SJ turned to look at Zigferd. Darren’s eyes were wide with shock, fear, and panic. His casual humour and banter from the day disappeared in an instant. Darren slowly turned to look around at the gigantic man.
As Darren replied, his voice cracked, sounding rather squeaky. “What would you like to talk about?”
“You know exactly what I want to talk about!” Zigferd said in a very calm but serious tone. His tone was so flat that it even made SJ feel nervous. She had never seen him like this before. “Come with me,” he finished, not removing his hand from Darren’s shoulder.
Darren gulped as he allowed Zigferd to direct him without question. SJ was as shocked by Zigferd's sudden appearance as much as Darren was, and she spoke as Zigferd directed Darren off.
“I will join you."
Zigferd didn’t even turn and acknowledge SJ. “If you wish,” he replied.
Zigferd escorted Darren down a few streets until they came out near the lake opposite the docks. During the quarantine, SJ had been here once before with Setu when they travelled from the docks back to town. The houses along this stretch were much larger than the ones in the town centre. Approaching the house, Zigferd eventually took his hand from Darren's shoulder and directed him up the path. Zigferd then followed and, stepping by him, took out a key, opened the front door, and let him in.
The house was a two-storey building with a front garden that was slightly overgrown.
“Is this yours?” SJ asked, never having been to Zigferd’s home.
“Yes,” Zigferd replied. “In here,” he said, directing them into a lounge area at the front of the property. The room had bare walls with sparse furnishings. It contained a sofa, a couple of armchairs, a small cluster of tables, and a bookcase.
Darren was looking pale now.
“Sit,” Zigferd said.
Darren quickly moved and sat on the sofa. Zigferd took one armchair and dragged it so that when he was sitting down, he was facing Darren.
“SJ. The kitchen is at the back. Would you mind getting some water?” Zigferd asked, not taking his eyes off Darren. Darren could not meet Zigferd’s eyes, and he looked down.
Not wanting to leave the pair of them alone for long, SJ hurried down the hall into the kitchen, quickly grabbing some glasses and filling a pitcher of water before heading back. She had heard nothing being said. Walking back into the room, the tension in the air was palpable.
“Thank you,” Zigferd said. He took a glass and poured himself a drink, taking a deep drink before placing the glass down. SJ poured one for herself and sat in another armchair, turning it slightly. She felt as though she was a referee between two prize fighters.
The silence continued for a few minutes. Neither party said anything, and Zigferd did not drop his gaze.
“Do you mind?” Darren asked, his voice cracking and sounding dry as he grabbed a glass and poured himself some water. Drinking it deeply himself before nurturing the glass in his hands. Still not meeting Zigferd’s gaze.
SJ couldn’t take it any longer, her nerves beginning to feel frayed. “Are you two going to talk? Or just sit in silence?”
Darren glanced at SJ, a deep-set fear in his eyes. Zigferd’s gaze again didn’t flinch from Darren. Shifting in his chair slightly, it squeaked under his considerable weight, making Darren flinch. Zigferd sat back a little and took a slow, deliberate breath. “I believe you have asked Alice to marry you.”
The comment about marriage made Darren squirm. “I did.”
“Think very carefully before you answer this next question,” Zigferd said, still in a calm and controlled tone. “Did you mean it?”
Darren sat upright, his eyes meeting Zigferd’s for the first time since arriving, and with a single word, he replied, “Yes.”
Zigferd took another deep, deliberate breath, closing his eyes as he did. Slowly exhaling, he opened his eyes again. “I am guessing you have absolutely no idea about the dryad culture?”
Darren dropped his gaze again. “No,” he said meekly.
“You put Alice in a very awkward position by asking her directly. It broke all the dryad’s protocols that are expected to be followed,” Zigferd replied.
“I am sorry. I was unaware until SJ informed me this morning,” Darren said.
SJ struggled to read Zigferd, having never seen him in such a flat and emotionless manner before.
“Do you realise what marriage means to a dryad?”
“I had assumed it would have the same meaning as marriage for anyone.”
“Once a dryad gets married, it is for life. There is no turning back. A broken marriage for a dryad means death.”
Darren’s eyes shot open in shock. “What do you mean, death?”
“When a dryad weds, their soul is split. If a marriage fails, then the dryad will lose half of their soul, and most succumb to madness and eventually die,” Zigferd replied, his face completely neutral, showing no emotion.
“I had no idea?!” Darren replied.
“So, I will ask you one more time. Did you mean it?”
Darren again did not hesitate. “Yes, I did. I wouldn’t have asked her if I hadn’t,” he said adamantly.
