Prophecy, Child of Earth by Elizabeth Haydon

bear.
    Finally Grunthor set her down, released her, and patted her shoulder awkwardly. Rhapsody looked up into the great gray-green face and smiled. The Bolg's face was set in a nonchalant expression, but she could see the tightness of his massive jaw, and the faintest hint of glistening liquid at the corners of his amber eyes.
    'Oi really wish you'd reconsider, Duchess," he said solemnly.
    Rhapsody shook her head. "We've been through this already at great length, Grunthor. I'll be safe. I've haven't had a single bad dream about this trip, and you know how rare that is."
    The giant folded his arms. "And just 'oo is gonna save you from the dreams you do 'ave on the road?" he demanded. "Last Oi knew, that was my job."
    The amused expression on the Singer's face softened with his words. "Indeed, you're the only one who's ever been able to," she said, running her hand along the enormous muscular arm. "I guess it's just another small sacrifice I'll have to make to keep the Bolg safe."
    Another thought occurred to her, and Rhapsody dug for a moment in her pack, finally pulling out a large seashell. "But I have this," she said, smiling brightly.
    Grunthor chuckled. He had given it to her not long after they had emerged from the Root, a memento from a journey he and Achmed had made to the seacoast, searching for a way to get her back to Serendair after their long journey through the Earth's belly.
    His smile faded with the memory. When finally they had met up again, she had informed them that the Island was gone, swallowed by the sea more than a millennium before. At that moment, he had felt guilt for the first time in his life, knowing that he and Achmed had dragged her away from a home and a family she would now never see again. She slept sometimes with the shell covering her ear, attempting to use the noise of the crashing waves to drown out the torturous nightmares that left her thrashing and sobbing in despair.
    'You know Oi'd take the worst of them dreams for you if Oi could, Yer Ladyship," he said sincerely.
    Rhapsody felt her throat tighten, and a sense of overwhelming loss tugged at the edges of her consciousness. "I know, I know you would," she said, and hugged him again. Abruptly she pulled away, trying to regain her composure. A wicked twinkle came into her eye. "And believe me, if it was within my power, I'd give you the worst of them. Where's Achmed? Ashe and I need to be going."
    A sudden lightheadedness washed over her, a sensation that time was expanding all around her. She had felt this way before, but where or when she s uncertain.

    Grunthor seemed to be feeling it, too; the amber eyes clouded er for a moment, then he blinked rapidly, and smiled.
    'Don't forget to say goodbye to 'Is Majesty," he said merrily, pointing to the cloaked figure standing a little way off.
    'Do I have to? Our last exchange was probably about as tender a goodbye as I'm ever going to get out of him. We almost came to blows."
    'Yes, you 'ave to," Grunthor commanded with mock severity. "And that's an order, miss."
    Rhapsody saluted, laughing. "All right. Far be it from me to defy 'The Ultimate Authority, to Be Obeyed at All Costs,' " she said. "Does that ultimate authority apply only to me?"
    'Nope," said Grunthor.
    'You have final dominion over everyone in the world?"
    'Damn right." The giant sergeant signaled to the Firbolg king. "Aw, come on, Duchess. Tell 'im goodbye. 'E may not show it, but Vs gonna miss you terrible."
    'Sure he is," she said as Achmed approached. "I've heard he's already taking bids on my quarters and planning to auction off my worldly goods."
    'Only the clothes, and only if you aren't back in a reasonable amount of time,"
    the Firbolg king said as pleasantly as he was able. "I don't want that hrekin cluttering up my mountain."
    'I'll be back, and I'll send word with the guarded mail caravan as often as I am able," Rhapsody said, shouldering her pack. "Now that the interprovincial messengers are coming regularly to