Enaya: Solace of Time (22 page)

Charis looked up to the airship. “And I suppose this tin can is yours?”

“Hey, this tin can is the best thing you’ll ever be in,” Locklin said.

Charis snarled. “I doubt it.”

“How old are you, my child?”

“Eighteen and still growing,” Charis replied.

“An elder went to speak to the council about us staying the night, and if we do, we don’t want any trouble,” Nile said before Ashera could open her mouth to comment.

“Let me tell . . .”

“Charis!” an old voice called.

Charis turned around to see the elder standing there.

“Leave them alone. We’ve had enough trouble from you for a day.”

“Sorry, Father,” Charis said and she glared at the newcomers before scurrying up a staircase and across the bridge.

The elder approached them. “I have talked to the council and you may stay the night, but you must join us for supper and tell us why you are here, and you must be out by tomorrow morning.”

“I thank you,” Nile said. “What is your name?”

“Ishmael.”

“Thank you.”

“I shall take you to your lodging, and dinner will be served at six in the great hall. Tonight we have our Celebration of Mystainism.”

“What is that?” Nile asked.

“Mystainism is the celebration of our thanks. There is food and music, and we dance and sing. You may stay in your room for the night, or you may join us.” Ishmael turned to the newcomers. “But please, dress more appropriate. We have shops open until four here in Peoria and we will cover your hotel expenses since we usually are only open to our kind who pass through here.”

Ishmael crept up a stone staircase. A window closed on a stone house as they passed by, and they could hear the pitter-patter of feet running through the house. There were whispers coming from the door as they passed. Nile looked to the top to see a male pull away from the edge, hiding in the shadows.

Locklin lit a cigarette, not paying attention to everyone else. He inhaled the smoke and closed his eyes, breathing it in.

Ishmael stopped and sniffed. “Is something on fire?”

Locklin stopped for a second and looked at Ishmael as his nose twitched and his whiskers stiffened. Locklin flicked the cigarette over the bridge and into the water below before Ishmael saw it.

“Do you smell that?”

“No,” Locklin said.

“Very well then,” Ismael said, stopping in front of a large stone structure labeled Nightwish Inn. “Here is where you will be staying.”

Nile felt relaxed. There was excitement to lay in a real bed, hopefully a soft one, and stretch out and sleep. Just the thought of sleeping made him extremely tired. He yawned and proceeded to walk into the Nightwish Inn.

Chapter 30

The Nightwish Inn

The lobby had a small desk with a plump old peoriallite in thick glasses and a white long-sleeved shirt with a maroon vest. His ears were black, and he had long whiskers upon his face. He was snoozing when they went in to register. Leo, as immature as he was, eagerly tapped the small register bell for service, and the peoriallite continued to sleep. Leo tapped it again. The bell rang, and nothing happened. He looked back at the group with a smile then picked up the bell, reached over the counter, and tapped it in his ear. The peoriallite jumped awake.

“I’z wuz taking a snooze!”

“I’z needz a room,” Leo mocked, trying to make the crew laugh.

Ashera slapped Leo’s arm. “Don’t be rude.”

“They will be staying free of charge tonight,” Ishmael said. “Tomorrow, see Aeolian and he will reimburse you.”

“Aeolian iz az stubborn az the gray hairz on mize back.”

“It is not for Aeolian to say, but for me,” Ishmael said. “They bring news.”

The peoriallite glared at him, then pulled a book from below the counter. He stood up, opened it to a blank page, and pointed for Leo to sign, and when he did, he tossed the pen in the book and closed it. The peoriallite then handed Leo three keys.

Leo handed the keys as he called out, “One key is for Nile and Ashera, the other is for Bancroft and Locklin, and the third is for me.”

Ashera grabbed the key out of Nile’s hand, threw it into Leo’s chest, and quickly grabbed the key in Leo’s hand. “I get the room to myself.”

Leo looked at her in surprise and then turned to lead the crew down the hallway. He stopped at the door with a 2 stamped on it and went in. Nile followed him. The rest disappeared into doors within the hall. Leo walked to the closest bed, stretched out his arms, and fell onto the bed. He moaned and then jumped back up.

“What?” Nile asked.

“The bed is hard.”

“Well,” Nile mumbled, “I was looking forward to a soft bed.”

Leo untied his boots and kicked them off. “What did you and the magician talk about?”

Nile stopped for a second, glancing to his friend, nervous as to what to tell him. “I told her I would fix this . . . and she kissed me?”

“What?” Leo turned to him, upset. “She kissed you? Why didn’t she kiss me?”

This was Nile’s time to joke. He stood up straight stretched out his arms. “Come on, look at me. Look at this. Girls aren’t going to pass this up.”

