Episode 157: Talking to Nell (Spence)

Spence’s skin buzzed, like static energy buzzing across the entire surface of his arm closest to Ach. His whole body buzzed. His mind buzzed. He was, without a doubt, more excited than he had ever been in his entire life.

He was marrying Ach today. He was marrying his best friend and the one person he would never want to live without. They weren’t just marrying, they’re were having a pixie marriage. Pixie marriages were like binding two souls together, whereas elixir bound two bodies.

Elixir would never mean as much, because Spence was a soldier. His body wasn’t something he treated in the same was as the threat of losing his being. This, the entwining of two souls, meant the most.

Ach cared about those details. He hoped Ach would know, notice, think about it. If not, he hoped he would think of it after so Ach would know how much this meant to him, how much Ach meant to him.

On the way, Spence made sure his mom, dad, and Sam knew they were getting married. He made sure Aadya and Meldrick knew too.

The pair found Nell in the barn, strapping one of his kids to a dundugeree – a large swan like bird that had a fanned tail like a peacock with a lime green body and purple and pink feathers that had eyelets of reds and purples and lime green.

His son, Eiron, screamed in excitement as the bird took off down the length of the barn, its body hovering just over the surface as it flapped dust into stalls.

A dragon peered its nose out and blew a huff of smoke toward the bird, which toppled over with the gust. The bird rolled atop Eiron, then back onto its feet. Eiron laughed.

Nell whipped around to face them. “How can I help you?”

“Don’t you want to help him?” Spence asked.

Nell turned back toward the end of the hall where the dundugeree was racing toward them from.

“No, but we should move.” He sidestepped the hallway just in time, and Spence and Ach moved further against the stall wall.

After Eiron and the bird had left the stall, he began strapping Einin to the next animal, an animal that had a sleek fluffy beige coat, that was stalky like a bear and agile like a cat, with a long tail that curled just off the ground into a U shape. It’s face was more dog or bear than cat, with perky ears and canines. It’s ears were rounded like a bear’s.

Einin hugged him and kissed his cheek before getting atop the animal.

“So, how can I help?” he repeated.

“Do pixie weddings work for non-pixies?” Ach spat out. Spence looked over at him and his warm pink cheeks, hidden beneath his skin that of glowed fire.

“Weddings… weddings…” Nell said as he pulled a strap tight around the animal. It flung it’s head around and stared at Nell, then the two of them. Einin tickled under it’s jaw and hugged it’s neck and said, “It’s okay Tyr.”

“I suppose,” Nell said as he placed Einin on the animal. “Considering our position in life, a wedding of pixies could work for non-pixies.” He tapped the back of the animal and it took off, with Einin throwing crouched forward.

Spence wondered if the cat-bear-thing was going to go eat the bird… Nell would probably not be that reckless with his own kids.

Probably.

He refocused on the wedding thing, his wedding. “The question is,” Nell continued, scratching his beard, “can a non-pixie wedding work for pixies. I think we’ve been the underdogs for far too long, though our interests fixate on animals so I can understand why that’s happened.”

Nell looked at them. “Did you need a new soup recipe or something or was this just about politics?”

Spence wanted to see how Ach would respond, because he was close to Nell.

Ach looked at Nell, “I’m supposed to die soon and Spence wants to be a widow.”

Nell took a skipping step. “I have one right over here! Do you prefer a bite now or kind of a blending together by living situation?”

They laughed, their hands entwined. Nell must have known how big this felt, how much they needed to relax.

Relax, meaning stop sparking so much they’d ignite the barn. Even pulling the sparks back in, the heat was debilitating for a non-fire fairy.

“I think we’re looking to blend together,” Spence said. He let go of Ach’s hand in favor of wrapping his arm around him.

“Very good,” Nell replied. Then, he hugged them both so they were in a ring of arms. “I have an entire list. I’ve actually been planning your wedding for years now. Let me get everything set up.” Nell began leading them out of the barn. “You wanted it at swordpoint, right?”

“It is traditional,” Ach replied.

“And the guest list,” Nell continued. “Beatrice would not want to miss this.” Beatrice was his alligator that followed his kids around when one of his kids was in trouble. Even to class. She also guarded the front door to the house, so anyone sneaking around could be dragged to Nell or Konrad for a talk.

Nell stopped outside of the barn. “She enjoys biting, too.”

Ach’s skin flushed red for a second. It was impressive.

Nell laughed, then looked toward Meldrick, who was standing beneath an apul tree.

“Acheron,” Meldrick said. He walked across the short patch of grass. “I’m afraid you can’t get married.” He turned to Spence, his shoulder blocking Ach off. “Spence? I need you to arrest him.”

Spence’s heart skipped a beat, then he looked at Nell who looked like he had been given a new animal he’d never encountered before, and Meldrick who was less tense than Spence had seen him in weeks.

So, this was a plan, for the wedding.

“Ach.” Spence pulled cuffs from the back of his belt. “It’s my job.”

He shook the cuffs apart. Ach’s eyes widened and he squared off from Spence.

“You can’t do this!” Nell declared. “They were getting married.”

Swordpoint: It was traditional.

“You’re serious?” Ach asked, anxious sparks held in his tight fists. “Spence?”

Spence kept a straight face. He’d do anything to give Ach the wedding he knew Ach had dreamt of. He’d grovel for forgiveness after. “Job first. You know that.”

He let the cuffs fall around Ach’s arms and started leading him toward the palace.

“Daisy is downstairs,” Meldrick stated. “He can be in the room across the hall from her.”

“Daisy?” Ach’s skin went cold and clammy. “What did we do?”

“You imprisoned the queen consort and me.”

“Who? We don’t have a queen consort. I didn’t do anything.”

Spence struggled not to laugh.

“Giana and I are married,” Meldrick clarified.

“We’ll sort this out, Ach,” Spence assured him. He pushed Ach around a corner. Out of sight, he pulled Ach back toward him. Ach stumbled, and Spence caught him. He pressed his lips to Ach’s neck and kissed him for a minute. “I will always love you.”

This was a bit over the top, but Ach was going to get a bigger wedding. Spence just needed a few minutes, whatever Meldrick could buy, to get it set up.

“I’m sorry, Ach,” Spence repeated as he put Ach inside the conference room. He attached the cuffs to the table and slipped his hand to Ach’s lap, knife in hand. “If anything happens…”

“So Konrad isn’t better?” Ach asked, his voice high.

“He is,” Spence assured Ach. With a kiss, he left. He didn’t look back, because if he did he was going to crumble and pick Ach up. Ach had locked Meldrick in, and Spence was just following orders.

Outside, Spence transported back to the barn.

“All set?” Nell asked.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“This is entirely my pleasure,” Meldrick said. “Your mom and Mallory have supplies.”

Spence nodded. “This shouldn’t take too long.”

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