From Book II: FRUITFUL, of the Green Ruins & Shallow Blues Series
(C) 2024 Kyrinn S. Eis All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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Campbell walked away from Rose’s bed, spoke briefly with a few of the Sisters she had installed, and from them received news of Syr Acaer’s condition, demeanour, and current whereabouts. Maylen then made her way into the alley garden which had been recently rediscovered.
It was colder by far, and wetter, one wall was slick and green, moss and algae washed with seep water from higher in the crevasse.
Along the opposite wall, scarlet-gold rays in lines went down the stone from higher: some opening to the air and sky of the surface – light could only reach that for an hour at most, and only during certain seasons – winter made an obvious choice.
As she stepped in, her boot was covered to the arch in cold water. Stones, black and striated with red and grey, were like islands in the lesser weedy life, whose individual plants were rootless and swept by the trickle only to disappear into the earth. Such glistered isles made for her girlish skipstep, and their ill-suited shape and wet, made the game that much more enjoyable.
-- “You are in rare form, Mother Commander. It is good to again see you, Maylen.”
“Syr Acaer. I had time to see Wethyl and made my way to you – but now, I fear that I am famished, and so weak as to need a steady arm on which to lean. May I call upon you for such a purpose, kinswoman?”
Jerahlyn laughed – it boomed in the space,
-- “Your formality is second only to your cunning, cousin. Yes, of course. No noodles, though, please. I have found a place which sees me, twice, thrice daily. No name, a family heirloom, and the folk good. Even Lord Marche had the good fortune to my invitation and was impressed.”
Maylen reached her and with a huff of breath caught,
“Across the black sea we travel, from world to world, out unto the greater exchange of peoples, no?”
Jerah looked on, smiled, looked down and then across towards the door inside,
-- “The stones as worlds – I had only thought them islands--”
“As had I to here, but then in the saying spun they larger; must had been for your greatness-inspired.”
They looked pleasantly, almost awkwardly, and then they both laughed, and Syr Acaer gave her right arm to Maylen’s left and they described their journey alternately together as they made way back inside the Magenta House.
