WINIFRED
I sighed contentedly after taking a sip of my tea. It may be the ancient days but they made quite good tea. It was so pure and healing. Drinking tea could make you ignore anything around you, even if is temporarily.
"My lady, do something!"
"He won't die. I don't know why you're so concerned about him."
"How can you say that? Can't you see he's…oh. I'm so sorry, my lady."
"No, it's alright. I'm quite interested in knowing if Darryl is alright. After all, he was being one sidedly beaten by his teacher."
"I…I shall go tend to him right away!"
I tipped my cup at her and continued drinking. I felt his presence coming nearer until I could really confirm it was him.
"You can say for some, karma comes earlier."
"Please call off the fight, my lady."
"I can't do that, dear Bishop. Some people need to learn their place and some have to earn their rewards."
"What kind of reward did you offer Lord Silver to make him so motivated? He looks like he's going to kill Lord Grace."
"Oh, it's nothing big. I promised him a peck on the cheek if he did well."
"…that's completely…you should've asked me first."
"Pardon?"
"Lord Grace is very weak compared to me, in influence that is. I could've commanded him to obey you. This method is very barbaric."
"Are you condemning me?"
"No. I just think I deserve that peck on the cheek better than Lord Silver. I mean, I am more handsome."
That…left me dumbfounded, I wasn't going to lie. For a second, I doubted if he was even the one standing there.
"Bishop?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"Weren't you going on about a vow of abstinence and such?"
"That was until I met my lady."
"So, you're saying that a child…"
"I am also a child, my lady. Lord Silver is older than us both and shouldn't really be considered here."
"I see. In the case, since I've already put a price on the peck, you have to earn it."
"Even after giving Lord Silver the key to the treasury?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Oh, I see how it is. Very well. I shall earn it as you wish."
Men. They were really difficult to understand.
FERDINAND
The city of Valois shone more than I expected it to. It had a certain blue hue to it, making it more beautiful. The streets were empty but we could feel the cautious gaze of people as we walked past the strangely shaped houses. They were all shaped like cones one could find on the beach. I wondered how easy it was for a human to live there before remembering they lived under water.
We were led to the royal palace just up ahead but stopped at the gates. The guards looked menacing and their weapons gave off a weird aura. I waited patiently.
{It has been several centuries since a human from the outside world dared to venture into Valois! You may not be aware but there are three main tests required for safe passage into the palace} A thunderous voice echoed around us. I knew it was the voice of Valois.
If I was walking in blindly, then maybe I wouldn't have been aware. But before I made my trip, I talked to Lord Silver. Something told me he would know something about Valois and he told me about the three tests. He also spoke of a way to bypass them. It was the hardest of ways but he gave me the easiest way to bypass that one as well.
"With all gracefulness, your majesty, I have a gift for Princess Malevor."
{A gift, you say? You know of my daughter?}
"Yes, your majesty. In exchange for safe passage, I offer my trusted companion and dearest person to my heart as a companion to her highness."
Circe was going to hate me but I had no other choice. We couldn't pass those three tests without wasting too much time. If we wasted too much time, our trip could be revealed to others. It was a risk I wasn't willing to take.
{And who might this person be?}
"Dame Circe. My dearest friend."
Her eyes widened as I called her name. I saw betrayal in her eyes and perhaps a thirst for murder as the guards came to escort her first into the palace. I was blindly betting on this but Lord Silver assured me that she would be fine. Slightly traumatized but fine. I don't know what possessed me to believe him but I did.
{Your gift was gracefully accepted by my daughter. I will grant you safe passage into my beloved home.}
The gates swung open, ready for us. But one look at my men and I knew they didn't want to go in with me. They were probably wondering who next I would sacrifice. They trusted me with their lives and since we began this journey, that trust had begun to crack.
"I know it all looks bad but Dame Circe would be fine. We won't see her for however long we are here but we will get her back. No one else is going to be offered up again. If this isn't true, then you can feel free to take my head off at the end of this trip. I swear on…maybe it's not such a good idea to swear on one god's name in the presence of another."
{A wise one. You'd be surprised how many people ignore that rule}
His voice was closer this time. We saw a tall man walk out of the palace gates. He looked like a true king, an old man with a long white beard and ambiguously looking eyes. One couldn't tell if they were green or blue. It was the same with his clothes. I concluded they were just changing colors rapidly and took my eyes away before it confused me more than I could handle. But my eyes were drawn to the crystal crown on his head that seemed to be bending all the colors around him.
"You are one particularly blessed by Oriel," he suddenly said. He was looking directly at me. In the Empire, it would've been something to rejoice about. But he looked annoyed.
"Why would a child of Oriel seek my out? Does she think she hasn't done enough? Does she want my kingdom too?"
"I'm not here on a crusade. You can think of it as pilgrimage, your majesty."
"Yes, I've heard that before. His god was more annoying than yours but surprisingly more well behaved. I know how good Oriel is at hiding behind flowery words. If you've come for help, I will refuse in advance. You can just take your leave."
"If you want to send us back after such a long and hard journey, fine. But I have some questions. Did your majesty know about the war?"
His mood further soured. This as the moment of truth. I was testing the boundaries and wanted to know what would get me struck by lightning. Lord Silver said Valois was a more patient god and again, I was blindly believing his words.
"…why don't we discuss more sensitive matters inside the castle?"
He turned his back and walked in. I had dug a pit and it was up to me to jump in first.
WINIFRED
He was covered in blood but had a triumphant smile when he walked up to me.
"So, where's my peck? I did good, right?"
His face wasn't spared of blood. It wasn't his blood and he came out without a scratch. The maids and knights were attending to the now unconscious Lord Grace, according to what they were screaming.
I didn't want to kiss a bloody cheek. But, a promise was a promise. He turned his cheek and I placed a kiss on it. He looked happier and I couldn't tell why. He was being insanely perverted but I chose not to comment this time.
"Shouldn't it be time for you to find a wife, Lord Silver?" Bishop Matthew said as he was cleaning his face.
"And what would one do with a wife, exactly?"
"Bear children and have her take care of your home? She would also keep you from looking lecherously at other women."
Nathan chucked.
"When has that ever worked?"
"What do you mean? It has always worked!"
"So, you're saying that married noblemen in this empire don't gather every fortnight in a peculiar party to commit several indecent acts with willing and unwilling women? Are you also saying that the married pope doesn't lay his hands on children even though he has his own?"
It was despicable but it got the Bishop. He was one of the pope's victims just as Freya was one of the noblemen's victims. Corruption ran deep in this very religious society.
"A wife is not what I need. You couldn't begin to comprehend the things I need. I'll advice you to stick to your own beliefs or I'll make your fears come true."
He ran a hand through my hair and kissed it.