Jonen grabbed his pants from the floor and looked at the other two people in the room. Amethyst growled and shoved Bobabano against a wall.
“Are you an idiot?” She punched his arm, “What are you thinking?”
“She screamed. I –” He clenched a fist to ease his anger, “I thought she was in trouble. She needed me in her sleep every night so far.”
“You knew exactly what she was doing,” She punched his chest, “You knew she went to see him. You wanted an excuse to stop it.”
“Is that so bad?” He yelled, “He doesn’t even–!”
“It is not up to you,” She sneered and looked to Jonen, “Either of you.”
Bobabano glared at Jonen as he buckled his pants and he growled. He looked back to Amethyst and spoke in orcan.
“You think that she won’t be devastated when he learns what exactly she is and leaves her?” He mocked, “Look at him. He’s soft. He’ll fear her. You think that wouldn’t overwhelm her? Why not just stop it before –”
“You do not get to decide who her lover is,” Amethyst grunted.
“What are you saying?” Jonen walked over to them, “Don’t just hide what you’re saying!”
“We’ve spent the past four hours searching the city for her,” She shoved Bo to the floor, “We only found her now because she can’t adequately block her aura in her sleep.”
“Amethyst,” Tiero picked up the stone amulet from the floor, “We need to find her.”
The three orcs made silent eye contact. Amethyst growled and swiped the necklace from him.
“I will find her,” She clasped the amulet around her neck, “You will tell everyone else what happened and get them to help.”
Tiero swiftly fled from the situation without another word. Amethyst grunted and groaned as she rubbed her hands over her face and through her hair. She tried to decide how to deal with the children around her.
“Where do we start?” Jonen asked.
“You go home and don’t come back,” Bo narrowed his eyes, “We don’t need you.”
“Where do you think she would go, Jonen?” Amethyst ignored him.
“I don’t know,” He shook his head, “I doubt she wants to be anywhere near people. She came to me crying and –”
“And you took advantage of her?” He huffed, “No wonder.”
“I don’t like what you’re suggesting,” Jonen crossed his arms.
“Why else would she –”
“Enough!” The woman’s voice boomed in the room, “You boys need to stop.”
The woman scowled as she looked between the two dumbfounded idiots. Amethyst turned to Jonen and angrily pushed him up against a wall. Her purple eyes peered into him as she angrily whispered.
“That woman only knows pain and suffering. That has been the only constant her entire life,” She took a deep breath, “Do expect her to know any better? She is still processing friendships. She hardly trusts anyone. She struggles with understanding her own emotions. Do you really think she is in the place to begin courting anyone? Let alone bedding them?”
“I –” Jonen blinked, “It’s not like that!”
“You come at her with kind eyes and sweet words. Do you think she knows what she is doing? Of course, you don’t,” She jammed her finger into his chest, “Bobabano is right. You want to play the hero to the poor girl. She is flinging herself at you because she enjoys the way you coddle her. You don’t know anything about her.”
“Exactly, that’s what I –”
“And you,” Amethyst turn around and backhanded him, “You already know she plans to go back to Agrowl and claim you there.”
“I wasn’t thinking –”
“Exactly. You weren’t thinking,” Her fist slammed into the floor next to him and dented it, “You know better, Bobabano.”
“Auntie,” He took in a sharp breath, “I only have her best interests at heart.”
“This is not what is best for her. You know she isn’t stable. She’s gone completely manic because of her situation. She’s acting out, as we expected her to,” She scowled, “She’s opened up to you more than anyone else. She would have gone to you if she wanted you here. You knew better than to walk in here.”
“I don’t want to share her!” He growled.
“I do not care,” She threw her hands up and walked towards the center of the room, “Even in Agrowl, you are never guaranteed to be her only lover. She can gather a slew of men to warm her bed. She could make a harem out of the entire country if she wanted. You know what you can do about it?”
She didn’t wait for the man to answer.
“Absolutely nothing,” She looked between them, “If she chooses the elf as her primary, then you will enthusiastically accept your place as a her second, third, fourth, fifth, or whatever she so chooses you to be, Bobabano.”
“I just –”
Amethyst switched to orcan to prevent Jonen from understanding her.
