As the sun set into the forest's trees, Silver followed Sage back to her home. The last of the light shown on Sage's auburn hair, giving it a wavering reddish hue. It reminded the Guardian of dying embers. The thought triggered his memory of the nightmare where the lovely woman was engulfed in flames, causing the man's heart to beat wildly in panic.
Silver hesitated as he reached the entrance to her home. "Are you sure this is quite appropriate?" he blurted.
Sage raised one eyebrow and smiled wryly. "We have already had dinner alone at your house. Does having food at mine suddenly make it inappropriate?" She placed her hands on her hips in challenge.
"No, no." He answered quickly, afraid to offend.
"You need not worry about my reputation," she added with mischief in her eyes. "I have never had one to begin with."
Calming his nerves, Silver forced himself to enter. Sage's cottage was unlike Lily's. Although it was roughly the same small size and had similar furniture, the interior walls of Sage's home were plastered smooth, brightly colored, and painted with intricate patterns. The blanket on her bed was checkered purple, green, and blue and made of fine cloth. It was not something the Guardian had noticed when he entered before because Sage had been upset, but now the loveliness of the dwelling fully captured his attention.
Silver wandered over to the wall and gently traced the picture of a valley with his finger. It was so lifelike that he almost expected his finger to come back wet from the light blue stream that ran down the canyon. The silver-eyed man knew this valley, and it was not nearby. The Guardian wondered how the artist had made it from memory.
Motioning toward the painted mural, Silver nodded his approval. "This is amazing! Did you paint it?"
The brunette blushed. It was nice to have someone admire her work. "Well, yes. I do paint a little," she answered modestly. "In Lakyle, painting is encouraged among young women."
The Guardian cocked his head to one side. "How were you able to afford the paint?"
Sage hesitated and pressed her lips together. "Afford it? Ha! I made it," she responded shortly.
Silver did not notice her pause or her strained remark as he was now staring closely at the blanket on her bed. "This! This is fine cloth. Did you weave it also?"
"Possibly." Sage waved her hand vaguely.
"It is no wonder you think my place is drab and empty. Your home looks like a palace!"
Sage's face darkened, "I would not go that far."
Silver missed the edge in her voice and continued, "You are far too fine for this town, Sage. Where in Lakyle are you from?"
Sage forced a strained smile. "I will tell you where I am from when you tell me where you are from. Otherwise, we can just enjoy the present." Her hands were clasped delicately in front of her, but her knuckles were white.
Turning around to look at her, Silver started to object, but found he had no ground on which to stand. He nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose that's fair."
They stood in silence for a moment as the tension slowly dissipated. Then with a polite tilt of her head, Sage motioned to the table on the far wall. "Please make yourself comfortable."
Silver quickly made his way to the nearest seat. It was a chair hewn of branches, and atop it lay a dainty cushion. Opening his mouth to comment on the good quality of the chair, he quickly snapped it shut. 'Who knows how she will react to another compliment on her things?'
"Thank you," he said instead, sitting obediently. Motioning for Sage to join him, she shook her head.
"I have got to get food ready. I invited you to dinner, remember?" The woman's mouth turned up slightly as she looked the man up and down.
Silver furrowed his brow. "We do not have to eat."
Sage looked daggers at him. "Are you saying you don't enjoy my cooking?"
'Why do I seem to say just the wrong thing?' The Guardian lamented. "No, no!" he assured her, "I simply meant your company is enough."
Satisfied that he was sincere, Sage blessed him with a genuine smile. It was so different from her coy one that Silver almost did not believe they were given by the same person. 'The real beauty is hidden by that seductive guise. I wonder why she will not let it out.'
Unaware of his thoughts, Sage turned to a box in the corner by the bed. He assumed the small box held clothing, but it had oddly thick sides and lid. When Sage opened the box, he felt a slight chill enter the room. Sage retrieved some venison, cheese and milk from the box and shut the lid once more. Intrigued, Silver rose and touched the box. The outside seemed normal enough.
"May I?" he asked.
