38. Thirty-Eight - Night Visits
Thirty-Eight - Night Visits
Edric
Mina keeps peeking glances at Viggo. But she doesn’t look scared.
I’m glad.
She had been the one I worried about after her previous reaction.
One family member against us, I could handle. Two... That might be a losing battle.
Ana’s mother is, thankfully, nowhere to be found. And whatever had put the sour look on Misses Scoggins’ face has disappeared.
She smiles and laughs with him for a moment and then gently nudges him toward us.
“Viggo?” Ana reaches in front of me, holding her hand out, and when he takes it, she crosses in front of me, placing herself between me and him, instead of him in between us. “This is Mina, my littlest sister.”
He dips his head in a bow.
“Mina, this is Viggo.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Mina smiles, but her gaze travels from where Ana has wrapped her arm in Viggo’s to me.
I doubt she is the first to notice how Ana touches him. She certainly won’t be the last.
Slowly, more and more of the village come to greet my visitors. I perform introductions, carefully wording how I speak of Viggo so that I don’t lie to any of them.
But the temple’s chimes cut off the conversation and Kirra turns from the person to whom she’d been speaking, as though she’s been summoned by them.
“Oh, how beautiful!” She places her palms together, as if in prayer. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard any more lovely. They even put the palace cathedral’s bells to shame.”
I would agree, and more than a few of the villagers take her compliment with a personal pride I didn’t expect.
Going to Kirra’s side, I offer her my arm. I don’t know if Ana plans to come to the service with us, but I’ll leave it to Viggo to coax her if not.
“The Queen likes you,” Kirra says, quietly as we walk up the steps.
“Does she?”
“Stewardship of this forest is a gift. One I believe she knows the value of.”
“If the Queen sees fit to give me any favors, I imagine I can thank you for at least part of them.”
She hums and I know it’s because she can’t disagree.
Viggo places Ana between us and Kirra sits on my other side. She shuffles her shoulders, getting comfortable in the same way one of her owls would. “There are two who might be a problem.”
“That’s a nice, low number,” I say.
“Her mother is the main issue.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“She is not a fan of me, I didn’t think she would be one of Viggo either, especially given what Ana has said.” I pause for a moment... “Did you meet her?”
“I didn’t have to. At least three people gave me whispered warnings. The two of you aren’t any good at hiding how you feel about her.”
I nod. Misses Scoggins is the only one I would have guessed to give the warning, but others…
“I don’t think Ana needed us to gain the approval of the village, but I’m glad we seem to have it.” I have a feeling it would hurt her if we didn’t. “Who is the other problem?”
“There was a half giant lurking in the shadows. He is in love with her.”
“He’s not.”
Kirra looks sharply at me.
And I take a deep breath, lowering my voice further. “A man in love with her wouldn’t risk hurting her by trying to bed her unprepared.”
Kirra grimaces. “Did he force himself on her?”
“No, just plying for the privilege without being willing to do the work.”
“That is disappointing, but not unexpected.” Kirra rolls her eyes and then affixes her gaze on the statue of the Goddess. “He looked young. We both know how easily young men focus solely on their own pleasure.”
I snort, and that draws several glances my way, but I don’t remind her that her observation of young men has and will only ever be second hand.
The temple attendants appear, cutting off any further discussions and I settle in for the service... and think about a different one—an extremely private one—I hope we have an opportunity to partake in.
Glancing sideways at Ana and Viggo, I take Ana’s other hand. The Goddess brought us here to find her. We aren’t going to walk away from fate.
As the temple attendants work their way through the standard service, we sit in silence. Kirra is the only one who answers all of the call and response prompts correctly while the rest of us muddle through.
We should all come to the Goddess for understanding and peace more often. Kirra is a reminder of that as we step back out into the night.
She is calmer. Breathing deeply, she looks up at the sky and her eyes reflect their light.
“Let’s go home.” She says, softly. “I have much to think about.
She’s silent until we’re back in the manor house. She whispers things to herself as she lets Blicks take her stole, her coat, and her sword.
“What do you think?” Viggo asks, finally breaking the too-long silence.
“You don’t need me here.” Kirra sits on the sofa and looks up at us as her birds descend on her shoulders and hands. “I will stay two more days so that the town sees us, but, I think you underestimate the power Ana wields here.
“They love her. As long as you are in her good graces... I think they’ll love you too.”
Viggo exhales so heavily, I think he might fall forward, but I grab his shoulder to keep him upright. “One mother and one half-giant excepted.”
Kirra chuckles as she accepts a teacup of blood and thanks Yenna. “There are always a few flies in the proverbial ointment.”