“Perhaps having this charade between you two had made you forget it’s just that –a charade. You are honor bound to protect her and provide what she needs of you,” She sneered at the man, “Has she said you are who she wants? Has she given you an inclination that she’s your actual lover? You just tried to kill her nearly fortnight ago. Do you think she magically forgot that? She owes you nothing.”
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Bo groaned and placed his head in his hands before he spoke in the common tongue, “I am trying to protect her from him!”
“I love her! I am not going to hurt her!” Jonen yelled, “I – we share dreams.”
Amethyst’s head snapped towards him, “What did you just say?”
“Mira and I can travel to each other’s dreams,” Jonen looked her directly in the eyes, “We share dreams.”
“Perfect, then you can help from –”
“Silence,” She growled at Bo, “Explain.”
“I’ve seen her nightmares. I can actually see what she sees,” He took a deep breath, “I can pull her from them and take her into my dreams to save her.”
“What does she see?” Bobabano peered, “Tell me.”
“I don’t know if –”
“She has told me exactly what happens. I will never believe you unless prove it,” He stood up and walked towards him with a critical eye, “You haven’t heard her scared whimpers during her nightmares. You have not felt her heart stop before she screams herself awake. You haven’t held her as she cried herself asleep again.”
The orc towered over him, and his black eyes glared at the half elf. Jonen stood up against his scrutiny.
“I have,” Bo grunted, “So, if you really are connected to her in that way – prove it.”
“The village burns,” He narrowed his eyes, “And Pallik turns into a monster that tries to kill her. Tonight, Tella yelled that she hated her. That one is new.”
“That’s –” Bo was taken back, “It doesn’t matter. Once she bonds with me, we won’t need you.”
“How can you even protect her if you don’t even have magic?” He scoffed, “She’s a blood mage! You may be a good warrior, but you can’t save her like I can. Like I have!”
“You son of a –” Bo threw his fist again.
“Children! The lot of you!” She grabbed his arm and flipped him to the ground, “Neither if you are thinking with the head on your shoulders!”
She looked between the men and fought the urge to zap both of them. Amethyst pushed her boot into Bo’s chest to keep him on the ground.
“Neither of you deserve her,” She growled at them, “You both know that. Act like it. The only person you’re hurting is the woman you claim to love.”
“It took us hours to find her,” Tiero reappeared, “She couldn’t have gone far.”
“You lost her before?” Jonen blinked.
“Not now, elf –” Amethyst stomped on Bo’s chest, “You knew this could have happened tonight. We knew exactly where she was. I told you to go back to the palace. You had to stick your nose into –”
Two lanky elves walked into the room and looked around curiously. The white-eyed elf looked over the scene and stared at Jonen for a moment. He blinked at the thought of the High Sorceress and the second of the Blesséd Three Silversteins in Mira’s bedroom. The green-eyed one ran their fingers along some of the fabrics and dresses hanging about the room. Amethyst peeled her boot from Bo and helped him back to his feet.
“Ah, Jonen, right? Nice to see you again,” Skymara petted the fluffy brown cat in her arms, “I presume you would like to fully dress before you return home for the night?”
“Sky, is this the one that the young prophetess sponsored?” The other asked.
“Yes,” She nodded, “Curious, isn’t he? I wonder what she saw.”
“Wait, what?” He looked at them, “Prophetess Talia? She’s the one that sponsored me?”
“Yes, I gave the payment myself,” She nodded and grabbed Jonen’s teal shirt from the floor, “She said she wanted to see you play. Which is odd phrasing, considering she’s blind.”
He moved to grab the shirt, but Skymara handed it to Em instead. He watched as the green-eyed elf flicked it free of wrinkles then started to button it over their own shirt.
“You know how I hate doing this.”
“It is the best chance we have to find her,” Amethyst tapped the stone amulet, “And we will need to do it quickly.”
“Yes, immediately,” Em’s eyes grew, “She will at least attack me if nothing else.”
The elf ran their hands over their face. Jonen gasped when he saw himself blinking around the room with bright green eyes.
