Girl of Flower and Flame

Chapter Fourteen

Shoulders drooping, saddled by guilt, Eulalia clutched the reins until it branded her skin.

She was trying not to give herself away, but the maids hadn't noticed how quiet she'd become, not that they would've minded the change in her mood.

While she moped, Cosima and Everlid traded gossip on the latest comings and goings in the Bruma's court. Who'd been spotted with this faerie or that one, who'd worn a dress that was out of season, what maid had been caught stealing the silverware again.

It was little more than noise to her ears.

Her mind replayed the most heinous thoughts, how the elf had crumbled beneath her touch, a curse so wretched she couldn't stop picturing it. How she'd left him in the alleyway to be found by some poor soul.

Desperately, she turned her gaze upwards, searching the sky for some miraculous pardon. She took the scent of smoke in the air but saw no signs of a nearby fire. Doubtful, she shook her head and sniffed.

The smell vanished-a mind's trick, mocking her.

"Godly Father, if you're in this world, forgive me," she said. But could she forgive herself? No birds called out as they wandered past Gambol. Not a sparrow to be seen, least of all her grace flying in on white wings.

At Hampstead House, she had never even killed the cockroaches, the ants, or the mice that lay droppings in the cupboards. Her mother had made sure to instill in her the importance of faith and kindness, but in this new world was there truth to any of it?

Eulalia allowed the gentle sway of Brunhild to soothe her frayed spirit as her mama would have when she was a child.

It wasn't long before they arrived at the manor. It appeared in the distance, spires nearly brushing the cerulean morning sky, hard to miss since there was not much else around. They rode the reindeers all the way to the top of the cliffside, the sea sitting below like some forlorn creature, almost motionless, as if eased into stillness by the sun on its back. She envied its serenity. They took the same path to the stables, the reindeers' hooves fitting neatly in their former tracks. When they at last reached the stables, she dismounted Brunhild and led her into her stall, grateful to feel the ground beneath her feet once more.

"Thank you for getting me here safely," she said, stroking Brunhild's muzzle. "You're the kindest thing I've known here."

Brunhild eased into her touch, her warm breath condensed on the frosty air.

"Sweet, gentle beast," Eulalia cooed. "At least that makes one of us." After all she'd endured, the only thing on her mind was to shut herself away for some time if she could bear it. "I'll be seeing you again," she said to Brunhild before she stepped away.

Without a word to the maids, she marched for the one place that reminded her of her woods in Hills Hallow. Glamour or not, maybe she'd have a sit in the shade beneath one of its trees, as light filtered through its leaves, and listen to the birds sing their songs.

Maybe she'd even dip her fingers in the pond, let the water wash away her discomfort, to get the feel of the elf off her skin. Let her nerves settle. If she wanted to escape Mondegreen at all, she needed to be more cautious of these creatures.

"So that's it then?" said Everlid, stopping her as she reached the exit, her feet toeing the line outdoors. "You can't even thank us?"

At first, Eulalia was uncertain whether the question had been directed towards her. A brief glance over her shoulder answered the question. Everlid glowered, her sharpened gaze like daggers in Eulalia's back.

"I'm sorry, what?" Eulalia asked, bewildered.

"After all we've done for you, you can't even thank us?" said Everlid. "How could you be so ungrateful?"