The days melded together, blending into a lump of monster raids and Jayce's strange doting. I saw him everyday as he had placed me personally in his tent for the rest if the raid, graciously allowing me the bed while he did paperwork at his desk or slept on the floor. Despite my various protests of this arrangement he refused to budge on the matter. His mood swings were also becoming more and more noticeable to both me and the rest of the soldiers. When he was hovering around me he was smiling and obedient as a puppy. One time I had off handedly mentioned that my feet hurt and that night he was persistent that he wanted to rub them. I managed to fend him off for a short period of time-- horrified at the thought that the most powerful man in the continent was offering to massage my feet. However it didn't last long and I begrudgingly allowed him, watching him turn from a sad gloomy mess to bright and cheerful like a child the moment his fingers touched my skin. His attitude to everyone else was stone cold and harsh. He was especially mean to Lupin, always finding fault in the man whenever he passed by even if he wasn't doing anything wrong. Even though I didn't like Lupin it was a little hard to see. With other women he was even worse. Today was one of those days. Night had fallen, the sea of stars sparkling in the sky above us. They winked at us like they were mocking us from above but were still beautiful. Night patrols kept an eye on the looming forest, fog rolling out from it ominously and the cries of monsters filling the sky. Everyone was gathered around seperate bonfires, enjoying monster meat and ale. Once a week were were permitted to have wine and ale after the large raids, with this being the second time it had happened. I was unfortunately comatose for the last party, but this time I quietly tucked myself into a corner to avoid being drawn in. It wasn't like I was trying to be anti social, but I wasn't used to being accepted into a large group of people. I had to start learning that in this world when it came to my plans, none of them worked. To get to the dark corner alone as I had miraculously done I had to shake off the flock of lemmings that followed me day and night. Jubilee, Camille and sometimes Jayce made it their personal mission to make sure I was safe and comfortable at all times. Camille and Jubilee were absolutely hard-core, following me to even the baths and basically glued to me. Jayce was more subtle, his men keeping a close eye on me for them for my safety. I had caught them talking about it one day, and noticed that they would often block off the forest from my view as if anticipating a monster would urn out and attack me. We hadn't had a monster retaliation yet, but they could happen and had happened before. Jayce himself though was more fleeting. He was often quite busy with raiding parties and paperwork that the only times I ever saw him was when we were in the tent together. Other than that, it was a very rare occurrence. It saddened me secretly, but I balled those emotions in my stomach. His looming and gentle presence I had quickly become accustomed to. At all times I had at least one near me, even if they were overlooking from afar. It had started shortly after I became mobile, when I noticed that my legs would often weaken and tremble quickly. I had tried to hide it, but their attentive gazes found it very quickly. Whether it was blatantly following behind me or peeking at me from tents, I was almost never left alone to make sure I didn't collapse. It was a bit overbearing and I was uncomfortable at times, but I could tell that they were doing it out of genuine worry and nothing sinister. There was no malice behind their actions, therefore I couldn't muster any form of annoyance or resentment towards them. However, despite that I still needed my me time where I had a moment to myself. The moments were rare and usually only when I retired, so being able to watch the three nations soldiers dance around the fires was a gift. I had managed to lose them in the crowds mingling for drinks, now hiding from prying eyes while slightly bouncing to the joyous songs of the people. My hands were full holding a banged up iron scooner with a alcohol so strong the smell of it made my eyes water. I hadn't drank anything yet, have it being shoved into my hands as I tried to find a hiding place. I had myself hidden between two Cretor burlap tents, a black cloak around my shoulders to shield myself from the cold. Jayce insisted I use it. It swallowed me whole, dragging on the ground with the excess fabric. It blocked off the shuddering cold that ripped through the spring air, and made me melt into the dark void of night. My face was slightly burning from mana use. The raid wasn't nearly as bad, but I was still drained enough that I had become feverish and a little groggy. The men and women shouted and sang wildly in the open night air, their bodies casting shadows across me from their bonfire dancing. Cheerful and giddy with ale, I managed a sly smile from the peace. Unconsciously I brought the scooner to my lips, taking a quick and deep swig. The instant burning in my mouth and throat made me realize that I had made a huge mistake. I swallowed on reflex the rest of the fiery liquid and held back tears as the hot and cold liquid gave me frostbite down my throat.
"Oh shit." I coughed, wheezing out as the scooner sloshed around from my jerking. My nose and eyes felt like they were being stabbed with hot needles added were about to start running. Not only that but as soon as I felt the alcohol hit my stomach, warmth and ice spread across my stomach and down my legs, instantly making them weaken and my body feel a bit heavy. I was still quite lucid, but feeling a little heavier and tingling limbs. A sudden sweetness rushed in my mouth, like I had just ate a rich chocolate. It was the aftertaste of the liquor and I managed a half hearted grin. I went to put the mug back to my lips, the firelight cutting across the metal and sparkling in my eye. I felt the cool drink on my lips, only for a hand to engulf mine and gently pull it away from me. I jumped once again at the sudden contact.
"You need to be careful with that, that's very strong." It was a familiar smooth voice that made me almost melt on the spot. A single glittering eye met mine and looked down at me with care etching it them that was strange to me.
