“Hm. I don’t know, Tristan. This dog doesn’t look right. And you said she’s barely four months old? Isn’t she a bit… big?” Luke asks, squatting in front of Lady with a frown. He might be the Lord’s Dark Companion, but I’m a little offended on Lady’s behalf.
For almost two months, I’ve done nothing but pamper Nate’s pup, followed all instructions, and took the advice of the humans at court.
“What do you mean? She looks perfect to me,” I say with conviction and pet her ear.
Lady has indeed grown very fast and now her head reaches my hip, but she was a puppy. Of course she’s bigger than when I arrived at the palace. It’s frustrating to hear that I might have done something wrong when I’m putting all this effort into taking care of her.
I want Nate to see her when he comes back and be amazed by how well-nourished she is, how well-behaved and nicely groomed.
Lady’s smooth coat is mostly black, save for the tan areas on her muzzle and massive paws. Her eyes shimmer like rubies, and her teeth seem to overfill her jaw, which further likens her to the wolves from our realm. Deep down, I suspect Luke is right, and growing up in the Nightmare Realm is changing her. It’s the biggest reason the Nightcloaks try to keep a lid on smuggling in any animals. We don’t always know what threat they will end up posing. But Lady is no threat. She’s the sweetest girl, no matter her size.
Luke pushes back his long dark hair. It’s dyed a dark green halfway through, and today, that color matches his vest, which is iridescent satin, like a beetle’s wings. Lady is getting a bit too interested in the voluminous sleeves of his shirt, and I worry she might soon wish to pounce on them.
The only reason Lord Kyran has let me keep the dog is because I promised she would be my responsibility, though I suppose seeing Luke pet the puppy’s belly and whispering to it so intensely their pet bat, Flap, started getting jealous, also had something to do with it. Kyran’s a tough ruler, and the greatest shadow wielder I know, but his heart is soft and sweet as cherin where his Dark Companion is concerned.
Luke cocks his head but pulls his hand away when Lady attempts to lick his fingers. The last time he played with her, Flap sensed it on him and got so offended he hissed at Luke for three days straight, so I imagine he’s trying not to trigger that reaction again.
“But she is now the size of a fully grown rottweiler while only being about four months old. And her eyes are red. And she can hide her claws like a cat.”
I hide my face in my hands for a moment. “I’m doing everything by the book.”
Literally. Nate brought a book with him titledSo, you got a Rottweiler’ and I’ve studied it like no other book in my life. It’s not my fault she’s growing a bit… different.
Luke sighs and straightens. I caught him here at the stables as he was about to go for a ride on the Lord’s kelpie, and I’m not wasting this opportunity to chat about Lady, and… other matters.
“Has there been no news about Captain Gloombane and his promised?” I try to act casual, but the blood moon is in two days, and arrangements should have already been made for a ceremony, even if it wouldn’t be anywhere close to as lavish as the Lord’s.
Luke grabs a pair of riding gloves off the wall. “I only know a ceremonymighthappen, but unless the court officials got an update from the captain, your guess is as good as mine. Why? Are you this eager to ditch my company for another human’s?”
I know he’s saying it in jest, but my heart twitches with discomfort. I’ve been keeping my true feelings for Nate a secret since I got back, and the last thing I need is causing a scandal right before he arrives here with his promised.
But I miss him like I’ve never missed anyone, and his prolonged absence is grating on me with each passing day.
It’s been two months now since I saw him disappear in the enchanted fog.
Our parting was meant to only last three weeks, but as I put everything in place, ready to start courting him as soon as he’s Gloombane’s Dark Companion, news came that the captain wished to instead wait another month and make the bond during a blood moon.
I was inconsolable and spent the whole day hunting a leviathan on Stone’s back, but once my anger had burnt out, I had to acknowledge there was merit to the date change.
I don’t like that we’re so close to the blood moon, and the ceremony has not yet been officially announced. When I sent inquiries about visiting them at the tower, Gloombane responded with a letter saying that they’ve been away for a trip to Lykasir, which was especially frustrating, because had I known sooner, I could have gone there, and ‘accidentally’ bumped into them. But would that have helped? I get back one letter for every three of mine, and each one feels increasingly distant. I fear Nate is pulling away from me, and there’s nothing I can do.
I’m fucking jealous, like that damn bat is over Luke.
I’m losing my mind, I really am, and it’s not helping that I can’t tell anyone why I’ve been so touchy lately. Luke might understand how I feel, but I can’t trust he’d keep the secret from Kyran. Then, two people would know, and while I trust them both to not spread gossip, I can’t stand them knowing of my failure if Nate’s feelings have cooled since our parting. If he brushes me off after I’ve yearned for him, not once taking another lover in the meanwhile, I’ll look like an utter fool.
I decide to change the subject to one that partially serves my purpose. “How’s the letter training going?”
Luke’s been trying to teach some bats to carry mail, and if he managed to succeed, my correspondence with Nate could drastically speed up.
Luke shakes his head. “Flap is not doing bad, since he’s the most domesticated. He delivers messages within the castle with ease, and that’s exciting, but he’s also afraid to venture out much, because he’s such a gentle soul. And to be honest, I don’t want to risk his safety. The ones I’ve befriended in the caves are tough but don’t follow instructions and are hard to train.”
“Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe we could get more dogs and trainthem?” I pet Lady’s head when she yelps in excitement, as if understanding every word. So maybe she’s not growing ‘right’, but unlike the bats, she’s perfectly sweet and obedient.
“To carry post?”
“Why not? Her size and strength would ensure nobody attempts stealing the letters, and she’d be able to fend for herself against other beasts.” But who am I kidding? I’d never let this dog leave palace grounds on her own. I must be at my wits end to even propose such a thing. If I secretly followed her, however, I could even watch Nate accepting my message. “Oh, and… what-was-his-name, Nate, the promised, he’s great with animals. He could help you.” And stay with me at court. Forever.
Luke frowns, approaching the kelpie. “Why are you pretending you don’t remember his name?”
