The Beast and The Swallow

Gold and orange trimmed the bushy clouds herded by the strong winds over Yalda. The flapping of the colorful flags mixed with the music and laughter of the festival creating a lively melody. Coils of smoke rose and dispersed in the night air, carrying mouth-watering fragrances.

Lorelei leaned her head on Noah's arm and tried to keep her hair from flying in all directions with her free hand.

"Are you cold?" Noah shielded her with his body, his own messy hair making him look like a storm-tossed crow. "Should we head back?"

"No! Can't we stay a bit longer? Please!" Lorelei tugged on his shirt and pouted. She knew she acted childishly, but for the first time, she was allowed to do so, and she savoured the feeling. "Besides, the twins will be looking for us."

"Your wish is my command, my lady." Noah fastened the ribbon gathering her hair, and gave her lips a quick kiss. "Where to now?"

"There!"

Grabbing his hand, Lorelei pulled Noah towards a narrow alleyway. Rows of stalls flanked the tight cobblestone path on both sides. Over their heads, colorful lanterns painted the road, the booths, and the overhanging houses with rainbow lights. From one vendor, Noah bought freshly fried dough balls, coated in honey and spices, and a bag of candied apples.

"You sure have a sweet tooth," laughed Lorelei, looking at him stuffing the piping hot treats into his mouth with pained delight.

"Whaha!" he mumbled while chewing frantically, and offered her a piece of honey-dripping dough. "I love festival food! It's one of my best childhood memories."

"Me too." Lorelei licked her fingers. "Master Levi liked his meals and knew the best vendors from all over the world! Going to a fair with him was like traveling from Zirath to Shareeba. I still can't believe how he remained so thin."

"An iron stomach is a must for any culinary explorer." With a happy smile, Noah patted his stomach and offered some treats to Jessup and the rest. "Although, with this food, the only thing one needs to worry about is its freshness. Well, unless one decides to try a rat on a stick, or something more… lively."

Lorelei laughed, but something in his words made her weary. She imagined the contrast of the bustling fair and his strict life in the palace, surrounded by schemes, assassination plots, and… poison! Her eyes rounded, his innocent comment finally revealing its meaning.

"Hey, don't look at me like that," he chuckled at her and winked. "I saved some candied apples for you, too."

"Thank you, my love." She pulled him down and gave his honey-covered lips a long, deep kiss, hoping to drive away the ghosts that threatened their blissful day.

"Goodness, my lady!" Noah panted when they finally separated, his eyes burning with passion and mischief. "To what do I owe this reward?"

"Oh, stop it! It's not like I didn't kiss you a bunch today."

"Ten and a half times, if you count the peck on the cheek."

"Impossible man!"

Lorelei stormed off, rolling her eyes in an attempt to run away from his dazzling smile and the amused and jubilant gazes of their escort. Unfortunately, her feet brought her to a place that stirred up her feelings even more. It was a small table under a striped cover, attended by an old man in Binshi clothes. On the tablecloth lay amulets of different colors and sizes, but of the same shape — a pair of drop-like swirls, intertwining to form a perfect circle.

Lorelei's heart skipped a beat. Memories flooded her mind - both precious and dark. She could recognize the twin-drops anywhere. Her fingers involuntarily hovered over a pair of peacock blue and sunset orange, yearning, yet unable to touch them.

"Would the moon-kissed child like to have a better look at my merchandise?" cackled the old man, his voice overlapping with the one of Kash-baba in Lorelei's mind.

"No need."

Noah suddenly popped next to her. His hands gently squeezed her shoulders, guiding her away. Somehow, this gentle gesture punched a hole in her heart. She had learned the meaning of sharing twin-drops a long time ago, the way they bound two souls together and alerted one if the other was in danger. It was an intimate act of trust and mutual unity that not all couples were willing to undertake, but she thought that she and Noah were bound by something much stronger and deeper than those pieces of glass. So why did he refuse?

She opened her mouth to ask him, but then her eyes met his. There was so much unconditional love in them that she couldn't speak up. Instead, he took the initiative.

"Dederi, boys, can you give us some space?"

As the others stayed back, Noah led her a bit to the side of the flowing crowd of passersby next to the colorful tent of a chiromancer. In a blink, her esteemed husband changed from his lively, confident self into a shy youth twiddling his thumbs and probing the pavement with the tip of his boot. His right hand dug through his hair while the left kept holding her palm tightly.

