Nadione the Gemling: Part Two (special preview)

The following day I was working on Nadione’s box. I had taken off most of my clothes, as it was getting hot and exhaustive, brushing and scrubbing between each stone, rinsing, polishing, washing everything inside was exhaustive.

Nadione sat nearby, watching me as I cleaned what was essentially her home. She looked tense, but she wasn’t saying anything.

I stepped out at one point, wiping my brow and sighing heavily. “You’ve done some good work in there. Very nice layering. I’ve never seen a crust so thick in one of these.”

Her brow pinched.

“I mean it,” I chuckled. I pointed inside. “Lots that I've taken care of form clusters in the corners so everything has to move to the middle of the box.” I smoothed my hand over her opal crusting. “But you’ve made these sheets, these levels that bring you room all around. Very smart.”

Nadione pressed her lips tightly together. “Thanks.” I noticed her look over me, her eyes resting on my chest before she looked back into her home. “That's all I’ve got.”

I patted the side of the iron container. “What else would you have?” I asked.

Her eyes flicked back to me. “What?”

“What else would you want?” I smiled, picking up the water to splash over the wall to clean it off.

“I uh-” she looked pensive and confused. “I’m not…I would-”

“A cave somewhere? I tossed the water inside and the grimy suds and dirt washed away. The opals were still dull, but they were much brighter than before. “I’ve seen dugouts that were nice too.”

Nadione is silent while I finish up the cleaning, picking up my tools and washing them by hand.

“Somewhere near the mountains,” she said as I came by her again. “Like here.” I followed her gaze up towards the volcano.

I looked back at her, her pensive stare but soft eyes. “Who knows, I replied, maybe there are elementals in that volcano hiding. Have you ever seen one?”

“One,” Nadione’s voice choked as she said it. “A long, long, time ago.”

I sat down near her on the bench and rubbed my bare chest, scratching off some dry scales. “I never have. I’ve been told all of them have gone into deep hiding, into places where mortals can’t even breathe.”

She nodded. “That’s good.”

“How did you see one?”

Nadione looked away from the mountain and stood. She went to her box and stepped inside. It was still wet, but she sat down and curled up against the wall. Her fingers stroked the opals inside, and she looked at peace.

“I was little then. Young and still being watched over by my mother.” She pulled her knees up to her chest. “He burst in and took me and my mother.”

Every fiber of me went still and quiet. The tension in the air was like razors that were pressing against my flesh, cold and hungry for blood.

“I woke up in a box.” her hand kept stroking the wall. “No one would talk to me. No one would look at me.”

I stood at the door of her box leaning there. I reached inside, placing my hand atop of her head.

“Even though I was young, they put me to work soon after that.” Nadione pushed my hand away, but kept a hold of it.

“I understand,” I murmured.

Nadione squeezed then released my hand. “I know you do.”

We received word the Baron was on his way, in a few days he’d arrive and Nadione’s fate would be decided. My stomach churned, making me a mix of nauseous and irritated. I laid in bed, thinking about what would happen if he decided to take her. It was my least favorite thought. I much preferred to think of what would happen if the Baron didn’t buy her. The idea of keeping her swelled in my chest, but I could never afford to pay for her on my own.

I fell asleep, but I was woken by someone shaking me. I swatted, rolling over so my back was turned to them.

“Bram. Bram!”

“Arcus, stop, I told you I’m not into that anymore,” I grumbled.

My shoulder was shaken once again. “It’s not Arcus.”

I rolled back over, looking at Nadione kneeling on my bed. “What?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “Nadione, what are you doing here?”