Bloom

Chapter Thirty-One

A couple of flabbergasted servants dragged out of bed were cleaning up the Hall. A guard had fetched the evidence from Gautier’s room, and of the two cups, one had a faint sheen on the inside, like something had been rubbed on it.

If Zacharie had done as told and brought the cups and sherry to Aleric, he likely wouldn’t have noticed.

The sherry was sealed and deemed safe. William said he’d test it and took a few good glugs. “Ugh, you like this shit? The mint’s overpowering, but it’s open, so might as well drink it, right?”

Aleric was almost jealous as they sat at a round table. Lord Monet and William passed the bottle back and forth.

“Have some.” William slid the bottle over to Aleric who caught the minty smell.

“I’m pregnant, and I’m not drinking even though I’d damn near cut off a pinky for some. I love Winter’s Edge sherry.”

“The baby can’t get drunk,” rumbled William. “The mint will probably put hair on its chest.”

“I’ll pass, and the baby doesn’t need hair on its chest. Jaime.” Aleric pushed it over to him.

Jaime took a good mouthful and nearly spit it out. “Fuck! That’s horrible!”

Aleric cracked a smile. “It’s good, but it might be a bit strong for someone who’s never had it before.”

“I’ve never tasted anything so minty.”

“It’s Iceland mint.” Lord Monet took the bottle. “It’s a bit of an acquired taste. Is Zacharie still in his room? I should go up and talk to him.”

“I thought he went outside,” said William. “He didn’t look good.”

“I think we're all going to be a bit fucked up for a few days,” muttered Jaime.

“Fuck. I need to talk to him.” Father took another gulp and made a face. “Gautier told him he was an accident, and I said that in confidence.”

“You told me he was planned too,” said Aleric. With the revelation about Gautier being Jaime’s Father, and everything else that night, he hadn’t thought too much of the claim of Zacharie being a mistake.”

Lord Monet closed his eyes for a moment. “I didn’t want him to know or feel like an accident. After Honoré died-how could I? Honoré and I were together for companionship. That was it. We didn’t plan to have children, but the herbs failed, and he found out he was pregnant. Honoré thought it’d be fine-he was excited even. We planned on what we’d do, and I thought-”

William mumbled something and clapped his shoulder without looking at him.

“Zacharie probably thinks I blame him. I don’t. I never did.”

Aleric stood. “Let me go find him.”

Aleric found Zacharie outside and huddled on the steps. A blood streak at the top was from one of the bodies the guards had hauled out. The four Gautier had told to wait weren’t in trouble. They’d disobeyed a command from their Commander, fled their post, and gotten William because they’d been too unnerved by everything and not quite brave enough to enter the Hall and see what was happening. Father said he was giving them a hefty raise.

Aleric sat by Zacharie who was hugging his knees as he stared at the dark yard. “You should go inside and talk to Father. He mentioned-”

“I don’t want to. I already know I’m the accident. Gautier told me that a while ago, but he didn’t have proof. Father confirmed it. I can’t believe he told his damn friend in confidence and not me.”

“He didn’t want to hurt you.”

“He probably didn’t want me as a baby. You’re the favorite, and even you don’t want me. I’m not Florence or Fleur. Even Gautier didn’t want me. He was using me.” He sniffled. “I’m not crying over him.”

Aleric took a deep breath. “It’s okay if you cry over him.”

“He’s a rapist and a murderer. Was.”

“But you thought he was someone else for a long time. You can cry over what you thought you had and lost. I did. He left me on the floor and walked out. There was no talk, no real closure. He was just done with me, and not counting the physical, it fucking hurt. He hurt us both, and honestly, I think he tried to manipulate you worse since he told you all kinds of things. He never asked me to kill anyone.”

Zacharie didn’t like him, but he’d refused to kill him. He’d also taken abuse for the breakfast incident so Aleric would be mad and certainly not willing to drink and make up with him. And when he finally got the guts, he ran to admit the truth to Aleric.

He’d also killed Olivier, suspicious of the man who was supposed to keep the residents of the Castle healthy.

If Gautier hadn’t told Zacharie things in an attempt to lure him in and force him into being an accomplice, he might have succeeded. He’d used Zacharie a little too much.

“You’re braver than me,” said Aleric. “I don’t think I could have shouted those things and risked Gautier’s wrath.”

“It was better than killing you,” mumbled Zacharie.

“When did he tell you Jaime was his son?”

“After about three weeks of him being here.”

“Why?”

