The Light of My Hearts
Closer

A/N: Sorry for the long delay on this chapter. I’ve been busy with life and unmotivated as I’ve attempted to plan this out (getting closer to the end!)

Later after the deliveries...

Kendrick finished the day’s deliveries for Elmry while he went to make the theft report. Afterward, he headed back to the Birchwood Estate to see Twillow and check up on her. Much to his surprise she was not only awake and up but she had company. Her brother Hugo and Darby were in her room and she was modeling the wrap they had purchased from the faun. It was an odd yet elegant-looking white outfit hemmed in gold and green filigree. It covered some of her but was almost too sheer to be a useful cover.

But...Kendrick liked what he saw.

“Hello, sweethearts.” Twillow greeted when his shadow blotted the window dark. “What do you think of the wrap you bought for me?”

He smiled, truly not caring about the wrap, only her delectable form, “You’re gorgeous.”

Darby was carefully observing Twillow’s wrap as she turned and moved in it.

He stepped closer to her and said, “How does it feel across the chest?”

“A bit loose.” Twillow remarked.

Without really thinking about it, Darby moved in close and began touching and adjusting the cloth around Twillow’s breasts. Kendrick made a deep noise, nostrils flaring slightly. Darby flinched and stole a nervous glance back at him. Kendrick’s eyes seemed to give a silent warning.

The faun’s ears fell back, “It...it has to be tightened.”

Hugo, who was sitting comfortably on the bed, gave a short laugh, “I’d be careful, Darby. He’s going to get the wrong idea about you and my sister.”

Twillow shot her brother a dirty look, “Hugo, stop it!”

A pink flush came onto Darby’s cheeks and his hands jerked quickly to his sides, “It...it’s only an adjustment!”

Hugo giggled to himself and then looked at Kendrick filling the window.

He removed his hands from the sleeves of his elaborate house robe and said, “Why don’t you come in and join us, Kendrick?”

Before the giant could react, Hugo lifted his hands elegantly the room filled with light.

“Hugo!” Twillow protested but it was too late.

Kendrick didn’t have time to do much except blink when the familiar pain of the transforming curse hit him like an avalanche. He heard his shirt rip and when he finally opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor of Twillow’s room, transformed to his smaller size. He and his special clothes shrunk, but the book he had purchased and some of the gold he was carrying mercilessly tore through the pocket of his shirt and clunked to the floor. Twillow was by his side, pulling him up.

Oddly, the pain subsided much quicker than in the past.

Kendrick grunted, feeling the rip in his shirt, “Damn it, Hugo! I wasn’t ready for that.”

Twillow touched his face with concern, “Are you ok?”

Feeling her dainty hand against his cheek and jaw numbed his feelings of pain and he leaned into it with a reassuring smile, “I’m fine, my light. Just wasn’t ready for that.”

“Hugo! Don’t you ever do that again without warning him first!” she snapped at her brother. “That spell always hurts him.”

“Did that spell hurt you, Kendrick?” Hugo asked, rising from the bed.

“Some...but the pain went away quicker this time.” Kendrick admitted.

When Kendrick rose to his feet, Hugo reached out, made a funny spinning motion with his index finger, and the ripped pocket on his shirt magically resewed itself.

“There. All mended. No hard feelings I hope?”

He glanced down and magically returned the chunks of gold littering the floor to the table in the room momentarily.

Hugo then hovered Kendrick’s book into his hands, “And what is this?”

“It’s just a book I bought that’s supposed to contain information about my kind.”

Twillow leaned in with interest, “You found a book about the Jotunn?”

Hugo flicked the pages, skimming, “Hm. I haven’t seen this book before. It is old though. How much did you pay for it?”

“Guy wanted one hundred gold.”

Hugo balked, “Did you tell him you were part of the Birchwood family?” he mumbled a complaint as he continued to skim the pages, “The service gets better...but our name tends to make the price of items go up.”

“If I can learn about my kind, the price is worth it.” Kendrick concluded.

The fae smiled and handed the book to Kendrick, “Well, let’s hope it teaches you some new things.”

Twillow gave her brother a questioning look, “How did you change Kendrick? I didn’t see a curse stone...”

The fae moved his brows with a smile, “Oh. I figured it out...just now.”

“You mean... you tried out a random spell on me?!” Kendrick sounded outraged.

