How could the guards protect Erosette and its citizens from me if they were lost in the swell of Dreamtongue’s night just as I was?

“I thought you said they were all outside of the front gates?” Anna glared at her brother.

“They are,” He insisted. “The ones that are on duty.”

“We need to run. They cannot see me.” I said suddenly, feeling a cold spot of fear behind my navel.

“Easy, easy. They won’t see you, they will see Millime. Autumn is asleep in her bed, perfectly guarded. Millime is a girl we met in the city.” Anna said, reassuring me that I was not in imminent peril.

Before I could settle and process what she had said, the guard that had called out to Arthur had made his way through the teeming streets and approached us with open arms.

“Finally decided to come have some fun eh, Ugi?” Springer said, the normally uppity man seeming much more relaxed than I had ever seen him. He wore a loose fitting tunic and his feet were bare.

“Yeah,” Arthur clasped the back of his neck with his hand and smiled. “You guys gave me enough shit, I figured I would get out of the house.”

Springer wobbled out a bow. “Lady Anna, it is very nice to see you.”

Anna bowed back but she did not lower herself as much as the guard had. “You as well.”

“And who is this?” Springer said, turning his flushed face to me.

Arthur stepped forward, partially concealing me behind his back. “I met her earlier, her name is Millime.”

Springer laughed, a high sound that made me feel like he was not used to the feeling of it. “So, you’ve finally given up on-“

Arthur wrapped his arm around the guards shoulders and turned him back the way he had come. “Where’s Woolie? I haven’t told him he was ugly today.”

“Right, right. Our fire is just over there, let us go.”

Arthur looked back at us and shrugged, following the man through the small gaps in the crowd he could fit through.

“What about your lady and Lady Anna, they should come too. Come girls, there is plenty of food and drink to be had.” Springer called to us and Anna pushed us into motion.

Millime, Millime, Millime. I repeated in my mind. I was from Erosette. I had blonde hair. Earlier that evening I had met Arthur for the very first time. He must have known the drunken man from work or something similar. I had nothing else to do so I was tagging along with the tall man and his sister.

I am Millime.

At the edge of a stone alcove between two large buildings, complete with a pink marble fountain and crawling ivy, Springer dropped himself to the ground around a very small copper pot. Woolie, dark beard and burly arms, sipped a steaming drink held in a mug between his big hands.

“Ugi!” Woolie grunted affectionately when he looked up and saw Arthur.

“Hey you old ugly bastard.” Arthur said. Though his words were mean, his tone and demeanor was one of friendliness.

Woolie grinned and took a sip from his cup. “Lady Anna, who is your friend?”

“This is Millime, we met her on the other side of the city.” Anna said, seemingly relaxed and casual.

“It is nice to meet you, Millime. I am Woolie. I guard the manor these two live in.”

Trying to ignore the memory of the big man wearing a perfectly fitting barmaids garb, I gave him a tight lipped smile. “Hello, Woolie.”

Springer pulled the top from the little copper pot and poured cupfuls of a milky liquid into mugs, one for each of us. “Here. Pass these around, Ugi. This is my father’s recipe. I only make it on nights such as these.”

“Why do you call him that?” I asked, realizing that the guards were forbidden from talking to me. There was no such edict preventing them from talking to who they thought was some city girl that had turned up around their fire.

“Yeah, why do you call me that?” Arthur said, raising his mug to his nose and inhaling.

“Lady Aubrey was supposed to tell the story in the garden tonight,” Springer said, leaning his back against the bricks behind him. “Did you not pay attention?”

Arthur shook his head. “She got too tired. I guess she used too much of her power.”

“Don’t let Bool hear you say that. He’ll box your ears if you so much as imply that Lady Aubrey’s power is not limitless.” Woolie said with a chuckle. The sound came naturally from him. He must laugh much more than his partner.

I looked at Anna, thinking at her with all of my might. This is going so well. Of course they don’t recognize me.

