The Illyrian Series: The Oracle Of Rosedale
Chapter 24

The next morning, a bath is waiting for me when I wake up. "Lady Margareta's orders." Marisol explains.

I don't object, I soak contently in my first proper bath in weeks. I wear the dress I bought yesterday, it's dark blue and sleeveless. The collar is high and gold plated. I put on simple gold jewelry and my shoes from yesterday.

I float down to breakfast with Margareta, Penelope and other women. "It's a shame you're leaving soon." Margareta says.

I nod. "Yes, right after dinner. I'll spend my final night in an inn, then come say goodbye and be on my way." That won't happen, Violet and I have decided that immediately after dinner, we're off. We'll ride through the night.

I spend the day with Lady Margareta, trying my best not to blow my cover. Not when I'm so close to leaving this town.

Eveything was going well, till it was time for lunch.

We have it in the garden, it was Margareta, Penelope, the Deputy governor's wife, her daughter and a distant cousin of the family in attendance. Marcus decided to join.

"Marcus, why don't you join us?" Or rather, his mother tried to make him.

"I'm busy, mother. Can't stop to chat."

"Have you handled Miss Edrei's little issue?"

He can't meet my eyes. "Yes, he's been released."

"Thank you again, Marcus. Really." I say.

He barely nods. "Have a nice day."

Margareta's eyes flash. "Marcus, why don't you give our guest a tour of the garden?"

"Why?" He looks confused. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I asked you to." She turns to me. "Miss Edrei."

I get up. "Thank you." Marcus looks between me and his mother before groaning. He walks off, leaving me to follow after. We walk in silence for a long time.

"I'm not a bad person." I say after so much quiet. He hums. "I'm serious, I'm not."

"So your earlier behaviour, what was what?"

"It's complicated."

"Of course it is." We fall back into a tense silence.

"So..." I struggle to replace words. "How old are you?"

"Small talk?" I don't move. "I'm 21."

"How old are your siblings?"

"Eric is 19, Penny's 15."

"That's nice. What's your country's population?"

"Why do you want to know, are you planning an invasion?" I don't know if he meant it as a joke, I smile either way. He sighs and gives me an answer. "40 thousand."

"Oh." I'm genuinely shocked. "I didn't know it was that high." Not nearly as high as Illyria and Caledonia that are in millions, but still impressive. "I didn't know about this place before, with that population it should be on more maps."

"It should. And also, what about your uncle?"

I'm lost. "Oh, my uncle. Yes, he tells stories but not many facts." I scramble. "So, what do you all day?"

He knows I'm changing the subject, he doesn't call me out on it. "Work, I'm supposed to be doing that now. But I'm here, with you."

"Sorry."

"It's alright." He looks around him. On either side of us are tall hedges, we're currently walking through a mini maze. The sky is blue and the gentle breeze feels refreshing on my sun kissed skin. "It should be here." Marcus says under his breath. He takes a few turns then nods. "Aha." In front of us is a granite stool. "After you."

I sit down carefully on it. He sits at the utmost edge. I don't know how to keep the conversation going. "Your mother seems nice."

He snorts. "She's not."

"She's been nice to me."

His face is darker. "She likes you. You fit the description of what a respectable person is."

We're suddenly reminded of why he hates me. "His name is Malin."

He doesn't look at me. "I know your guards name."

"He's my friend, Violet too."

"What are you telling me this?"

"I don't want you to think I'm a bad person."

"Who cares what I think?"

"I just don't want you to think so. And I'm really sorry about Simon, it was wrong of me to act the way I did."

He stares straight ahead. We stay there for ten more minutes. Marcus gets to his feet. He offers me his hand. "We should be getting back."

I take it and he pulls me up. "Thank you." He lets go of my hands.

We work through the maze and burst out where his mother is having lunch. Marcus doesn't stop to talk her, he goes straight into the house. "How was your walk?" She asks.

"It was good, you have a gorgeous home."

"What did you think of Marcus?" She presses.

"He's a fine young man."

I make it through her agonizingly long lunch then through the dinner. It's over before I know it. "Thank you again for your hospitality."

"Of course, good night. We'll see you first thing tomorrow, there's a matter we would like to discuss with you." The governor says.

