Page 66 of Entangled

Having made his way to Elric’s front door, Sebastian raised his fist to knock. He stopped himself when he was sure he heard voices coming from inside. Putting his ear to the door, he listened, the same way Hitch had done in Evandorm when he first found out all this disturbing information. Sebastian heard female voices from within. He recognized Merrow’s voice immediately. Frustration swept through him. He had wanted to set the elf straight before she showed up. Now he wouldn’t have a chance to do that because he didn’t want her watching as he strangled the life out of the irritating little man.

He barged into the room, stopping in his tracks when he saw Merrow, Medea, Lira, and Dee. He knew immediately how they’d gotten here so fast. Medea had used her witchy powers to transport them here. His trek over the mountains and traveling most the night was done in vain. He knew that now. Sometimes it was daunting to be a mere human.

“Sebastian?” Merrow blinked twice. “What are you doing here?”

“Surprised to see me, are you?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I didn’t expect you to show up here of all places.”

“Why not? What are you keeping from me?” he asked, wanting to give her a chance to come clean with him.

“Nothing.” She looked down and kicked at the floor.

“Elric, I’ll have a word with you.” Sebastian tried to control his anger, not wanting to come across as an ogre in front of the women.

“Why is everyone pestering me so damned early in the morning? Why are you even bothering me at all?” complained Elric, his hands waving in the air dramatically as he spoke. “Can’t a man have a little privacy? After all, I’m living on the top of a mountain. Why is this place so busy? What is wrong with all of you for even coming here at all?”

“Elric,” Sebastian spoke up. “It’s been brought to my attention that you’ve tricked me, and I don’t like it in the least.” He said it in front of everyone, no longer caring since they obviously already knew.

“Tricked you?” Merrow looked over at the elf. “Elric, what exactly did you do to Sebastian?”

“Nothing.” This time, Elric looked down and kicked at the floor.

“Father, tell us the truth,” Lira said, giving him a stern look. “You’ve been up to your old tricks again, haven’t you?”

“He made a fool out of me,” Sebastian blurted out. “I am a king of Mura and deserve some respect.”

“Sebastian, calm down,” said Merrow. “I am sure whatever this is all about, it was just a misunderstanding.”

Sebastian could no longer hold his tongue. “The stupid sage tricked me to get in the water, knowing damned well I was human and couldn’t call to sea nymphs with my mind.”

“Oh, that.” Merrow flashed him a sympathetic smile.

Sebastian wasn’t done yet, and kept on talking. “Then, he called your family himself, Merrow. It wasn’t me who contacted them, but you know that already, don’t you? Yet, everyone let me believe that I had done a great thing on my own.”

“I’m sorry, Sebastian. I didn’t know about it until after you left Evandorm,” Merrow told him.

“It was amusing and really livened up my day.” Elric had the nerve to laugh.

“Nay, it was embarrassing, and I don’t like the feeling.” Sebastian reached out for him, but Elric was too fast. He sped away. Sebastian knocked over a chair trying to get him, but once again the little man zipped away in a blur and ended up at the opposite side of the room.

“Damn you! Stay still so I can strangle you.” Sebastian dove over the table, landing hard, once again missing Elric completely.

“I’m bored with this game.” Elric sat in the open window biting at a hang nail. “Are we done yet?”

“Nay, I am far from finished. You will pay for what you did,” Sebastian warned him. He was so mad at him that he wanted to push the elf out the window. But before he could even try, Merrow grabbed him by the arm.

“Sebastian, stop it. This isn’t like you. No one is laughing at you and never was.”

“I was,” said Elric, laughing aloud again.

“Please,” Merrow said in a half-whisper. “You are better than this, Sebastian. Don’t let him upset you. It’s not worth it.”

Merrow’s words brought Sebastian back to his senses. He took a deep breath and released it, trying to regain his composure. Part of him was glad Merrow had stopped him from killing the sage. The elf probably would have moved aside so fast that Sebastian would be the one falling out the window instead.

“I was only trying to help.” Elric patted his mouth as he yawned.

“Elric, we are here to ask you for more help,” said Dee.