Chapter 582

582 Icy Issues

It took the three of them around twenty-five minutes to get the oversized blanket folded, and wrapped properly. The present was so heavy that Peggy planned to call other servants to help carry it, but Skye and Tidas told her not to bother..

“We got this, Peg,” Tidas commented as he grabbed one side, and Skye grabbed the other.

As they hauled it up and off of the ground, Skye added; “Did ya forget that we’re both Tanks?”

Peggy chuckled as the two struggled to get a decent grip on the blanket without tearing the wrapping paper; “Aye, I do forget on occasion.. Are ya two Sure that ya dinna want me gettin’ more help?”

As Tidas adjusted his grip, he replied with a strained voice; “Na, we got this...I think.”

The two gently struggled to carry the overgrown present, but still managed to get it out to the central courtyard in one piece. Skye’s nails had punctured a hole in the wrappings by the time they’d made it out of the building, but it was on the underside of the gift, so they didn’t bother to patch it up. Once the oversized gift was placed, the three helped put the final touches on the decorations.

Because of Sai’s boarderline obsession with dragons, it had been easy to find all kinds of decor centered around them. All sizes, types, and styles of statues were hung and placed all over the courtyard, along with the Yuletide decorations. Some areas even combined the two themes by wrapping garland, and hanging bobbles off of the statues.

The garden area was cordoned off, and seating areas were cleared so Zazzy would have plenty of room. Chairs and tables were placed around braziers off to the sides, so everyone could keep warm while outside, and still interact with the guest of honor. There were also fire pits evenly spaced and placed all the way around the courtyard, near the walls.

They weren’t close enough to diminish the glow from the lights, but spaced far enough apart to make a gentle warmth envelope the courtyard. The snow on the ground had been packed down by everyone running about, and the heat had melted the top layer. The combination wound up causing a layer of ice to form.

.....

After Skye and Tidas had set down Peggy’s present, the echoes of yelps from people slipping and falling rang out every few seconds. Skye immediately went to help out by healing, while Tidas helped to complete the tasks of the injured. As they finished helping one person, two more fell.

Upon healing her fifth person, Skye became frustrated at the seemingly never-ending cycle. The snow kept getting warmed enough to liquify, but the ground was so cold that it turned anything below the very top layer to ice.. ‘If Zazzy tries ta land on this, she’s gonna send people flyin’ wit the wind from her wings.. And that’s if She doesna slip herself!’

A mental image of Zazzy falling into Bai Lei’s house flashed through her mind, and made her shiver. Tidas saw her, and was about to ask what was wrong when she muttered; “Nope! Not gonna happen! I ain’t payin’ fer that!”

Bending over, Skye placed her hands on the icy ground. Before Tidas could finish asking what she was doing, he felt her magic surge. Lights and bells began to sway and jingle as the ground began to lightly shake. Several shinobi appeared and surrounded both Skye and Tidas; the whole of the situation causing several of the servants to cry out in shock.

“HOLD! Do Nothing to the Alconians!” Bai Lei shouted as soon as his eyes fell on the scene.

The dozen or so ninja froze, took a few steps back, then stood at ease. Skye was completely unfazed as she focused on continuing her efforts, but Tidas looked ready to fight. He had no weapons except his fists, but they were up, and at the ready to be thrown.

As soon as he saw them inch back, he’d relaxed, but still kept his body tense while continuously glancing around. Their faces were covered, so he couldn’t really read any of their emotions.. ‘It’s like being surrounded by weaponized statues..’

As the thought crossed Tidas’ mind, the ground stopped shaking, and Skye sighed as she stood up, and said; “All done! Now we can finish gettin’ everything ready before the bairn gets back!”

Tidas looked around, then let his jaw hang open with astonishment. Skye had not only melted the only snow on the ground, but she’d dried it out as well. So there wouldn’t be any mud.

When he looked back at her, Tidas realized that he wasn’t the only one who’d been shocked by his wife’s accomplishment. Everyone that had been outside was now staring at her. Most had confused expressions, a few had fear, but Bai Lei was grinning like a fool as he walked over.

With a hearty chuckle, the Senator cleared the circle of ninja, and stopped in front of the two as he said; “Brilliant! No ice, no mess, and no more slipping! Your titles are well deserved! How did you do it?”

Skye brushed her hands together to knock off the dirt as she replied; “I made the molecules in the snow and ice speed up, which turned it ta water. I then used me Earth magic, and did somethin’ similar ta the ground, but I also moved the water a few feet below the surface, and away from the plants..”

“When it refreezes, I dinna want it damagin’ any roots by expandin’ too close to the topsoil, so I buried and dispersed it. The ground should stay dry til it snows again,” Skye reached out to take her husband’s hand as she finished speaking.

