Gardener

Chapter 14

Jisu's Gift

I left Jenae curled into the warmth I left behind, existing her quarters to find two Guards manning the door. I tipped my head in respect before going off to find one of my fellow Gardeners. I found myself not surprised at all when Kalini happened upon me first. She never could resist a bite to eat.

"You're awake?" She exclaimed dropping the pastry in her hand in favor of giving me a hug.

I hugged her back just as firmly resting my head atop hers chuckling softly as she hummed against me. "Yes I woke earlier but still felt drained so I slept a bit more. When did you wake up?"

Kalini pulled away gently tracing her finger over the stitches still marring my brow, when she pulled away the little bit of cloth holding my skin together came too and I sighed as the small ache that I hadn't even realized I'd felt until it was gone, left me. "It has been bothering me since yesterday morning." Kalini explained with a shrug. "And I woke not too long ago, well rested and ravenous."

"I'd forgotten about it to be honest or else I'd have healed it myself, and I'm glad I found you even if you weren't the Gardener I was looking for you'll be able to help me find him much quicker seeing as you two are together more often than not..."

"You're looking for Ryu?" She questioned before I even had the chance to supply his name.

I smiled, it was no wonder people often mistook them for a couple, they knew each other like the back of their own hand. "Yes her Majesty will be having a...meeting of sorts this evening and I need to talk to him before hand to iron out some key details."

"I get the feeling you're not telling me everything," Kalini chuckled, "But that's nothing new. You'll tell me in time or I'll figure it out on my own. I haven't seen Ryu round the palace. Dara has issued a day of rest for the lot of us...it makes me a little antsy to think that not a one of us is in the gardens, but she's the boss." She tried to shrug off her unease, "I'd think since he's not on the palace grounds that he's out in the city of Anear either frequenting the Green Sprout catching up with old friends or at Jisu's Inn entertaining the children of passing merchants." Kalini slapped me on the shoulder before picking up her pastry. "Either way you're headed into Anear without me sadly I've been ordered to not leave the palace...Not that I'm complaining." She hummed her delight at the delicious sweet while I shook my head and went in search of my brother... I'd need my horse and no one took a horse from Baem's stables without his say so not even the Queen. It was a security precaution that no one minded at all. How could you if even the Queen abided by the rules.

After a small argument about my wellbeing Baem let me take Lily for a ride in the city, though he grumbled about stubbornness as I rode out I ignored him. If I hadn't needed to find Ryu I'd have stayed in the palace, the city of Anear was a big place and I had never much enjoyed exploring. I checked the Green Sprout first, if you were a plant mage and needed some help, information or just wanted to see a friendly face this was the place to go. I had hoped that I would find Ryu here, ending my search for the big lug but I had no such luck.

I took a deep breath before mounting my horse, "Lily," I murmured leaning against her strong neck stomach aching suddenly as nerves set in. "Do you think she remembers?" I breathed heavily closing my eyes as nervous sweat beaded on my brow. "It's been five years; I was young perhaps she's forgotten my face." I mumbled into her mane trying to convince myself more than anything else.

Jisu... I hoped it wasn't the same woman I remembered, more than one woman carried that name surely it was just a strange coincidence. I grimaced thinking it very unlikely, I had learned that more often than not fortune was not with me. Goddess why did the past have to catch up with me now? I received no answer, but I hadn't expected one.