“Lady Millime, my apologies if this seems inappropriate, but what happened to your feet?” Springer said, his unfocused eyes pointing in my general direction.

I looked down and saw the skinned patches of red that ran over my toe. Shit.

Surely, with the entire city being made of stone and brick, It could not be that uncommon for someone to skin their feet. “It is nothing, I-“

Fortune came in the way of someone interrupting me and addressing all of us around the small fire. “I am sorry to disrupt your celebrations, but I have grown quite tired. Is there room for me here?”

An older woman with stark white hair and a thin, beautiful, face looked down at us with tired eyes. Despite the warm night, she was bundled in a heavy shawl that was torn and tattered at its edges.

I had seen her before. I did not know when, I did not know how, and I did not know who I was when I had, but I was certain that this was not the first time I had seen her.

“There is room, please sit. Everyone else has gone to the heart to hear The Mother’s story.” Woolie answered the woman.

She nodded wearily. “I can give a story in payment if you will allow me something from your pot, it smells wonderfully.”

Springer shook his head and filled a mug for her without letting a moment pass. “We will take it if you are willing to give, but it is no payment. It would be a gift, just as this is.”

“Please, give me a hand.” She said, looking down at me.

Millime would. I would. I thought, offering my hand to her.

Shakily, she lowered herself to the ground and patted me on my shoulder when she had settled. The mug was passed from hand to hand until she took it from me. “My story is a short one, yet it is the only one I have to tell.”

I drank from my mug, the golden milk tasting rich and complex on my tongue. Despite having sat through several stories already, in my mother’s illusory cave, I found myself excited to hear what the older woman was going to say.

“There was a Lordling who, due to his position, was forced into an arranged marriage with a Lady for political reasons. It’s a tale as old as time, we have all heard something similar before,” The older woman began, her drink seeming to wash away her previous weariness. “But what the Lordlings father and the Lady’s mother did not expect, was the most wonderful and unexpected turn of fate that could have happened. Meant to be pawns in their parents' power games, the newlyweds fell in love and ran away together.”

The older woman had been honest. Her story was indeed short and my mind had turned elsewhere by the time she had finished.

If I could find an inconspicuous way to leave the guards' fire, maybe I could lay my eyes on The Mother in Red before she finished her story.

“The Mother, has she begun her story as of yet?” I asked, draining the rest of my cup and placing it at my feet.

Springer looked at the much less crowded streets and answered me. “I believe she has, but not very long ago.”

“Oh? She is late this year.” The older woman said.

“My mate from the enclave said it’s because of the war. Some sorcerer decided that Gemgrove no longer belonged to The Mothers.” Woolie sighed, casting his eyes down.

Springer took on his partner's sudden sullenness. “It is all too easy to forget what chaos is truly like outside of Zenithcidel.”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

I did not like the mood that had settled around the little copper pot. Standing, I glanced at Anna and then gave a little bow. “Thank you all for your kindness, but I wish to see The Mother.”

Anna understood and stood up beside me. “Yes, thank you.”

“Already? But you’ve only just arrived.” Springer pouted.

“You should go too, Ugi. You have never seen her before, right?” Woolie said.

Arthur finished his drink and climbed to his feet. “Sorry old man, I’ve got to make sure these two don’t get into any trouble.”

“Thank you for your story, stranger.” I nodded to the older woman with the stark white hair before turning to slip back into the stream of people flowing deeper into the city. My confidence in recognizing her had faded, there must have been a white haired woman in one of the memories that hid in the shadows at the edges of my memory.

“Hold on, Arthur. Wait a moment.” Springer called after us, sounding much more serious than before.

“Yeah?” Arthur answered.

“Consider what I have said to you earlier. Do not let Drizkt and Daphne push you into something you will regret. Stick to points. There is always a tournament running in the city. Use that to get your thrills.” Springer said.

“Leave him alone. He’s gotta make his own mind up.” Woolie grunted, refilling his mug with the golden milk.

“Just keep it in your thoughts, alright?” Springer asked.