"Don't scare me like that." I sighed, managing to softly smile at Thea. She ran her rough and scarred hands across the front of the scooner before dropping them to her side, stepping in front of me to shadow over me. Her warm breath fanned across my flushed face, and I took the opportunity of her transfixed gaze to quickly pull the mug to my lips again and swallow the sweet icy fire once more
"Slow down there." She chuckled, reaching out and rubbing her rough clothed palm across the top of my head, sending my static through my hair and making it appear like a dirty cloud.
"I don't think he would be very happy if you got sick after working so hard." She grinned at me, leaning out of the way to show me the bonfire once again. My eyes instantly zoomed in on the tall figure casted in the golden flow of the fire as his subordinates danced a jig around him. The firelight was casting a halo across Jayce's back, his black silk dress shirt glistening in it. The three top buttons were open, exposing a bit of his sculpted chest that made my ears a bit red. His hair was pushed back, a few strands staying behind on his forehead but giving him a messy yet handsome appearance. He was facing away from the fire, holding a large scooner of frothy alcohol while listening intently to a elder Cretor man speak to him with a booming and laughing voice. His face was softer than it usually was around others, with even a small smile across his lips. Thea moved back to cover the alluring sight, giving me an all knowing grin. I frowned at her looks, chugging another hit of alcohol and feeling the warmth and cold flow across my entire body. My world became a little dizzy as I became more giddy, feeling the festive atmosphere in my bones. It was like all pain I knew prior melted away I that moment, the joy and singing infectious. Thea was smiling down at me with a face similar that of one of the mothers I would see at school listening to the teacher praise them. It was a strange expression, and she reached out once more to fluff out my hair.
"You've done a good job so far, Saintess." She yelled out the last word and I heard the laughter and cheering falter. I wanted to scold her for call me that, but I didn't have the chance to.
"Where's the Saintess!" An unruly man's voice barked out. Suddenly the booming cheer of the word bellowed in the air and Thea wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling me out between the two burlap tents and into the glowing light of the fires. Jayce's flustered face looked at me, pink and dreamy as usual. His face was quickly overtaken by the swarm of about two dozen soldiers huddling around me, waving their pints around and sloshing it around them. Some landed on the grassy floor and made the whole area smell damp with beer. Despite my alone time being ruined, their shining faces filled with glee and happiness made a pure joyous light burst in my chest as the alcohol started to hit me. The men and women looked at me eagerly as if waiting for me to condone their actions. The older Cretors men's chants quieted, and the Theosian woman's harmonizing dancing came to a stop as they looked at me. It was like they were waiting for permission. Instinctually I raised the scooner in the air with two hands since it was too heavy for me to raise with one. They all looked at me with eager eyes, almost vibrating with excitement. I didn't say anything, just brought the scooner down once more, holding my breath. I started chugging, feeling the burning ice and stinging in my nose but I was determined. The crowd was whispering, watching me as I kept downing the alcohol until the last drop slid down my throat. With a gasp of air I pulled myself away and held the scooner back up into the fire light. As I did the crowd bursted into cheers. They all reached out, one older, burly and scarred Cretor man pulling me towards him with Thea and lifting me in the air by my armpits. It reminded me of the scene from my childhood, the Lion King. The cloak swayed in the wing and got caught by people as they danced below me. I began to wiggle, feeling uncomfortable with my legs freely hanging in the wind. I was giddy thought he, uncontrollably giggling as the man hoisted me up and down like toddler.
"Put her down Gregor before the Archduke makes you put her down." Thea yelled over the cheering. The bear like man just bellowed with laughter. The man placed me on his broad shoulders, jumping up and down in the crowd.
"Let her have some fun you old bat! Get the Saintess another drink!" Instantly the crowd began go scramble and I rolled the metal cup in my hands watching them scamper like rats. My vision was slightly blurry and I was tingly and lightheaded. I was also incredibly high up in the air, feeling my legs tingle from the sensation of no ground beneath my feet. I was usually quite scared of heights, but the alcohol was clouding my mind and inhibitons and the fear was turned into a giddy sense of joy. The crowd created a barrier around Gregor who kept bouncing me on his shoulder, the cloak fluttering around us as Jayce eyed everyone with a small smile on his face. His face darkened for a moment but when his eyes locked with mine all of it melted away in an instant. For a moment it felt like we were in two seperate worlds. Him standing alone in the cold only illuminated by the glow of the fire, while I was surrounded by cheering people and warmth. It made my heart sink to my stomach on how he could have such a sincerely happy expression on his face watching me from afar. As the drink flowed and the crowds became more rowdy, he was still all I could think about.
NOTE: Hi guys! I'm sorry for no updates as of late. I mentioned it in a previous post but my health has taken a bit of a turn. On the days that I'm not bedridden ill I have to work a lot to make up for missed time. It doesn't give me as much time as I would like to work on this book. I will try to update as much as I can, when I can. I will at least try to update twice a week minimum until January, then I'm hoping to post more. I hope you guys enjoy the upcoming chapters!