Hugo gave a huff of indignation, “Random? What kind of second-rate magic user do you take me for? I have studied that spell extensively. I just hadn’t tried in on you yet. But I see that works.” He looked at Twillow, “You did say you wanted a spell that would be less painful for your big gray beau. I delivered. You’re welcome.”

Kendrick gave a growl, not liking the sound of being a test subject without his knowledge.

“A little warning or consent would’ve been appreciated.” Twillow replied succinctly.

Hugo rolled his eyes moodily, “Noted. Now...” He pinched the cloth on Kendrick’s shoulder and led him over to the bed to sit. “...let’s return to the modeling.”

Hugo sat next to Kendrick and looked back to Twillow and Darby expectantly.

Darby, who had watched the entire scene unfold, didn’t seem eager to move.

Hugo gestured, “Go on. Continue the adjustments. My sister must look her best for the blooming of my first nephew.”

Kendrick looked over at him, “Nephew?”

“Well...I think it will be a boy. Marci and I are having a little wager...I think half the house staff is as well.” Hugo explained in a tone that bespoke of a secret.

Twillow raised her arms as Darby cautiously did his job, “You’re gambling on the gender of our baby?”

“And the date you expel your Life Water.” Hugo added.

Twillow turned for Darby as he quickly fixed the problem from before, “I’m surprised.”

Hugo leaned back, wings flickering, “Oh please. You didn’t think it wouldn’t happen?”

“I thought you said gambling was a fool’s game?” she gibed.

“Not when I’m assured free meals for a year.” Hugo smirked.

Twillow laughed, “And what if you get a niece?”

“[Sigh] Oh, I’ll owe Marci a favor sometime. Oberon knows what that might be...” Hugo rolled his eyes.

Darby nipped the thread from his needle after he made the adjustment, “How is that, Miss Twillow?”

She nodded, moving her shoulders and wings to test, “Much better, thank you.”

“Turn.” Hugo commanded, gesturing with his hand.

Twillow turned slowly, wings and cloth about her glistening like fresh dew on a freshly bloomed flower. Hugo was admiring the wrap. Kendrick was admiring his wife.

He stood and approached her, touching the near transparent material, “You’re so beautiful.”

“Do you like the wrap?” she prompted.

“You’d look beautiful in anything.” He nuzzled into her neck and then her ear, “Or nothing at all...”

Twillow’s wings flickered and she blushed with a giggle, “Stop.”

He laughed then glanced back at Darby, “Good work, Darby.”

“Th-thank you.”

There was a rapid knock at Twillow’s door.

“Who is it?” Twillow called.

“Mizz Twillow? It is Chezzi. May Chezzi enter?”

She blinked and then gave a pitying look to Darby. Ever since the fashion gnome heard she bought a wrap from someone else he’d been in an absolute tizzy trying to figure out who had “stolen” his honor.

“Um...”

Hugo snorted impishly and suddenly flicked his hand, opening the door. Before Twillow could stop it, Chezzi darted inside and froze upon seeing Twillow wearing the wrap. For a moment he stood in stunned silence until he saw the faun next to her holding the tools of a tailor.

“Yo! Yo take job from Chezzi!?”

Darby stood up straighter when he saw the gnome. His ears lifted slightly.

He too was stunned but, in a star-struck way, “Chezzi? The Chezzi?”

The blue mustachioed gnome marched over to Twillow, not passing the chance to shove Darby aside, “Let me see wrap.”

Kendrick stared at the impudent little gnome, almost expecting a fight. (Lord only knew if Chezzi was as fiery as Melvin?) But the short man began inspecting the wrap on Twillow. He made short huffs and grunts as he touched the fabric and examined how it lay on Twillow’s form. It was almost as if he was searching for flaws to rebut Twillow’s choice of tailor.

He caressed a length of the wrap that hung off Twillow’s shoulders and stared at Darby, “Mothuri silks?”

Darby’s eyes darted a moment but he nodded, “Of course.”

The gnome squinted, “Yo sew wrap yoself?”

Again, the faun gave a cautious nod.

Chezzi huffed, took a breath then looked up at Twillow, “Mizz Twillow ees happy with wrap?”

She nodded with a smile, “It’s wonderful.”

Her answer drew a slow nod from the gnome, “Ees...good ceremony wrap. Made right.”

Hugo chuckled, “That sounded hard for you to say, Chezzi.”

Twillow shot him a look, knowing her brother loved to stir up drama where he could for “fun”.

