Page 65 of A Tale of Mirth & Magic

“What—what are you doing here?” I returned her tight, quick hug, bending down to her shorter human height.

She gave me a bemused glance before flagging down the innkeeper from across the bar. “Looking for you, of course.”

“But… why? Oh no—is everyone all right? What happened?”

“Everyone’s fine, fine. No, I want to know what happened to you,” she said, then paused, eyes tracking across my face and likely bloodshot eyes. “But first—I know you don’t often drink, Bar, but let me get you something. You look terrible.”

“Wow, thanks,” I grumbled under my breath. Telen truly had no filter. But I didn’t protest as she got two hot toddies and led us to a quiet table in the corner.

“Now sit,” my sister said, placing a massive, steaming tankard in my hands, “and tell me why I found you here, days away from where we thought you were going on business, looking like someone just cut down all the flowers in your precious front garden.”

I stared into the amber depths of my tankard, not knowing where to start. The spiced lemon-honey scent lifted to my nose, the heat of the mug a welcome comfort. Telen waited patiently, sipping at her own hot toddy and watching me as she played with one of the short braids that framed her face.

In starts and stops, I began to recount what happened. I told her everything, from the charged encounter between Elikki and Felsith in the market, ending with her breaking his wrist, to the mass fight that we kind of accidentally started in the bar later, when I broke his other wrist. I explained our flight from the town, how I pretended to El that I had business in Old Orchard, our tumultuous and exciting journey, the bounty hunters, falling for her, and the blissful days we’d had together here.

Choking out some of the words, I told her about everything that had happened tonight. How I’d messed up. How she’d run away from me, and she was going to leave town tomorrow. At some point Telen had taken my hand, or I’d taken hers, and she held on with her firm, steady grip, strong from years of apprenticing with Ma Reese in the forge.

When I finally finished, we sat together in silence. I felt raw, empty. Though it also felt good, somehow, to get it all out. I slumped back in my seat, wiping my face again with the handkerchief Telen passed me.

She had finished her drink while I talked, and now reached over for mine, still untouched on the table. She took a long swallow, then leaned back too and said, “Well, why don’t you go with her?”

“… what?”

Fixing me with her look—the one that said don’t act dumb, dummy—she said again, “Why. Don’t you. Go with. Her. This Elikki woman—if she can’t come back with you, why not travel with her?”

My brain whirred. “I can’t… I can’t just set off… traveling, for—for who knows how long! I have all of you at home. Our mas, and Monty, Sassura. And our family business. I need to be there to do the books, do the orders, keep things run—why do you keep shaking your head?”

Telen barked out a laugh and said, “Bar, I love you, but we’re not exactly going to fall apart if you leave. I know how to do the books. You taught me yourself. I already handle them when you’re out of town on customer trips. We’d be fine.”

“But—I have a house. The garden. My—my plants.”

She shrugged. “I’ll stay there if you want, in the spare room. Keep an eye on things. I’ve been meaning to find my own place and move out of our mas’ anyway. And I bet Ma Wren would be happy to help with the garden. Will keep her from fussing over Monty and the pregnancy.” She snorted, taking another gulp of my hot toddy. “Goddess knows she needs a new project, or Monty is going to combust from the overattention one of these days.”

“I can’t ask you all to do that. I should be there, taking care of you too. Monty’s baby is coming in a few months. I wouldn’t see Sassura off for her next performing season. I’m already going to be so behind on work as it is…”

Telen just said, “The girls will understand. Our mas will too. Stop trying to come up with excuses, Bar.” Softly, she added, “We’ve watched you be unhappy for so long. Giving up on love when it’s something you’ve always wanted—throwing yourself into work and pointless tasks—it’s been hard for me, for all of us, to see you drawing in on yourself these past years.”

I closed my eyes, letting my head fall back on the wall behind me. Tried to let myself picture it, what the reality of what she suggested would look like. Traveling with El. Leaving my home behind.

Somehow, the idea didn’t scare me. It didn’t feel like a sacrifice. I just couldn’t believe it hadn’t even occurred to me. I was so sure that after a life of no real home, no real family, this was something substantial that I could offer her. That she’d want stability, comfort, and a place of her own because that’s what I knew and I understood.

And when she said it wasn’t what she wanted, I didn’t bother to fight for her. I just let her walk away.

Releasing a long sigh, I said, “I doubt El would even want me to go with her now. She probably never wants to see me again.”

“If that were true, I doubt she’d have asked you to come see her at the market tomorrow morning. Besides—if there’s even a slight chance that she’d accept, don’t you have to at least try? I certainly will never forgive you if you come back to Nepu with me without talking to her.” At that, Telen drained the last of the hot toddy and burped lightly in my face.

Waving the stink away with a grimace, I said, “I suppose you’re right. Disgusting, but right.”

“I always am,” she said with a smile, then stood, stretching out limbs tight from the long day’s ride. “I have more to tell you about my journey, but I’m exhausted. Going to get a room here. Meet in the morning for breakfast?”

“Yes, but early. At dawn. El said she was going to try and get to the market as soon as possible tomorrow, to get a good spot.”

“All right, all right. Night, little brother.” She yawned.

“Good night,” I said. “And Telen—thank you.”

She waved me off and went in search of the innkeeper. I headed up to my room, head spinning with everything I’d realized tonight. Going over and over my plans for what to say to El when I saw her.