Chapter the Thirteenth

Mabon grabbed the girl, Allae, by the ankle. He knew this would happen, that is why he had followed her. As he pulled Allae into his bubble, he could tell she was unconscious. Once she was in the bubble, Mabon wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed repeatedly. “Breathe, girl! Breathe,” he mumbled under his breath. She still flopped in his arms like his sister’s old rag doll, so he squeezed harder.
Allae coughed and took a shuddery breath. “Ha!” Mabon cried triumphantly, letting go of the girl with one hand to shoot his fist in the air. She was breathing, but still unconscious. The breaths were shallow.
Mabon stopped celebrating and his face became solemn. “She needs to be tended to,” he thought. Of course, they were in the middle of Neygren Lake, but Bellord wasn’t too far of a travel. There were many good healers there. “Don’t worry, Allae. My Mumma will help you,” he told the unconscious girl.
And so he began his water bound travel.

Iraella moaned. Not because she was in any pain, but she was so tired. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up, leaning on her elbows. She was in a bed with a comfortable, cushy mattress. The room was bright from the sunlight that burst through the window. Everything had tresses of tan and white. Next to her on the lacy bedside table was a lovely, well painted portrait of a family. There was a short, smiling woman with graying hair dressed in a silky dress with a lacy bonnet, who appeared to be the mother. Next to her was a tall man in a checkered shirt that was tucked into blue jeans. His grin was fake, as if he weren’t really happy.
Beside the woman was an even smaller girl who seemed to be about Iraella’s age. Her eyes were large and a familiar oceanic blue, and her chocolate brown locks curled down to the small of her back. Next to the man were two lanky boys. The first one had dark brown hair slicked back and also those beautiful, ocean like blue eyes. The second one was……Mabon! The Water-Tamer from Neygren.
Iraella yelped and scooted away. Where was she anyway? Was she at Mabon’s cottage? A million questions were running through Iraella’s head, she could barely comprehend anything.
A girl quietly entered the room. She was the same girl from the painting, only her hair didn’t fall thickly in lovely ringlets as in the picture. Instead it was straight and thin, but all the same her face was lovely.
The girl smiled at Iraella, as if she wasn’t surprised at all. “Ah, I see you have woken up, Allae!” she said warmly. Like Mabon, she had a Bellordian accent. Then her perfect brown eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed for a moment. “Your name is Allae, correct?” she asked.
Iraella just nodded. She didn’t know exactly where she was, so she had best go by her cover name. The girl smiled at her again. “My name is Ello,” she said.
Iraella swallowed. “Where am I?” she asked. “You are in the town of Irka, on the island of Bellord,” Ello told her gently. Iraella felt her eyes grow wider. “Does Mabon live here?” Iraella asked.
Ello nodded. “Is something wrong?” she asked, frowning. Iraella put her hand to her head. She shook her head. “Oh my goodness. I-I…..How long was I out?” she asked.
“About three days. That ‘tis about how long Mumma said you would be in sleep. Mumma is a healer, you know. She is always right about these things,” Ello informed her.
“Oh. Thank you, Ello. I am very grateful, but I would like to be alone right now,” Iraella said, afraid she would hyperventilate.
Ello smiled yet again. “I understand,” she said, and she left the room.
Iraella was on Bellord. What next?