She sliced up a baguette and made cheese and tomato sandwiches. Perhaps she thought this wasn’t enough food for two, so she also put some egg salad on sliced bread.
“Tea? Black or herbal?” she asked.
“Black will be fine.”
Elda put some tea leaves and hot water in a large tea pot and set it on the table. “I generally don’t get fancy with meals, but if it’s not enough, just say so.”
He could tell she was being hospitable, but the way she said things was always so domineering it made him shrivel up. He forgot to even answer, just watched her expression.
“What?” she asked.
“Oh. I wondered if you were angry about something.”
She looked genuinely surprised. “No. Why would you think that?”
“I just…feel like you’re giving orders or scolding me.”
“I sound that bossy?” She grimaced, then nodded. “Come to think of it, the locals also make faces sometimes when I’m talking. Maybe that’s why. I’ll have to watch for that.”
“No, I apologize for speaking out of line.”
“Oh? I always feel much more relaxed when people state things clearly. I was just thinking you were a man I can talk to.”
Elda didn’t seem angry, which was a relief. To avoid letting anything else untoward slip, he took a big bite of the baguette sandwich. As he did, someone pounded furiously on the door. The sound was so loud and close that he jumped, almost dropping the food.
In addition to the hallway door, there was a door in the kitchen that led to the garden. The knocking continued.
“Come on in! Who is it?” Elda called. As she stood, the door opened. A young woman ran in.
She had short chestnut hair and big eyes—very cute. But right now she was white as a sheet, and quite beside herself. Closing the door behind her, she said with a weak voice, “Elda! Please! Find my ring!” Tears flooded her emerald green eyes.
“What happened, Claire?”
Elda put an arm on her shoulders and led her to the chair. Elda took a small pot from the shelf, made some tea, and gave Claire a cup. The smell was sweet, yet clean and crisp.
“Drink this first. It’ll calm you down.”
Claire took a sip.
“It’s good,” she said. Only then did she look at Kyleid, sitting across the table from her. “Who is this?” she asked.
“Student of a friend. Staying here a few days for work. Don’t worry about him. Where’d you lose your ring?”
Claire’s eyes wandered for a moment, but she answered, softly, “In the forest. You know, by the river where I always used to go.”
“I told you that place was dangerous and that you shouldn’t go there anymore, remember?”
“But…but I knew nobody else would be there…” Claire covered her mouth with both hands, fighting back tears.
Elda grabbed a chair and sat down next to the girl. “This ring is important?”
“John gave it to me when I saw him in London last month. We’re engaged, but I haven’t told my parents yet. We’re going to tell them when he’s here on his next vacation. He told me not to let anyone see the ring, but I was just so happy! I went to the forest alone to try it on in secret. The way it caught the light was so beautiful, I was overjoyed. Oh, I should never have done that.”
Claire bit her lip, hanging her head.
“I took the ring off to put it back in the box, but there was a loud splash. I jumped, then took a step closer to the bank. I suddenly tripped on something and fell, and the ring went flying. I looked everywhere but couldn’t find it. Maybe it fell in the river!”
The tears were flowing now.
“I don’t know what to do! If I’ve lost my engagement ring, how can I ever face John again?”
With that, Claire put her face on the table and sobbed.
“In the forest, by the river bank. You sure pick the worst places to lose things,” Elda said. She looked a little put out but gently patted Claire’s back. “That’s enough crying now. It’ll be okay.”
Claire looked up and grabbed Elda’s arm.
“Please, Elda. Find my ring!”
“Hmm.” Elda seemed to be thinking this over.
Desperate, Claire began babbling. “Of course, I’ll pay you a reward! You don’t want money for problems like this, right? I know what you like. It’s a little early still, but once they’re in season, I’ll bring you strawberries and raspberries from my uncle’s farm every week. Please, help me!”
Not even trying to wipe her tears, Claire pleaded with Elda. Elda met the girl’s gaze with sadness in her eyes. After a long, long silence, Elda freed her arm and took both Claire’s hands.
“Okay then. I’ll do it.”
Claire’s face lit up. “Really? Thank you!”
“It’s too soon to thank me. There’s no telling if it’ll work or not. Tell me something: Did the ring have a gem?”
“Yes, a sapphire. My favorite.”
Clutching her handkerchief, Claire got to her feet.
“I’ve skipped out on work. I’d better get back.”
Once she was gone, Elda sighed deeply, as if trying to expel something toxic from her body.
“Sounds like a tough one,” Kyleid said.
Elda looked as if she’d just remembered he was there.
“Oh, this is no problem at all. I was thinking about something else entirely.”
Kyleid must have appeared puzzled, because she shot him a wry smile.
“I’ve lived here five years now. Sometimes, like today, I get asked for sneaky things, things people want kept secret. I don’t take all those jobs, but I sometimes wonder if my presence here causes more harm than good.”
“Um, that’s a tough question. I’m not even sure why you’d ask it.”
“I can’t really explain. But if a mage like me weren’t around, Claire would have never asked for help finding her ring. She’d have searched for it herself, over and over, and if she couldn’t find it then she’d tell her fiancé what happened and apologize. Maybe that would be better than to handle it all in secret. Maybe I should have turned her down, but I just felt so sorry for her. Whenever I take a job, I kinda regret it.”
“I don’t think you need to regret helping those in need.” Kyleid didn’t really get what was bothering her. “I’m sure if she told this John fellow she’d lost the engagement ring, it would be a huge shock. I’d feel sorry for both of them. It’s clearly better if you can find it.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely! I’d say refusing to help when you can do something is…cold-hearted.”
“Oh, good point. I didn’t really think of it that way.” Elda nodded and then gave him an awkward smile. “I’ve traveled on my own for so long, maybe I forgot how to relate to other people. It’s good to get outside opinions every now and then. Thanks. That really helped.”
“No, not at all. I didn’t say anything that insightful.” He’d just said what he thought and felt embarrassed to be thanked for it.