COF 2: The Soul Spells

10 | Conflict (II)

They gathered inside Cyrdel's room and the memory of what happened still hung over them like a thick, smothering blanket. The room was now lit by metal sticks by the walls, turning on themselves as soon as a certain hour in the timeteller struck. The star-map above them clicked and clicked, showing Xanthy a tapestry of mechanical stars that she couldn't make out. Crozal's rays along with the other moons present tonight turned the garden view beyond the windows into a plaza of shadowy figures.

"Well, that sure sucks," June sighed, picking up a long, tubular instrument with numerous holes in its body. He twirled it between his fingers. Was that an eleiros? Xanthy didn't know for sure. "What a waste of a perfectly good instrument."

"How dense," Reeca rolled her eyes as she let Nyxis re-apply the soothing cream. She wrinkled her nose at the smell. "He cares more about the instruments than the fairy who crashed in it."

June crossed his arms with the eleiros in tow. "Well, at least I cared," he shifted his weight into one foot as he tilted his head. "Unlike someone who survived the whole thing sleeping."

Reeca started. Nyxis yanked her down. "Stay still," the human hissed.

Reeca muttered under her breath about gutting and chopping June into small cubes. Xanthy massaged her temples. "Enough. Do you want me to throw you, too? There are perfectly good piles in here."

June placed a hand to his chest, feigning a shocked expression. "You do not want to waste any more of this fine collection! We might be able to sell these for a reasonable price if we bring some to the traders."

"You would not dare—"

June chuckled. "Just kidding," he shrugged while peeking at the eleiros through its hollow end. "Why are you so worked up?"

Blood rushed to her face. SHe turned away before anyone could see her blush.

Nyxis reapplied the bandage to Reeca's wings, cursing at how loose he did the first one. "Why are you so happy, anyway?" he asked June without turning to the half-blood. "Someone just got their face kicked to the ground."

June tossed the eleiros back into the scattered pile of instruments. "What is wrong in keeping the mood light?" he gestured at them "You all look like a whatraut crapped on you or something."

"I want to help him," Xanthy gnawed at her lips.

June raised an eyebrow as he plopped down on the room's patterned rug. "Does he want it, though? For all I know, he wanted Miss Dazzling Khaki Hair, over there," he pointed to somewhere behind Xanthy.

It took Xanthy a while to process that June meant Ravalee.

"Yes," Nyxis interjected. "It is not like you know him or anything. You can also make it worse for him if you don't plan this correctly."

"But I want to help," Xanthy crossed her arms.

June faced her. "Xanthy, stop offering help to those who didn't ask for it," he said in his smooth Keijula. "You'll end up hurting them or yourself."

"He is correct," Nyxis agreed, tying Reeca's bandage with finality. The varichria winced.

Xanthy whirled to Nyxis. "You can understand Keijula?"

Nyxis shrugged, opening his satchel to rummage for something. "I have been with fairies the past weeks. I began picking up things. The gist of what June said is that help is not given to those who did not want it. Am I correct?"

June grinned. "You're learning," he said in Keijula.

Nyxis dipped his head. "Thanks," he replied in a weird accent that sounded like Ylanen trying to speak in the fairy tongue.

June clapped Nyxis by the back as the human sat a few paces away from Reeca. "A little more practice and maybe you will defeat Xanthy in Keijula crosswords."

"Ha-ha," Xanthy mocked-laughed. She frowned. "Can we please focus on the problem? How can we help Cyrdel?"

"Take his throne?" Nyxis propped a finger up.

"Definitely not," Xanthy shook her head.

"Help him get banished?" June inclined his head to the right.

Xanthy blinked. "No!"

"Murder his father?" Reeca quipped, massaging her temples. The pain Nyxis talked about earlier must be kicking in.

"What is wrong with you?" Xanthy demanded.

I'll go to him. Ravalee's voice speared through Xanthy's mind. I know where he is. He has probably cooled down.

The thief is still out there. Xanthy thought to Ravalee. There's no way I'm letting you go alone. I'll go with you.

Ravalee nodded. Thank you.

"Ravalee is going out," Xanthy turned to her friends and jerked her thumb at her half. "I am going with her."

Nyxis stood up and walked towards them. "Well, I might as well refill my satchel. This fairy siphons through it like a zastreo," he glanced at Reeca. The varichria stuck her tongue out.

Nyxis turned back to Xanthy. "I will accompany you out of the Palace and from there we will part ways."

Xanthy nodded. "Sure."

"And I'll stay here!" June said a little too cheerfully. He turned to the varichria. "Perhaps a game of karavag? The loser gets to have ink splattered across their face."

"Go call on Pidmena," Reeca snapped as Xanthy, Ravalee, and Nyxis shut the door to Cyrdel's rooms. Gods, Xanthy could only hope those two wouldn't kill each other while she was out.