Chương 48: Something Of Her Own

Kindle had discovered that Garrick's shoulder was easier to climb than his back. This had not made the experience more dignified.

"Your claws," Garrick muttered. Kindle ignored him. The little Hearth Drake scrambled from Garrick's lap, planted one pale forefoot against his chest, and hauled himself upward with the determination of something scaling a mountain. Garrick caught him beneath the stomach before he could slip.

"Careful." Kindle made a quiet chirping sound. It was softer than the noises Garrick remembered from before, although most things about Kindle were softer now. His scales remained primarily charcoal-black, but the orange that had once glowed beneath them had faded into pale, almost white markings. No heat rolled off him, and no sparks escaped his mouth when he became excited. He was still Kindle; just quieter. Garrick settled him across one shoulder. Kindle immediately began investigating his hair.

"Absolutely not." A tiny claw caught one strand. Garrick winced.

"Traitor." Across the Waystation common room, Regina laughed.

"You let him climb up there."

"I did not realize I was agreeing to grooming."

"Young men often misunderstand agreements." Garrick looked toward her. Regina sat in one of the padded chairs closest to the hearth, a blanket draped across her knees despite repeatedly claiming she did not need one. Aurelia had put it there, of course. Aurelia was also currently standing beside Regina with a cup in one hand and the expression of someone preparing to discover a new medical emergency by force.

"Drink." Regina looked at the cup.

"I have been drinking."

"You drank half."

"That would suggest I have, in fact, been drinking. What I need instead is peace." Garrick leaned back against the hearthstone and tried not to laugh; Aurelia noticed.

"You're enjoying this."

"Immensely."

"You're supposed to be spending time with Kindle."

"I can do two things." Garrick smiled - mostly. He was leaving for Bellhaven that afternoon. Zephyr could make the trip almost absurdly quickly now, but Garrick still had training, embassy duties, and whatever Edric had decided counted as "appropriate consequences" for concealing Concordance for several weeks. So the morning had become a collection of "last" things. Last breakfast at the cottage, last check on Shale, last attempt to convince Nimbus not to splash him, and last hour with Kindle before going back.

He knew he would return, but that did not stop him from wanting the time. Regina took another sip, which made Aurelia nod approvingly. Regina noticed.

"Do not look so pleased with yourself."

"You drank."

"I was thirsty."

"Exactly." Regina stared at her, then toward Garrick.

"Has she always been like this?" Garrick considered.

"I've only known her for a few months."

"Coward." Aurelia smiled. Regina sighed and returned the cup.

"There." Aurelia checked it.

"You still left some."

"Aurelia." The room went quiet. Kindle continued making very serious efforts to dismantle Garrick's hair, but Garrick felt the change. Regina's tone remained gentle, but it had become firmer.

"You have checked whether I slept, and you already asked about my shoulder."

"You mentioned it still hurts..."

"Because I am old and fell through half my sitting room." Aurelia frowned.

"You did not fall through half your sitting room."

"The room fell around me. It's not an important detail, though," Regina began counting on her fingers.

"You checked my breakfast. My tea. My breathing. The steps outside. The mattress. The blanket." Regina lowered her hand.

"And now you have spent most of your morning finding reasons to remain within ten feet of me." Aurelia crossed her arms.

"I'm making sure you're comfortable."

"I would be more comfortable at this point if you went away." Garrick failed to stop the laugh. Aurelia turned.

"Do not encourage her."

"I didn't say anything."

"Your face did."

"That sounds like something Talia would claim." Regina smiled, then reached out and caught Aurelia's wrist.

"You have done enough." Aurelia looked down at her.

"I don't mind…I mean it."

"I know," Regina squeezed once.

"That is the problem. You were always a helpful girl, even when you were small enough that half your help created more work." Aurelia grew quiet. Regina gestured around the Waystation.

"I have a roof, a bed, food, and half your family checking on me. Not to mention, several dragons close enough that I doubt a wolf would survive the walk to the door." Aurelia almost smiled, then Regina squeezed her wrist.