"Of course." I lie. I leave the dining hall and head for the front of the house where Apple is waiting.

"Miss Edrei." I hear someone call. I turn back and see Marcus.

"What's wrong?"

"I was sent to say goodnight."

"Ah, by your mother. I'm sure."

He nods. A small smile appears on his face. "I don't hate you as much as I did yesterday."

I smile too. "Thank you."

"Goodnight Miss Edrei."

"Goodbye Marcus."

He's silent for a second. "Goodbye."

I turn Apple around and head out the gate. The sun is almost down and the streets aren't crowded. I race to the inn and replace Violet and Malin already packed.

"Malin." I jump off Apple and press myself against him.

"Ouch." He pulls away. I get a good look at him. "What did those degenerates do to you?" He has a swollen eye, split lip and he's clutching his stomach. His beautiful hair looks more ruffled than usual.

"I'm alright, prison just didn't agree with me."

I give him another hug, albeit lighter. "I'm so sorry this happened to you."

"It's alright, Violet told me how you've been trying to get me out. You're a good friend." He wraps his arms around my back and draws me a bit closer.

"I'm just happy you're okay."

"He's saved, it's a miracle. Let's go." Violet interrupts.

Malin releases me and we all climb our horses. Malin groans with every rough gallop and it's hard for me to move in my ankle length dress. Violet is the only one at ease. We power through for a few hours.

We arrive at the lake late at night. "It's two hours to midnight." She consults her watch. "Someone should be here."

We walk along the river's bank. "It's really dark." I complain. "I can't see anything."

"I see something." Malin says. "Up ahead, that boat."

I squint ahead and am able to make out the outline, at the front is a single beam of light. We ride carefully towards it. "Hello, is anybody in there?" Violet calls.

There's some shuffling. A minute later, a long, lean man comes out, he's wearing a red overall. "Who's there?" He asks gruffly.

"We're travellers, will you be able to give us a ride across the lake?"

"It's late." He complains.

"We'll pay." I say.

He's silent. "Let me see your faces." He retrieves a lantern and hold it towards us. "How am I sure I can trust you?"

"It's night, we'll be on the water, in your boat. If anybody should be frightened, it's us." Violet argues.

He ponders her statement. "How much money?"

"Three gold coins." Violet offers.

"Ten." He counteroffers.

"Four."

"Eight."

"Five."

"Seven."

"Six?" Her final offer.

He nods in agreement. "Get on, quickly. He drops his plank and we get onboard along with the horses. "Welcome to my home."

I look around the boat, a single room is situated in the middle. I pass the wooden door that's unhinged at the bottom. The room is sparesly decorated, a single mat lay by the wall. A few shirts and clothes are beside it and there's some junk. Old tattered books, broken plates, shells.

"I wasn't expecting visitors." I hear him through the window over the mat. It shows us the front of the ship where the steering wheel is located. "You three'll just have to manage."

Malin falls on the mat and raises his shirt, his skin is bruised. "Sir, please start the ship immediately. If you don't, I'll get off and go murder some people at Durnam." I say.

He just hums and raises the anchor.

"It's alright, I'll be fine." Malin assures me.

"How could they do this to you, you're hurt." I push him against the wall. "Take off your shirt."

He rolls his eyes but does what he's told. "Happy?"

My fingers graze the injury. "How did this happen?" He doesn't want to answer. "Please."

He sighs. "After they threw me in, this officer shoved me to the ground and kicked my stomach while I was curled up."

I reach for my satchel, bring out first aid supplies and begin treating his wound. "When did you become so good at this?" He asks while I'm unrolling the bandage.

"During the war, Rainey taught me. I thought I could help the fighters, mother didn't let me though." I hold it in front of him. "Up."

He sits up. I place the bandage on the wiped injury and wrap it around his side. "Tell me if it hurts."

He groans slightly. "It's good."

I inspect my work when I'm done. "Better." I move on to his face next. "Should I ask how you got these?"

"Tell me about the governor and his family instead." His eyes are pleading.

I dab his eye with a clean, wet rag and tell him everything that happened yesterday and today, from when we went to the blacksmith's shop to my final dinner. I wasn't sure if I should've cut out the Marcus parts but I decided to leave them in.