Zigferd closed his eyes again and took another long breath. Pushing himself up from his chair, he stood and turned, leaving the room without saying a word. Darren and SJ glanced at each other. SJ shrugged, not understanding what was happening. Listening, they heard Zigferd climb the stairs. The pair sat silently for several minutes, listening to Zigferd move about upstairs, opening and closing what sounded like a chest before returning to the stairs and into the lounge area.
SJ and Darren were staring at Zigferd as he entered, carrying a short staff intricately decorated with leaves and a design resembling vines running its length. At the staff's top was a claw-like grip holding a clear orb.
“You will need this,” Zigferd said flatly, handing the staff to Darren.
Darren reached out and took hold of the staff. It was only about three feet. Zigferd didn’t let go, and Darren’s eyes met Zigferd’s, now containing a look that SJ couldn’t describe. It wasn’t anger, and it wasn't hatred. It was something much deeper and more meaningful than anything SJ had ever witnessed, ‘promise’.
“If you hurt her. I will kill you,” Zigferd said, releasing his grip on the staff and walking back out of the room.
With an uncertain look, Darren sat with his arm out, still holding the short staff. “What does this mean?”
“It means that Zigferd has granted him permission to ask Alice to marry officially,” Dave said, yawning.
“What?” SJ said.
Darren turned to look at SJ, confused. "Dave just said it means you have permission to ask Alice to marry you," SJ said excitedly.
Darren's face instantly changed several times before he shouted, “YES!” and jumped up from his seat.
“Now you just have to find and ask her, offering her the staff. The staff offer means that her guardian, in this instance, has approved the proposal,” Dave said.
"You need to go and officially ask Alice now and present her with the staff," SJ said, standing.
Darren turned and threw his arms around SJ, excitedly hugging her. The grin that had broken out on his face was contagious, and SJ couldn’t help but grin back.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“No time like the present,” he said, turning to leave. Hurrying from the house.
SJ walked from the lounge and saw Zigferd in the kitchen with his back to her. SJ walked down the hallway towards him. “Zigferd, are you okay?”
SJ could see Zigferd’s shoulders shuddering.
“Zigferd?”
“Has he gone?”
“Yes,” SJ replied, turning to see the open front door Darren had left through.
Zigferd turned and looked at SJ, tears running down his cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” SJ asked, panicking. Seeing the mountain of a lycanthrope crying as he did wasn’t something she had ever expected to witness. Through all the hardship and trials she had witnessed, the mountain stood before her and had always been stoic, as well as the strength behind the town.
Zigferd wiped his eyes, looking at SJ, “I never thought that I would see the day of Alice being asked to marry. It has come as a shock. I have brought Alice up since she was a youngling, and she had always dreamt of getting married. I am just a little emotional, that’s all.”
“I assume Alice wants to marry Darren?” SJ asked.
“Yes. She mentioned not long after returning from the caves how she immediately felt about Darren and hoped he would be the one.”
“Why did I think you wanted to kill Darren every time you saw him?”
“I didn’t realise I had," surprise registered on his face.
“You have put the fear of god into him.”
Zigferd half smiled. “That’s not a bad thing, then.”
SJ couldn’t help but smile in response. “No. I suppose not. It’s better to keep him on his toes,” she chuckled.
“I need to sort myself out. I have a meeting with Orik, Nevik and Shelly this evening. We are discussing the first mithril batch.”
“I will leave you to it then and allow you to compose yourself,” SJ said.
“Thank you. Make sure that Darren understands I meant what I said. If he hurts her, I will kill him,” the emphasis in his tone made the hairs on SJ's neck prickle. She knew he meant it.
Leaving Zigferd, SJ headed to the inn. She wanted to speak to Floretta about the grapey fruits. It had been just over a month since she had first moved into the cottage, and Floretta had taken some of the grapey to produce some of the jerky. At this time of day, the inn was receiving the early usuals before the main thrum arrived a little later once many of the stalls and shops had closed. It was always busy in the evenings.
“YOU CAN TELL THAT FOOL IF HE EVER DARKENS MY DOORWAY, I WON’T HOLD BACK FROM THE DAMAGE I WILL DO TO HIM,” Kerys screamed. A tall, elegantly dressed man stood at the bar feeling Kerys's wrath. Bert stood in his usual spot, not concerned about the ongoings. All the patrons were facing the bar, watching the interaction. SJ walked to the bar, standing just off from the berating. The look in Kerys’s eyes was that of hatred.
“Kerys. Is everything alright?” SJ asked.
