79- He’s Drinking Tea

Quayleigh and Cole entered the apartment as Tau was attempting to calm Kyffin down. He wasn't as panicked as Quayleigh had assumed he'd be, but rather he seemed to be confused about what he was seeing.

"It's drinking tea," Kyffin stated as he pointed towards Uroxuz, who was curled up on the floor on the far side of the table, mug in hand.

"Yes, he is," Tau replied, as he stood before him, hands raised.

"Hey now, it be okay, Kyffin. Uru's not as bad as he seems," Cole remarked as he closed the patio door and took off his coat handing it to Quayleigh.

"He's drinking tea," Kyffin repeated.

It was strange to hear him speak so matter-of-factly, with no hint of fear, despite the way his eye was twitching.

"I believe that's been established," Cole responded, as he glanced to Tau, both equally perplexed by Kyffin's odd reaction. "Why don't you come and sit back down? You've had a rough night."

"He's drinking tea," Kyffin muttered again as Cole and Tau gently guided him back to the couch. "Why is he doing that?"

"Because I poured him a mug, and gave it to him," Cole responded as Quayleigh hung up their jackets and moved back towards the couch.

"It's strange, isn't it?" she said as she sat down next to Kyffin who was staring in Uroxuz's direction, clearly fascinated by what he was witnessing.

Quayleigh found it rather adorable to see the way Kyffin's brain was short-circuiting. Even though his facial expression wasn't the most pleasant to look at, it was the most expressive he had ever been around her, and that made her feel more at ease.

Looking back at Cole, she set her hand on his wrist, asking, "Could you get him a glass of water?"

Cole nodded and headed into the kitchen, as Tau sat down on the floor next to Uroxuz motioning to the set of eyeglasses on the coffee table.

"Hello again, Kyffin. How are you feeling?" she asked him as she picked up the glasses and held them out to him.

"I don't really know," he replied as he took his glasses from her. "I've clearly never seen a creature like him before, and his appearance was quite shocking at first. Certainly not what I expected to see when I woke up, but why is he drinking tea? And from a mug?"

"Hey, Kyffin," she said as she leaned forward, disrupting his line of sight, causing him to refocus on her. "It's okay. His name is Uroxuz, but we've all taken to calling him Uru. He's a bit difficult to explain, but I promise, he isn't dangerous, to you or anyone else in this room."

"Oh, no, I understand that perfectly. Tau introduced me to him earlier today, in his other form, or maybe one of his many forms. I'm not entirely clear on that yet," he replied as he put on his glasses, his jaw shifting oddly as he redirected his attention to Uru. "His form is, alien, of course, animal even, but how is he not having difficulty?"

"It is very delicate, Bitter Tree," Uroxuz responded as he set his empty mug on the table. "It reminds me of the untainted fruit, born ripe. The texture is vastly different though. This is smooth upon consumption; pleasant to the palate."

Kyffin's eyes shot open, "You can speak?"

"Does this shock you, Bitter Tree?"

"Be nice, Uru," Tau warned him as he stroked at his neck.

"His reaction is concerning," Uru remarked as he looked back at Tau. "It is different from the others."

"Not much to be surprised about there," Cole stated as he handed a glass of water to Kyffin, before making his way to the bed and sitting down. "This one, Uru, he be a thinker. Not much going to frighten him. Best be careful though, give him the opportunity and he's going to start asking questions and poking around, wanting to know all your secrets."

"You make that sound like a bad thing, Cole," Kyffin replied before taking a drink.

"I fear no questions!" Uru remarked as he lifted himself higher into the air, bending his body in a way that made it look as if he was puffing out his chest. "Nor the Bitter Tree, for I have tasted him, and know his merit."

Kyffin shifted, his head tilting slightly, "What do you mean, you have tasted? Did you do something strange to me while I was sleeping?"

"I did nothing strange. Only what I must. I was given permission."

"I see. Then you're the reason my arm is tingling and difficult to move. I suppose the scarring is permanent too," Kyffin said as he held up his hand, long darkened lines marring his skin from the tips of his fingers down to his elbow, small black dots peppering the skin between them.

"For now, anyways," Cole spoke up, "But given the extent of the damage those thorns inflicted and how fast an infection set in and began to spread, you're lucky you even still have that arm. Uru saved you."