"Go do something you actually want to do." Aurelia's smile disappeared. It wasn't anger, but it was as if she'd grown tired of hearing a particular statement. Regina released her.

"You don't have to keep proving you're useful every minute." Aurelia exhaled.

"Fine."

"There's my clever girl."

"Do not make this worse."

"I would never." Aurelia turned. Garrick immediately looked innocent, which probably only made it worse. She pointed at him.

"Not one word."

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"Good." Aurelia walked toward the Waystation door. Garrick waited as Kindle climbed from his shoulder to the top of his head. Garrick caught him again before he could fall, then Regina looked over.

"Aren't you going?" Garrick blinked.

"Where?"

"After her."

"I was told not to say anything."

"You can walk silently."

"That sounds unpleasant." Regina's eyes narrowed. Garrick sighed as he put Kindle down.

"I'm being ordered around by everyone today." Regina smiled.

"Young men need structure." Kindle chirped. Garrick looked at him.

"You too?" He set the little drake carefully beside the hearth. Kindle immediately circled once and curled near the warm stones. Garrick hesitated, then scratched beneath his chin.

"I'll be back." Outside, Aurelia had not gone far. She was leaning against one of the Waystation posts, looking toward the cottage. Garrick stepped beside her, and for several seconds, he said nothing. Aurelia glanced over.

"That must be painful."

"What?"

"Not talking."

"I'm respecting your request."

"You're thinking loudly." Garrick smiled. It was mostly playful, but he could still see the irritation underneath. He rested his arms against the railing.

"So…"

"I know where this is going."

"Do you?" Aurelia stared ahead.

"Yes."

"Explain it to me." That seemed to trip her up. She looked over.

"You said you know where this is going," Garrick shrugged.

"So tell me." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Aurelia frowned.

"Everyone thinks I help too much." Garrick waited. Aurelia's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"I didn't say anything." She sighed.

"Fine. You don't think I help too much?"

"No."

"That's what Regina just said. She literally threw me out for helping."

"She threw you out because she wanted to sit quietly. That isn't the same thing." Aurelia crossed her arms.

"Then what is it?" Garrick thought carefully; this was where joking too much would ruin it.

"You like helping," he chose his words wisely.

"You liked the clinic. You liked taking care of the drakes. You liked helping Orion…"

"Sometimes." Garrick smiled.

"Still yes." Aurelia looked away.

"So?"

"So nobody is telling you to stop… At least I'm not." She glanced at him. Garrick continued.

"I think everyone's asking whether you know the difference between doing something because it helps…and doing something because you actually want it." Aurelia didn't immediately respond this time, at least not defensively. Garrick allowed her to think it through, and discern the difference for herself. Eventually she said, "Those can be the same thing. Helping can be what I want."

"Yeah."

"Then why is everyone acting like I'm doing something wrong?"

"I don't think you are," Garrick looked toward the cottage.

"I think you just answer the first part really fast."

"What is the first part?"

"What needs doing," he shrugged.

"Then, maybe you never get around to asking whether you liked it or not." Aurelia stared at him. Garrick immediately raised both hands.

"That sounded more serious than I meant it."

"No," Aurelia looked away.

"It didn't." They stood in silence again as a breeze moved over the grass. Somewhere beyond the cottage, Shale made a low grinding sound that Garrick had learned usually meant either contentment or wood disappearing.

"I don't know what the difference feels like," Aurelia finally spoke.

"If I see something that needs doing and I want to do it, how am I supposed to know which part came first?"

"I have no idea." Aurelia blinked.

"That's your answer? You've been bothering me for days and you don't know?"

"I'm sixteen." That made her laugh. Garrick smiled.

"I only have theories."

"Terrifying."

"But I think maybe the point isn't figuring out which came first. Maybe it's just making sure sometimes that it's still something you would choose even if nobody needed it." Aurelia's expression softened. Before either could continue, something brushed Garrick's ankle. Quill stood beside him in drake form, pale paper wings folded neatly against his body. Garrick frowned.

"Where did you come from?"

