Page 66 of Anywhere

“Does she mean when the two of you went to check on the village?” Mari asked Rhys.

“Aye, I tink she does.” Rhys turned his attention to me. “Da ya mean the village dat was all burned ta da ground, people an all?”

“Aye,”

“Naw, we no burn da village,” Rhys said.

“Naw, ya lie. Me saw ya. Furder down da road, in a car jus like ya left wit. The place were ablaze, and all da people screamin’.”

Rhys’s face darkened. “Anotha?” He ran his hand through his hair and stood. “Dis is no good. Why am I no hearin’ about any of dis? Where be da scouts dat keep an eye on all the happenin’s?”

Mari shrugged. “I dinnie know. Da has no said anythin’ ta me.”

“I din’t tink he knows. He woulda said if he did, but dat means da scouts either be dead, or they be turn coats. Neither be a good situation,” Rhys said.

I watched the two of them interact. There was something in the stares that said they fancied one another. Rook didn’t seem to like it. He was casually leaning on the bars, but his gaze was fixed on the other two like one would watch a small child.

“Do ya know what direction from da first village ya travelled?” Rhys asked, his attention returning to me.

I sat a little straighter. “Me could showz ya.”

Rhys smiled, and it was warm, like sitting by a crackling fire while you were wrapped up in a thick cloak.

“I’ma sorry, but ya cannie leave until ya know why Rook brought ya here, an why it is dat yer drawn ta us. Ya can try an’ deny it, but ya felt something. Dat be why ya tracked us down.” He motioned his hand between himself, Rook, and me. “Ya did come searchin, ya?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. He knew more about what happened to me than I knew myself. “Aye, me was searchin’ for da source of da sadness and pain.” I rubbed over my heart, and Rhys’s face filled with concern.

I couldn’t deny it, even if I wanted to keep that information to myself. The sensation had disappeared from being in this room, but it had been pain I followed that led me straight to Rook like a beacon. There was some sort of magic involved, and if I had any hope of getting out of this, I needed to understand.

Rhys opened the door and stepped out, locking it behind him. I had this strange urge to ask him not to leave. His presence was peaceful, while Rook tied my stomach in knots.

“Da village be to da side of da settin’ sun and a half day walk from da otha village.”

“Tank ya, Elewyen. Mari, will ya come wit me to see if we cannie find da village she be mentionin’?”

Mari’s eyes lit up the moment he addressed her. “Of course.”

I wasn’t sure I liked that. There was no reason not to like it, but again, the weird aura they had was doing things to my mind.

“What am I supposed to do?” Rook asked. He looked the same kind of angry as when I attacked him. “I should be coming with you instead.”

Rhys shook his head at Rook before looking at me. “Elewyen, I be sorry, but I’ma gonna go for now. I need ta find the village ya mentioned. I swear ta ya dat we didn’ burn it down.” He pointed at Rook with his thumb. “Neitha did he. I’ma gonna leave ‘im here wit ya. I tink ya be needin’ ta have a wee chat.”

“What? Did you not hear me say she tried to stab me in the face with a knife?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

I only caught every third word or so that he said. His accent was thick and fast. I lived here my whole life. Were there lots more people out there? Did they all dress and talk like him? Were there more metal birds? And what else did they have that was different from here? I knew it was dangerous, but I couldn’t help the little bubble of excitement at learning something new.

“Can I speak ta ya out in da hall fir a moment?” Rhys asked.

He walked out with Mari close behind. Rook muttered something under his breath before he followed them out and closed the door. I was once more alone except for Barry, who happily cleaned up the last of the nuts and seeds.

“Ya sav any fir me?” I asked.

Barry looked up at me with his big, dark eyes, and his nose twitched as he looked between the spot where the seeds had been and then back up at me.

“Dinne be given me dat look. Ya know where da nuts wen’.”

Barry climbed onto my shoulder just as the door opened, and Rook came back in alone. Whatever was said calmed him some. He didn’t look so angry. Gripping the bars, he stared in at me.