Chapter 82
Eighty-two
Edwin
I stood on the docks and waited for our ships.
They were now in sight, and a thrill went through me as I watched them sail in.
I spotted an extra vessel—Valentina’s ship, one they’d confiscated to bring all the ex-possessed back home.
James had finally gotten into contact with the Berengar knights—apparently the evacuation had not gone smoothly, too much panic from people, but that was a different story—and between the knights, the people of Berengar, and all the soldiers deployed there, they’d managed to mostly straighten things out enough to return.
I’d known James’s projected arrival time since yesterday, but still, I was delighted to have him home again.
The separation had only been for five days, but it was five days too many in my opinion.
Waiting here had been incredibly hard. Even harder when I’d known James had engaged in battle.
I’d wanted to call him every five seconds to be reassured he was all right.
I’d kept myself from doing so, because distracting him would have been the worst thing I could do, and I wasn’t putting my husband in jeopardy.
Still, that moment when he’d called me, and I’d seen for myself he lived, had crystallized in my mind.
Seeing him grinning, clearly exhausted but victorious—I’d never forget his face to my dying day.
That moment of joy, of relief, of knowing everything which had threatened us was no more.
In this life, we had achieved everything we needed to.
I dared to hope it meant we could live peacefully now, as Vuheia had assured him.
I’d definitely give her many offerings of thanks for my husband coming back to me alive and well, because that had been my major fear, and I was ridiculously happy it wasn’t a nightmare I needed to entertain any longer.
Word of James returning victorious had spread quickly.
To the families who had lost someone in battle, I’d not only made sure they were visited and informed in person but I’d also ensured a healthy monetary payment went to them.
The money wouldn’t replace a loved one, but they wouldn’t be struggling to pay bills while they found a way to get their feet back under them.
Especially for the people from Cabbage Patch, who were already on the brink of financial ruin just living day to day, the money would help them into a better future. It was all I could do.
Still, in spite of those lost, the mood here on the docks was festive.
People already lined up, eager to see their victorious king, and I could hardly throw stones considering I’d lined up right alongside them.
My new retainer, Chandler, had insisted I wear my crown on this occasion.
This whole thing was already forming up to be a parade, official or not.
The very second the ship pulled in, James barely waited for a gangplank to be lowered before he descended.
I drank him in as he half jogged toward me, Titan, who was already prancing, right on his heels.
James handled the lead rope while skillfully avoiding people who tried to stop him.
He looked exhausted, not moving with his usual grace and energy.
Still, the moment he spotted me, the most brilliant smile took over his face, and I swear to you, I fell for the man all over again.
How could you not love someone who looked at you like that?
James reached out to me and I met him halfway, flinging my arms around his neck and squeezing him tight. The second we had arms around each other, he made a sound of utter contentment, like this was where he’d wanted to be all day.
He smelled of sweat, wind, and the brine of the ocean. I kissed the side of his neck and whispered, “Welcome home.”
“I am so glad to be home, you’ve no idea. Why are there so many people, though?”
“Word got out you would return about now. Everyone’s lining up to see you.”
“An impromptu parade, eh?”
I could tell from his voice how tired he was. “There’s a hot bath, your favorite food, and quiet for the rest of the day waiting for you. Just smile and wave until we reach the palace.”
“This,” he said with satisfaction, “is why I love you. All right, let’s get through this.”
I stepped back and took his arm, leading him toward the carriage. “I’ll fill you in on what’s happened this morning while we go, but I promise it’s nothing bad.”
“Good. I have no energy to deal with anything.”
“I figured as much.” Then I paused, looking at Titan. “Would you prefer carriage or Titan?”
“Titan. Load up with me, actually, I don’t want to ride separate from you. I’ll boost you up.”
It meant riding bareback, as Titan wasn’t saddled, but I knew he was easy to ride. All I had to do was hang on to James, and bareback was easier than trying to double up on a saddle.
We loaded up onto Titan, and James pinned a smile on his face, waving at people as we rode up the steep hill to the palace. I waved some too, but it wasn’t me people wanted to see, which was fine. James had earned his moment in the limelight.
Our knights and soldiers lined up behind us, wanting their own moment of fame, and I didn’t begrudge them. In fact, I egged the crowd on by calling out here and there, “Our brave soldiers, priests, mages, and knights have defeated the demons and saved the country!”
People responded with raucous cheering, and everyone in the parade visibly perked up, waving back. There, that was the right response. They deserved recognition too.
The energy of the people we passed was incredibly joyous.
People shouted out words I couldn’t discern and passed along flowers or cards of thanks to our guards.
I felt glad I hadn’t shut the parade down, because the people needed to see for themselves their king was fine.
James, too, looked heartened by their love, even if he found it exhausting as well.
He sagged as we passed through the palace gates, his energy sapped. I didn’t even try to talk to him as we made our way inside and up to our rooms.
The maids had followed my instructions to the letter. The bath was a little too hot, as James liked it, with his favorite dishes waiting on the table. James stripped everything off and immediately sat in the tub, sinking in with a sigh.
I shrugged off my formal wear, set my crown aside, and rolled up my sleeves. Right now, I wasn’t a king. I was James’s husband, and my husband could use some pampering.
I put a towel on the rim of the tub and coaxed his head back so I could wet his hair and start shampooing. My man had a serious weakness for scalp massages, and I swear he went boneless.
“Love your hands,” he murmured.
“I know you do. Relax, just enjoy.”
“Oh, I’m enjoying.”
Soap, rinse, then I switched to a stool and sat at his side so I could wash and massage his hands. Another thing he loved, and I enjoyed pampering him.
