16 She's Trouble

"Well, I think I finally have Maggie settled," Sarah announced from the doorway.

Mingan's brow furrowed as he considered what John's comment had meant. "We'll discuss this later," he told John.

"She's exhausted," Sarah continued sadly, coming to sit by Elloreah. She put a hand on the redheaded girl's arm lightly. "I'll wager you are as well, Elloreah." She turned to the men. "Could one of you help me get her to the spare room? I don't want her on those feet 'till they've healed."

"Go on, then," John said, and gave Mingan a little shove. "Help Sarah get the girl to bed, then go have yourself a shower." Mingan shot a glare at John and rubbed at the fading rune. He had no desire to touch or be near her. She seeped through his protections well enough without physical contact. He would have it out with John later.

"Come on then," he said, putting a cautious hand on her shoulder once more. The surge of emotions, the wariness mixed with a draw, was that desire? Coursed into him. He tamped it down and blocked out as much as he could, as he did with The Wolf so often. She turned towards him, avoiding his eye as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. He stiffened, resisting the urge to shiver under her touch. He grit his teeth instead and lifted her into his arms as he'd done with Maggie earlier in the day.

"I assume the spare room is where it's always been," he muttered, straightening.

Sarah nodded. "Just down the hall. I'll find Elloreah some clean clothes," she said, trailing after.

Elloreah was silent, and he was thankful for it. He wanted distance. Time to speak to John. Once to the room, Sarah pushed her way past them, turning down the blankets before he could set Elloreah down.

"There's some books," Sarah offered, pointing to the shelf just above the headboard. "In case you can't sleep. Just be sure to rest and stay off those feet so they have a chance to heal."

Elloreah nodded, and muttered a stiff, "thank you," as she settled into the bed.

Sarah turned to Mingan. "I'll put the clean towels in the back bathroom, as well as some clothes you left last time." With that she turned promptly on her heel to go about her business.

"Thank you Sarah," Mingan called after the petite blonde.

Mingan paused, turning to Elloreah. "I've further arrangements to make, but I won't be far. John has an array of protections on this place. I assume there will be no need to warn you further?"

She shook her head. "I will do as you ask." She caught at Mingan's hand before he could step away from the bed. "Thank you. I know I am an inconvenience to you."

He nodded stiffly, pulling his hand from her grasp. "Save your thanks." With that, he turned for the door, hoping that the shower would help wash away all thoughts of this strange girl and her influence on him.

***

The shower did little to sooth Mingan's nerves. He could sense her as clearly as before, that glowing ember of her presence. Mingan paced the length of John's small office, hair still damp, dressed in worn but comfortable clothes that smelled faintly of wild flowers. Sarah had a habit of pressing her favorite flowers into the folds of the clothes when she stored them.

"Even if my runes are fading, she should not have this sort of effect. Not with the marks I gave her," Mingan muttered. "What worries me is that there is something else, something I can't quite place. Did you notice it?"

John watched him, the crow's-feet at the corners of his eyes crinkled. "I was amused with your reaction to her, I noticed little else. I'll pay more attention when she wakes."

"You'd be able to sense if there is something... not right with her?" He itched to investigate further but didn't dare.

The freckled man laughed. "I assure you, if I sense something, you'll be the first to know. But that's not what has you worked up, now is it?"

Mingan shot him a glare. "Her influence is an annoyance, to say the least."

"I'll get her marks all sorted. Though I'm not worried. She's but a lass, young, weak. Though that may change with time."

"Change how?" Mingan asked, rounding on the man.

"You said she is not fully Ethereal. Her abilities would be unpredictable."

Mingan cursed and started up his pacing once more. "She's trouble..."

"For you."

"I don't have time for this," Mingan muttered.

"And what were you doing that was so pressing that you must return this very moment?" John chuckled.

"I was hunting."

"You hunt every year, and have done so for decades. This girl might be a welcome distraction. She seems to be quite taken with you."

"It's misplaced gratitude." Mingan waved a hand dismissively. "I haven't time to deal with some girl's infatuation..." He came to a stop, eyeing the older man. "You can tell?"

John shrugged. "She affects you, and you alone so strongly, and considering that she's a nymph..."

"Dryad," Mingan muttered, leaning against the wall. He fished out his tobacco pouch, propped his leg up to balance the paper on his thigh while he filled it carefully and quickly rolled a cigarette.

John chuckled. "Right, dryad. You do know that they are a type of nymph?"

"Of course, but she seems to prefer dryad," Mingan replied with little thought. "Shameful, she said, to be of mixed blood. Though I can't see why if it would produce greater abilities as you suggested."

John shook his head, sadly. "If the Ethereal, or the Dawning Folk, as they called their 'court' as it were, were to start breeding with wild fae, it is generally thought that their offspring would tip the scales towards chaos. Their world is very focused on balance. "

"A balance they'll do anything to maintain," Mingan muttered. He knew that much. His people's last encounter with their world was a failed attempt to lend what was supposed to be mutually beneficial aid to the Ethereal. "Surely she is not the first."

"No, but her survival into adulthood is rather remarkable."

"She would have been killed if found out?" Mingan asked.

"Possibly. Though once, she would have been exiled," John clarified. "Once, this world was one which the exiled were sent to, before they realized that it is a nexus."

"So there are others like her here--"

"Do you know of any of the Ethereal in this realm?"

Mingan only shook his head, considering.

"We fade quickly in this world, and those who survive do not broadcast their existence."

The change in tone was not lost on Mingan. "We?" he asked, eyeing his old friend warily. "What do you mean by we?"

"We both have closely guarded secrets, now don't we?" John commented, getting to his feet. "I'd best help Sarah with dinner preparations. We've many guests these days. It was by chance that there was a room available for your girl."

"She isn't mine," Mingan muttered.

"She is until you find someone to take her."