Tidas had walked over, wrapped an arm around her, and gently took her hand before kissing it. Skye’s quick thinking and response had saved them hours of salting and shoveling. Magnus used the mages from the RMC to clear away the majority of the palace, so it somewhat made sense that she’d thought of it.

To be honest, Tidas felt a little embarrassed for not thinking of it himself. The servants usually kept the snow clear by shoveling light snow and salting, but when it snowed heavily, the mages were responsible for clearing it using similar methods to what Skye had used. As well as being solely responsible for keeping the area and training grounds clear.

Skye smiled as she recalled going to the palace for the first time after she and Tidas had wed. The strange, backpack-like salt dispensers that she’d seen popped into her head, followed by the first time she’d seen the area. The mages had melted the frost from the grass, which had been specially cultivated by the Earth mages.

“Thinking of home?” Tidas asked as he saw the nostalgic smile appear on her face.

Skye looked up at him with a twinge in her smile; “Aye.. The holidays always make me think of me parents. I hope they remembered the presents fer the villagers..”

Tidas gently squeezed her shoulders; “I’m sure they did..They know how upset you and Peggy would be if they didn’t.”

Skye nodded, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread lingering in the bottom of her heart. As she glanced up as the eager moon peaking out in the waning daylight, Skye pushed the negative feeling down, and went back to focusing on Bai Lei. He had started explaining the final part of the plan to everyone after Skye had answered him.

As she and Tidas listened, other servants started to bring out presents and food, and began to set up for the party. The food being brought out would be fine outside, so long as it stayed covered. Skye’s stomach burned as she watched the servants pick up the kids, and check that the food hadn’t toppled over.

A loud gargling noise sounded out from the princess’ stomach when she saw a massive pan full of cooked beef strips being checked. Tidas stifled a chuckle before he asked; “I take it that you’re hungry again?”

“I wish I could eat that whole pan right here and now.. I’m bloody starvin’! Usin’ me two traits After healin’ those people really drained me. I really need ta eat again.”

Tidas looked at Skye with concern all over his face. She’d been needing to eat often lately, and it was concerning to him. Not thinking, he reached up, and checked to see if she was wearing her necklace..

“What was that fer?! Ya practically choked me just now!” Skye exclaimed as she glared at her husband, who had yanked on her coat collar to see.

“Sorry, love. I just wanted to see if you were still wearing the fragment..”

Skye’s face had instantly dropped at his words, which prompted him to ask; “What’s wrong? Is the necklace not working or something?”

Skye shook her head; “Na, it works fine.. I just dinna wanna draw power from it anymore. It curves me appetite, but I dinna like how it feels..”

Tidas furrowed his brows; “What do you mean? I thought that it was pure magic? From the Source?”

Skye shifted uncomfortably; “It tis, but I think that’s the problem. It’s like I lose a bit of me self fer a time...I dinna ken how ta explain it. I know I’m me, and I still ken the things I ken, but I feel...disconnected from the stuff that makes me, me. Does that make sense?”

Tidas nodded; “Kind of. It kinda sounds like what happens when I’m in battle. It’s almost like a trance, right?”

Skye’s face scrunched; “Kinda, but...I just don’t like it-”

“The dragon approaches! From the northwest! The dragon approaches!” a guard screamed from the top of the tower.

The courtyard turned frantic as the servants panicked, and began to try and finish their setup. Bai Lei raised his hands, and called for everyone to calm down. Once they stopped running about, he shouted; “Do not forget that we have a line of defense prepared Exactly for this reason! Do Not Panic!”

“Another line of defense? What’s he talking about? Zazzy’s not attacking,” Tidas muttered with a disgruntled expression.

Skye grinned to herself; “Ya ken he didna mean it like that, but it’s cute that yer bein’ all protective of our scaly bairn..”

Squeezing their entwined fingers together, Skye added; “Have ya not noticed that someone’s missin’ from this operation?”

Thinking on it for a moment, Tidas’ eyes lit up before his face went stony, and he muttered; “Genie...Of course it’s Genie..”

Skye frowned at him; “What the hell-I thought you two were good now?”

“We are, I just...sorry. For some reason, I can’t help it. It’s like a compulsion.”

Skye glared at him as she pulled herself away from him; “Well, get it under control, husband. I will not deal wit ya bein’ a jealous jackarse, got it?”

Tidas nodded, but he couldn’t stop how he felt. Something deep down told him that Genie was in love with Skye, and it made him nervous for some reason. He trusted and loved Skye, as well as Genie, but there was something off about how Genie looked at him, and moved around him lately.

As Skye asked how else they could help, Tidas made a mental note to try and let his eerie feeling go..