Kerys turned and noticed SJ, her face softening as she did, “Hi, SJ. No, everything is not alright. This pompous idiot thinks he can walk into my inn and threaten me.”
“Threaten you?” SJ asked, shocked.
“He is here on the guidance of a supposed complaint raised against my inn by the Brewer’s Guild in Asterfal. Apparently, I have been selling illegal ale.”
The statement about illegal ale sales baffled SJ. “How can you be selling illegal ale? Don’t you brew your own?”
“Most, yes. I purchase some ale from the local villages that we support.”
“How can it be illegal, then?”
“They are accusing me of stealing trade secrets and saying that my ale is a stolen recipe that follows the Brewers Guild traditional ale. I sell excess ale in Asterfal and have several bars which purchase it.”
“I am confused. If you are brewing your own ale, why is it said it is the Brewers Guild recipe?”
“It doesn’t. It is that backstabbing idiot Fretun. He is playing dirty games, trying to damage my reputation and reduce my income. It’s another one of his tactics to gain my recipe after his failure to blow up my inn. If he causes enough damage to the inn's reputation, he believes I will give up the secrets to stop the damage he is attempting to cause. I may have to go to Asterfal to meet my buyers and smooth things over. I just received news from this not-so-kind gentleman that he plans to block any future shipments to Asterfal until they have thoroughly investigated the accusation."
“Do you not fall under the town’s trade arm?” SJ asked.
“I do.”
“Isn’t this an issue to be addressed through the councillor for trade then?” SJ asked. With the time around her levelling, she had been learning about all the various aspects that helped the town tick over. The town's infrastructure and workings mirrored those of Earth. One or more councillors guided and supported the departments in the barracks, overseeing each one. Housing, Waste, Magic, Food, Trade, Professions, etc. It was a complex web of work, with many areas that overlapped with each other.
SJ soon realised that her role as ambassador might cover all areas if an external party inquired.
“Can I ask who brought the charges?” SJ said, turning to the man. He wore perfectly tailored clothing, and his brilliant white shirt looked soft and luxurious.
The man turned to look at SJ, looking her up and down. He wore small circular framed glasses on the end of a long needle-like nose. His look turned to one of disgust.
“I have no business with you, fae,” he almost spat the word, turning back away from her and facing Kerys.
“Oh, no,” Dave said.
“What did you just say?” her tone was low and menacing. The instant anger from his comment sent her blood beyond boiling.
The man turned back to look at SJ. “Go away before you get hurt. I do not deal with your kind.” He sneered.
“My kind? Would you like to elaborate on what you mean?” SJ asked, her tone measured but still menacing.
“You know exactly what I mean by my statement,” he said, tutting.
“Do you have a name?” SJ asked, speaking now through gritted teeth.
“I won’t be telling you anything. I told you to go away.”
“Who do you think you are to tell me to go away?”
“I am an official of Asterfal working within the guidance and remit of the binding unity of our region. You do not have the right to question or even speak to me unless I wish to speak to you. And I will not sully myself any further talking to one of your kind.”
Several in the inn gasped at his statement. The man didn’t take his eyes off SJ.
SJ balled her fists the instant he finished speaking. Bert noticed SJ’s reaction and moved forward. Kerys’s eyes widened, and SJ was unsure if it was because she had balled her fists or what the man had said.
“I suggest you think carefully before you answer the next question I am going to ask you,” SJ said, almost hissing.
The man raised an eyebrow casually. “You realise the trouble you would be in if you attacked an official of Asterfal,” he showed no fear.
“And do you realise that you have disgraced the city of Asterfal with your behaviour?”
“Ha. My behaviour. You think anyone in Asterfal cares about your kind?”
SJ had held her temper long enough. “MY KIND,” she screamed.
The sudden change in tone made the slightest flinch appear on the man's face.
Sighing, the man turned back towards Kerys, ignoring SJ.
“HOW DARE YOU TURN AWAY FROM ME. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
The man glanced sideways at her as he replied, “A disgusting excuse for a race," waving his hand dismissively.
SJ’s emotions were already in turmoil because of the fear and elation for Darren, and to be spoken to in such a way by this man was too much. SJ’s arm moved before she even realised what she was doing as she went to grab him. As she did, Bert gripped her shoulder, preventing her from reaching the man.
“Not inside, please, SJ,” Bert said.
Turning, the man again looked at SJ in disgust and waved his hand. “I suggest you throw the trash out, and I would advise you to get better clientele in the future,” he said to Kerys.
“What’s going on?” Alice said in a commanding voice as she entered the inn.