“Alright.” Arthur nodded, the appearance of his placid mask becoming more and more frequent

We left the alcove and rejoined the current that seemed to draw everyone inward, like bubbles spiraling towards the drain in a shower. Further towards the heart, further from the manor. Thoughts of the well house or the garden were as from my mind as could be.

I led the three of us, stepping past and weaving through every kind of person. Behind me, I heard a quick exchange between the siblings.

“Are you really thinking about becoming a guard?” Anna said to Arthur.

“I dunno, what else do I have to do here?” Arthur said to Anna.

Anna didn’t respond to that.

Just as we rounded the smoldering embers of a recently abandoned cook fire, something sweet filled my nose.

“What’s that smell?” Arthur asked as we were forced to halt our progress.

“Vanilla?” Anna said, standing shoulder to shoulder with me.

“And cinnamon.” I added, finding myself beginning to be overwhelmed once again.

A mass of people that were seemingly packed so tightly in the crowded street I doubted there was any air between them.

Our journey into the heart had slowed to a true crawl when I heard a voice in the distance. With the eager chatter and noise of those around me, I could not make out the words, but I immediately knew it was from the same mouth as the song from the beginning of Amoranora.

It was clear, bright, and filled my heart with a sudden longing.

“I have to see her.” I said, intertwining my fingers with Anna’s.

“There’s too many people. How are we going to get through?” Anna asked.

Arthur crossed his arms. “I’m twice the size of everybody here, I could get us through.”

“What a great plan, little brother. Get everyone’s attention by bull rushing through them. It’s not like we have anybody that should absolutely not be out here with us.” Anna said, rolling her eyes.

“We don’t. Millime isn’t a criminal.” Arthur said with complete seriousness.

Anna ran her free hand over her face, showing the reds of her eyes. “You-I-sometimes-wow. . .”

We had moved forward enough that I could see that the street opened up into a much larger space that was equally full of people.

From the Indistinct words she spoke, I knew she was in there. Everyone had packed in just for the chance to see her.

“Just follow me.” I said, focusing my aura and bringing it to my palm.

I want to go home. I thought, thinking about the pain in my feet and the aching in my bones. How nice would it be to turn in early, take a warm shower, and slip into my nice cool sheets. The night had been long and my ears had heard enough stories that my dreams would come easy and full.

I want to go home. I repeated in my mind, placing my hand gently on the back of the large man standing in front of me. “Excuse me, sir.”

“Oh, right. My apologies, I must be going.” The man said, nodding at me. He turned away from the crowd and made his way up current.

I want to go home. I thought again, stepping forward into the space the man had vacated and brushing my palm against the forearm of the next person in my way. “Can we slip past you?”

“Of course,” A friendly looking woman agreed. “I was just heading home.”

“Are you?” Anna whispered, holding onto the back of my dress.

“I am.” I said, keeping my focus on my false homesickness.

Step by step, person by person, my charm took and we slipped through the crowd like Jotuza had the ocean.

Her voice could be heard between the reactionary sounds of the crowd, growing clearer and closer with every person I sent home to their beds. I want to go home. I could not let my thoughts be swayed by the excitement I felt.

We reached the pinch point between a large library and what looked like a guard post. Just as I sent a mother with two young children away and began to walk down the incline of the large opening in the city, applause broke out and I realized that her story had just ended.

Faster, Anna and Arthur staying close to my back, I pushed through the crowd. The wake of the charmed ones streamed behind us and I could see flashes of the platform that was the focal point of it all.

“She’s there.” I said under my breath, cinnamon and vanilla drawing me in like an insect to the scent of a rose. All around me, save for those I touched, everyone cheered and clapped as if every desire in their life had been fulfilled. I could scarcely believe that I was truly in the heart of Erosette, but I realized the heart was not truly the center of the city.

A momentary window through the crowd showed me a long leg peeking out from a crimson dress.

Further towards angry red.

Her hands, awash in rose colored aura, gently passing over the outreaching crowd.

