Traveler, page 11
He wanted to run to her and hug her, but the man she wanted him to be had died that day on the docks when he had left her. The pendant...that pendant he hadn’t seen in twelve years, and to see her take it off, he wanted to reach out and stop her. Instead, she had to walk away...and he had to let her go, had to let her hurt. “I’m sorry bird,” he whispered as the door closed behind her. “I’ll keep you close to my heart, now, even if you hate me for it later.” He took the pendant and slipped it over his head, hiding it underneath his black silk shirt. The pendant brushed against the letter in his breast pocket. “You didn’t have to look in the first place. But now I know you’re safe.”
Alexander had listened shamelessly as the girl and the Captain spoke, slightly worried that he might do something untoward to her. He frowned, watching as she barely made it into her cabin before bursting into silent tears. As sad as it was, there was nothing he could do for her at the moment...not right now. He had other places to be and someone waiting for him to return.
Slipping unseen into the cabin that Aislin had been staying in, he quickly searched every inch until he was certain that he had gathered up everything that could be linked to her. Thankfully she hadn’t brought anything with her the first time...so everything fit in the small bag he had brought with him. Closing his eyes, he felt the magic flare to life over him and the sudden displacement, and when he opened his eyes, he was back at home.
***
In the Capital, standing on a balcony overlooking the sprawling mass that was his city, the man called Silvertongue reached out and caught the falcon that was flying towards him on his heavily gloved forearm. The man had bright green eyes and blonde hair that went to his shoulders, and a tan face. The falcon looked weary, as if it had been gone on a long journey. “What are you doing here, my pretty?” he asked, petting the hawk’s head with a finger. He took off the parchment that was attached to its leg, then handed the bird off to a falconer. “Ensure he is rested before he returns to his master’s ship. If that Captain ever knew he had a traitor among his crew, he would kill him faster than could be calculated. And see if you can find the location of Arielle and Darius. My children have been entirely too wayward of late--we need to keep closer tabs on them, please.”
Silvertongue walked off the balcony, into his private sitting room. The room was richly decorated in scarlet and gold, with a blazing fire in the fireplace. He opened the parchment, scanning its simple contents with a smile growing on his face, a predatory smirk. The Bird has shown herself. Be prepared. The trap will be ready. Give me the signal when you are ready to spring it. He had placed spies in every major organization across this damned continent to find out when she showed herself, so he could follow his own suspicions. Snake, evidently, hadn’t been able to keep his grip on her.
“Rafi,” Silvertongue called, and a man-in-waiting in black and gold livery stepped up and bowed. “Yes, highness?” “Prepare for a journey. We have a little bird we need to put back in her cage. And be prepared; she will have company.”
Chapter 10
Aislin had rested in Alexander’s bed, as he had asked her to, using the lilac soap she had brought with her from her stepfather’s house. She had slept in her black lacy panties and a black tank top, putting the rest of her clothing back in her room to put away later. His bed was so comfortable, more so than she thought it ever would be. She stirred, and got up, stretching her arms above her head, eyes still heavy with sleep. She opened his bedroom door, going into the kitchen to get a glass of water. It was nearly eight in the morning; she had slept the night away in his bed.
From the time he had returned from the pirate ship, Alexander had spent the remaining hours of the night wisely. He had slept. He had decided to sleep on the couch, not wanting to disturb his new roommate after her trying day. As was his habit, he got up early, going to several different stores while Aislin slept undisturbed and safe in his bed. He had gone to the grocery store last, picking up several fresh foods to restock his pantry. Now that he had a roommate, one that was nearly college aged, he needed to be more responsible and make certain there was food to eat at all times. At the moment he was putting the perishable items away, his thoughts flying a mile a minute. Hopefully she would stay asleep for only a little longer so they could go to complete their much needed shopping. She still needed a bed, among other things. He turned back towards the table to grab the boxes of dried pasta and froze, his eyes widening in surprise when he caught sight of Aislin in just her underwear.
Aislin nearly dropped the glass of water in her hand, a blush deepening her cheeks to a scarlet color. She looked around in a panic, not knowing if she should drop the glass or set it down. All she knew was she wanted to run away from him and hide. “Um...” was all she could answer, setting the glass on the table. “Sorry about that...I didn’t think you’d be home so soon,” she mumbled, turning to run away, having to move very close to him to put the water on a safe surface.
“It has been all night, Aislin. Besides...I didn’t want to do too much shopping without you. It is your room after all.” He murmured quietly, taking care not to look too closely and trying really hard not to think about it. “We still have some time to find your bedroom furniture today...if you feel up to it.” Well, it was either that or she would end up sleeping in his bed again.
She blushed again. “I see...well...let me go get dressed then...okay?” she practically ran to her room, her long legs flashing as she did. She pulled on a pair of her shorts, wishing fervently that she had something else to wear during the summer in Phoenix besides short, cutoff denim. “I can sleep on the couch tonight,” she shrugged easily. “It doesn’t matter to me. That way tif we don’t have time we don’t have to rush through shopping...if that’s okay.”
