Chapter fourteen
Laurent
Stayingawakeandvigilantat his post, overlooking the sleepy rows of homes in Spinella’s housing district, Laurent didn’t tear his gaze from the window until the sun finally crested over the horizon. It was only then that he allowed himself to move. Glancing over at the heap of gargoyle who had his legs dangling off the couch, wings draped over the sides, snoring lightly, Laurent snickered.
Gargoyles were so noisy–even when sleeping.
The first signs of Spinella’s residents waking and starting their days began. Muffled sounds of rustling wings, hushed voices trying to avoid waking loved ones, and clinks of mugs being filled drifted through the thin walls on either side of him.
Until this crucial trip, Laurent had never stepped foot in Spinella, and he knew the people here were not well off, though they seemed happy. Laurent thought back to the stories Merrick used to narrate about playing in the streets as a young gargoyle with sticks that became legendary swords, the victor winning pieces of twine threaded through small stones to wearon their heads as an imagined crown.
Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing Merrick’s childhood home, imagining Merrick’s late mother cooking meals and choosing the curtains, made Laurent’s heart hurt for what his friend had lost. He knew it was difficult for Merrick to be back here, but they had desperately needed a safe place to gather their bearings after being relieved of duty from the King’s Guard. A place for Laurent to track the hint of magic that flared from the Slate Kingdom and concoct this hairbrained plan to save Keerian from death. Merrick had offered his house without a second thought.
His fae hearing confirmed Lenna was stirring in the bedroom, and Laurent smiled grimly as he allowed a flicker of hope to flash through his chest that they very well might pull this together.
The Oracle had survived her first night in their world.
An accomplishment.
And she seemed to want to help them.
A blessing.
Laurent made his way to the small kitchen, joining the noise of the neighbors as he checked the cabinets looking for some ground coffee–or even a tea bag.
Lenna padded into the kitchen, bleary-eyed and yawning. Laurent gave her a warm grin when she came into view. Her beautiful red curls had been tamed back into a braid, though sleeping allowed some smaller ringlets to escape the confines of the leather band. The linen shirt she wore fell to her knees, and the pant legs were so long the extra fabric pooled around her feet. Laurent could only assume they were Merrick’s old nightclothes.
“Good morning,” Laurent greeted her, “I was just about to give up looking for any type of coffee–seemsthere’s none in the house.”
“Good morning,” Lenna gave the fae a sleepy smile before looking down at her clothes and cringing. Laurent watched her face redden, a creeping blush that started around her throat and worked its way across her plump cheeks in a delightfully charming way that had his smile growing. Merrick stomped into the kitchen with a grumble, heading straight to the cabinet closest to the sink. His face cracked into a wide smirk as he beheld Lenna’s outfit.
“I’m glad someone’s getting use out of those clothes. My mother always found fae hand me downs but never had the time to adjust them for, you know, wings.” He winked at Lenna, stretching his arms above his head. “Probably why I sleep naked now.” Lenna blushed wildly at that, averting her eyes from the gargoyle.
“Thank the gods you didn’t sleep in the nude last night,” Laurent replied, his tone clipped, “I would’ve had a much harder time keeping watch.”
Merrick threw his head back and roared with laughter. His morning hair was tousled, sticking straight out in the places closest to his horns. “Laurent is notorious for having an affinity for gargoyle malesandany female he comes across.”
Lenna looked dumbstruck, but Laurent merely rolled his eyes. “The horns get me every time,” he deadpanned, turning to the gargoyle. “Merrick, there’s no coffee in this house.”
“There’s a coffee shop two rows down. I’ll go over there before I get Lenna some essentials.” Merrick had come to the same conclusion on the coffee. The lack of it.
Lenna arched a brow. “I’m assuming I’m staying here?”
Merrick grunted in acknowledgement, “You assume correctly. It’s too dangerous to parade you around town. If anyone finds out who you really are, Lenna, it would cause a lot of unwanted attention.Laurent and I can only fight so many. Gods help us if word gets to Queen Adara and she waylays us because she doesn’t like our plan. Or Esmeray shows up to kill you and take another Oracle out of play. I’ll go, grab you some clothes, and be back before you know it.”
Lenna muttered her understanding, though she did not seem too pleased with the conclusion.
“When are we going to the Obsidian Palace for the Prism?” With deft fingers, she began undoing the leather band that was struggling to contain her curls.
Merrick looked sideways at Laurent, rubbing his golden ring gently. Laurent felt his own ring heat slightly–the sign Merrick was going to mind speak with him to avoid Lenna overhearing.
“Should we let her rest one more day and leave tomorrow? One day for us to get her situated and packed? I don’t think we’ll come back to Spinella for a while once we depart.”
Laurent rubbed his neck.“I don’t see the harm in one more day–it will give me time to build a portal powerful enough to take us directly to the entrance of the Obsidian Palace. If we left today, the furthest I could take us is still roughly a two day walk. By tomorrow afternoon, I will have it done.”
“You need to sleep anyway. Get some rest and I’ll get us packed.”
“I’ll be fine, I just need some coffee.”
