass window at the front of the structure as we got closer to notice the massive horse grazing in the yard. We were a few paces away, when it suddenly lifted its head and looked right at me.
I froze.
“Pleasure to see you again, Jacks,” Tap said calmly, one of his hands coming to rest on my shoulder. “He’s bound to Merry. He’s a friend.” As I stared, the horse bowed his head as though in greeting.
“Hello.” My throat was tight, but I managed to speak after what felt like a very long moment.
Hello, little Nephilim.
I stared at the beast, and he stared back. I couldn’t help speaking aloud as I worked through my confusion. “Wait. Did you…?”
It’s a neat little trick,he answered in my head, but doesn’t work on everyone. Have you never spoken with a creature this way before?
“Only one. I thought… I thought I’d imagined it,” I confessed aloud.
Well, I’m flattered then. Welcome to our glade.”
I cleared my throat.“Th-thank you. It’s a lovely place.”
You’ll find you’re well cared for here,Jacks assured me. He stared back as I glanced around, every single set of eyes fixed on me. I burned with embarrassment, though logically I knew I had nothing to be ashamed about.These are good people. You can trust them. You have my word.
“Alright, Phin?” Tap asked, but I couldn’t respond to him. I was too caught up in the conversation happening inside my head.
“How did you…” I cut the question off, but the horse was unbothered and knew exactly what I was asking.
Their nature is irrelevant to who they are as people, how they behave. Their goodness. Though I’d bet you already figured that out, yes?I nodded stiffly.As for the other thing… I see you, youngling. Do you see me?As I watched, the ghosts of wings appeared at his sides. I gasped.Ah, you do! Not even my mistress can see them. It’s truly my honor then.
“Phin?” Tap took a shoulder in each hand, holding me steady and sending my pulse racing. “Jacks? Would you mind including me in your conversation?”
The horse bobbed his head.Apologies, I meant no harm. I was just welcoming her. Not every day an angel wanders through.At that, he turned away and loped into another patch of grass, tail flicking behind him.
“He wasn’t causing trouble again, was he?” a female voice asked. I looked over to find a woman with bright red hair approaching from the direction of the cabin. “He looks innocent enough, but he really does enjoy giving a good fright. I have to check around the corners of the house every morning before I walk around or else I get a surprise.” The horse nickered and wandered even further away. She laughed. “See? He’s not denying it, cheeky devil.” She opened her arms and gave Tap a brief hug. “Lovely to see you out and about,” she teased, reaching out a hand to me. “Hello. You must be Phin. I’m Merry.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Sorry about Jacks. I think he gets bored sometimes. With only me to talk to most of the time, he’s got to find other ways to entertain himself.” Her head tilted. “Though I will say, Seir does okay, and Jacks and Coltor have come to an odd understanding, so they communicate fine, when they want to. But he’s got a lot of free time and nowhere to channel his energy. Aside fromscaring me, that is.” Her volume increased for the last, and the horse made a noise that sounded a lot like laughter.
“It’s okay. I’ve just never had that happen before.” It was true enough.
“Oh, that first time can be a bit rough. I remember very well.” She gestured toward the building next to her cabin. “Would you like to come have a look? It’s finally finished inside, and the greenhouse is all glassed in.” There was a general agreement that we would, and she turned, leading us down the trail.
“You grew the starberries?” I asked.
Merry turned around, beaming. “Yes! That was a wonderfully successful experiment. I wasn’t sure the seeds would take given that they aren’t earth native, but they have done so well, and in a very short amount of time. Remind me before you go, I’ll send more with you. We can barely keep up with how much fruit we’re getting. I’ll likely have to make some jam. Not that I’m sad about it, they’re delicious.” Merry mounted the stairs and took us inside the secondary building, my breath catching as I took in the lovely space.
