Our game concluded half an hour later with a narrow victory for Marten and Hana. While I helped them quietly move the furniture back into place, Lia helped Elise extricate herself from beneath Marin; the girl had fallen asleep, tipped sideways against Elise, and was currently snoring softly with her head in Elise’s lap. When Lia attempted to rouse her, Marin pawed the helping hand away. “No, s’fine. I’ll...sleep here,” she mumbled, nestling her head closer to Elise’s stomach.
“Poor girl can’t handle her wine,” Elise remarked, watching her through heavily lidded eyes. “You can take her to bed; I’ll sleep here for the night.”
Lia nodded. “I’ll grab you a pillow and some blankets after I—”
“You don’t hafta sleep here,” Marin protested suddenly. “Just sleep with me!”
Elise’s lips curled into a slow smile. “Thank you, dear, but I think you’ll be more comfortable by yourself, in your own bed.”
She shook her head. “No, I’d be more comfy if you—”
Her counter offer was cut off as Lia scooped her out of Elise’s lap. “Time for bed, Marin,” she said as she turned and carried the inebriated girl away.
“Nooo,” Marin moaned helplessly as they rounded the corner, “nooo, take me back.” Her lamentations faded as I heard her bedroom door open and shut.
“She’s a sweet girl,” Elise said softly as we watched them go. “Marten did good finding her.”
“Yeah, I think they’ll work well together,” I agreed, moving to the nearby hall closet to grab an extra pillow and blankets. “You know, she admires you quite a bit.”
“That’s one word for it,” she grinned, accepting the sleeping accoutrements. “I’m sure her, erm, fixation, will move on soon enough.” She slumped over onto the couch and unfolded the blankets just enough to cover down to her knees. “I can’t say I mind too much, though. The way she looks at me, it’s...different, than the way most men do. It makes me feel young again.”
I smiled awkwardly, taken completely off guard by the sudden rush of personal information. “Do you need anything else? Another pillow, some water maybe?”
“No, I’m quite alright. Thank you, dear.” She let out a loud yawn before settling into her spot on the couch. “Now, if I’m to have any chance of meeting Bella at sunrise, I need to get to sleep.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then,” I nodded, grateful for the excuse to make my exit.
“Lux, wait,” she asked suddenly, grabbing unsuccessfully at my sleeve. “I need to thank you, properly.”
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all. No need to wait for Lia to get back for your blankets; she might be a while in there.”
“No, not that.”
I furrowed my brow for a moment, then snapped my fingers as the recognition came. “I can’t promise what we’ll find on the road, but I can say that we’ll get to the bottom of whatever—”
“No, no,” she laughed, “not that either. For Marly.”
My eyes squinted as I puzzled over what she could mean, then shrugged as I came up empty. “I’m afraid you’ve lost me, Ellie.”
“I was always so afraid that Marly would end up alone, living with her parents forever. Thank you for making sure that didn’t happen.”
“That’s not fair, Elise,” I said firmly. “Lia is a wonderful girl. Anybody would be lucky to have her. I just got lucky, is all.”
She smiled. “That’s just it, dear. Marly was far too good for the men back in Yoria, and she knew it. Given the choice, she would have stayed alone forever rather than settle for anything less than she deserved.” She took my hand and gave it a soft pat. “So thank you for making sure that didn’t happen.”
My cheeks burned as I looked away. “I, uh, I’m not sure what to say.”
“Say ‘you’re welcome, Elise.’”
“You’re welcome, Elise.”
“Good,” she said with satisfaction, slumping back down onto the couch. “Now, put out that lamp and let me sleep.”
Still flustered, I stood and did as I was told without question, turning out the lamp that hung in the corner of the room. The door to Marin’s room opened as I passed by, and Lia exited before closing the door behind her. “She’s about as settled as she can be in her state,” she quipped softly.
I chuckled as I was reminded of Lia’s similar experience during our stay at the Council Chambers. “I helped Elise get situated as well. I don’t imagine either of them will be pleased to wake up at sunrise.” I put out the final hallway lamp as we walked to our room and quickly prepared for bed ourselves.
“I’m not sure I’ll get any sleep tonight,” Lia remarked as we slid beneath the sheets.
“Well, you’d better try; we’ll be sleeping on the road again starting tomorrow,” I teased.
She groaned and took a moment to readjust herself into a more comfortable position. “At least we don’t have to watch our backs the whole time.” I turned out the lamp and put an arm around her waist. “Our first adventure on our own terms,” she sighed dreamily.
“The first of many,” I reminded her. She gave my hand a light squeeze of acknowledgement, and we both drifted off to sleep.
---
Hana roused us just before dawn. I was surprised to find both Marin and Elise awake as well, though the former looked much worse off than the latter; Elise was smiling and composed as she ate breakfast with Marten, while Marin leaned heavily against the kitchen wall, her hair particularly frizzy and disheveled. Lia moved to her side and quietly attempted to teach her how to lessen her nausea through meditation while I fetched our breakfast. After the light meal was finished, we all filed outside to find Bella and her carriage already waiting.
We said our quick and well-practiced goodbyes to Lia’s parents and Marin, then joined Elise in the back of her carriage. She had insisted we join her
