Chapter 44

Ildri went straight to bed and slept deeply. She did not wake up until late in the morning, when Keziah shrieked, "Bloody mess, bloody mess!"

Ildri tried to ask Keziah what was wrong but could not move her jaw. The previous day's events came flooding back. She groaned, then realized that she could hear a knock under the parrot's excruciatingly loud voice.

Ildri leapt from her bed and threw on her dress before leaving her bed room and opening her main door. One of the general servants stood waiting and said, "Lord Wildwood would like to see you now, he is in the library."

Ildri tried to talk and was again reminded of the fact that she could not. She really hoped that the ridiculous potion had worn off. She nodded to show the servant that she would go directly there and she made her way out the door.

Ildri took the fastest route to the library, not the least reason that she was hoping to avoid running into the angry housekeeper. She could feel a sick emotion in the pit of her stomach just remembering the things that she had said. Please let the potion be worn off!

She pushed open the library door and found Lord Wildwood sitting with his wife in a couple of the chairs that were scattered around the room. "Good morning," Lord Wildwood said.

Ildri felt a slight shiver run through her and her jaw unhinged itself. "Good morning," she said.

"It seems that you're back to normal," he commented. Lady Theresa smiled.

"Yes, it does. Thank you, my lord."

"No, thank you, Ildri. That potion was extremely helpful. I'm glad that the effect was not permanent, however."

"Me too."

"You're probably hungry, perhaps you should go and get something to eat," he suggested by way of dismissal.

Ildri nodded and left the room.

* * * * *

Ildri recounted her adventures in potion making to chef over her late breakfast. Chef sounded suitably sympathetic and Ildri began to feel a bit better.

Kallie arrived at Ildri's rooms a short time after Ildri finished her breakfast. Because Kallie was a good assistant they made a decent number of potions before Ildri sent Kallie away early in the afternoon. Ildri was still exhausted from the day before. Ildri had only a small amount of tester potion remaining and would have made more but for the fact she was missing one of the ingredients.

Ildri would need to go and collect more star flowers, which was about the last thing that she wanted to do. She had seen their unopened buds since she had returned, so it would be easy enough to find the flowers even in the dark, but with the rumours of war it was far too dangerous to leave the castle walls.

Except that she needed the bloody tester potion.

There was no getting around the fact that she would have to venture out into the dark forest around Wildwood again at night. The last time she had done that she had been abducted. But she had not been hurt in the end and she had met Ty. And anyway, the odds of something like that happening again had to be phenomenally low, even with war.

So Ildri decided to take a nap since she was tired anyway. She lay down on her bed and fell promptly to sleep.

* * * * *

When Ildri woke up the sun was sinking behind the trees outside her window. Keziah was hopping from perch to perch seemingly randomly and not paying Ildri any attention. Ildri noticed that Keziah did not have any food left in her dish, although she still had plenty of water.

"Let's go get us something to eat."

"Keziah," said the bird.

Ildri carried Keziah on her arm down the hall to the kitchen. Chef was not there but Matt grabbed her something to eat and fed Keziah, too.

"Pretty lady," Keziah told Matt.

"W-what?" he asked.

"That means she likes you."

"Oh. Okay."

Ildri ate quickly and they retreated back to her room. She was still a bit worried about how she would deal with Missus White when she saw her next. It would happen eventually but she saw no reason to speed up the inevitable.

* * * * *

Once the sun had completely retreated and the sky darkened Keziah fell asleep in her cage with her head nestled back under her wing. Ildri decided that it was as good a time as any to try to collect some starflowers. At least she would not have to worry about what Keziah was doing if she went now.

Ildri put on her cloak and tied a few defensive potions with a strip of cloth around her upper arm in case she needed them as quietly as she could so that she would not wake Keziah. She fetched a lantern and a basket from her work room and made her way outside. She spoke to the first soldier she saw. "Lord Wildwood said that I should ask for a soldier to accompany me if I needed to go outside of the walls for supplies."

"But Miss Ildri, it's night-time," he protested nervously.

"I see that, sir. But certain ingredients can't be gathered until it's dark."

"Oh. Well, please wait here," he said before dashing away.

Ildri stood there in the middle of the yard and looked around. It was so very different than it had been before all the trouble started. She remembered when the lawn had stretched to the tangle foliage of the woods and the castle had been protected only by the magic of the marquis and the other wizards living in the castle. Times had changed. The gently rolling lawn ended abruptly at the thick walls. The castle was more physically secure now, but ironically with the state of the country it was still far less safe.