“It is no trouble, Aislin. Besides..it’s not late at all, it’s still early. We have all day.” He replied calmly, putting the last box away. “I think it would be best to at least handle the furniture and necessities today. Tomorrow can be more about the extra things.” Then he looked her directly in the eyes. “I am not going to take no for an answer.”
She blushed again. “Okay, Alexander. Then we’ll get it done today,” Aislin said, her tone placating. She couldn’t meet his gaze. She moved into the kitchen to grab her glass of water again. “Should we go try to get the bed again? With no jumping into the book world this time, hopefully?”
“Yes...hopefully we can get this handled without any incidents. But even if you do, I will come and find you wherever you are. So don’t worry over that.” He gave her a reassuring smile before tossing her a keyring. “Come on and when we’re through, we’ll talk...about everything, alright?”
Aislin nodded and followed him out to the car, going to the same store as before to pick out her bed and bookshelves. She didn’t want to talk much while they were out, her mind still on Brileia, and on the fact that Alexander had practically seen her naked. The thought still mortified her and if she dwelled on it too long a deep scarlet blush stained her cheeks. She didn’t need to realize at that particular moment in time that the man she was living with now was just that--a man. She walked over to the beds, careful not to lay down on the bed in case she got sucked in again. There was one that she found without much looking, a soft down mattress that would be a dream to sleep on. She turned and smiled slightly at Alex. “I like this one,” she murmured.
“Then that is the one we’ll get. Pick out a dresser for clothes and a desk. You’ll need both.” He replied easily, glancing around for a salesperson. Another thought occurred to him, and he looked back to her. “Don’t forget about bedding, Aislin.”
She nodded and began to navigate the aisles for bedding and the like. She found a set, a rich comforter of deep purple and silver, and dark purple sheets to match. She placed them in the cart, still not able to look at him, not speaking, then went to go look for a dresser, finding one of dark cherry wood, and a desk that matched, with handles made of what looked like tiger’s eye. “I found everything I need, I think,” she murmured.
Alexander had added several matching towels and extra bedding to the cart while she was searching for her dresser and desk. He glanced at her choices and gave her a reassuring smile before gesturing for the hovering salesperson. Quickly pointing out the items she had chosen along with a few he had picked out when she wasn’t paying much attention, he waited for the man to acknowledge his choices before he led the way to the register.
It took longer to get everything in the car than it did to check out. Thankfully he had more than enough room for everything--the benefits of a suburban, he supposed. He glanced over at Aislin in concern. She had been relatively quiet the entire time, and it was beginning to get worrisome. “Can you think of anything else you might need before we head back home?”
She shook her head, climbing into the passenger seat. She couldn’t stop thinking about Brileia, and the predicament that she was in. There had to be something. She had been wracking her brain over some way to help her all day, and still she couldn’t come up with anything. Even the replenishing nap hadn’t anything to ease her whirring mind. So she sat, pensive, one leg resting on the dashboard, and didn’t say a word all the way home. She would prefer staying quiet, and thinking and keeping to herself, than conversation at the moment.
Frowning slightly, he left it alone for now, letting her keep her thoughts to herself for the time being. And truthfully there was still so much to do. It didn’t take very long to get back home. Parking in the driveway, he glanced at her for a moment before murmuring softly. “We’re here, Aislin.” Then he got out of the car and started unloading the back. She had keys to get in now so he wasn’t worried.
She nodded and got out of the car as well, helping him to unload all of the things they had bought at the store. She helped him bring in the bed and, once the bed was in, she made it her task to place all the bedding on it and organize everything in her room, her ipod playing softly in the background. Aislin sang along softly when she thought Alexander wasn’t listening, celtic melodies and the Lord of the Rings soundtrack her personal favorites. It was just another piece of her that indicated she didn’t belong here, with these people in this modern world, preferring the old sounds and tunes to the newer hits.
Allowing the girl her solitude for the time being, he put together her desk and bookshelves, making sure each piece was secure before he declared it complete. The sound of her soft singing brought a faint smile to his lips before he reluctantly interrupted, knocking lightly on the open door. “The rest of your furniture is ready to be moved into your room. First...where do you want the bookshelves? Keep in mind that there is still the desk and the dresser.”
Aislin’s singing stopped and cut off abruptly as Alexander knocked on her doorjam. She turned to see him with a faint flush. “The bookshelves I want next to my bed. So I can reach for the books whenever I want to.” She blushed again. “Is that too silly to ask for?” She turned away to help him bring things into the room, immediately beginning to place books on the shelves. Once everything was in place, the room was a little crowded...but Aislin didn’t see it as crowded, only cozy, only lived in.
“Not at all, Aislin. I know many people who would do the same.” He replied as they moved everything into the room. He stood back and glanced around before giving her a smile. “This room looks almost complete now. Once you add a bit more of your personality, it will be perfect.”
She smiled a little. “Thank you, Alexander, for everything,” she murmured. “So...what do we do now? Where do we go from here?” The question had a lot of meaning behind it, but Aislin needed to know some answers.
