PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

14. Oleander

"Caution"

The periapt of scrying invisibility is the most expensive thing Tuluvey has ever held in his hands. He inspects the charm hung around Sabina's neck, its magic swirling around his fingers like a winter fog. It's made of solid gold and has a crystal in the center with a sigil etched around it. It took all of their coin to buy it, as well as some begging, and donations from his hot pot friends (thank the Gods for them for helping with Sabina, too). The shopkeeper was unyielding in her price, but she certainly delivered.

"No one can find you now," Tuluvey assures her. He still feels guilty for not getting her one the moment she said she thought someone might look for her.

I should have put more faith in her.

Sabina tucks the talisman under her shirt so it's completely hidden. She looks as calm as he's ever seen her.

"I feel better," she says. "I didn't know just anyone could get one."

"I'm glad you feel better."

They wait in a nearby village for Sabina to recover from getting stabbed three times in the stomach by a child and having copious amounts of magic put into her nonmagical system. They return to Honeywallow once they deem it safe enough and stock up on more supplies, which includes more bandages. Tuluvey has to sacrifice many of his bracelets and beg some more to get anything now that they're broke, but after the last two fiascos, Tuluvey would rather be safe than sorry. Once they think they're ready, the two of them book it out of Honeywallow with a renewed vigor.

They set their direction and find a deer trail to walk along. Neither of them have a town in mind, just that they're set to head in the general direction of the Kingdom of Valdent. The trees start to get taller as they go, almost like they're going deeper into the ocean. Tuluvey sings to the flowers and teaches Sabina the names of things in Faerie as they go.

"Laf," he says. "Leaf."

"Laf," Sabina repeats.

Tuluvey giggles. "Laf."

"What?"

"You make the syllables sound so harsh. Soften your tongue. Laf."

Sabina sighs and tries again. Tuluvey tries not to laugh and his foot catches and he stumbles forward. Sabina's lightning reflexes allow her to catch him and pull him away from the giant hole in the ground.

I could have broken many things.

"Woah. Thank you. I didn't see it."

"How did you not see that? It's huge."

They stand on the edge of the hole and peer into the darkness. It looks like it goes further on like a proper tunnel, one made by a really big snake. Tuluvey would rather not see a really big snake and there's lots of snakes around this area. They saw a couple earlier, sunning themselves on rocks.

"I don't like that," he says. "Let's pretend we didn't see it."

"Looks like a thieves' tunnel," Sabina says. "There's lots of those around the hills of Shasan."

"Not so common around here. I'd say it's more like an animal hole."

He and Sabina go around the mysterious hole and Tuluvey doesn't give it a second thought.

"How do you tell someone to fuck off in Shasani?" he asks.

Sabina doesn't have to think about it. "Arak ze gavan tov. Let the wind blow you."