Tilting his head, he fixed his green eyes on me in a content, almost sleepy manner. “Beloved? You said you’d fill me in.”
“Ah, I did. The noise from the parade distracted me. We had quite a few dignitaries make inquiries. Your battle was so bright, multiple countries could see it. Turns out there was quite the light show when the Demon King’s portal was opened, and again when you summoned Vuheia.
Bright enough that not only could we see it, but every country touching borders with us could.
I had to field many, many calls from other monarchs, reassuring and updating them on what was going on. ”
“Damn. I’m sure they were alarmed.”
“At first. Then relieved when I explained. Well, everyone but Queen Abitha and King Julius from Ascor. That turned out to be incredibly messy. Lenville finally reached the two, and it turned out they’d been possessed.
Not a full possession, thankfully, but a sort of influence so they’d ignore what Valentina was doing.
Once Lenville forced a priest into the room, it was obvious what had happened, and they were able to reverse the possession. ”
“That’s…not what I expected you to say.”
“I also had Lenville repeat himself,” I admitted with a snort.
“Because I was quite sure my ears were playing tricks on me the first time. Still, they will recover. Once they had their wits about them, I had to gently break the news that their daughter had been a demon—had in fact abducted hundreds of people from both Ascor and Zuskal to sacrifice to the Demon King—and died in battle. I’m still waiting on the final tally of all we lost in this madness, but it’s in the hundreds. ”
“Did they take the news well?”
“Well as they could, I suppose. I think they already knew she was lost to them. They requested her body, and I promised to send it along for burial. Which brings me to ask—Victor?”
“I also brought him back. Honestly, if we threw him a funeral, hardly anyone would attend. I won’t do a state funeral for him. I called Beatrice and Patrick on the way back, and they asked we do a graveside burial and quietly lay him to rest.”
“Probably for the best. You’re right, no one will miss him. You said he wasn’t there voluntarily?”
“No, he’d clearly been abducted. Still, considering how I know he died the first time…at least his death was of some use this time? As callous as that sounds. I know his soul went back to Hell.”
“After all he had done, that’s where it belongs.
No one will be surprised.” I had to wonder what people like Victor had been assigned as a Task.
Not everyone had some grand purpose, after all, not like James.
Victor’s might have been as simple as “don’t be a rotten bastard” but he couldn’t even manage that. Pity.
“What of the fallen knights and soldiers?” I asked.
“Them I will hold a lavish funeral for. You notified next of kin?”
“I did, and sent a healthy compensation to the families.”
“Good. It’s sadly all I can do for them. We lost a little over a dozen people, and to be honest, I’m grateful it was only that. For a rough and ready campaign with little time to prep, it’s a miracle it wasn’t worse.”
“Truly. I’m relieved it was only that number myself.” I switched sides to do the other hand, and James didn’t so much as twitch, just followed me with his eyes. “I don’t like how we had so many citizens disappear without anyone really noticing.”
“No, I hate that. I feel guilty I didn’t realize it was even happening. How far back did she plan this?”
“I feel like, because of the level of possession for some of these people, they’d been enslaved for months. Likely she started her plan before you even came back in time.”
“Possibly? Still, the deaths of innocents don’t rest easy on me. We must put in some checks so people can’t just go missing like this again.”
“Agreed.”
“Did I tell you what Vuheia said right before she gave my body back?”
I paused in the massaging, eyes flying to his. “No! You didn’t mention this at all. You spoke with her?”
“I had to carefully word some things since I was surrounded by people. I thought I might have skipped over that. I spoke with her directly, face-to-face, and let me tell you, it was an experience. Part of me was completely overwhelmed. Her aura is intimidating. I wrote about the event on the way home, while it was still fresh.”
“Oh, Priest Edes will cry tears of joy.”
He snorted a laugh. “That he will. I’ll make him a copy. Anyway, she only had a few seconds with me, but she told me a little bit. She said you and I are favorites of hers.”
“Me too?”
“You too. She also said she gave me a second chance because she loved us, and she was confident I’d get it right on the second try. I think she had just as much faith in you, really. Then again, it’s easier to do it right the second time when you have full knowledge of what’s coming.”
“True. Then…does this mean everything we were meant to do is done?”
“I think so? She said to just live and enjoy being with you, so that was my impression.” James’s voice grew incredibly soft. “I’m thankful your soul remembered me, my darling. It would have been so much harder on me, otherwise.”
I leaned in to kiss his cheek. “I’m glad for that too. You did come on a bit strong at first. If not for my soul remembering you, I think it would have been much harder for you to win me over.”
“Ha, yeah, I knew I was making a mistake rushing. I couldn’t seem to help myself. But it all worked out. We’re married, the worst of our trials are done, and we can live life now.”
We’d fought so hard over the past several months, it felt strange to suddenly be told I’d crossed the goal line. Surely I wasn’t completely done. There had to be something I still had to do. I was only thirty, after all. No one was done at thirty.
James loosely wrapped his fingers around mine, smile reassuring. “We still have a country to run, of course. It’s not like we can lounge about, resting on our laurels for the rest of our lives, but we’ve attained Paradise. We’ll never face the threat of separation again.”
The joy and relief at his words pierced my heart. I kissed him again, unable to do anything else. “For that, I’m heartily glad.”
“I as well. We can rest, dearest. We’ve earned it, and barring the unforeseen, I think our reign will be peaceful.”
“For heaven’s sake, don’t jinx us!”
“Perish the thought. Still, I think we can stop stressing about the future.”
Hopefully he was right. It was just hard for me to fully wrap my mind around the concept. Well, I’d adjust with time. “Then let’s be as idle as we like today.”
“Sounds perfect.”