The Cursed

Chapter Nine

Lilura

We climb down a rope ladder on the side of the ship to a rickety wooden boat. The rocky shoe kept us far away from the shore leading to the Iris Kingdom. My skirts sway around my ankles, picked up by the breeze. My foot reaches the boat and I put my weight on it. Everette's arm grows my elbow, guiding me to a seat. I smile at him and look to the shore. I let a hum slip out from my lips and fill the air. I feel the gentle tug of the boat as Everette rows us to the rocky shore.

My fingertips drag in the water as I see fish look up at me. Their curious eyes scanning my fingers, wondering if they're food. I smile and begin to hum. Everette looks at me, his hair flopping over his forehead in his signature style. He winks before turning back to see where he rowed us.

"Dinner was lovely last night." Everette turns to me at my words.

"I must agree. Although your presence made the evening all the more sweeter." I feel a crimson blush creep up my cheeks and I turn to the water again. It feel like silver, as if the moon had dropped form the sky and bled into the seas.

We climb out of the boat onto planks of wood extending into the water. His boots make a small thud with every step he takes. My bare feet leave no trace I had even walked here. A breeze cools the humid air. A young man walks towards us, sword clanking against his side. He's dressed in a red uniform with golden buttons, a private guard. He reaches us quickly, for there is no haste in his steps. Even as he has a small plastered to his face, fear live sin his eyes. His gloved hand grabs mine and he presses his lips to the top of my hand. I giggle as Everette scowls.

"Lady Lilura Oroitz , Captain Everette Ravenblood , I am to accompany you until Lord Alan can take you to Madam Chaska." I nod as he turns and leads us to a simple black carriage. We follow him after his brief words. Alan is on the ship and will not leave until later tonight. He did not tell me why, he merely said he had business to attend to. 

The carriage ride is long and dull. The guard hasn't spoken any more words since our initial meeting. Everette is staring out the window at the passing trees. After an hour of the bumpy road, my stomach starts to grumble.

"Will we stopping for lunch?" Everette pulled his head away from the view of the woods.

"No, I'm afraid not. We must get to the inn before nightfall." I nod and we both turn to our windows. Several more minutes pass in silence.

"Wot do you mind telling me about the butterflies?" The silence shattered around us and the air turned cold. It could cling to us and form frost on our fingers and noses.

"As I said, I will be telling you after we see the witch." I knew not to question it further.

"Yes My Captain." I couldn't help but sneer at him. Him and all his secrets. I quickly giggle to cover it. He turns away and my fingernails find themselves in my hand. We turn away form each other as yet another silence fills the carriage.

The bumpiness of the road, the clip-clipping of horse hooves lulls me into a gentle trance as I watch the trees pass by. The day turns to night as we continue trekking to the inn where we meet Ferox.

Finally, when the moon has fully risen we roll to a stop. I look out of the window, my face pressed against the cool glass. My eyes scan our surroundings taking in the new sights. We're surrounded by trees, a cobblestone road under our feet. There's a single building that has nearly ten floors. Each stacked upon the other quite clumsily. It looks as if one blow from the wind in the seas and the inn would tumble to the ground.

"Lilura, we must exit the carriage," Everette says. He's standing on the ground, looking in at me through the door. His arm is held aloft for me as I grab it and take the steps out of the too small carriage. I skip to the other side of the carriage to get a closer look at this building. Perhaps witches are helping it stand with magic. That is ridiculous, witches don't help, without a price and a steep one at that. And if the building was any clue, they could not afford the help of a witch.

"Are you ready?" The guard from early speaks and I spin to face him, startled.

"Oh yes," I giggle. We walk towards the door leading to the inn. It's a worn pale blue, the paint chipping at the corners. The handle has been touched so much it's turning a metallic bronze. The guard opens the door and the scent of apples, baked goods, and something old and unforgettable, except I can't place where I know the smell from.

"Welcome, how may I—" a croak of a voice calls or before stopping. I scan the empty room and see an short man. His hair is white and lines etch his face. His eyes are focused on me, and my heart stops beating. I know him.

"Lilura?"

"Sam?" The name springs from my lips as a memory clicks into place. This inn. I would work here, I'm not sure what I did, but Sam, the innkeeper, was so nice to me. He gave me a job when no one else would. His kind eyes lighting up anyone stepped door in his inn. He served everyone as if they were royalty.

"Lilura, what are you doing here? You can't be here, the Que-"

"Thanks Sam. We will have our rooms now." Everette's voice cuts through Sam's. The old man hobbles towards me, and I'm frozen. The ice creeps down my legs and holds me to the floor. Sam reaches me and pulls me into a tight hug. It's warm and familiar. I savor the love and generosity that has its arms cradled around me. Everette clears his throat and I step away, the hug having thawed my feet.

"Hush Everette, let Sam speak, then we can go." I paint a smile on and look to the two men. Everette stands back, a scowl etched in his face while Sam looks concerned. His eyebrows king together as his eyes skirt front the door and windows. I smile, tiling my head.

"If the prin- Everette wishes me to not tell you, I must. I'm sorry, Lilura. But be careful, promise me." I nod, but I feel his words were not meant for me. Everette's still scowling and His appears at my side, grabbing my elbow. His lips brush my ear, and I let out a heart giggle.

"We must go to our room to wait to Alan." I giggle and tilt my head away from me, so I'm now looking into his eyes. The clouds in them are dark and look full of rain. His eyes linger on me. Studying my face. They lazily trail from my hair, tangled with travel, to my eyes and my lips. They linger longer than necessary and a blush creeps up my cheeks. I giggle and Everette quickly looks back at my eyes.

"Where is our room?" His voice calls to Sam, to whom he spins to face.

"Room 391, Everette-"

"I know Sam. Trust me." I huff, crossing my arms. After the witch, after the witch, after the witch, the words strum through my head. After the witch Everette will tell me everything.

Hello, unfortunately, this is not a happy author's note. I realize not many people have actually been reading my work. Because of this, I'm sorry to say, I won't be updating until more people are reading. If you reading, please please please comment and message me and I will update. Thank you! But from my account there doesn't look like anyone reading. I'm really sorry, but I will be updating once I reach a few more reads. Thank you for understanding! Enjoy 2020!