34

Calliope managed to finish the ale in her mug as Ian and Mido finished off two more. They laughed loudly together at some joke they shared. Calliope studied the unfamiliar human behavior. She could feel her head swim in confusion. She let her head rest against her hands.

"Looks like someone's finally feeling it," Ian said, elbowing her.

"I don't get humans," she muttered. Ian and Mido laughed.

"Come on," Mido said. "I think we've tortured her enough."

"This is worse than anything Scarletta has done to me."

"Don't be so dramatic," Ian said.

"My head hurts."

"Come on, up you go," Mido said, helping her to her feet. Ian and Mido guided her out of the tavern and back outside. Calliope squinted in the bright sunlight and groaned.

"She's a boring drunk," Ian said as they pushed her through the streets.

"And you're an idiot drunk," Mido said.

Ian laughed. "You're an idiot," he shot back.

"You're both idiots," Calliope mumbled, causing the men to laugh.

Mido groaned. "Oh, I have to kick Barric and Carsen out tonight."

"You better sober up before you see King Sloan."

"He'll kick my ass."

"I'm going to kick your ass," Calliope mumbled, shielding the sun from her eyes.

"Okay, so she's a mean drunk."

"I'll take you home," Mido said.

"Oh, so you'll take her home," Ian mocked.

"Shut up," Mido barked.

"How can you enjoy this," Calliope groaned once more as Mido walked her back towards the castle.

Mido said nothing. He helped her inside and she leaned against the cold castle wall. She let her body slide down and onto to the floor. Mido sighed and sat beside her.

"Let's never do this again," she mumbled.

Mido smiled. "All right, if you insist."

"I haven't forgotten anything. I feel worse than I did."

"You didn't drink enough."

"It's disgusting."

Mido shrugged.

"I don't feel right."

"That's the point. If you drink more, you wouldn't feel anything at all. You do and say things you wouldn't normally do or say."

"Why?" Calliope moaned. "I don't get this."

Mido laughed.

Calliope leaned against the wall and looked at Mido.

"What's going to happen to Barric and Carsen?" she asked.

"They've been banished."

"Where will they go?"

Mido shrugged. "I don't know and I don't care. As long as they're not here."

"You were friends with them. Before you found me."

"They were always assholes."

"Don't you think everything would be better if I weren't around?"

"I'd be dead if you weren't around."

"No, you'd be fine."

"If it weren't you, then Scarletta would have had another witch. A mean witch. And she'd kill us all anyway."

Calliope sighed.

"You're one of us now, Calli, get over it. We like you. We don't like Barric and Carsen."

Calliope nodded. "Why do you put yourself through this," she moaned. She let her head rest against the cold stone wall. "Is this really worth it?"

Mido shrugged. "Sometimes."

"I don't think so."

He turned to her, his head against the wall, and smiled. "It's just nice to forget once in a while. To forget all the shit life throws at you. To forget the torture Scarletta put you through." He turned away and stared at the high ceiling. "To forget the lives lost in the wars against her."

Calliope watched him as he spoke, studying his expressions as he recalled long lost memories.

"To forget sickness and death and all the shitty things in life." He turned back to Calliope and smiled. "To forget the pretty little witch who gives your life hell."

Calliope turned away and took a turn staring at the ceiling. They sat together on the cold stone in silence. Calliope's head throbbed. Her thoughts felt jumbled. She didn't think she'd ever understand humans. She watched Mido as he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes; his chest rising and falling with each breath. She stared at the ceiling, listening to his breathing. She had lost track of time, but noticed the deep gold sunlight streaming through the windows. She elbowed Mido. He opened his eyes, yawned, and looked around, groaning.

"Regretting those drinks yet?" she asked, smirking.

He shook his head and stood. "Nah. I've had lots of practice." He helped Calliope to her feet.

"Don't be getting into trouble," he said. "I have to get to the dungeon."

Calliope nodded. She watched him head down the hallway, stretching his arms as he walked.

Mido trotted down the staircase into the dungeon where Barric and Carsen awaited their fates. He peered into their cells and smiled.

"I cannot wait to see you on that ship," Mido said to them. He waited as the guards let the men out of their cells. They sneered at Mido as they were directed out of the dungeons. Mido followed behind and out to the stables where Lily waited. He joined the rest of the soldiers and they made their way out of the city and galloped across the kingdom to its borders. The soldiers guided the wagon with the two prisoners through the kingdom and to the ship waiting at the port.

Mido watched as Barric and Carsen were guided off the wagon and onto the ship. King Sloan's army handed off the two prisoners to two naval officers, who then escorted Barric and Carsen aboard. Mido watched as they disappeared below the ship's deck and the anchors were drawn.

"Good riddance," he mumbled. The sailors shouted to each other and the ship inched forward. The ship's flags blew in the wind and guided them out of the harbor and into the ocean, disappearing over the horizon. Feeling satisfied, Mido joined the rest of the soldiers as they made their way back towards Alryn.