"You helped me?" Kyffin questioned Uroxuz directly.

"Yes, Bitter Tree," Uroxuz replied as he lowered himself back to the floor. "Take heed not to reach outside this realm. Your kind do not fare well beyond it. Should this happen again, I will not be able to save you."

"My kind?"

"He means one of the living," Quayleigh clarified.

"No," Uru stated, his lips prying back as he snorted. "Yes. Bitter Tree is the half that lives."

"You're saying it was because he's a woodland mage?" Cole questioned.

"Yes. The trees exist between our realms. He exists on this side. He should not venture to the other."

"So, that's why I was affected by the ritual. My tree acts as a buffer between the realms, providing me a barrier, I shouldn't reach through. While you, Quayleigh, are connected without the barrier. Tau told me about your eye," he said as he set the half empty glass onto the table. "I was hoping you would allow me the opportunity to examine it. At another time, of course. Today, I'm certain, has been trying enough for you without having to humor my curiosities."

"Trying; bit of an understatement." She smiled reflexively. "I'm glad you're here though. It's important to me that Tau has friends of his own. People that he can trust. That being said, I want to see you back here at 6 this Sunday night. That is if you aren't otherwise engaged, of course."

"No, my schedule is quite clear this Sunday."

"Excellent, bring cookies or a cake. Something grotesquely sweet, and your appetite," she said as she glanced up at Cole who gave her a knowing smile, and then to Tau who was looking at her overly confused.

"I will do my best," Kyffin replied.

"That's all any of us can do. Speaking of which, you are a woodland mage. That's incredible."

"So, it seems," he replied as he rubbed at his scarred arm. "I'm not entirely certain what that means for me yet. I still need to go and recover my tree before anything else. It's strange to me that now I am aware of my magic that I can feel it. More like sense it. It's difficult to explain, but I know it's there, and I know it's alive. But I'd much rather discuss your magic. Your book, it was sublime. Thank you for allowing me to see it."

"Thank you for the compliment," she replied taken aback by his sincerity.

"Less a compliment and more a fact. Your magic is beautiful, and I have a number of questions."

"And I'll be happy to answer all of them," she interrupted before he could continue, "but they are going to have to wait for another time."

"Understandable. I imagine it's late, but I know that tomorrow you're going to be taken to the MET. I would appreciate you telling me who your contacts are."

Quayleigh felt uneasy and wondered if the compliment wasn't just a way to get into her good graces so he could pry information from her. Knowing that she would be in the MET was one thing, knowing who her contacts were, that could be dangerous.

"I promise," he remarked as if he could sense her hesitation, "for whatever that's worth, I am on your side. I'm going to do what I can to help you while you're there."

Quayleigh looked over at Tau, who gave her a loving smile, and then to Cole, who offered a subtle nod, and then to Uroxuz, who had rolled onto his back enjoying the attention and extended rub down from his master.

"All I know is that this entire thing was arranged between Magister Inniken Gerotherin and Detective Renford Harlowe, and my liaison was listed as Archivist Phaedra," she replied, Kyffin's eyes narrowing as he rubbed at his chin.

"The magister is weak. He sways with the tides. Apply enough force to him and he buckles. Trust him to be as trustworthy as the motivation applied. The archivist though, he's an interesting one. Be cautious with him. He isn't known to do things outside of his... orbit. It's strange that he would agree to allow you into his world. He rarely allows anyone access to the books he keeps and to let someone he has never met into them is frankly, impossible to believe. There's probably more to all of this that I don't yet understand, but it may have to do with whatever the detective offered them. If he is the man, I think he is, that would give me the answer."

"Who do you think he is?" Cole questioned, his tone revealing his own curiosity.

"There was a Magistrate during my mother's time, who had an unusual connection to the sun. They called him Sunburst, and he had a son they called Starbitten. In short, the magistrate died. The son disappeared with his father's token and book. The MET no longer allowed the use of monikers after that. Their surname was Harlowe. If this detective is the Magistrate's son, he could afford the cost. Inniken wouldn't even think twice about forcing Phaedra into giving a civilian access if it means obtaining a token or maybe even Sunburst's book. Either way, if you need help, contact me directly. Tau has my information."

"Thank you," Quayleigh replied. "It's good to know that you'll be there."

