Fairy Rings

11. Hidden words

Watching the fire, Navaeha's father, Ciaran, stretched his large hands out toward it, the warmth radiating through his body. He was very impressed; his genetics had carried his abilities to his daughter, and her spit and shouts carried flames from nothing. He almost didn't believe that it had happened, even though the proof had seared into his chest. The men were nearly done loading the truck; soon, it would be time to go and take his daughter home after years of letting her go to school. He hated how her mother had poisoned her against him, seemingly forgetting the deal that they had made: once Navaeha was done with school. . . She would go to his fortress and stay with him. He hadn't wanted to torture May, but she had left him no choice, claiming that university was a needed school and hiding her from him. Watching the men load the last few boxes, he rubbed his hands together and promptly went to the barn to collect his daughter.

His big footsteps grew louder as he walked up the steps. May had kept everything, from hanging all of their photos together to keeping his old clothes in a box in case she ever met him in friendly circumstances again. He wanted to wring Ambrosia's disgraceful neck for the inconveniences that he had caused. He had been his most loyal man and second in command for years. Till he saw Navaeha at a coffee shop, and then he went off the grid for a while to return, saying she was on her way home to help her mother. Calling out to both of them, he rounded the corner into the loft, the pair of them trying to look busy. His heart fluttered at the realization that Navaeha had picked up her mother's war ax; she was studying it like it was an ancient weapon, though it was only as old as she was. So many happy memories. . . where did the time go? Shaking his head, he sent her downstairs, and with a little bit of argument, she left.

"Your Excellence. You want to speak with me?" Ambrosia asked, God he was disgusting. Ciaran sneered at every word he said.

"Yes, I did, Mutt. I just wanted to make what you have done perfectly clear to you." Twisting the battle-ax in his hands, he smiled when he ran his fingers over the intricately carved message: Ciaran and May, lovers forever

"Your Excellence?" Ciaran chuckled softly, the sound echoing off the walls of the empty room. He momentarily lifted his gaze towards the ceiling as if lost in evil thought before fixing his sharp, piercing eyes upon Ambrosia's unresponsive face. The room was silent, save for the faint sound of their breathing, and the tension between them. Despite the lightheartedness of his laughter, Ciaran's eyes now held a cold, calculating edge that suggested he was not to be underestimated. Ambrosia, for his part, remained impassive, his features betraying none of the emotions that were churning beneath the surface.

"You're a bit dull, so I'll remind you. My daughter called you by name Mutt. I must say, though, her lies were almost convincing enough to let you get away unscathed from that little mishap." Ciaran let out a sigh. With his eyes blazing with fury, he wrapped his hand around the battle axe tighter and gave it a test swing at the window. The sound of the axe hitting the glass echoed through the room, and the force of the blow caused the wooden beams around the window to splinter and split in two. "I'm going to ask you questions, and you will answer them truthfully, or I'm going to ask Navaeha the same questions in an excruciating way." his voice was low but effective, and Ambrosia's eyes widened. "So. Why did she call you by name."

"She asked me what it was while we sat on the couch before the building went up in flames. I told her that my name was Ambrosia, that you call me a Mutt, and the women call me an Ogre. I didn't tell her our customs because I didn't think to do so." Turning back toward him, Ciaran snapped.

"Of course, you didn't think to tell her. Did you also not think those men downstairs talk? They're going to tell everyone that my daughter is a w***e who slept with an Ogre after meeting him twice!" Ciaran attempted to rub the permanent tension and anger out of his eyebrows before continuing. "On the other hand, I need help with my daughter. I can't exactly run a kingdom and drag her behind me wrapped in chains, I need her on my side, and her mother poisoned her against me. That's where I need your help. It pains me to say this, but you are the most loyal and cruelty-driven man that I have, but somehow, you have a way with women, and I need someone who can watch her round the clock. Someone that can beat her into submission if she gets out of line, someone that is willing to do anything to prevent her from running. . . short of breaking bones." Riddled with shock, Ambrosia scratched his head. He could hardly believe his luck; had wishing on a shooting star actually gotten him the wish he so desperately longed for?

"May I ask questions?" He asked. Ciaran gave a slow nod, his patience growing thin. "Where am I going to stand guard if I'm to choose the men who guard the door?"

"Outside in her garden like a little gnome. Any other questions?"

"What am I to do if she is disobedient?" Ambrosia's eyes were filled with a subtle gleam as he bit down on the inside of his cheek. Despite feeling a sense of vulnerability, he knew he couldn't afford to show any weaknesses in front of Ciaran - especially after assigning him the challenging task.

"Then you do whatever is necessary. Any more questions?"

"No, Your Excellence" He quickly spit out.

"Good, let's get going. We've got a long trip, and I need you to help me win my daughter over." Making their way downstairs to the awaiting men and Navaeha, Ambrosia couldn't help but smile as he imagined more complex situations.