"Behind you." Orion's voice; Garrick turned to see him approaching. He was carrying a wooden writing board beneath one arm. He looked annoyed, though Quill looked delighted.

"Roy lent me his dragon."

"Drake," Aurelia corrected automatically. Orion stared at her.

"You too?"

"What?"

"Nothing." Quill hopped onto Orion's boot. Orion sighed. Garrick smiled.

"You look busy."

"I am apparently gathering opinions."

"About?"

"Everything," Orion held up the board.

"Roy wants a project list." Aurelia looked interested.

"Why?"

"Because he has too much money now and has decided that means he should become more dangerous."

"That sounds right."

"Also Kaelu," Orion continued.

"If Kaelu is actually going to live here, Roy wants work he can do here." Aurelia nodded.

"He'll still work in Bellhaven."

"For now," Orion glanced toward the partially developed settlement.

"But if every useful job he has requires him to leave his own home, then we didn't really solve the problem." That sounded uncomfortably sensible.

"Roy wants projects broken down by priority, materials, and who can do them." Garrick looked toward Quill.

"And that's why you have him?" Orion nodded.

"Quill remembers things better than I do." The Pact Drake chirped proudly. Orion looked down.

"Do not get smug." Quill became a ledger; it happened so quickly Garrick still found it unsettling. Orion caught him automatically after the change completed. Aurelia smiled.

"You're getting good at that."

"I hate that this sentence applies." Orion opened the ledger. Writing already covered several pages.

"Kaelu wants proper workshop space. Kiana wants storage near the field. Dry storage, not whatever Roy considers 'temporary.' Regina wants a railing on the Waystation steps." Aurelia immediately frowned.

"She didn't tell me that."

"All I did was ask what she wanted." Garrick glanced toward Aurelia; she noticed.

"Don't." He looked away. Orion kept reading.

"Uncle wants a larger pantry." Aurelia smiled.

"That sounds like him."

"Roy wrote 'predictable'," Orion turned to another page.

"And I apparently need to decide what I want." Garrick leaned against the railing.

"That going well?"

"No." Aurelia looked at him.

"Really?" Orion sighed.

"Roy said I'm not allowed to answer 'walls.'""That was your answer?"

"It was a good answer." Garrick smiled.

"What else did you come up with?" Orion looked toward the tree line.

"Patrol routes. Not just walking around whenever I feel like it; actual routes. Something covering the road approach. Something around the fields. Somewhere elevated on the northern side." Aurelia listened as Orion continued.

"Alarm points. Maybe bells, or glyphs later if Roy figures it out. Somewhere to store weapons and equipment that isn't our bedroom." Garrick nodded.

"A watch post?" Orion hesitated, then nodded.

"Eventually." Aurelia smiled.

"You like this."

"I like not being surprised by attackers."

"That counts." Orion frowned.

"Does it?" Garrick and Aurelia answered together.

"Yes." Orion looked between them, then back at Quill.

"Anyway." One page turned.

"Aurelia." She blinked.

"What?"

"What do you want?" The question landed differently now. Garrick felt it as much as Aurelia did. She looked toward Orion.

"For what?"

"Projects," he raised Quill.

"Roy told me to ask everyone." Aurelia hesitated.

"Regina needs—""Already asked her." Aurelia stopped.

"Kiana could probably use—""Asked."

"Maybe something for Nimbus near the—""Roy has a list for the drakes." Aurelia stared. Orion frowned.

"It's not hard. What do you want?" Aurelia looked toward Garrick; she narrowed her eyes.

"You planned this."

"I did not." Orion looked confused.

"Planned what?"

"Nothing," Garrick said. Aurelia exhaled, then looked out across the open land. The answer did not come immediately. Garrick could almost see her reaching for someone else's need again. But this time, at the very least, she stopped herself.

"A healing place." Orion tilted his head.

"What kind?"

"I don't know," she frowned.

"Something like Mira's clinic." The words came slowly. Not because she did not understand them, but because she was testing them.

"A treatment room," she looked toward the cottage.