"Marcus." Malin says in an airy voice.

"That's what stood out in that story?" His smile widens, it causes his lip to start bleeding again. "Be careful." I gently dab them.

"You like him, don't you?" He teases.

"I don't, I barely know him. And it doesn't matter, we'll never see each other again."

"You still like him."

"Shut up."

He laughs then hisses. More blood pours down. I edge closer so that I'm hovering a few feet from him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything. Getting me out, treating me, giving up your dagger for me. I know you loved it."

"You're worth it." I look directly into his eyes. I finish cleaning the would and get up. "I'll check on Violet."

I scurry away from the boathouse with it's fading paint and search for Violet, I replace her talking with the owner.

"You're done with Malin?" She asks.

"Yeah, he's as good as ever." I look between them. "What are you two talking about?"

"Durnam, Charlton, the sea." Violet replies.

"She was telling me that she's a mage and she'll kill me if I try to hurt any of you." The boatman says.

I nod. "That's reassuring."

"I'll go to Malin." Violet announces. "Maybe I can speed up his healing." She leaves me with the man.

I stand awkwardly a few feet from him and his wheel. "The name's Maury." He says suddenly. "In case you were wondering."

"Oh, Addy." I abbreviate.

"Little advice, people like it when you ask what their name is."

"Oh, okay." He reaches down, picks up a green glass bottle and takes a big swig. "Should you be doing that?"

He holds his bottle firmly in his left and leaves his right on the wheel. "Mind your business, Addy." He belches.

I have a tiny smile on my face as I shake my head. "So, Maury. How long have you had the boat?"

He takes another swig. "Eight years, the previous owner had it for twelve. I'm planning on beating his record."

"Why did you buy it?"

"Inherited a few acres of land from an uncle, didn't want to till it everyday." He shrugs. "Sold it, used most of the money for this. Been a boatman ever since."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"It's a'ight." He offers me his bottle.

"Thank you, but I don't drink."

"Too bad, alcohol makes things easier."

"My mother disagrees."

He smiles a bit. "If you don't me asking, what are the three of you doing travelling in the middle of the night?"

I rest my back on the boats edge. "It's a long story."

"It's a long story or you don't want to talk?"

"The latter."

"Fair." He takes a larges gulp. "Where are you from?"

"That's a secret."

"Where are you going?"

"An even bigger one."

His eyes widen. "Lots of secrets you have." He briefly looks at me. "What about your friends, can you tell me about them?"

"Malin's my closest, he's wonderful."

"Violet?"

"She's good."

"Good." Violet says from the boathouse. "That's all you have to say?"

I hear Malin laugh. "I'm sorry, you're wonderful too." I say to appease too. Maury takes another swig and chortles. "I'm going in, it's been a long day." I walk into the room and see Violet crouched in front of Malin. "Better?"

"We'll see tomorrow." She stands up. "I'll stay with Maury." She joins him outside.

I sit down beside Malin. He takes my left hand in his.

"Your scar's almost faded." He rubs the barely visible scar with his thumb. That movement sends shivers down my spine.

"Violet is the best."

"That's better." Violet calls from the front.

"Stop eavesdropping." I order. I place my head on his shoulder and sigh. "Do you remember what we were talking about before the butterfly?"

"I wasn't scared." He says quickly. He doesn't stop tracing the scar on my palm.

"Course you weren't." I whisper. "But I wanted to tell you something, we were talking about Rinus Valley."

"And marraige, and who we were married to." He's smiling.

I smile too. "You remember."

"Of course, I couldn't stop thinking about the entire ordeal. Got me through prison."

"You were only in there for twenty four hours."

"Twenty four horrid hours." We laugh. "But I had a sort of revelation in there."

My breath is held. I can do this, I can tell him.

"I finally realized who I was married to. Amelia Pines." I feel cold. "You remember her, don't you?" I've lost my voice. "I liked her when I was twelve, strange how that place pulled it out of me."

I still can't talk. "What's wrong with you?" He's smiling. "Who did they pull out for you? I would have suggested Marcus, but you didn't meet him till after."

"No one." I say in a shaky voice. "Can't remember, I've never met him."

"Strange."

"Strange."