But then her brother said, “It is a good wrap for my sister. Darby did a wonderful job. He has quite the talent for making clothes.” Hugo tipped his head, “By the way, whatever happened to Rii your assistant?”

Chezzi blew sharply through his lips and threw up a dismissive hand, “Rii ees gone! Gone foreva! We neva speak of him!”

Hugo gestured with a finger, “Well...why don’t you try Darby as an assistant? I was thinking of hiring him anyway.”

Darby’s eyes went huge and his ears quivered. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. True enough Hugo had all but sequestered him after the baby shower to talk about new outfit designs. The eccentric Birchwood loved to talk about clothes (and himself). Darby never imagined such a high society fae would be interested in his outfits (though he secretly hoped). And now he was actually in the presence of Marleyla’s most coveted fashion designer, simply known as Chezzi. The faun had long been inspired by the gnome’s attention to detail since he first saw one of Chezzi’s hand-stitched dresses in an upscale shop. It was sparkling, soft beauty personified in textile.

The gnome whipped around, looked at the faun, then back at Hugo, ”Heem?”

“Yes.”

At first Chezzi almost looked too proud or pompous to even consider the idea. He looked at the wrap Twillow wore again, puffed his rosy cheeks behind the blue of his mustache, then stared pointedly at Darby.

“Yo name Darby?”

The faun nodded, “Y-yes. Darby Roe.”

“Yo assist Chezzi? Work for Birchwoods?”

At first the faun looked like he’d lost the ability to speak. His small mouth hung partially open. Finally, his antlered head bobbed.

“Y-yes! Of course! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Hugo clapped his hands once and stood, “Excellent. Come with me, the both of you. I have something in mind I’d like you to make for me for the blooming day.”

The gnome walked after Hugo but looked back at Darby, “Yo assist Chezzi. Yo do good job, yo stay.”

The faun acted bewildered as his brown eyes blinked.

“Seems you’re getting noticed, Darby.” Kendrick commented. “Good for you.”

“I...I can’t believe this is happening.” The faun was awestruck. “Thank you.”

Kendrick gestured for the faun to get moving and Darby did, trotting after Hugo and Chezzi. The door shut and he sighed with relief. He cared nothing for fashion, only the lovely beauty who wore them.

“Guess that just leaves us.” He smiled, playing with a piece of Twillow’s wrap.

He gently tugged at the loose drapes of cloth falling off her arms and pulled Twillow closer to him. She smiled until he abruptly leaned in and kissed her, his longing boiling over. Twillow returned the kiss, touching his hard chest.

“I’m sorry. Hugo can be so unpredictable sometimes. He just does things on a whim.” She apologized when he finally pulled back.

“Hm. Well I’m sure I’ll find a way to cope.” He grinned, stealing another kiss against her neck. “I was beginning to miss this.”

Twillow shivered as his warm breath and mustache tickled her nape with his kiss.

“That reminds me...we need to start thinking of names for our baby. Boy or girl.” She mentioned amid his ardor.

Kendrick didn’t pause but hummed into her chest, “Later. There’s plenty of time for that.”

She sighed but smiled as she gestured to the book he’d gotten, “Aren’t you going to read your book?”

He briefly glanced at her point and grinned, “Later.”

Slowly, he herded her toward the bed with his larger body until he had her laid back into the soft blankets. He settled on top of her gently, amber eyes locked into her violets until their lips met again.

This is all he ever wanted. Simply being with the woman he loved, feeling her little heart beating against his, the softness of her body, her scent filling his head and chest. It was certainly a big piece of that good life he’d always sought.

...

Meanwhile at the Marlaylan Guard building...

Elmry followed the guards and the thief to the Marlaylan Guard building to wrap up the report. He’d submitted his earlier complaints about the thefts so the law was aware of it, but now it would hopefully be concluded. (An outright confession certainly helped.)

Elmry was talking to his friend the chief of the guards simply known as Boss. He was a black coated centaur whom Elmry had kept in close contact with as of late since the Kraskol threat and the robberies. As they talked of the thefts, a second centaur entered, acting alarmed and agitated as he held a message parchment in hand.

“Sir!” he barked but reigned back his tone when he saw Elmry sitting in the same room.

“What is it, Dellon?” Boss sounded slightly annoyed.

Dellon glanced at Elmry and then Boss, his eyes seeming to say he wasn’t sure if he could share his information with company.

