Come Winter's End: Fairy Fire Book #1

~ 𝑪𝒉. 19 𝑪𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑷𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒓 & 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒔~

Place: Miri's apartment, Emberfrost Castle, Timberest, Siog Rioght.
Date: Nollaig 5th, 12:02 p.m.

West and Miri landed back in her room. West started a fire as Miri set Riku down on the bed. He purred as she covered him with the blanket. The fairy drew the curtains so the boy would sleep soundly.

"He sure does sleep soundly.. and a lot," West smiled

"He's just a baby, and I think the dress shop tired him out. Between the fabrics and the scare", she said.

"And helping Parlin harass us. Those two were sure enjoying themselves haha," West smiled then blushed, remembering what they were harassing them about.

Suddenly there was a thud from behind the door. They looked to see the knob turning slowly. The prince grabbed Miri's arm and pulled her behind the door. She put a shield around them and the sleeping Riku.

it crept open the dark hallway light filling the room. footsteps eased inside. The prince stayed between the fairy and the intruder.

the tall shadow stopped for a moment. then continued at a slow pace.

Miri used air magic to move the ottoman into the shadow's path.
"ow ow Ay dios.," it whispered loudly.

West quickly lunged and grabbed the pained figure. being sure to cover its mouth so it didn't scream and wake Riku. The prince slammed the unknown man to the floor hard, pinning his chest under his knee. ''Who are you.'' The Bercelo demanded.

Miri hurried over and opened her hand offering a light. She grimaced
"Let him up, let him up," she said quietly and frantically.

West looked confused. until she moved her hand closer to the perpetrator's face.

"Oooooh," he mouthed as he made the same face she had.

There lying unconscious on the floor was Escher, candlestick in hand.

"Princesa, I think I broke Essi" West said as he tapped his fingertips together.

She winced and nodded yes.

'Help me get him up?" he asked her

She helped set him up and West carried him into the living room laying him down on the couch.

"Can you fix him?" a very concerned prince asked.

"Let me check him out," the fairy said as she started to scan him.

West stood behind the couch. "If not, we will tell everyone he died valiantly, protecting his prince with life. That will make him a hero. His tombstone will read here lies Escher Di Gabrielle, valiant hero who died saving his beloved prince. "That sounds good, doesn't it? Right?"

Miri looked up from her scan. "Oh boy" she shook her head.

Raising her left hand she put a healing bubble over Essi. It glowed brightly and Escher took a deep gasping a breath. He sat up quickly then fell back onto the throw pillows. "What happened?" he asked.

"That depends, what's the last thing you remember?" West questioned him.

"I don't know, but did anyone see what type of dragon dropped down on me. Ohhh Dios my head" he winced holding his temples.

"Yeahhh, a dragon that's it. It was a dragon, a big one" The prince looked at him to see if the sage was buying it.

Miri scowled at him. She got up and went to get a cool damp cloth for Essi's head.