Bonus Chapter #3
Once Iggie was finished ladling out their portions, he sent his undead helpers away and joined them at the table.
The easy camaraderie Alistair had managed with his uncle threatened to fall away.
If his uncle felt the renewed tension, however, he didn’t let it show, turning to Iggie with an easy smile.
“Tell me, Ignatius, how have things been for you around Singer’s Rest? Alistair said you’ve become something of a town guard.”
“Uh, yeah, that’s right.” Iggie sat up a little straighter and glanced after his undead. “My minions have made it much easier to keep up regular patrols. There have been a few encounters with wild beasts, but nothing nearly so dangerous as that aberrant from a few years ago.”
Alistair’s uncle grimaced. “Nasty piece of business, that. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been. Most Knights of the Order go their entire careers without ever having to fight such a fearsome foe. At least, not without a dozen of their fellow Knights at their back.” He paused.
“From what Alistair has said, it sounds like you were quite brave.”
A flush colored Iggie’s cheeks. “Well, I—I suppose...”
“And from what I understand,” Alistair’s uncle continued, “I have you to thank for my nephew still being alive. I am in your debt.”
He offered a deep bow.
Iggie stared at him, seeming at a loss for words. “There’s no need to thank me,” he said at last. He glanced at Alistair, his voice strengthening as his expression turned tender. He reached across the table and took Alistair’s hand. “I would gladly do it again.”
Alistair’s heart burned as bright and warm as dawnflame. He matched Iggie’s soft smile, holding his gaze. So lost was he in the moment that he forgot entirely about his uncle until a low chuckle snapped him back to reality. He glanced over to find a look of wry amusement on his uncle’s face.
“Sorry,” his uncle said, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. It’s just…well, I haven’t seen two people look at each other like that since your mother and father.” He beamed at Iggie and Alistair both. “I’m glad to see that the two of you have found such worthy partners.”
It was Alistair’s turn to blush.
Thankfully, the conversation soon turned back to talk of the town.
Alistair was grateful that his uncle stayed away from inquiring about Iggie’s past. He must remember enough of what Alistair had revealed in their letters to realize that it would be a fraught topic better left alone.
Instead, they shared tales of Singer’s Rest, from their adventures defeating the harmonite golem, to the far more boring crises they’d dealt with since.
Soon enough, they’d managed to recapture that earlier feeling of ease. Even Iggie appeared mostly relaxed as they finished off their third helpings of stew. They sat around afterward, drinking mulled cider that Iggie had produced from their stores.
“Well,” Alistair’s uncle said with a wide yawn. “It’s getting late. I should make my way back to the inn. Tomorrow, though, I’d like to see more of the town if you’d care to join me.” He glanced between Alistair and Iggie. “Both of you.”
“Of course, Uncle.” Alistair inclined his head. “It will be fun showing you around.” He grinned. “Though, to be honest, it shouldn’t take too long. There’s not much to show.”
His uncle chuckled. “No, I suppose not.”
“Perhaps we can convince Liliana to give him a demonstration of harmonite crafting,” Iggie said, a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Alistair muffled a groan as his uncle thrilled to the prospect.
He could already imagine how well that conversation would go, with Liliana and her workers frantically trying to finish up any last shipments that needed to be sent out before the pass closed, as well as readying decorations for Dawncoming.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Alistair promised, not quite able to bring himself to destroy his uncle’s excitement.
As Iggie and his undead began cleaning up the dishes, Alistair guided his uncle to the door.
“Thank you for a lovely meal,” his uncle said. “I look forward to continuing to catch up tomorrow.” He started to leave, then paused, glancing back at Alistair. “I really am happy that you’ve found your place here.”
Something clenched in Alistair’s chest. He looked away, sudden shame bubbling within him. “I never did properly thank you for the role you played in making all this possible.”
“Think nothing of it,” his uncle replied with a wave of his hand.
“The Order was sad to lose such a promising young recruit, but they could hardly be too upset given the glowing reviews the town leaders gave of your first mission. And if you’re going to leave the Order, becoming a priest is the next best thing.
As for the Church...” His uncle grimaced, a faint look of distaste crossing his face.
“That former priest certainly raised quite the stink. But it was nothing I couldn’t handle. ”
A fresh wave of shame curdled in Alistair’s gut. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For the shame I must have brought upon the family with my actions. I never meant to dishonor my father’s legacy.”
He kept his head bowed as his uncle fell silent, unable to bear the weight of his disappointment. There was the scuff of shifting footsteps, and for a moment, he feared his uncle had simply turned and walked away. Then, he froze in shock as his uncle drew him into an embrace.
“You did not bring shame to our house,” his uncle said, his voice low but firm. “I’m proud of you for standing up for what you believed was right. For who you believed was worth protecting. And I’m certain that your father would be proud as well.”
Tears stood out in Alistair’s eyes. He hurriedly scrubbed them away, faintly embarrassed. His uncle pretended not to see as he drew back and cast Alistair a crooked grin.
“I’ll admit that my nephew marrying a necromancer will take some getting used to. But from everything you’ve told me and everything I’ve seen so far myself, that boy is madly in love with you, and you with him. If this is the course the Celestials have set before you, then who am I to question it?”
“Thank you,” Alistair whispered.
“Of course. What is family for? Now, get some rest and enjoy the rest of your night. I’ll see you bright and early in the morning for my tour.”
With one last bow, his uncle departed into the night, his boots crunching through the snow. Alistair watched him go for a moment before shutting the door and resting his head against it, letting out a soft exhale.
He startled at the sudden touch of a hand on his back.
“Everything okay?” Iggie asked.
Alistair puffed out another breath, then nodded, leaning into Iggie’s familiar touch. “That went about as well as I could have hoped.”
“Your uncle seems nice,” Iggie agreed.
Hearing the lingering tension in Iggie’s voice, Alistair turned to press a gentle kiss to his lips. “You did great, love. And even if you didn’t, I meant what I said before in the church. You don’t owe anyone anything. You don’t need to impress anyone.”
Iggie sighed, relaxing in Alistair’s arms. “I know, I know. But, as your uncle said, some prejudices are hard to shake. I’ve spent so much of my life running from men like him. Now that I don’t need to run anymore, I find it hard to believe his acceptance is real.”
“Well, believe it.” Alistair kissed him again, relishing the comforting press of Iggie against him. “You’re worth it. And if he or anyone else doesn’t see that, then the Void take them.”
Iggie laughed softly and rested his head on Alistair’s shoulder. “Shadow and shade, I love you.”
Alistair held Iggie close. “I love you, too.”
Standing there with his necromancer in his arms, Alistair couldn’t wait to see what legacy they forged together.