Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

R osa hid in the leafy foliage of the greenhouse and took ten deep breaths of the warm, moist air. She shouldn't have yelled at Eldon, but he needed to snap out of his own pity party. Magic flicked at her fingertips, and she rubbed her hands, causing it to sink back down.

"Rosa? Are you in here?" Balthasar stood on the dirty pavers.

He's going to ruin his shoes , Rosa thought numbly.

"How did you find me?"

"You always end up in here or the library when you need to think," Balthasar said, sitting down on a stone bench. He made no move to comfort her, respecting her boundaries as always.

"Did Vera tell you I yelled at Eldon?" Rosa hugged her arms around herself.

"She didn't have to. The whole mansion heard you yelling at Eldon."

"He deserved it," she growled.

"I'm not arguing with you. I know that you care about him, and I know that something had set you off long before he stepped into the kitchen," Balthasar replied.

Rosa paced about, kicking at the few uneven pavers with her gumboots. "I went to check on him and Nimue this morning. He healed a lot more than an arrow wound last night."

Balthasar frowned. "Eli told me. This is a good thing. We know we can trust her, and the queen no longer has her claws in her. You don't think she still harbors animosity towards you?"

"No! Of course not."

"Then what's wrong, Rosa?"

"I helped her undress for the shower because her body is still healing," Rosa replied, her arms tightening around her. "I helped her the other day if you remember when she was released out of the cells and the queen was still in her head. Her skin and body were perfect, like not a mark or a freckle, nothing." Rosa started pacing again, unable to get the words out.

"Just tell me, Rosa," Balthasar said softly.

"When I helped her this morning, she was…covered in scars. I mean covered , Bal. She'd said the queen had tortured her, but she'd been so disconnected when telling that story to Eli. I don't know anything about torture, Bal, but she's been b-burned, and I think whipped up." Rosa pushed the hair out of her face and tried to stop the tears in the back of her throat.

"I touched one of her scars, and I saw her begging Ryn to save her, and the fucker did nothing. He just stood there. What kind of person, a father, stands there and lets that happen to their own blood? I thought that Nimue would hate me for killing Ryn, but she is relieved that I did. How could…"

Rosa didn't have to finish as Balthasar's arms came around her. She turned to him, burying her face in the groove of his shoulder. The pain in her chest eased as he kissed the top of her head, his warmth seeping into her and making her feel safe again.

The queen had been horrible to her, but her stint in the Faerie court could've been so much worse. She had insulted the queen on a far greater level than Nimue had. What would the queen do to her if she managed to capture her again?

Balthasar sighed. "My dear Rosa, I forget how new you are to this world sometimes. You'll see more beauty and wonder in this life, but also the greatest violence and cruelty. I can't shield you from it as much as I would like to. I can promise that I'll do everything in my power to protect you from the queen. I risked the wrath of both worlds to get you back the first time, so don't think for a moment I wouldn't do it again."

Rosa lifted her head to kiss his jaw. "It's one of the many reasons I love you, Balthasar Vane."

He brushed a stray curl behind her ear. "Many reasons…I like that. You still haven't told me why you yelled at Eldon."

"I yelled at him because he's a sulky git. He has no idea what Nimue's gone through because of him. I get that he's got his hurts, but if he knew what the queen made her suffer because she protected him, he wouldn't be so quick to judge."

"He needs to see it for himself, Rosa. It's between them."

"Nimue won't show him, and she feels worthless in his eyes. You don't get this because you're a man, but women worry about their bodies. I know it sounds stupid to you, but Nimue has always been known for her beauty. It's the one thing that the legends got right. She already thinks Eldon hates her, and she's going to hide her ruined beauty from him as much as she can."

"You don't seem too concerned about all of my scars," Balthasar pointed out.

"You're a warrior. For you, they are a mark of all the battles you've won. You weren't tortured because you were more beautiful than the queen."

"You think Eldon is shallow enough to care?"

"Of course not, but Nimue doesn't want to be pitied. Eldon might never love her again, and he certainly isn't the same man she fell in love with, but she has a right to protect the memory he has of her before the queen broke her."