Ashera burst into the room. “Is everything all right?”

Nile turned to her. “Yeah.”

Ashera smiled at Nile, then left the room. Nile leaned back to watch her leave.

“She’s a keeper. I’m happy she kissed you,” Leo said.

“You are?”

“You should go and speak to her.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell her how pretty she is, or something like that. Pretend she’s Dywnwen.”

“That might get me in trouble,” Nile joked, and followed it with fake laughter.

Leo shrugged, eased himself onto the bed, and lay back. “You do what you wanna do, but I’m tellin’ you that you need to speak to her.”

Nile took off his jerkin and threw it down on the bed. He rolled up his sleeves, unfastened the first two strings at the neck to show some chest, and walked down the hall. He came to a door 5 and noticed that the door was already open.

He almost knocked, but did not. Instead, he barely pushed the door open and leaned against the doorframe. Ashera had her back turned to him, taking off her cloak. She placed it on a rocking chair and then slightly turned her head over her right shoulder, smiling.

“I knew you would come.”

Nile said nothing, but continued to stand in the doorway.

Ashera slowly walked to him. Nile swallowed hard and then stood straight. He closed the door behind him. Ashera placed her arms around his neck. She kissed him softly on the lips and closed her eyes, leaning her forehead on his.

“I . . . don’t know what to . . . say.”

“Say nothing. Your presence here is enough.”

Nile smiled.

Ashera rubbed her hands through his hair, and then she pulled herself back, looking into his eyes. “Do you think we will ever stop?”

“Stop what?”

“Running.”

Nile lowered his head. “I have hope.”

“Is that all your life is about? Hope?”

Nile shrugged. “I don’t know what else I’m fighting for. Without hope, I’m nothing. I have to know that with hope, all this can get better. I didn’t have much hope until I met you.”

“What if hope doesn’t exist anymore?”

“Then in the end, all I have is hope.”

Ashera kissed Nile again, and this time, when she pulled back, Nile placed his hand at the back of her head and pulled her to his lips. His hands loosely fell to the arch of her back, and he gripped her tightly.

Leo walked by Ashera’s room and saw Nile and her kissing. His eyes grew wide. He headed down the hallway. “They’re kissin’.”

“Eh, makes me miss bein’ in a relationship, ya know?”

“Yeah,” Leo said, placing his hands on his hips. “Well, actually, I’ve never been in one.”

Bancroft laughed. “Then you’re missing out on the treasures of the world.”

“Romance?” Leo asked disgusted. “There has to be far greater treasures then that.”

Bancroft and Locklin looked at each other. “No,” Locklin said. “No, there isn’t.”

“Love is a beautiful thing,” Bancroft said.

Leo paused for a second. Then he shook his head in disagreement and headed back to his room. Locklin and Bancroft followed him.

“Ya know what, Bancroft?” Locklin said.

“What?”

“I think somebody is jealous because Nile is makin’ the moves on a lady.”

Leo grabbed his pillow and threw it at Locklin as they stood in the doorway. Locklin threw it back at him and Leo caught it. “I’m not jealous,” Leo said.

“If so, I understand,” Locklin said with a sly smile.

“What do ya know, eh?” Leo said, mocking the way Locklin talked.

The smile on Locklin’s face disappeared into somewhat of a frown.

“Aw, did somebody get their feelings hurt?” Leo asked, frowning.

Bancroft chuckled.

Locklin took a deep breath and looked at Bancroft. “Should we kill ’em, eh?”

Bancroft shrugged. “I wouldn’t miss him.”

Leo confidently said. “Whatever, I’m the life of the party.”

“In your dreams,” Locklin mocked.

“In real life.”

Nile walked between them and into the room.

“Nile, help us deal with your friend Leo, eh.”

Nile grinned. “He’s just jealous that Ashera likes me and not him.”

Locklin and Bancroft laughed. Locklin laughed so hard he clapped his hands and leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees. “We were just sayin’ that to him a moment ago.” Then he excused himself and headed to his room.

Nile sat on the edge of his bed, and Bancroft leaned up against the wall. “Ashera is going to sleep before the celebration tonight.”

“Are we goin’?” Leo asked.

Nile shrugged. “I’m going because Ashera wants to go.”

“I guess I could use something to get my mind off things.”

“I doubt I’ll go, my friends.”

“Come on, Bancroft, it’ll be fun,” Leo said.

Bancroft hesitated. “No, no, you go ahead without me. I might skip dinner and sleep the night through. Today has been one rough day.”

“I respect your decision,” Nile said, “but I wish you would join us.”

“I understand, but I can’t just get out there and dance my worries away.”