Things could not remain the same forever, no matter how Ildri might wish that they had.

But there were good things, too, Ildri reminded herself. She had new people she cared about and she now had Keziah. She was stronger than she had been, and she thought that maybe she was wiser, too. She had a new job in the home she loved, and she was more useful to the lord than she had ever been.

Ildri smiled tentatively past the one ache in her heart. Maybe she did not have everything better, but she was not going to live a sad, half life any longer. She was glad she met Ty even though she would probably never see him again. He helped her become strong and she somehow thought he would want her to be happy, although perhaps she was constructing fantasies in her own mind again.

Ildri was going to move forward and not regret anything.

"I hear you want to go wandering outside the walls tonight," Allan said in a dry voice.

"Allan!" Ildri said, oddly happy to see him.

"You do realize that this part of the country is crawling with enemy troops. We're at war, Ildri, and our aggressors are poised to attack. Would you like to go walking straight into a scouting party from Scelus?"

Ildri frowned. "Of course not. But there's a certain flower that I need that I really can't do without. It can only be harvested at night. I need it if you wish to see me continuing to make potions to help protect Wildwood. You remember that Maxine and I went out at night one time, right? If I don't have this ingredient I can't test if potions are safe or not. Then I can't make any new ones, and there are some really good ones in the book Lord Wildwood gave me. And some of them, like one that can paralyze someone could make it so our regular soldiers might stand a chance against a wizard! And—"

Allan shook his head. "Ildri, you don't really need to convince me. I was just pointing out the foolhardiness of going out there now. Lord Wildwood gave orders that you were to be accompanied when you needed to go. He has not changed that command, so in his absence, I shall take you."

"Thank you, Allan!" she said gratefully.

"I do not necessarily agree, but I do follow orders. Are you ready to go?"

"I am."

Allan took Ildri's basket from her. "I may as well help, it'll go faster."

"Thank you," Ildri agreed. They walked to the guard tower and went through without any difficulty.

"Are you on guard tonight?" Ildri asked him.

Allan shook his head. "No, but I overheard that lad telling the captain so I volunteered."

Ildri smiled at him. "I'm glad it's you coming with me. I have some defensive potions along, but still..."

"I may not approve of your methods, but I respect your desire to help protect the castle," he said. "Now, I hope you know where these plants are located. Lead the way."

Ildri nodded, and wound through the forest in the direction she thought the plants were. The forest—which was so easy to navigate during the day—became a twisting maze of straggling arms blocking her way. She really hoped that she was not getting them lost.

"Uh, if I get all turned around, will you be able to get us back?" she asked Allan, glancing back at him.

"Of course," he replied with what might have been amusement.

Ildri was so glad that he seemed confident she was not even irritated that he might be mocking her. She nodded and continued. Tingling chills ran over her skin, probably due to her nervousness.

Ildri was relieved when she found the bushes with the flowers that she was searching for. A large winged moth flew off the plant as she approached. "Here we are," she said to Allan.

"What do I do?" he asked.

"Just hold the basket here while I pick them, please."

Allan did as she asked and waited. Only the sounds of the animals in the forest could be heard while she went about her task. An owl's hoot floated eerily through the still air.

"I kind of wish the moon was out," Ildri said. "We might be able to see more. It's so dark."

"No need to be afraid. I can't sense anyone. Only you, me and a lonely owl," he said.

"Of course, that's why my skin keeps feeling tingly," she said and continued plucking the flowers. "You're using some sort of spell."

"I am," agreed Allan.

"I'm really glad you're out here with me."

"Well, I think Maxine would be rather angry with me if something happened to you."

Ildri grinned in spite of herself. She really had to find a way to lure Maxine to Wildwood. Or maybe she could find a good reason to go back to visit Maxine, with Allan protecting her, of course. Maybe after the war was over. Surely it would not last for long.

Ildri put another flower in the basket. "I think that's enough."

"Are you sure? I would rather not have to do this again soon." Ildri felt another tingle run over her skin.

"I'm sure. It doesn't take that much to test a batch of potion. I only brought a bit back when I returned here."

"Shall I lead the way back then, Miss Ildri?"

"Please." She picked up the lantern and held it high so that Allan would be able to see.

Ildri followed Allan as he took them through the forest, glad that she had what she needed. Like Allan, she was not eager to repeat this trip any time soon, but she was also proud of herself that she had the courage to do it. She would never have done anything like this before. She felt another tingle roll over her skin. Allan held a branch out of her way so that she could get through more easily.

"Thanks," she said and he continued on.

And then suddenly the light was gone.

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