18. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen:
~Keida~
“Peony Bernstein,” I bellowed at the festival grounds.
They were just starting to set up the banners.
Snow collected around the edges, but the massive fires built every few feet, for warmth and trash reduction, kept the area fairly free of frost. My robes billowed behind me as I stared down the massive knight and her collection of bumbling fools. “We need to speak.”
“Your Lunarence.” She whistled lightly, mostly in a mockery, as she turned from the roasted turkey leg she ripped apart with her teeth. Dabbing her fingers on some spare cloth at her hip, she sauntered right up to me. “How can I help you?”
“You came here by request of Cardinal Janus?” I squinted.
Her face paled. I knew it. My lip curled up in a snarl. She rushed to put up hands like white flags, “Look, it’s not what you think.”
“How?” I demanded, making sure not to strike her despite the intense urge to do so.
“How what? How did I get here? All the knight captains get invited back to the castle for Wintersdark festival.” She laughed, throwing her arms out to the side. I glanced around at the world of tinsel and glittering snow, and bustling people. Unimpressed, I returned my gaze back to the knight.
I had little patience for her jovial tone or playful posture. “What does Cardinal Janus have over you? Why risk your life and position as a captain for this?”
Peony stared at me for a long time before blurting out, “You are joking, are you not?”
“Not in the slightest,” I grumbled, crossing my arms under my chest. “I do not joke.”
“I can tell.” She inhaled deeply through her nose before rolling her eyes. “Look, Melrose is a sweet girl. I felt bad for taking the job last time, but it was good coin. This time around, I couldn’t say no, Janus gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“Which is?” I was at my wit’s end. She glanced left and right before nodding to the side of a tent, away from prying ears or wandering eyes.
I gave her crew of cackling buffoons one last glance before following her off to the shadow of the festival grounds.
She put her back to one of the large oak trees that filled the kingdom, holding up many dangling lanterns that were cold and dark for the morning.
Peony leveled her gaze on me, leaning in close to speak.
“Coming back to the castle as Knight Commander, obviously. With him as Hierophant Rex, I could take that seat no problem. Look, Janus said if this goes right, that you’ll still be Lunar Cleric, so I don’t know why you’re putting up a huge stink. ”
I stared at the knight in bewilderment. There’s no way.
It became so painfully obvious, very rapidly, that Janus’ whole game plan had been to use me.
He used Peony to get Melrose out of the picture or worse, and when Leonardo had a reasonable reaction to his daughter’s disappearance, Janus would step in.
Either by force or by manipulation. One of the few things the Order allowed, would be replacement in a time of great need… and Leonardo already lost his wife.
Six years ago…shortly after Cardinal Porter was killed…
and thus a new Lunar Cleric was required to step up as the previous one was appointed to Cardinal.
My stomach turned. I replayed the vision, me under a serpent’s maw, Janus draping flower petals over me.
Melrose tried to save me but unable to shield me completely.
Avaris was warning me Janus played me for a pawn.
My eyes sharpened on Peony. “You’re a fool and a sham. I hope it’s twice as cold when you go back up the mountain to your post.”
“Whoa, hey, wait—”
She stopped me from marching off to go find Melrose, protocol or strategy be damned. She’s not safe with him. I need to stop him. Wrapping a greasy hand around my robes, she left a stain as I ripped out of her fingers. I snarled, “What were your orders? What was he planning to do with her?”
“Whoa, nothing like that, please—” Peony laughed breathlessly. “I was just supposed to take her out of the city during the festival. She would get a couple months vacation. He’d take his spot as Hierophant Rex, and the pair of them could live out their lives anywhere else they wanted.”
“As excommunicated members of the Order,” I laughed harshly, slapping the air between us with my magic.
Frost crawled up her armor and pinned her to the tree.
Peony’s eyes widened sharply, mouth ajar as her lips turned slightly sapphire.
“And I supposed you were the ask nicely version, huh? What happens now?”
Peony gasped for air, “I can’t breathe.”
“And you won’t until you tell me what you know,” I growled.
“I do not know!” Peony wheezed, frost biting across her skin.
Her hair stuck upward as stalagmites grew out of her scalp.
Her voice came in a pitched, panicked whine, “All I know is I told him yesterday you weren’t playing nice.
That you’d run us out of the cathedral. He got peeved and said he’d take care of it.
I have to pick the girl up from the stables tonight when the festival’s in full swing. I promise! That’s all I know.”