“I think he thought admitting a big thing would also make me trust him more.” Zacharie paused. “He used to tell me bits and things about people he’s known before. Stuff you likely shouldn’t blurt to anyone, and he’d say to keep it a secret, and he was only telling me because he knew I was someone he could trust. Honestly, it made me feel good that he trusted me and could say anything.”

That made sense. It was a way to make him feel important. Since he’d told Father’s secret, which had likely crushed part of Zacharie’s self-esteem, Gautier had wanted to “build him back up,” and if he was the one to do it, it would seal their bond more. Zacharie would feel as though Gautier was the only man he could truly trust to be honest.

Without any huge family secrets to hurt Aleric with, he’d gone more for compliments such as telling him he seemed older and more mature. Stroking the ego of the oldest son had worked for a while.

What a sneaky, devious bastard.

“What did he say about Jaime?” asked Aleric.

“He said he had a fling with a woman in a village. After she had the baby, he came around a few times to see it in secret. She was married, so...Her last name was Meyer, and that’s Jaime’s last name.”

“But…a baby might not look like anyone. It’s a baby, not an adult. How would he recognize him later?”

“He said Jaime looked very much like her, and he’d recognize him anywhere. And when he stopped coming by to see her, because she was afraid her husband would find out, they exchanged a couple of letters. Once she sent him a tiny portrait of Jaime on a wooden disk. He was twelve.”

The lie was plausible. A lord who has an affair with a married woman might not be in the child’s life very much, and he might get a few things over the years simply so he knows his son or daughter is well.

“Alex said they lost contact, and when he tried to write, the messenger returned and said there were no Meyer’s in the village anymore. The family was dead, and his son, Jaime, had left to wander.”

“And in this story, Jaime never knew the truth.”

“Exactly.” Zacharie sighed. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could believe it. They don’t look much alike. Alex showed me an old portrait of himself. When he was younger…you can see more similarities. It’s not so apparent now because Alex was much older.”

Dear Elira, how he’d twisted that around. Of course, Gautier never would have admitted to raping a woman and later killing her whole family.

“Alex was angry you’d taken his son as an aid and wasn’t letting him leave. He didn’t know what to do and wasn’t keen on opening up either. ‘How do you go up to a man and say you’re his Father?’ And then, after the rest of his bullshit about you trying to kill me to get me out of the way…you were getting married, and I had a feeling you were up the stick anyway since it was so hasty, so I blurted it out and made it sound hurtful so you wouldn’t drink with me…I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry I said I wished you were remembered by a glass flower in my window. And for pushing you away so much.”

“I’m sorry for being a little shit.”

“You reacted to my actions. I’m also sorry I didn’t look through the cards. I knew Gautier had given them to you, and I thought it was an insult.”

“I gave them to you because I figured you’d at least want to look at the art. I didn’t know you knew he’d given them as a gift.”

“I heard Father talking about it with Gautier once,” said Aleric. “It was ages ago, and you weren’t around.”

“Are you marrying Jaime?”

“Yes.”

Zacharie took a deep breath. “I think I’d rather go to bed now.”

“Father wants to talk to you.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow. I know he’s upset. I just…I’m tired, and tonight was…tell him I’ll see him tomorrow.”

He stood and made to go up the stairs until Aleric spoke.

“I can’t make up for what I’ve done, but…I’m sorry again, Zacharie. For everything.”

Zacharie paused. “I’ll forgive you if you forgive me because I could have not reacted like I did to your actions.”

Aleric nodded. “I forgive you.”

“Then I forgive you too.”

“And don’t be mad at Father. I know the truth hurts, but he loves you.”

Zacharie paused. “I know. I just need time.”

He went in, and Aleric stared at his knees. Things might be stiff for a while, and he was sure they’d never be close like some brothers. Still, they could try for a better relationship now that the main source of their problems was gone.

He’d said the rift might never close. Perhaps he was wrong. They didn’t need to be like best friends to be good brothers. Zacharie owed him nothing, yet he’d done a lot in secret.

The baby in his stomach would have an Uncle.

***

“I’m sorry, son. If I could go back-”

“Father, you’re drunk.”

“I know what I’m saying, and I mean it.”

“I know you are.” Aleric didn’t even have the energy to feel the old, occasional anger or sadness. It was deflated and empty. Father had never intended to hurt him. He’d always tried to be a good Father even when Aleric hadn’t been a very good son as an adult.