Further towards The Mother in Red.

A sudden sound of surprise and the flare of firelight as The Red Mother mounted her lion of fire.

Further toward the true heart of Erosette, The terrible vitality that would punish me to an end that only she knew.

I was so close, so close, to seeing the face of one of my punishers with my own eyes.

Just as we broke through the crowd and only a single layer of people kept me from running right up to the stage, the lion of fire bounded away from us and The Mother in Red was gone.

So close. I had been so close. The force that had drawn me forward fell away and I suddenly felt very uncomfortable being around so many people.

“Oh, I am sorry. Am I too close to you?” The spritely woman whose back I had absentmindedly touched with my charmed hand said.

Fuck. The energy of the crowd, the desire in my heart, I had lost my focus.

“It’s you!” Arthur said suddenly.

“I wonder, what are the chances that we would run into one another here.” The woman said.

Like me, her feet were bare. She wore a yellow dress so light it was nearly white. It fit snuggly, emphasizing her slender but muscular frame. Her blond hair was wild, like a bird's nest, and a strange looking bird with a pinched looking head sat atop it.

“The prettiest man you ever saw is what you called me last time we spoke.” Sorceress Ulet said to Arthur, a mousy smile on her face.

Ulet, who had been Mr. Bill Argus and saved me from the clutches of the sorcerer Eames, was an inch in front of me.

I heard Arthur laugh. “I don’t remember that, but it sounds like me.”

She was not a normal citizen that would feel like they had suddenly wished to go home.

She was a sorceress in full and I had charmed her.

My face painted with Millime or not, surely she had recognized the touch of my aura on her back.

“And you, I see that you have no plates in your hands. Does this mean we can be more cordial this time?” Ulet asked Anna.

The crowd erupted around us and I turned to see that someone new had taken the stage.

A man with sleek black hair and red toned skin smiled and accepted the applause. When he spoke, he did not yell, but his voice sounded like he was speaking directly to me. “Thank you all for making my night so enjoyable. Allow me to return the favor.”

“As long as you don’t threaten to kill me.” Anna answered Ulet, stepping forward and placing herself in front of me like I was a stranger that had gotten in her way.

Dreamtongue himself, one of The Red Mother’s lovers, began his story. “I will tell you of Siegfried.”

The sound of something large swooping through the air above drew my eyes to the sky. Wings beats, like the pounding of the rhythm maker's drums from several nights ago, silenced the crowd. A silhouette descended from the sky and shot cold fear through my spine.

“Siegfried the dragon slayer.” Dreamtongue continued.

Fire exploded in the sky and a chorus of shocked gasps sounded from the crowd around me.

The bird atop Sorceress Ulet’s nest of hair broke out into a sudden flurry of chirps and whistles.

Ooo? Had that been his name?

Sam could see through my glamors. If that turned out to be a common trait among familiars, then my true identity could be discovered with little more than another chirp.

From behind the space the siblings had made with their bodies, I stared at Ulet and wondered if her familiar had already given me away.

“By the way you are looking at me, I suppose we have met as well?” Ulet asked me directly, her mousey face looking genuinely curious. The siblings turned to look at me at the sound of her words.

So slight that I was sure no one noticed it but me, Anna gave her head a small shake and pointed her eyes towards the direction of the manor. She was telling me to pretend like I did not know any of them and to go home. I don’t know how I knew it, but her silent instructions could not have been more clear.

“No, I was trying to see The Mother in Red.” I lied, partially.

“You have just missed her, I'm afraid.” Ulet said apologetically, like it was her doing that had prevented me from seeing the mother.

With an intentionally despondent sigh, I turned and began to make my way back through the crowd like all of the people I had charmed home before me.

Dreamtongue must have painted some heroic image in the sky above me because as the crowd began to thin, a roar of cheers rose up behind me.

Without the draw of the heart of Erosette to guide me, something unexpected happened to me.

I got lost.

No Anna, no Arthur, and no Sam.

Alone.