Avaris preserve me! I dropped my cast over Peony, letting her turn into a melted puddle of a knight.
Rushing around the festival grounds, I headed for the side gate of the castle gardens.
It’s so silly! Kidnapping her from within the castle walls?
In the castle gardens? Only desperate madmen would kidnap someone from within the castle walls.
My insides roared with urgency, my wings beating rapidly behind me.
My feet left the ground and for the first time in years, I flew through the air toward the path leaving the gardens.
“Your Lunarence!”
To my utter relief, Delainey and Ramone rushed down the path beneath me with Melrose in hand.
I dropped out of the sky. The second my feet hit the stoney path, I scooped up Melrose by the face and tugged her mouth into mine.
I kissed her furiously. Hard. Fast. Desperate.
I kissed her with everything I had, then pulled back to pepper her cheeks in kisses.
“Trouble, must you make me rue letting you out of my sight for even just a moment?” I panted for air, pressing my forehead to hers. Melrose giggled sweetly, arms wrapping around me.
“No, no Keida, I’m fine. I managed to escape some sellswords with the gumption to try and snag me in the garden. Nothing of note for concern—”
I cut her off with another hasty kiss.
“You do not get to leave my side for the rest of time, you understand?”
“Oh no,” she wheezed, slapping the back of her palm to her forehead. Melrose feigned a faint in my arms. I clutched her tighter as she grinned up at me. “What ever shall I do?”
It took a moment, reining in the words I would have spoken, upon realizing we were not alone. I peeked up from the drooping damsel in my arms to the clerics watching us with bemused smiles. Narrowing my eyes, they caught onto me glaring and immediately ducked their heads in shame.
With a sigh, I hoisted Melrose back to her hooves. Then I dusted my hands on my robes, “We should return to the Cathedral. We have much to discuss.”
“Mmm, about the part where Janus tried to have me kidnapped so he could blackmail papa? Yes, we should definitely discuss that.” She nodded at me with a scowl plastered to her features.
I stopped everything to study her face. Searching it for any signs that the revelation was going to harm her, emotionally, mentally, or otherwise.
She furrowed her brows at me in confusion.
Taking up her hands, I brought her knuckles to my lips.
Avaris, please, continue to keep her safe.
Preserve me. Keep her safe. And above all else…
please don’t let her father kill me for this.
I promise, I’m a very obedient servant. I’ve been loyal since the day I awoke in your temple!
“Are you alright?” I murmured, holding her hands tenderly.
Melrose smiled at me sweetly. “I am alright. Much better now that I’m in your hands.”
I let out a heavy exhale of relief. “Good. Now…about your godfather.”
“I’m going to bite that jackass,” she seethed through gritted teeth, ripping out of my hands.
I scrambled to grab a hold of her, but she snatched up her skirts and stormed toward the Cathedral.
Sparing an inquisitive look at the other clerics, they gave me the same befuddled expression back.
We sprang into action, rushing after the Hierophant Rex’s daughter in hopes of keeping her from murdering a high official within our Order.
I expected Melrose to slow down or lose steam at some point, but she didn’t.
Instead, she raced to the Cathedral at top, furious speed.
The bells rang over our heads, indicating the festivities had officially begun.
Melrose didn’t bother to watch the crowds.
Neither did she stop when Daphne Oliphante called her name from within the crowd.
My beloved tore through the streets, righteous fury in her face and fists balled tight.
Clerics spotted us from the front of the Cathedral where they passed out healing potions pre-emptively for hungover citizens.
They froze in place as Melrose didn’t greet them, instead, rampaging up the steps.
They looked to me for any guidance, but there was no time. Nor did I have the words as I flew up the last few steps.
Stepping through the front door was like returning home after being abroad for far too long.
My heart sang with delight to see familiar pews, the dangling chandelier, and a familiar set of horns halfway down the aisle.
Paladins surrounded Leonardo St. Augustine and Cardinal Janus, all speaking in a rush.
They barked out orders, a crowd of clerics all listening in worry.
Now I understand the confused looks. They froze to stare at Melrose as she charged up the aisle toward her father.
He spun to face her, elation and relief mixed in his features.
Janus spread his arms, tears welling in his eyes. “Ah! Melrose! Thank Avaris, you’ve made it back to us—”
I didn’t have time to stop Melrose before she wrenched back her hand and slapped her godfather across the cheek as hard as she could.
And unfortunately for me, I’d gotten her a blessing of strength from Vien just the night before…so it was fresh.