“I called you a liar, and I believed Zacharie over you. I shouldn’t have. I need to stop drinking.” Father pushed away the sherry bottle even though it was already practically empty. “I was a shit Father who left you alone to deal with things you shouldn’t have dealt with. I noticed you changed over the years, but I didn’t think it was because Alex had done anything to you. I thought he was my friend…I thought I was being a good friend when he came here and told me what happened in Moria. I thought King Alton was a fool and his cousin was a liar. I never should have let him step foot in our home.”

It was unsettling to see Father rattled. In the weeks ahead, he’d probably be going over every little interaction with Gautier and questioning himself.

“Father, you did what you thought was best. I was angry before because I thought you were blind and…”

“Stupid?”

“Well…yes…all I had was Jaime, and I wasn’t very nice to him for a while either.”

“I wish I’d believed you.” Father sighed. “I never suspected he was going behind my back and seeing you. And the night I thought you were drunk. If I hadn’t come downstairs, and you’d been left alone with him…”

Aleric wouldn’t be there. “Father, let’s not dwell entirely on the past. I haven’t been able to truly move forward from that event for years. I want to now. I know we can’t forget it, but we can live. I don’t hate you.”

“I’m sure Zacharie does now. I admitted the truth, and if he had to know, that’s not how I would want anyone to find out such a thing.”

“Zacharie doesn’t hate you. He thinks you didn’t want him, and I told him otherwise.”

“I did want him. It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. I was lonely later after Pearl’s death, and the twins…I just wanted…” Father cut off.

Aleric understood. It hadn’t even been about sex. He’d sought the touch and companionship of another. No wonder Father hadn’t tried with anyone again in the years since. A wife, a companion, and two children dead had left scars.

“Listen to me,” said Aleric. “You know how he doesn’t deal with sickness and death too well, and he just lost the man he thought loved him for a time. Let Zacharie get some sleep, and you can talk tomorrow. Bit by bit, we can all move forward.”

Jaime had gone to take a piss, and since he hadn’t come back, he might be in their rooms. He’d probably need a few minutes alone to absorb things. Aleric might need his help to get Father upstairs.

“You need to go to bed. You shouldn’t have tried to match William at drinking.”

“That old man can’t beat me.”

“Uh, he has. He walked out of here as upright as a soldier marching into battle.”

“Pfft. Are you still marrying Jaime?”

“Yes.”

“He’s a good fighter. You’ll be safe with him. I never knew Lord Scaliger, so I can’t speak for his character, but he must have been a good man considering who he raised.”

“You should tell him that tomorrow.”

“I will.” Father stood and had to grab Aleric’s shoulder for support. “I need to get to know him better. I wasn’t trying to be too nosy about his life, and I don’t want to be the pesky Father-in-law.”

“I’m sure Jaime understands.”

Father clasped him and squeezed. “I love you, son.”

Aleric rested his head on Father’s shoulder and squeezed him back. “I love you too.”

***

It had to be past mid-morning when Aleric and Jaime woke up. Aleric was still tired, but he was sure he couldn’t sleep anymore. Everything from the night before was too fresh. Safety and winning in a sense should feel celebratory, right?

His mind immediately drifted through the members of the court even though they were all gone. Gautier had snagged four people to watch and do nothing until he said.

“Do you think any courtiers knew?” Aleric said. Jaime hadn’t made any move to get up.

“I don’t know, but with the head cut off, the snake’s body dies. In most cases. If anyone killed you now, who’s going to reward them? No one. It’d be revenge at most. Still, I don’t think we should be in a hurry to bring anyone back.”

“True.”

Jaime turned over to wrap an arm around Aleric and tug him close. “If there’s still a ‘we.’”

“I’m not going anywhere, and I hope you won’t either.”

“I’m not who I thought I was.”

It was going to bother him for a long time too.

“And I was thinking…I am a bit…I’m used to talking to someone and not having much trouble getting in their trousers.”

“You’re good-looking and confident, and I’m sure you go for a man you think you actually have a chance with. Not a guy you happened to be stuck in close quarters with. And let’s be honest, if the incident with Gautier hadn’t happened, and I felt I had no reason to fear or distrust you, you wouldn’t have had trouble getting in my trousers.”

Jaime chuckled. “I grabbed you and said shit I shouldn’t have. It wasn’t like we were together then.”

“But what did you do when I said no?” Aleric turned more into his chest.

“I stopped.”

“Exactly. You didn’t wait to get me alone and act like you could teach me a lesson or punish me. You didn’t continue after I said no. You’re not him. Better people raised you.”