Chapter Eleven
Florian woke the next morning feeling much less hopeful, and mostly hungover. His head throbbed as they prepared to leave.
“Don’t ever let me drink that much mead again,” he groaned, as Kade helped him pack the last of his clothes. The wolf shifter chuckled.
“I won’t,” he said. “But can’t you just heal yourself? Would that make you feel better?”
Florian paused, then pressed a hand to his forehead. “Stupid.Heal.”
His headache was gone in an instant, but he felt even thirstier than he had been—it didn’t help the dehydration of drinking at all. He grinned up at Kade gratefully.
“Thanks,” he laughed. “My head hurt so bad I couldn’t think. Still thirsty, but I feel a lot better now.”
With a self-satisfied smile, Kade brought him some water.
The dragon shifter was the first to arrive at the guest cottage. Koji had been inundated with gifts from several of the villagersthat he’d worked with during their time in the kraken kingdom, so his backpack looked heavier now than it had when they’d first arrived. He wore a rough-hewn sweater identical to those worn by many of the kraken shifters, and a lumpy knit scarf that didn’t look nearly as professional as the other handmade clothing he’d been given. He flushed when he noticed Florian looking at it.
“I made this,” he said quickly, before Florian could ask. “One of the ladies was teaching me to knit. I’m not very good, obviously, but this was my first try. Figure it’s better than nothing.”
Florian grinned. “It looks great for your first project.”
Koji smiled. “Yeah. I’ll get better.”
Florian had finally finished packing the last of his things by the time Rune arrived, looking just as haggard as he’d felt. When she stumbled through the door, Florian didn’t even have to ask—she reached for him blindly, and he grabbed her hands with a laugh, sending healing magic surging through her. She immediately groaned with relief, grinning at him with clearer eyes.
“Best hangover cure ever,” she laughed, all but collapsing in one of the plush armchairs gathered around the fireplace. “God below. Anyone have any water?”
“You didn’t bring a water bottle?” Florian asked, frowning. “You’ll need water.”
She paused, as if realizing for the first time that where they were goingwouldn’tbe surrounded by water on all sides. “Shit. I knew I was forgetting something. Be right back.”
Rune sprinted out of the cottage, Koji laughing as Florian shook his head in disbelief. Kade only smirked.
“At leastIknew to bring a water bottle,” Koji said, looking pointedly at Kade—who laughed, much to Florian’s surprise.
“Maybe I’m a poor judge of character, after all,” Kade replied.
When Rune came hurrying back a few moments later, they were ready to go. Nerves pinched in Florian’s stomach, but allthings considered, he felt much less nervous about their trip now than he had the first time they’d set out to Elodie’s swamp. He should be able to teleport them there—no wandering through the Blight or fighting off water monsters this time. And he knew what to expect, at least a bit. He was really only worried about what they would do if Elodiecouldn’thelp them, but they’d deal with that when they got there. It wasn’t just him and Kade against it all anymore. Not nearly as romantic, but there was a comfort in knowing he could rely on three other people instead of just one.
“Everyone ready?” Florian prompted as they stood in the sitting room, the other three looking expectant. They nodded, and Florian gestured for them to gather together; they formed a circle, their hands joined. Kade squeezed Florian’s hand comfortingly as their fingers intertwined, and Florian took in a deep, steadying breath. They were together. They were his friends. They could do this, whatever the future held.
“Here we go,” he breathed. Florian envisioned Elodie’s home, the tree with the mushroom doorknob that was far larger on the inside, surrounded by the swamp and the dim light from the surrounding canopy of vines blocking out the Blight. With a lurching sensation, they were no longer in the brightly lit cottage in the hills of the kraken kingdom. The ground beneath their feet was soft and pliant, the air thick with the scent of mud and plants rather than fish and salt.
“Whoa,” Rune said, first to break the circle as she took a few steps backward, looking around. “Not what I envisioned when you said it was a swamp, to be honest.”
Florian looked around slowly, unsure where exactly they’d arrived. A lamp post was a little ways behind them, its curved top pointing in their direction; he turned and realized that they were right in front of the clearing where Elodie’s home stood. He even saw the large gnarled tree in the center of that clearing. Thelast time they had stood here, there was a magical ward blocking their way, right in the center of a rough-hewn arch created by the branches of trees; this time, the arch was empty with no sigil in sight. Did she know they were there already? She had said he would be welcome back any time—maybe the ward would no longer appear against them.
“It’s this way,” he said quickly, before either Rune or Koji could wander off, their curiosity obvious in their faces. “Stay close, guys. The swamp is warded against the Blight, but there are monsters and stuff around. Her house is right over here, though. C’mon.”
Kade was uneasy next to him, his tangerine eyes flickering back and forth to keep a careful watch on their surroundings, as the group clustered up again and walked through the archway of trees that led to the clearing. He followed Florian closely as they stepped through; while there was no visible ward, Florian could feel the magic in the air wash over them as they passed through the threshold. The others seemed to sense it, too; he felt Kade tense up beside him, and both Rune and Koji visibly shuddered.
“The hell is that?” Rune muttered, rubbing her arms as she looked around.
“I think it’s the seal,” Florian replied. “There was a big glowing magic circle thing in the air the first time we came through. But I think since we’re welcome here, we don’t see it anymore. But the magic is still there. That’s what you felt.”
“Felt like going through a waterfall,” she grumbled, shaking her hands as if they were wet.
“So where is she?” Koji asked uncertainly, his gaze darting around.
