Elizabeth Haydon - Rhapsody - Child of Blood

“No,” Achmed repeated again, a snarl in his voice.

“Do you have a better idea?” Rhapsody asked, her annoyance growing.

Achmed sighed irritably and glanced in Ashe’s direction. “Perhaps instead of no I should had said not yet . There may be some value in seeing what she might offer in return for it.”

“You’re going to ransom something to a dragon?” Ashe’s voice contained a note of either disdain or amusement; Achmed couldn’t decide which, but either one infuriated him.

“Don’t be a jackass. I just want her to remember to whom she owes its return.”

Rhapsody was becoming impatient. “I’m not willing to risk it,” she said. “Ashe knows how to find her lair.”

“Good; then he can draw us a map, assuming he’s literate.”

Ashe laughed. “I don’t think so. If you’re still interested in the morning, we can make plans for the journey. I think I will wish you all good night now.”

Jo stood as well. “Me too. I’ll walk you there.” She kissed Rhapsody on the cheek, then followed the cloaked figure out of the room.

Rhapsody waited until she was sure the two could no longer hear their voices, then turned to Achmed again.

“Why are you doing this? What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. It’s not a case of something being ‘the matter.’”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s a case of being careful in unfamiliar territory.”

Rhapsody’s brows knit together. “It’s not unfamiliar to Ashe, obviously.”

“ Ashe is unfamiliar territory. What’s the matter with you , Rhapsody? You trip over this imbecile in the market; he calls you a whore and then buys you lunch to make up for it, and you forgive him, proving that, in a way, he was right. Then he shows up here, in my lands, unannounced and unwelcome, and worms his way into your good graces again. Are you so intolerant, is the company of Firbolg so repugnant to you that you crave the attentions of this useless idiot just to be around humans again?”

Rhapsody’s eyes stung; Achmed had never been especially careful with her feelings, but even for him this was caustic. “What a horrible thing to say.”

“Far less horrible than the things that could happen to you, alone and unprotected, with this man you barely know, outside the range of help. You know I can’t leave Ylorc right now. This is not the time for me to go overland when the Bolg are finally united and the plans we put into place are beginning to bear fruit.”

Rhapsody’s eyes narrowed again. Grunthor caught a glimpse of them from across the room, burning like green fire; he knew that look. It was the warning of great wrath.

“And therefore I am required to stay in Ylorc as well, even though my part in your great unification plan is over,” she said, her voice low with the effort to remain in control of her temper. “I have done my share in your effort, Achmed, at times even crossing the line of what I was willing to, all for you, because you said it was the right thing to do. What am I supposed to do here now?”

Achmed gripped the arm of his chair. “What about helping with the agricultural program? The hospital? The hospice? The education strategy?”

“Those things are done and in place.”

“What about overseeing the production of the goods? The vineyards? Spring is coming; it will be time to plant soon. That’s an important contribution to this land and these people you purport to care about.”

“What about keeping them from frying in a wave of dragon’s breath?” Rhapsody retorted. “Have you forgotten what this is really about? I think you are more bothered by who my guide would be than the prospect of what might happen if I don’t go; not very good decision-making for a king, I would say.”

“Oi could go with you,” Grunthor offered.

Rhapsody smiled at the giant Sergeant. “No, you can’t; in a way, your presence here is even more important than his is.” Achmed nodded in agreement. She saw the light change in his eyes, but he said nothing. She went over and sat on the table in front of him, taking his hand.

“Aren’t we old and good enough friends by now to say what we really mean? Why don’t you just admit you’re worried about me? That you’re afraid the dragon will kill me, or hold me captive? That you don’t trust Ashe alone with me, and that you’re afraid if I leave here without one of you, I will not be able to protect myself?”

Achmed met her gaze. “Isn’t that what I said?” She shook her head, smiling. “If you know that, why are you still considering going?”

Rhapsody sighed. “Because someone has to, and I am the obvious choice. My work here is at a stage where I can leave for a while without it coming to a halt. And I can take care of myself. You forget, I survived on the street for a long time before I met you two. I can handle it; really. And Ashe, too, should he try to take advantage of me. I have Daystar Clarion and the best training in the sword possible.” She felt Grunthor smile, and turned to look at him. “Tell him, Grunthor; tell him I’ll be all right.”

“Oi can’t, miss; you know Oi never lie to ’Is Majesty.”

She sighed again. “Your faith in me is overwhelming. Look, do you remember what I told you that day on Elysian’s lake? That I needed a goal, a chance to do something for the people I care about? This is my chance, Achmed. I’m needed in a way that I haven’t been since I came to this place. This is my home now, too. Surely I should risk whatever I must to keep it safe. I can help the Bolg in a way you can’t. It’s important, to me, and, more critically, to them.”

“Go then,” said Achmed. “Take Jo with you. How long will you be gone?”

Rhapsody blinked. “Now you want me to go?”

He snorted in disgust. “Don’t be an idiot. Obviously I don’t want you to go. Just as obviously, you intend to. I’ve known you long enough to realize who is going to win here. So, since you’ve already made up your mind, what is left is to make sure you’re provisioned well and the plans are sensible. Then we’ll establish a date by which, if you have not returned, we’ll divide up your belongings, give away your room, and forget about you.”

Rhapsody ran a hand over her hair, trying to absorb the sudden shift. “All right,” she said awkwardly. “But I can’t take Jo; that would be a bad idea.”

“She can watch your back. And she’ll be out from under foot here.”

“She’ll be in danger, Achmed,” Rhapsody said, annoyance in her voice. “I’ve finally got that girl to a place she might actually be safe, and you want me to drag her out across the continent again to a dragon’s lair? I don’t think so. Besides, you’re the one who’s always worried about her flapping tongue. She might tell Ashe or someone else more about what is going on here in the mountain than you want on the wind.”

“Speakin’ o’ Ashe,” said Grunthor seriously, “you might want to warn ’im that if anythin’ bad befalls you, or you don’t come back, Oi’m gonna track ’im down and kill ’im by several methods that’ll get me enshrined in the Torture ’All o’ Fame.”

Rhapsody laughed. “I’ll tell him.” She leaned forward and kissed Achmed’s cheek.

Five days later she and Ashe set out, heading west again the way the four had come. She had spent much of the intervening time with Jo, who had desperately wanted to come as well, but had been finally convinced to stay by Grunthor.

“Oi’m gonna lose the Duchess and the lit’le miss, too? Naw. ’Ave an ’eart, Jo. Oi’ll be so lonely Oi’ll just curl up and die.” The women had broken into laughter at the image.

“How could you possibly resist that plea?” said Rhapsody, hugging her sister. She pulled her closer, so only Jo could hear her whisper. “And look after the other one as well; he needs it even more.” Jo had just nodded.