"It's the least I can do to make up for our initial meeting, and Caoimhín's ridiculous behavior."

"You aren't responsible for what your brother does."

"Perhaps not, but I can apologize for it."

"Alright you," Cole said as he stood up and stretched. "That's more than enough for tonight. You in no shape to drive, so, you coming back to my place with me. I'll bring you back in the morning for your car."

"I'm in no position to disagree."

"Good. I wasn't looking forward to arguing this out with you," Cole remarked as he moved around behind the couch. Ducking down he pulled the wooden box that Quayleigh kept her mage book in, out and brought it around to the table.

Setting the box down, he opened it out and pulled out her book, turning to a blank page at the back.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she watched Cole open the wooden chest and bring out the bottle of ink and a paintbrush.

"Fulfilling an agreement, I made earlier with Tau," Cole replied as he opened the bottle and dunked the brush into the ink. "Pata-esca duotam. It will last about five hours and when you go to sleep in your mind, you'll wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed."

"Thank you. I am grateful for this," Tau replied as Cole painted a sigil into the back of Quayleigh's book.

"One on each, cross activate," Cole explained as he set the brush back into the bottle.

Cole and Kyffin left a few minutes later and Tau took care of cleaning up as Quayleigh prepared for bed.

Knowing she wouldn't have time in the morning, and wanting a few minutes to herself, she opted to take a quick shower to wash the day away, taking the opportunity to ugly cry knowing she wouldn't be interrupted. She needed that time to let it all out, even though she knew there was nothing she could do but keep moving forward. There was a relief that crying brought though; a release from the pent-up emotions. It felt good to cry out the anguish of the day, and she breathed easier as she came out of the bathroom.

"Do you feel better?" Tau asked as he followed her to the couch.

"Yeah, I certainly needed that," she replied as she leaned back and stretched out. "I'd love to try out that sigil tonight, but honestly, I just want to sleep."

"That's more than understandable, but before I let you do that, I have something for you," Tau said as he handed her a gift bag.

"What's this?" she asked as she sat up and took the present.

"Something to make up for the part I played in making this day hard on you."

"You didn't have to do this," she replied as she set the bag on the floor pulling out the top layer of tissue paper.

"I wanted to, and Cole was kind enough to wrap it for you."

"Leave it to him to do something like this," she remarked as she looked down into the bag, all the emotion being sucked from her as she slowly reached in and pulled out the books. She gasped as she ran her hands over their covers, being rendered speechless at the sight of them.

"Do you like them?"

"Tau, I… of course, these are…" Closing her eyes she took a breath before turning and looking directly at him. "These are perfect. You are amazing, Tauluthet." Sliding the books onto the table, she shifted her position and wrapped herself around him. "You are absolutely incredible. Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad you like them," he replied. "Cole said something about their size and value and this leading to a castle. I couldn't really follow what he was going on about."

"Knowing him, it's probably for the best."

Tau chuckled softly as he wrapped his arms around and hugged her tight. They snuggled together for several minutes until she found herself struggling to keep her eyes open.

"Tomorrow's going to be a hard day for you," Tau said as she shifted from his lap.

"Maybe, but knowing I have you to come back to, makes it easier. And having Uru with me makes going not so scary."

"I'm going to spend time with Cole and Kyffin tomorrow. Kyffin wants to go and find his tree and I told him I would help."

"I hope the two of you manage to find it. Woodland mages don't do well without their trees. If his tree is struggling though, let him know that I can help. You might not know it, given my lack of plants, but my magic has a way of making them thrive."

"I'll be certain to let him know," Tau replied as she stood up and made her way to her bed.

"Come on, time for sleep, and I really don't want to be alone tonight."

Tau made his way over as she crawled under the covers.

"I'll be with you in a few minutes. Just need to brush my teeth," he whispered, leaning down and kissing her forehead.

"I'll be waiting," she murmured as she closed her eyes.

She was going to say goodnight to Uru, but he was already curled up and fast asleep in the middle of the floor.

She was barely clinging to consciousness when Tau finally slipped into the bed behind her and pulled her close.

"Tau?"

"Yes?"

"Tomorrow, when I get home, let's go out and buy a bigger bed," she said as he kissed the back of her head.

"For you, my love. Anything."