The journey to Cardiff is long. We are taking a litter pulled by horses, and the wheels get stuck in mud often. Mummy and I climb out to help push the litter out of the mud, getting the bottom of our dresses dirty. "This is worse than the twenty-first century," I say, "it will be a relief when cars arrive."
"Are you sure about that?" Mummy raises an eyebrow. "Considering that cars couldn't drive up or down hills safely when they were first invented?"
"Fair enough. At least we only have another day to go."
"I'm more worried about the journey back." We climb back in the litter and continue our journey.
The last inn we stop at before we reach Cardiff is The Red Dragon. "I hope this place is cheaper than the last one," Mummy says as she looks in our purse. She'd taken over our finances when we started our journey. "I don't think our wages will cover our journey back."
"So, what do we do?"
"We take work where we can."
I smile and shake my head. "How many people do you know that will employ us?"
"We're good enough for the King and Queen, so we'll be good enough for anyone."
I hope she's right. The stableboy who came with us unharness the horses and lead them to the stables, while Mummy and I head inside.
The candlelight casts a warm glow around the room, and a young lady wipes down the bar. Strands of lavender hair poke out from under her bonnet, and she wears a red dress. She looks up.
Despite the lavender hair and green eyes, she looks exactly like me. The young lady beams at us. "Visitors!" She squeals. "I was looking forward to this day!" She drops her cloth and pulls out a big book, quill, and inkpot from under the counter. "What are your names?"
"I'm Sarah Jane Smith, and this is my daughter, Emma Smith-White."
She quickly scribbles down our names. "How long are you here for?" Her voice sounds exactly like the Devourer's. Exactly like mine. This must be one of the people the Devourer was talking about.
"Only for a night."
"That is a shame. You would like it here." She looks at each of us. "I know lavender hair is impossible in Tudor England, but I thought I would try it."
"It looks great on you," I say. What else am I supposed to say to that? Wait, if she knows that having lavender hair is impossible in Tudor England, then why has she changed it to lavender? "But why would you do that? This is Tudor England."
She shrugs. "I can do what I want now I do not have a hybrid to tie myself to."
I was right. She is one of the people the Devourer talked about. Who is she?
Mummy's gaze intensifies. "Who are you?" Her voice sounds colder than before.
"I'm the Protector." She seems unfazed by Mummy's reaction. "I help hybrids become the person they want to be. I value hard work, loyalty, and devotion."
"But aren't people who look after hybrids supposed to take on an organ or emotion?"
"Not me." The Protector grins, revealing pearly white teeth. "I would rather assist in any way I can, and if that means protecting the people my hybrid loves, I will do it in a heartbeat." She looks at me. "I hope that will be you. If it is not, I will be willing to help whoever needs me."
This is not what I expected. I thought the Devourer said that people like her would leave their current hybrids so they could sign a contract with me. Is that not the case? Did she lie to me? It's a great job I'm in Cardiff. Jack might know the Devourer. If not, he might at least give me some answers.
Mummy continues talking to the Protector. "No offence, Protector, but we met the Devourer. She said that people like you would leave your current hybrid to sign a contract with Emma."
The Protector shakes her head. "We can change what hybrid we want to work with, but only when the hybrid wants to sign a new contract, and only if that is what the hybrid wants."
"So, you are free?"
She nods and beams at Mummy. "I would never abandon a hybrid to sign a contract with someone more powerful." She looks at me. "Others might fight over you, but it is ultimately your decision."
At least that is a relief. I have some say over who I will get partnered with. But what about the websites I found? They said I would be with the Devourer.
What I found online and in books had changed before. It can easily happen again. I cannot trust what I read or hear. Not when it's something like this. But if that is the case, what can I trust? I don't want to call Luke or my friends from the future every time something comes up. It won't be fair, and I must get through this without help.
Where did that mindset come from? I accepted help from my friends and family in the past. But I'm now teaching Mummy about what will happen. I cannot rely on her, and the queens in this time are either dead or aren't here yet. The best thing I can do is trust my instincts. But are my instincts right?
"How much is it for a room?" Mummy asks.
"For you two? Free."
"Really?" I ask, bringing myself out of my thoughts. "But you must make money somehow."
"I will," she nods, "but you are a hybrid I could sign a contract with, and you are her mother. It is the least I can do."
"Are you sure?" Mummy asks as she gets the purse out. "We're willing to pay."
"We have plenty of visitors here," she says, "and this is not our busiest season. Do not worry about it."
"Thank you." Mummy puts the purse back in her pocket.
"Follow me." The Protector leads us out of the main room and up a small flight of stairs. At the top is a corridor with many doors. The Protector leads us to one and hands Mummy a key. "This will be your room." She pushes the door open, and we step inside.
The room is light and airy, with a double bed in the middle of the room and a desk and chair by the window. "It's beautiful," Mummy says as she looks around. She turns back to the Protector. "Thank you."
"I am glad I could help." The Protector bows her head and slowly backs out, shutting the door behind her.
We go down for some dinner and talk to the Protector a little more. "I can accompany you to Cardiff if you like. I have friends there I wish to see again. It would be nice to have some company on the journey."
"What do you think?" Mummy asks me.
"I think it's a great idea." I look at the Protector. "May I ask some questions?"
"Sure."
"What sort of things get included in the contracts? I know you will only know about the ones you signed, but I want to have an idea of the sort of thing I could be agreeing to."
The Protector hums and sits on a stool. "It is the usual thing; the host agrees to let us live in their body in exchange for us helping them. Our protection covers them and whoever they consider their family. The hybrid can agree to extend or retract that protection, but that rarely happens." She sighs. "I wish I could give you more information, but as you said, I only know about the contracts I signed."
"Never mind. Thanks for your help."
The Protector smiles at me. "You seem like a good person, Emma Smith-White. I hope you will consider me when you come to make your first contract."