The look was understood, “It’s fine, Dellon. Elmry can be trusted.”

Though he still seemed unsure he blurted out, “The Kraskol in Oberit has escaped their city!”

Elmry sat up straighter, the fear grasping at his chest, “It escaped?! How?”

Boss extended his hand to silently demand the parchment Dellon held. The centaur handed it over quickly as Boss read it.

“Son of a bitch.” He whispered then he sounded irate, “We only got this NOW?!”

“Yes sir.”

“This message is two days past!” Boss slapped the parchment to his desk, “Why didn’t this get here sooner?”

“I-I don’t know...”

The black coated centaur rose tall, stomping his hooves, “Never mind. Get all of our top guys together. We’ve got to plan for this immediately! For all we know that damnable beast could be here now!” he nodded to Elmry once Dellon turned to go, “I must attend to this immediately.”

Elmry nodded but as he stood a thought struck him, “Boss, where is the ice dryad?”

“Rest assured, Elmry, he’s properly detained.”

“I need to ask him something.” Elmry stated.

Boss thought about the request then tapped his front hoof at another nearby orc guard, “You. Take Elmry here to the detention room we put the ice dryad in. Keep a close watch.”

The orc nodded and led Elmry through the building to a barred set of cells containing Marlayla’s current law breakers. The ice dryad was cuffed and sitting on the bench in his cell.

The orc guard tapped the cell bars sharply, “Hey, icy. You got a visitor.”

A sour look seemed to roll the dryad’s white eyes when he saw Elmry, “Didn’t you and your giant get enough from me?”

Elmry stood away from the bars and asked, “Did you see who attacked and robbed you last night?”

“Oh? You believe me now?” was the snappish reply.

“Maybe. Did you see them?”

The ice dryad’s mouth twitched, “Didn’t see him. Came up from behind me. He was strong...” he held up his wrists showing faint bruises.

Elmry squinted, “You said you got knocked out?”

The blue-skinned being massaged the side of his neck, “Thought he stabbed me. Then everything went black. Came to later in the morning.”

“Can I see?”

A suspicious look cross the dryad’s face but he showed Elmry the discolored blotch on his neck, “Thought maybe a vampire jumped me.”

“But there’s only one mark.” Elmry puzzled.

“It... might be...” the orc guard stated out of nowhere, his golden green eyes darting with thought.

Both of them looked at the guard who flicked his long, big ears like a dog.

“Stay there.” The orc guard turned and rushed away.

In a few moments he returned with Boss following. The centaur looked irritated.

“This better be good.” He ranted huffily.

The orc guard gestured to the dryad to show the mark on his neck, “See. What’s that look like to you?”

Boss leaned down, making the ice dryad cringe slightly from his looming stance.

“Show me this mark you have.” He commanded sternly.

The ice dryad stretched his neck, pulling his shirt a bit to show the chief. Boss’s brown eyes stared for several moments until he and the orc shared a glance. Hastily, they both turned to leave the cell hallway.

“What? What is it?” Elmry and the dryad both asked, confused.

Boss swished his horse tail and gestured for the fae to follow closer.

“Wait! What is this mark? Am I going to die?!” the ice dryad sounded frantic.

“No.” was all Boss said. “Count yourself lucky.”

When they were out of earshot, Boss blew air through his nose, “That looks exactly like the mark that was left on that poor fae mother after the Kraskol attack.”

Elmry glanced back, the hair on his neck prickling, “Are you sure?”

Boss gave a nod, “From what Oberit sent us describing the scene...I think so.”

“So...” Elmry began but Boss’s expression told him to keep his voice low so he whispered, “It’s here in Marlayla?”

“Looks that way.” The centaur nodded and rested a meaty hand on Elmry’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, Elmry. We will find this creature and stop it once and for all.”

But the fae’s expression didn’t seem comforted. In fact it looked ever more perturbed, “The Doorway Tourmaline.”

Boss frowned, “What?”

“That dryad stole a Doorway Tourmaline from our business...and that’s what was stolen from him after this attack.” He licked his dry lips, looking more frightened, “If the Kraskol has it...it can get through the barrier.”

Before Boss could ask more, Elmry turned and rushed for the door that led outside.

“Elmry!”

But the shorter fae was already outside and airborne, flying as fast as he could back home.

From a dark alley below his flight did not go unnoticed by a cloaked figure. It followed, keeping to the shadows.

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