"Somewhere to keep medicine properly. Books… Maybe somewhere quiet enough to study. I liked working at Mira's place." Orion nodded.

"You were good at it."

"That's not…" She stopped, then smiled faintly.

"That's not why." Garrick felt something in his chest loosen. Aurelia looked toward the settlement.

"I want somewhere to heal people," she paused.

"And learn." Orion watched her. There was no challenge or lecture; just his normal, practical expression.

"You sure that's what you want?" Aurelia looked at him, then she nodded.

"Yes." Orion smiled.

"Good." He opened Quill, and ink moved across one page. Healing house. Aurelia stared.

"That's all?" Orion frowned.

"You said you want it."

"I do."

"Then Roy needs to know," he closed the ledger.

"Figure out the details before he decides it needs twelve rooms." Aurelia laughed.

"That sounds likely." Orion started walking, then stopped.

"Oh," he turned.

"Kaelu probably needs to be involved."

"Why?"

"Because Roy wants him handling more of the settlement construction. You might get to tell two stubborn builders what you want instead of one." Aurelia groaned.

"Wonderful." Orion smiled, then headed toward the cottage. Quill's ledger form remained tucked beneath his arm. Garrick watched him go as Aurelia stood beside him - quiet… Then she turned.

"You happy now?" Garrick smiled.

"Yes." A chime sounded, and his smile vanished. Aurelia frowned.

"What?" Garrick stared at the golden text appearing in front of him. It was still private - only his to see. [Knight Quest Updated.] [Previous Objective: Rescue the Princess.] The words faded. New ones appeared beneath them. [New Objective: Support the Princess.] Garrick read it twice. Aurelia waved one hand in front of his face.

"Hello?" He looked at her; the answer was so simple he almost laughed. He had spent weeks wondering what he was supposed to rescue her from. Apparently the answer was not something he could defeat. Support felt different - and significantly better. Aurelia started walking.

"If you're going to stand there being strange, I'm leaving." Garrick looked up.

"Wait." She turned.

"What?"

"I have a condition." Aurelia stared.

"For what?"

"For me not being annoying anymore."

"That sounds impossible."

"One message a day," Garrick smiled.

"I'm flying back to Bellhaven this afternoon, so this is my last chance to bother you in person."

"That is the best news I've heard all morning." He ignored that.

"One message every day. Just telling me about one thing you did because you wanted to." Aurelia stared at him, then laughed.

"That sounds like homework and surveillance."

"It's one sentence."

"You literally want daily reports."

"Fine," Garrick thought.

"Daily bragging."

"That is worse."

"One small thing," he held up a finger.

"You ate something because you wanted it. Read something. Worked on glyphs. Took a nap." Aurelia frowned.

"You want me to message you when I nap?"

"If you wanted the nap."

"This is ridiculous."

"It's better than me asking every time I see you." Aurelia stopped.

"That is emotional blackmail."

"It's negotiation."

"You've been spending too much time around Dorian." She resumed walking for a moment, then stopped and sighed.

"One message."

"And it has to actually be something you wanted." She turned sharply.

"You're already being annoying again."

"I'll stop if you agree."

"I agreed."

"Properly." Aurelia stared at him, then pointed one finger toward his chest.

"One message. You do not get to argue about whether it counts… and you do not get to send reminders."

"Fine."

"Or questions."

"What if—""You wanted terms… there they are." Garrick sighed.

"Fine." Aurelia smiled; triumphant. She then turned toward the cottage. She stared at it for a moment before looking back at him. Most of the teasing had gone - never fully - but enough.

"Garrick?"

"Yeah?" Aurelia hesitated, then smiled.

"Thank you." He blinked; he did not know exactly which part she meant… and she had already made it clear there would be no questions. Garrick smiled back.

"Anytime." She turned her head and walked away. Garrick remained where he was for another moment, watching her depart and watching the new quest text fade. Behind him, from somewhere near the Waystation, Kindle chirped. The little remnant stood in the doorway - waiting. Garrick smiled.

"I know." He started back toward Kindle, returning to his final few hours before leaving for Bellhaven.