“You’re welcome.” Alexander smiled lightly before grabbing her arm gently. “For now...we go to the living room and talk. Why don’t we order something easy for dinner and then you can ask all your questions while we eat?” They had spent the entire day shopping, unpacking, and constructing her furniture, and it was approaching evening.
Aislin nodded. “I would like that, very much.” Her eyes were drawn to his hand on her arm, and a faint blush crossed her cheeks. “And pizza sounds fantastic. That way...you can ask me any questions that you need to, as well.”
“Sounds good. Go have a seat in the living room and I’ll order.” He replied before letting go of her arm. “Hope you can handle lots of meat...I’m a carnivore.” He commented with a laugh before going into the kitchen.
Aislin laughed and shivered a little. Her arm felt cold from where his hand had left it. She sat down on the couch, holding a pillow close in her arms while she watched him move around the kitchen. “You’re lucky I’m not a vegetarian,” she commented mildly, an amused glitter in her eyes. She could make a twisted joke about his meat comment, and she bit it back, nearly snorting as it almost escaped on its own anyhow. If he pressed her about it, it probably would escape. I like a lot of meat...well, that explains a lot. It explains why he’d take in an eighteen-year old girl so easily...
Chuckling softly, Alexander grabbed the phone and quickly placed the order for their dinner. Paying for it with his credit card, he thanked the man before going into the cabinet and pulling out two glasses. “The pizza will be here in about twenty minutes. What would you like to drink? There’s juice, water, soda...and even some iced tea I made yesterday.”
“I’ll have some iced tea, thank you,” she murmured, letting her breath out slowly so she didn’t burst into laughter. He probably would take great offense to the comment in her head if he knew. “But you don’t need to wait on me at all. I could have gotten my own drink."
Alexander laughed again, peeking his head out of the kitchen to look at her. “Trust me, dear...I am not waiting on you. I offered because I’m here in the kitchen. That is called being polite.” Then he ducked back into the kitchen, pouring some iced tea in her glass and soda in his. Truthfully he’d prefer something a bit stronger, considering the conversation they were going to be having, but that wasn’t such a good idea. Carrying both glasses, he returned to the living room and set her glass down on the cocktail table before taking a seat in his favorite chair.
Aislin scowled at him when he mockingly called her dear from the kitchen, but it added credence to her homosexual conclusion, and she took advantage of his situation when he sat down by throwing her pillow at him with surprising strength and accuracy. “That’s for the dear comment,” she said nonchalantly.
He laughed, snatching the pillow out of the air before it hit him. “Very good. Nice throw. Anyway...I do believe you had some questions...”
“It’s more like what I don’t have questions about,” she grumbled, laying back on the couch, her long legs crossed and stretched out before her, her tank top lifting to reveal just a hint of pale flesh. “How does time work there? Why can we go to the book world, but no one else can? How can you go into it as you wish? Can I learn to go in willingly, rather than being thrust in whenever it decides I want to? And what do I need to know about that world, so I don’t get killed the next time I get sucked in there? That’s all I can think of for now...but I’m sure I’ll think of more in a moment.”
He took a drink from his glass, taking his time to ponder the best way to answer her multitude of questions. Blue eyes met her green ones as he settled back in his chair. “Well, to answer your first question, time there is exactly the same there as it is here. It has been...researched extensively over the years since the passage between the Outer Realms and the Inner Realms was discovered.” He paused once more to take another drink from his glass. “The books themselves...well, to describe them simply, they are more of a gateway than an actual book. When the book transported you to the Inner Realm, that was no fantasy. Those were real people...real pirates...real prisoners. As I said...for the unprepared, it is very dangerous. The books themselves are very...capricious, in that they have a tendency to appear to certain people...for reasons that no one has really been able to discover yet.”
“There is more than one book?” she asked, her eyes widening a little bit in surprise. “And why...why would the pirate Captain have called me...never mind, it’s probably silly.”
He frowned slightly, sitting forward a bit...his eyes never leaving hers, evading the multiple book question. “Why would the pirate Captain call you what exactly? And don’t say it’s silly...it can be very important.”
She blushed and tore her gaze away. “He called me....Traveler. He also said that my secret was safe with him. What does that mean?” she asked softly.
Alexander closed his eyes for a moment and sighed softly, biting back the urge to curse aloud. Then he opened his eyes and looked at her. “You told him your real name, didn’t you?”
She blinked. “What else was I supposed to give him as a name? I didn’t tell him my full name, just my first name,” she said a little defensively.
“In...the Inner Realm...we do not use real names...only nicknames. If someone knows your true name, they have power over you...more power than you realize. There is a group of monks, the monks of Asgar, and they keep track of everyone’s true name. A true name is one that is given to a babe a week after it is born...and the child, and the monk, are the only ones to know it. Someone’s true name, used in the wrong hands, can make them compelled to do something they wouldn’t normally do, it can be used against them in magics...these monks are the protectors of the true names, and they keep them all locked away in their monastery somewhere in the islands.