Sage nodded, a wicked smile teasing the corner of her lips. Opening the box, another wave of cold air hit him in the face. Inside were all sorts of food stuffs neatly packed away and chilled. Silver knelt to take a closer look. "What is this?" he queried curiously.
Sage dropped down beside him and frowned, "You do not know? Hm, I thought Guardian's knew everything. It is a cold box…for storing food."
"How does it work?"
"Magic." Sage's face was deadpan.
Silver froze. 'Is she serious?'
Unable to control herself, Sage covered her mouth as she laughed. "From what I am told, there is a special metal in the wall that absorbs the heat. What do you have left when you remove heat? Cold! I can keep food in there much longer than any regular storage."
"Sounds like magic to me." Silver responded only half in jest. "Where exactly did you get it?"
Smiling innocently, Sage shrugged. "Oh someone gave it to me."
Silver clenched his fists. "An admirer?"
Sage placed the meat in a pan and added some fresh herbs. Bringing the fire to life, she placed the pan over the hot coals. "Perhaps it was an admirer. I do have a lot of those, and I do get quite a few gifts."
Jealousy boiled up inside of Silver, confusing him. 'Why am I upset?'
Noticing the stiffness of his body, Sage's mouth curved into a half-smile. "Does it matter? This…" Sage motioned between herself and Silver, "Can never be, remember? You told me so yourself," she added with a challenge in her voice.
Silver relaxed his hands and breathed deeply. 'Get control of yourself.' "Yes, well..."
Sage cut him off and continued, "Lily says I'm 'uncatchable' anyway."
Silver knit his brow. "I don't see why you would need to be caught. You do pretty well on your own." Silver's praise was earnest. He moved to the fire and knelt beside her to watch the meat sizzle. Sage noticed the gesture and was pleased.
"You don't think I need a husband?" Sage teased, wrapping her hair around her finger.
Silver shrugged. "Who am I to decide what you need?"
"Touché, Silver. An excellent answer." Sage smiled coyly.
"I cannot speak to its excellence, but it's an honest answer." Silver shrugged.
Sage used a fork to flip the strips of meat. Then she turned and pierced him with her gaze. "Do you always say exactly what you think?"
Silver shifted uncomfortably and shook his head. "Absolutely not, but I can promise what I do say is always truthful."
Sage studied the figure before her for a moment. "Hm. I half-believe you. Though I cannot make the same promise."
"Then I shouldn't trust you?" Silver's voice rose quizzically.
"Absolutely not," she answered easily without even the hint of a smile. "People aren't trustworthy." She stared at him and waited. They were silent for a moment. When she was sure he would make no crushing reply or even an appeal on his own behalf, Sage cleared her throat. "So, Mighty Silver, I am sure you have your fair share of admirers too."
'Ha, no.' "No," he responded simply.
"Really? There are no women in your life?" Sage goaded him.
"There was one…once," he whispered. Silver barely recognized his own voice. It was full of the pain he tried to repress.
"Now I get to be jealous! Who is this heroine of virtue?"
Silver shook his head like he was waking from a dream, "No, it was not like that. She was….is family."
"My apologies," Sage was genuinely dismayed. She had unintentionally stepped into a delicate subject. Silver sensed her remorse and laughed gently.
"You did not know. I am not exactly forthcoming with personal details."
"All the same. I appreciate your honesty." Sage leaned toward Silver and nudged his shoulder with hers. It was a small gesture, but it sent Silver's heart racing.
"Yes, well. Perhaps I can, uh, tell you more about her someday." Silver stammered. 'Seriously, get control of yourself, you fool.' "And you can tell me more about your brothers?" Silver added, recovering his head.
"I am afraid there's not much to tell on that front, Silver." Sage said gravely. "They would sell me for a song…and did in a manner of speaking."
Silver gulped. "Now it is my turn to be sorry."
Sage smiled sadly. "Look at the pair of us. Enough moping! I would much rather return to flirting." She raised her eyebrows and then winked.
Silver could feel his face burning. "I am not any use at… that. How can I help you with dinner?"