“I’m very curious as to why she didn’t tell him,” The green-eyed Jonen grabbed his chin and looked into his dark blue eyes, “He seems capable enough. Many include their lovers.”
“What are—”
“Jonen, dear,” the fake Jonen chuckled in his voice, “It’s not the time. I assume the young lady is less clothed than you?”
He nodded slowly. The fake Jonen walked to Skymara and gently touched her face. She rippled and morphed into another Jonen as well.
“It may help if you also wear a piece of his clothing to have the smell,” The fake Jonen with his shirt said to the other, “Do you think you can survive if she attacks you?
“It has been a long time since I fought,” The white eyed Jonen looked to him, “Would you give us another piece of your attire?”
“Like… my pants?” He looked down to his distinct lack of clothing.
“Yes. I can wait,” The white eyed Jonen said, “It is a bit urgent, though.”
His face heated, “I kind of –”
“Oh, so you’re fine showing –”
“Out!” Amethyst smacked the back of Bobabano’s head as he started to say something, “Go find her on your own if you aren’t going to help.”
Bobabano walked up to Jonen and jammed a finger into his chest, “We will settle this tomorrow.”
“What?”
“You didn’t read the boards, did you?” He snorted, “You’re up against me.”
Jonen watched the frustrated orc leave the room and the others turned back to face him. He looked at his pants and the two other Jonens stared back at him.
“What am I supposed to wear?”
“I have some clothes that might fit you,” Tiero grunted, “I’ll go get them.”
“Okay,” He sat on the bed, “I have a lot of questions –”
“We can’t tell you anything if Mira doesn’t approve,” Amethyst stopped him.
“She forbad us from including him,” Tiero walked back in and tossed him another pair of pants, “I’m assuming you and Bobabano are nearly crossing the line as it is.”
“Yes. She commanded us before she fled,” Amethyst scratched at the mark on her chest, “She… hadn’t done that yet.”
Jonen sat on the bed as he redressed in Tiero’s foreign clothes. The pants were far too short and baggy at the waist. The shirt was tight against his arms and shoulders.
“Interesting,” The Em Jonen stepped towards him and took his face in their hands, “He already has the eyes. I saw no mark.”
“I noticed that as well,” Tiero nodded, “It would have been hard to miss.”
“Perhaps he is just blessed,” The Skymara Jonen removed her pants and pulled Jonen’s up over the scarily identical copy of his legs, “It is not uncommon for those of elven decent.”
Jonen saw the scar on his abdomen peeking out from his pants on the fake Jonen and his face flushed with embarrassment at how eerie it cloned him. He decided to ignore the mirrors and get what information he could.
“What are you talking about?”
The Em Jonen chuckled and patted his face, “You’ll likely learn, pretty boy. Especially if our little goddess has taken a liking to you.”
Jonen put his head in his hands and pulled at his hair. This was supposed to be their first night together. After months of waiting to hold her in his arms, he got to tell her how he felt. Even better, Mira loved him back. He got to share himself with her. Their bodies felt beautifully in sync with each other. The smell of their love still lingered on him.
It wasn’t fair that after they finally had an idyllic moment, it had to be ruined so quickly. He needed to find her and bring her back to him again. He couldn’t let their first night end like this. He wanted to wake up with her in his arms.
“Where do we think she is?” He stood up.
“I will ask the Wilted Rose,” Amethyst grunted, “They may tell me if they find her. They’ve already been searching.
“I can check near the docks and see if she attempts to flee,” Skymara Jonen offered, “And the surrounding areas if needed. I will send my eyes out immediately.”
“I will check north of the palace,” Em Jonen walked over and placed a hand on the yellow orc, “Tiero, would you be able to check south?”
“Yes, Elder Em,” He grunted as he was transformed into another Jonen, “Should we be concerned that she is unclothed?”
“I don’t think that will stop her much,” Amethyst shrugged, “She doesn’t seem to care.”
“Where should I look?” Jonen stood.
The others looked at him before Tiero answered, “Jonen, I do not think it is safe for you.”
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes, “I can handle myself.”
The group shared a silent message, and he wondered what he didn’t understand about Mira. What exactly was she hiding that was so important that he couldn’t look for her too?