Bathed in Moonlight by Forthright

Author:Forthright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Christa Joan Milbrandt Kinde
Published: 2021-10-21T17:33:05+00:00

Seeing to Comforts

Char hid. And he hated it. Even though the room was open and airy and supplied with a tiny round lake—called a bath—it was like being cooped up in the Queen’s castle all over again. Except this time, there were no chores to keep him busy. And … no company. The wolf who’d pledged so boldly to keep him safe was always gone, running wild with the rest of his kind.

“I do not like their noise,” he grumbled. “I cannot dance to noise.”

“Sister can help.” Cedar visited from time to time, usually with a plate of something interesting from the kitchen. “Will you let sister help?”

Dipping a toe into cool water and giving it a swirl, Char muttered, “Maybe.”

Moments later, Cedar’s sister bustled in, dropping a bundle of cords in the corner and sliding a fresh plate onto the windowsill. “Poor dear,” she sighed. “Speak up if you need more than what’s been provided.”

“I did not ask for anything,” he grumbled.

“Yet it is my solemn duty to make sure a guest is as comfortable as they can be.”

Char’s gaze remained fixed on the little green plate, which held something bread-ish and buttery.

The redhaired lady began plucking at the air, spinning threads of light into pretty patterns that thrummed with startling power. She asked, “Do you like savories as well as sweets?”

“Maybe.” Char hugged his knees to his chest. “What are you doing?”

“Giving you some more privacy.” She flashed a reassuring smile. “I already made the way to Rinloo’s door impossible for any other wolf to find. Now, I’ll turn down their racket, as well.”

Char shook his head. “Rinloo?”

“Your wolf.”

“He is not mine.”

“The wolf you trust is named Rinloo-dex Highwind. Didn’t he introduce himself?”

“He said he is a paltry wolf.”

She laughed. “Rinloo is too humble by far. He’s different, to be sure, but in pleasant ways. You chose well.”

Char thought that was going too far. He mumbled, “I did not choose.”

“Better?” she countered.

All at once, Char realized that he could no longer hear the endless din of speech and swell of wolfsong coming from below. “Did you banish the wolves?”

“I used sigilcraft to push away the sounds you do not like.”

He listened. And into the relative silence a bit of melody slipped. “I hear a wolf.”

“Is that so?” She smiled broadly. “Good. I’m satisfied with a job well done.”

Char pointed in the direction of the noise. “But there is a … a humming sort of noise coming from that way.”

“I didn’t think you’d mind keeping track of your wolf. That’s Rinloo.” She moved to the odd bundle she’d brought and announced, “One last amendment. I’ve never heard of imps needing sleep, but even Cedar rests from time to time.”

Still distracted by the snatches of melody carried on the wind, Char watched the lady shake out a net of woven cords. She found rings set into the wall, and after much tugging and tightening, she secured knots on a soft sort of … baskety thing.

“You shouldn’t risk the floor unless you wish to remain with us indefinitely.

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