"I can see it on your face, I know what you are thinking," he began in an agitated voice. "But you are wrong. It's not that I don't want to share a twin-drop with you. It's… Well, I was planning to tell you, but the right time never came. Something was always popping up, and…"

The words twisted in his mouth. He coughed, clearing his throat, and dug under his collar. Seeing the leather strap he pulled out, Lorelei's eyes stung. On its end dangled a pair of twin-drops – one looking like a shard of the starry midnight sky, the other the iridescent color of snow at dawn. She knew these tiny pieces of glass painfully well. Her fingers ran over their cool surface, and immediately, a familiar warmth spread throughout her body.

"I…" Her voice cracked. "I thought I lost it forever."

"I retrieved it from Sister Simone." Noah's features briefly turned cold from the memory, but then his expression mellowed. "They helped me find you. I couldn't throw them aside. But I was also unsure whether you'd like to have yours back. I mean… We were not really… We hadn't yet…"

Lorelei stepped in and pressed her lips against his, silencing him for a moment. When they parted again, there was no need for further explanation. Dividing the string, Noah hung the white twin-drop around Lorelei's neck.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"I hope I'll never again have to see it glowing in distress," he whispered, tying the knot.

"Next time, it's my turn to save you," joked Lorelei. A warm droplet fell on her cheek. "Wait! Are you crying?!"

"No." Noah blinked, surprised, touching his own cheek. He then looked up and cursed.

Following his gaze, Lorelei saw a piece of the sunset sky through the split between the rooftops. Blood-rimmed gray clouds rolled across the horizon, chased by strong gales. Another warm drop landed on her forehead, and then, the skies split. As if plunged under a waterfall, the street blurred and disappeared. The drumming of the downpour stifled any other sound, only for its loud rattle to be cut by the roar of thunder.

With a yelp, Lorelei jumped up, landing in Noah's embrace. Wiping streams of water from his eyes, he shouted over the storm.

"Follow me!"

Giving a sharp whistle, Noah grabbed her hand and ran down the alleyway, the shadows of their escorts quickly catching up with them. Lorelei soon lost orientation completely, slipping over the wet cobbles. Luckily, Noah's firm hold prevented her from tripping and falling. They found shelter in an arched doorway – a space so tiny that it hardly fitted all six of them.

"Mir-Mama is sending us her blessing," mumbled Dederi while wringing her shirt, then added for Lorelei: "We say that every raindrop that falls during the Obrek is a child being born."

"Nice!" Aiden sneezed and looked grudgingly at the sky. "But couldn't it wait until we are back home?"

"Don't whine," Dederi rolled her eyes. "It will pass soon enough."

But it didn't pass. Endless streams of water poured from the sky, turning gutters into waterfalls and streets into rivers. Even though it had felt warm at first, the rain and the wind soon brought a biting chill. Soaked to the bone, Lorelei shivered uncontrollably, pressed against Noah.

"We can't stay here forever," he said, wrapping his arm tightly around her shoulders.

"'The Drunken Daisy' should be about two streets away," sniffled Lucas and rubbed his nose with his sleeve."

"Then we make the run." Noah looked worried at Lorelei. "Should I carry you?"

"Don't be stupid!" She gave him a crooked grin. "I can still outrun you."

"Then let's go!"

Without further delay they jumped into the rain with Lucas leading the way. This time, the raindrops felt like the sharp talons of a flock of angry sparrows. Everything was a mass of gray shadows and yellow blotches coming from behind the windows. In a daze, their group reached another arched door and stormed in.

Warm golden light and lively chatter welcomed them, accompanied by the smell of stale beer, grilled meat, and fish stew. The inside of the room was well-lit by thick candles and oil lamps, and harbored over ten tables and a booming hearth in one of the corners. A bunch of heads looked in their direction, and a slurry of laughter, whistles, and witty comments of the sort 'Look at the wet chicks!' welcomed them. A couple of people moved to the side, allowing Lorelei and Dederi a seat before the warm fire.

"Lucas, come with me." Noah removed his soaked eyepatch and brushed back his wet hair. "Let's have a word with the innkeeper."

It didn't take long before the two returned with cups of hot wine and good news.