"I know you are angry at him, but Eldon is only projecting his own hurt and failures. I know, I know, he shouldn't, but immortals are just as ridiculous as humans when it comes to emotions and matters of the heart. Eldon isn't stupid. He'll come around, and you gave him the wakeup call that no one else could give him," Balthasar replied.

"He can stay as angry at himself as he likes, but I won't let him take it out on her anymore."

"You seem very protective of someone that you were threatening to bake into a pie," he teased, and Rosa poked him in the ribs.

"Call it a girl code. She's a different person without having the Bitch Queen whispering in her head. There is no way I could feel threatened by her, especially with you. Eldon might not be the same man anymore, but he's the only one she thinks about."

"He might be a sulky git, but he isn't a total idiot," Balthasar admitted. "He will figure it out. Now, I have some other news for you."

Rosa gripped his coat tighter. "I don't like the sound of this."

"It's okay, Rosa," Balthasar laughed. "I just got off a call with Vincenzo. He heard about the attacks, and he's coming to Gwaed Lyn. I don't think he likes being outdone by Zalan."

"Really? Wow. All three Unseelie brothers together. Are we sure this is going to be a good thing?"

"Probably not, but it means more warriors to protect you. The queen won't stay gone for long. That last little raiding party was to assess what kind of strength we have. She has the entire Aos Si she can command to take up arms against us whether they are warriors or not. Lily is going to stay in Italy to protect Vincenzo's kingdom, and Saul is coordinating the Southerners with the help of Zalan's generals."

"The sooner Eli kills this witch, the better everyone is going to be," Rosa said.

"Time is already doing that. We only need to wait her out. Although I would like to face her in battle myself." Balthasar's grin was vicious.

"You and me both. I suppose I had better go and apologize to my teacher."

"Or find a new one. I'm sure Nimue could show you a few tricks. The way Eli tells it, she and Deryn could run circles around Eldon."

Rosa couldn't help but laugh. "I'd like to see that."

"Go to her." Balthasar lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "She needs a friend."

Rosa brought her lips to his, delighting in the way his stubble prickled against her in a combination of soft and sharp. "You're a wise and sexy man. If I were less of a woman, I'd have you naked on that bench right now."

"Is that so?"

"Without a doubt," Rosa said with a devious smirk.

He released her and gave her a gentle shove. "Go, Wylt, before I change my mind," he said, his dark eyes filled with promise.

It was late in the afternoon when Eldon left the lakeside and trudged his way back to the cottage. His hand rested on the gate when he stilled at a sound he hadn't heard in centuries. Nimue was laughing so hard that she was almost choking. Rosa's loud protestations carried over the hedge, and Eldon couldn't help but smile despite her cutting him down to size hours beforehand.

"You need to concentrate," Nimue said. "Focus on the dormant life under the earth. Feel the seeds wanting to blossom. Slowly, try not to explode the garden this time."

"I'll explode you!" Rosa threatened.

"I doubt that you can't even get a pea plant to grow."

Eldon opened the gate as Rosa's hands started to glow pink. The magic vanished as soon as she spotted him.

"By all means, don't let me interrupt you," he said, taking out his tobacco pouch and rolling a cigarette.

Nimue sat on a bench, wrapped in a thick, knitted shawl, her hair the brightest thing in the dull grey garden. Rosa caught him watching Nimue, and a smug grin that Eldon didn't like spread across her lips.

"If you have any words of wisdom to add, Teach, now would be the time," she said as she flexed her dirt-stained fingers.

"My advice is to listen to Nimue," he said, earning him an eye roll from Rosa and the smallest of smiles from Nimue.

It's a start, he thought, surprising himself.

Rosa exhaled loudly before turning back to the wet earth. Eldon lit his cigarette and tried to act as if the scene wasn't filling his mind of his mother and Nimue. Deryn had taught Nimue the magic she was now trying to teach to Rosa. It was a simple sort of peasant magic, but it was still beautiful to watch. Deryn knew what it was like to be hungry during a long winter, and it was some of the first magic she had created to help the farmers in the area. The Lady of the Lake would never allow her people to starve.

Eldon caught Nimue's eye over the top of Rosa's dark hair, and they shared a knowing look, both caught up in memories of the woman that was a mother to both of them.

"This is stupid," Rosa huffed when nothing happened.