“Then take your time, Bancroft, and if you need me here with you, I’ll stay,” Nile said.

“No, I appreciate that, but you go out with your lady friend and enjoy the night together. You only live once.”

Locklin came back into the room, and Leo jumped at him, acting as if he were going to attack him. Locklin held out his hands in defense and then eased up. “I have some clothing out in the Ancrya, if ya wish to check them out.”

Nile nodded and got up, and he and Leo followed Locklin out to the Ancrya. When they walked in to the cabins, Charis was messing with a Rifle.

“What are ya doin’?” Locklin asked.

Charis quickly turned around and placed the rifle behind her back. “It’s none of your business.”

“When you’re in my airship, I’m makin’ it my business, sweet cheeks.”

Charis aimed the rifle at them, not knowing what it did, and the three men quickly ducked down and told her to move it away. She did and then asked, “What does it do?”

“Give it to me and I’ll show you,” Leo said, standing up and approaching her.

Charis hissed.

“You’re cute, kid, but not that cute,” Locklin said, reaching for the Rifle.

“Besides, I found more,” Charis said, pointing to a closet. Charis tossed the gun at Locklin, and he placed it on the bed beside him.

“Listen, we need to change eh, so why don’t ya get outta here?”

Charis sat on a bed, crossed her legs, resting on her palms. “Why don’t I just watch?”

“How about you get out of here, or I drown you in water?” Leo commented.

Charis looked at him. “Water doesn’t scare me.”

“Charis, ya are gettin’ on my nerves.”

Leo looked at Nile, “Come on and forget about her. If she wants to watch, let her watch.”

Nile shrugged.

Charis jumped up, “I’ve got better things to do than watch three men undress.” She pushed between them and left the airship while they stood in the cabin, laughing.

“Anyways, fellas, we got some stuff in the closet over here,” Locklin said. There were clothes thrown around from when Nile, Ashera, and Leo hid in there. Locklin pulled out a black silk vest and a bright white shirt. He tossed them on the bed. Leo glanced at them, but was not interested. Nile picked up the vest, enjoying the texture between his fingers.

“I’m going to try this on,” Nile said, taking off his tunic and throwing it on the bed. He slipped the shirt on first and then the black vest. He extended out his arms and studied the length of the sleeves. It was a little tight around the chest and the arms, but he liked it that way.

Locklin then pulled out a pair of tan pants and threw them to Leo. He caught them and threw them over his shoulder and waited for Locklin to give him a shirt. After Locklin searched frantically through the clothes, he finally pulled out a blue shirt and white short-sleeved shirt and he tossed them to Leo.

Locklin then found a pair of black pants and threw them at Nile. He searched for some more items, but only found a box of socks and gloves and by searching through that, he pulled out a pair of black leather gloves for Nile and a pair of brown leather gloves for Leo.

“Now, change,” Locklin said, leaving the room.

“I get the bathroom,” Leo called, and then dashed toward it.

After minutes, Locklin was sitting in the resting area until Nile and Leo came out. Locklin examined the two young gentlemen. Nile had taken his belt off his old pants and placed it around him, leaving an empty sheath and Leo did the same.

Locklin clapped. “Ya boys look like one of us, eh.”

“That good, huh?” Leo asked with a smile.

“Well, ya look sharp.”

“Now all I need is a lady friend,” Leo said.

Nile smiled at him, still examining his arms. “Does this make me look depressed?”

“Oh no,” Locklin said. “Ya look good, but don’t get me wrong, I look better then both of ya.”

Nile slipped on the gloves and then pressed the corners down in with the fingers on his opposite hand. “All I need now is a sword to fill the sheath.” He pulled the sheath up and saw his father’s initials carved into the leather. He froze for a second and then dropped the sheath to his side.

“Ya okay?” Locklin asked.

“Yeah,” Nile said. “I just had a moment.”

“Well, how about we get ya back to the inn, catch us a nap or somethin’,” Locklin said, stretching.

The two agreed and left the Ancrya, walking back through Peoria. The villagers started to open their windows again and come outside. Some were decorating for the celebration, and as Nile saw two kids throw purple ribbons, his mind flashed to Dywnwen’s wedding day where he saw children throw ribbons over trees. When his mind came to, he was already at the Nightwish Inn. He walked in, departing from Locklin at his room and he sat on his bed, falling back with his arms stretched out to the side.

Leo was on his bed too, staring at the ceiling. The cracks of paint covered the ceiling in a million different designs and he pointed out as many as he could; he even believed he saw a face in one of the designs.

“It’s hard isn’t it?” Nile asked.

“What is?” Leo asked.

“Pretending.”