"It doesn't look like the rain will stop any time soon, so we'll be staying here overnight. The boys can sleep in the common room. Dederi, one of the kitchen girls agreed to share her room with you. Except for a single free room, everything has been booked. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry, my lord." The Binshi proudly lifted her chin. "I have no problems sleeping in the common room. Honestly, it's a miracle you managed to find a free room for the Lady at all."

"The innkeeper generously made some special arrangements." Noah's fingers touched the scar on his cheek. "The perks of my pretty face and some shiny gold."

"Then I'll send a mimi-shi to the twins to let them know."

Dederi sprang up and pulled a small round ball from her waistpouch. Reaching the door, she opened it, lifted the object to her mouth, and whispered something. A flickering light covered its surface. The shining orb silently tok off in the air, hovering over Dederi's palm before swiftly flying into the rain curtain like a released arrow.

Noah nodded in approval, then turned to the slightly surprised Lorelei.

"Drink your wine and go up. It's the last door to the right. There should be a warm tub prepared for you. I'll bring you some food in a bit."

"Thank you." After savouring her drink for a while and feeling the sensation return to her cold fingers, she stood up, patting her seat at the fireplace. "You should warm up too before you catch a cold. If you hurry, ther will be enough water for you, too."

A bout of coughing overcame Noah, but Lorelei just gave him a wink and walked with squishing steps up the stairs. The room was small but clean. Most of the space was taken by a simple yet large poster bed, a table with two chairs, and a wooden tub in the far corner. One of the inn's servants had put a makeshift folding screen around the tub, consisting of a bedsheet hung on a rope, but it still provided enough privacy. Despite the hurry with which everything was arranged, Lorelei noticed that the thoughtful innkeeper had even organized a dry set of clothes for Noah and a nightgown for her.

Slightly tipsy from the wine, Lorelei peeled off her wet clothes and sank in the warm water with a sigh. A sense of complete relaxation flushed over her. Her fingers absentmindedly played with the twin-drop hanging from her neck as she recalled the memories of today. It was like a dream. One that she never wanted to wake up from. A perfect day to remember forever.

Her chilled body warmed up. The aftermath of the mulled wine hit her even harder. She yawned and thought that falling asleep in the tub would not be the most pleasant experience. Stretching like a cat, she dried herself with a towel and slipped into the nightgown. It was a simple piece of clothing at least three sizes too big so no matter how tightly she pulled its laces, the neckline still hung loose and dropped to the side, revealing one of her shoulders. Lorelei sighed, but there was nothing to be done. She was thankful for even having a change of clothes. And until tomorrow, her own would be dry anyway.

There was a scraping at the door before it opened. The sound of familiar steps filled the room together with the fragrance of stew and fresh bread. Lorelei's eyes lit up.

"Right on time," she said cheerfully, coming from behind the curtain. "The water is still warm, you can…"

Her words quietly trailed off as her gaze crossed with Noah's. He was still slightly bent after placing the tray with food on the table. The damp strands of his hair tried to obscure his eyes, but nothing could hide the fire burning in their gray depths. His shirt was beginning to dry, but there were still wet blotches that stuck to his torso, contouring the strong body below. He was a masterpiece, hidden by his creator from prying stares.

Lorelei's mouth dried. She blinked like a newborn fawn, realizing that his eyes were peeled on her too. She slowly became aware that all she had on was a loose nightgown that, stained by the water dripping from her hair and bathed in the lamplight coming from behind, was nearly see-through. Her knees softened, and she didn't dare take a step. Her fingers gripped the collar of her dress, heat simultaneously traveling to her cheeks and her lower body.

As if waking up from a trance, Noah nervously coughed and turned his head to the side; his traitorous eyes, however, still peeked at her from their corners. His hand dug through his hair, briefly brushing it back before awkwardly ruffling it into a chaotic mess.

"I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… I'd better go to the boys now."

Mumbling under his breath, he turned around and aimed for the door with a dragging step. Something in Lorelei's heart quaked. Seeing his broad shoulders, strong and sturdy, yet bent in defeat, melted the last bastions of her doubt.

"Wait!" she called, her voice higher-pitched than usual.

His footsteps halted, but he didn't turn around.

"Please…" Lorelei staggered toward him, her numb fingers tugging at the hem of his sleeve. "Please… stay!"