✿ The Splintering ✿

✿ chapter eleven ✿

There was something different about this world. Unlike the lush forests of the Neitherlands, or the cute village of the Nirin portal. Something familiar. I felt at home through the door we had come through. And it appeared Q knew what he was doing. I guess I had never thought about it, where he went when I was back home. He must've had plenty of time to explore every crevice of the Neitherlands. The portal had dumped us out at the edge of a forest and onto a dusty trail, covered in foot prints and hoof prints. Q lead us down the trail, past small villages, and wagons pulled by horses. We stopped at a tavern. One that looked like it had been plucked from the screen of some medieval show. The roof was dilapidated from years of rainfall, and the windows had been boarded with planks of wood to keep out the chill of the wind I felt picking up from the West.

"What is this place?" I asked once we had been seated at a lopsided table in the corner of the busy and dimly lit tavern.

"Only the best mead you'll ever taste," Q said. I watched as he looked around, and once he caught the eye of a young girl, he waved his hand. "Anais," He beckoned and the fire-haired girl with skin as pale as the full moon happily glided across the room.

"It's been awhile," She said. "The regular?"

"Two," He tilted his head towards me. I could feel the weight of my body grow as I slid further down on the uncomfortable wooden chair.

"You've brought a guest," The girl extended her hand to me.

"I'm Juniper," My voice came out as a hushed whisper, barely escaping the ruckus of the tables filled with unruly and drunk men. I remembered clearly what had happened the first time I met one of Q's friend, and I knew it was in my best interest to avoid another conflict.

"Your family will be happy to see you," Anais turned away from me and tucked her hands in the front of her stained apron. Q had never mentioned his family, which wasn't entirely surprising considering he didn't mention much of anything when it came to his past.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't mention seeing me," Q gently placed his hand on Anais's forearm.

"Still not speaking to them?" She asked. Q glanced back to me, his brows furrowed.

"Two of the regular," Q said in a stern tone, which was and odd thing coming from him since I had never heard him without his character soothing voice. Anais got the hint that he didn't want to speak about such things, and walked away to fetch whatever it was that his regular order was. We were both silent for a few moments. Was it okay to ask him about his family? I realized we had never talked about him or his life. He must've come from somewhere. He wasn't just born to be my snarky guide. Maybe some things were better left unsaid, and I know better than most that family talks should be left in the dark. But I needed to know. If not because I cared for him, simply because we were on a journey together and I should know something about him. Right?

"Your family lives here?" I asked but left no time for him to even breath. "Isn't it a little early in our relationship for me to be meeting the parents?" I joked, hoping to lighten the mood so he knew it was alright to not answer. I hoped he didn't think I was being pushy. Truth is, I could care less if I knew who his parents were or where he was born. I trusted him already, which was impressive since it usually took a lot more for be to give my trust to someone.

"I don't think you'd very much like to meet them," Q twisted a golden token on the top of the table. Had that been there a moment again? I didn't see him reach into his pocket to retrieve it. Weird.

"I doubt that," I said. "Parents love me,"

"Theres no question about them liking you. It's whether I want to subject you to their presence, which I don't," He glanced up from the coin only to wordlessly thank Anais who placed two glasses of dark brown liquid in front of us. This must've been whatever mead was.