"You don't want to be able to grow your own ingredients whenever you want?" Eldon asked. "Use your passion to guide you, Rhosyn. Deryn wanted to have food for her people. Caring for them motivated her the way creative cooking motivates you. Use that desire and try again."

Rosa put her hand back into the dirt and shut her eyes. After a moment, a wicked smile crossed her face, and her magic flared. Eldon started to laugh loudly as Rosa produced a loaf of muddy bread from the ground.

"Damn it! I wanted rosemary to make the stupid bread." She picked up the soggy mess and hurled it at him. "Stop laughing, Blaise!" He dodged the failed experiment, and it splattered across the paving stones making Eldon and Nimue laugh harder.

"I hate you both," Rosa said getting to her feet. "My hands are freezing. I'm going to get cleaned up."

Eldon opened the door for her as she went inside, muttering.

"She's a lot better than she thinks," Nimue commented. "You have done well to advance her skills so quickly."

"She loves magic. It's like all her dreams have come true, and she approaches learning it with childlike enthusiasm," Eldon replied.

Nimue laughed again. "And childlike tantrums when she fails."

"That too. Give her a few days, and she'll have it mastered." Eldon looked at her. "How are you feeling?"

"A little sore and drained, but I'm sure it will pass soon. I'll move back to the mansion tonight and get out of your way," she said, straightening her shawl in an effort to conceal her arms.

"About that. I talked with Eli and Zalan, and they believe it would be best if you stayed here," Eldon lied smoothly. "No matter how well behaved Zalan's soldiers are, I wouldn't trust a house full of Gwaed Gam around a Seelie, even half of one. There are two rooms here, and I'm spending most of my time teaching Rosa, so I'm more likely going to be in your way and not the other way around."

Stop talking, idiot , Eldon berated himself. The silence stretched out between them for several long moments before it was interrupted by Rosa.

"It's a good idea," she said from the doorway. "You're still healing and getting your mind right. The last thing you need is a house full of noisy Gwaed Gam. Hell, I've been thinking of moving back in myself."

"You have a tower, princess," Eldon snorted. "As the eldest Wylt, I outrank you. The cottage is mine."

"Pfft, fine. You'll have to get yourself another double bed. You won't fit in a single."

"I will…" Nimue began, but she was shouted down by Eldon and Rosa's protests.

"It's fine, Nimue. I can conjure up another bed. You're hurt and I'm not, so don't argue," Eldon said sternly.

"I wasn't arguing. You were arguing with yourself," Nimue replied.

"He does that. I just tune him out until he runs out of breath."

"Lucky your cooking is better than your magic," Eldon retorted. "Come, Rhosyn, you've annoyed Nimue enough for one day."

"Make sure you change the sheets, Nim. Who knows what he's been…ow!" Rosa complained as he took her by the ear and opened the garden gate.

"We'll see you later, Nimue," Eldon said over Rosa high-pitched calls of abuse.

Once the gate had shut, Rosa shook him off. "Ease up, you cantankerous old wizard."

"Show some respect for your elders, and I will." They walked through the parks until they were out of earshot of the cottage.

"Nice lie you told back there," Rosa said impishly.

"What lies?"

"The one how she needs to stay in the cottage because Eli said so. Admit it. You're the one that's worried about her."

"Of course I'm worried about her," Eldon said, pushing a hand through his tangled hair. "I need to be able to keep an eye on her in case the queen tries to regain control of her mind or if she tries to contact the Aos Si."

"You are stupidly paranoid." Rosa shook her head. "Now that she's in her own mind, there's no way in hell she'd help the queen. Ryn convinced her the first time before she knew you because she had no family. She's got one now, and she won't willingly go back to the queen. You should see what…never mind." Rosa stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jacket.

"See what, Rhosyn?"

"Doesn't matter. Nimue will tell you if she wants. It's not my place."

"I see." Eldon put an arm around her shoulders. "Thank you for trying with her. She needs a woman to talk to."

"True, but I'm not the Wylt she needs forgiveness from."

"Forgiveness is a process."

"Then start processing because we need her for an ally, and you need to let all that guilt you carry go."

"There's so much I wouldn't even know where to start." Eldon shook his head. "Enough talk about my guilt. We have work to do."