Cosaria waved goodbye to Bri and Ella, saying, "Thank you for the wonderful time!"
Bri said, "Our pleasure!"
Lady Shutter waved too. She scurried away as Bri and Ella glared at her.
Walking beside Cosaria, Shutter said, "What a joy it was to attend this tea party with you, Lady Cosaria."
Cosaria said, "And with you, Lady Shutter."
Shutter said, "Yes. Most interesting things have been learned today, don't you think?"
"Absolutely, I had no idea Lady Dorsey's husband was once a commoner. What a miraculous story!"
"Not quite what I was referring to, but no matter. I do believe it will be a delightsome time, next we meet."
"Of course. Take care, Lady Shutter."
"You too, Lady Cosaria."
Cosaria climbed into her carriage as Tilda sat up front next to the coachman. During the time that Cosaria was visiting with the ladies, Tilda was swapping information with the servants and maids. The Blueweather castle knew everything about the recent demon attacks going on in the kingdom. They were steadily increasing. Tilda now felt she was up to date on everything happening within the kingdom.
As the carriage pulled away, Tilda had a passing thought, That other lady gives me the creeps. Have I met her before? No. Definitely not.
Watching Shutter, the unwanted guest, wander off, Bri said, "Should we do something about that Lady Shutter?"
Ella shrugged, saying, "Nah. She'll probably be killed by Lord Arquix if she tries anything anyway."
Bri nodded in agreement.
༻✧༺
In the woods, just outside the northern town closest to the Blueweather estate, Lady Shutter glanced around nervously, before entering an abandoned cottage.
A voice spoke from the darkness upon Shutter's arrival.
"So…?"
Taking off the wig and dress disguise, Shutter revealed herself to be Sutter, the shady information gatherer who threatened Tilda that one time. Shutter is Sutter! Wow! Who would have thought!
"I knew there was a secret going on at the Arquix castle, but it turned out the secret was the Lady's, not the Duke's," Sutter said as he sat down at the table across from the mysterious figure. "You can tell your boss this-"
"I have no boss."
"Your ally or whoever it is that you said you're working with. Tell them this; That Lady Arquix and that Angelo fellow are having an affair behind Lord Delrik's back. That much is obvious."
"…Really?"
"No doubt about it."
The mysterious figure leaned forward, exposing his white hair and rich noble clothes. It was Ferris, the man who tried to buy Cosaria at the Carneth slave auction that one time. After the incident, he had gone into hiding and hadn't been seen in months.
Sutter scratched his nose as he said, "Now, about my payment."
"Of course," Ferris said as he threw a bag of gold coins onto the tale.
Sutter picked it up and looked inside.
Ferris said, "I trust this is sufficient."
"This will do." Sutter said. He thought, Not as much as Lord Delrik usually paid, but beggars can't be choosers.
Ferris asked, "Where shall I find you if I require of your services again."
"You'll have to find someone else. I'm leaving the country after this. If Delrik ever finds out what I've done, I'm more than a dead man."
"Is that so? Then goodbye for now."
Sutter nodded and left as Ferris smiled wickedly.
༻✧༺
Felux walked into Delrik's office.
He relayed the message he received, saying, "Count Angelo is coming up to the estate."
"Count Angelo?" Delrik said, "I wasn't expecting him. Were you?"
Felux didn't respond. His eyes were glancing out the window and his mind was somewhere else.
Delrik said, "Sir Felux? Felux?"
Surprised, Felux snapped to attention. For a moment there, he had forgotten where he was at.
Delrik said, "You've been distracted lately."
"Aye. Sorry Sir."
Fidgeting, as if he was uncomfortable asking, Delrik said, "Something, on your mind?"
A sly grin crossed Felux's face. Smirking, he said, "What's this? Is my Lord showing care and concern for little ol'me? Wow, I think I'll cry, I'm so touched."
"Obviously, you're fine, but see that it doesn't happen again. I need you at your best with whatever plans Lord Grysle is planning."
"Aye sir."
It was the closest thing to affection Delrik had ever shown Felux. Maybe Cosaria was softening the beastly man.
༻✧༺
Tilda watched the front of the castle from her vantage point at one of the windows. Felux and Delrik stood at the gate, awaiting the arrival of Count Angelo.
When his carriage stopped, Angelo hopped out with Donalt following close behind.
Angelo said, "My good friend, Duke Delrik. I'm honored to be received into your presence. My journey was-"
"What are you doing here, Count Angelo?" Delrik interrupted coldly.
Angelo said, "Your hurry to the specifics must be exactly what makes you the impeccable leader you are. Indeed. Shall we have dinner? Will your wife be there? What I have to give you is the most priceless gift, truly, and must not be discussed in such open an atmosphere as this very spot seems to be."
Through clenched teeth, Delrik said, "Very well."
༻✧༺
Delrik, Angelo, and Lady Cosaria sat at the table eating soup. Tilda, Felux, and Donalt stood by the walls, ready to serve.
From across the table, Delrik glared at Angelo, while Angelo stared at Cosaria, who was happily, obliviously, eating her soup.
Delrik said, "Count Angelo, I understand you were in the north."
"Indeed. It's such a treacherous territory. How the Blueweathers can survive such horrid conditions is truly beyond my merest comprehension."
Listening to Angelo droll on and on, Tilda thought, Wow, this guy is a chatterbox.
Angelo said, "Did you know they have a unique way of preparing meat? They smoke it. Can you imagine? Apparently, the type of smoke they use will change the taste of the meat. Truly fascinating, wouldn't you say? I brought some with me. I was hoping to allow you and Lady Cosaria to have a bite, it really is unique."
As Angelo talked, Tilda noticed Donalt staring at her from across the room. When their eyes met, Donalt frowned and looked away. His mind was fresh with the memory of how Gordana had beaten him with a ladle last time he tried to flirt with the maids. Tilda smirked as Felux raised an eyebrow.
Delrik said, "I'm familiar with smoked meat, Count Angelo."
"Of course you are. How silly of me to assume. Perhaps the Lady would like to try some, however?"
Cosaria said, "Oh, I would!"
"Excellent, I'll have Donalt bring some immediately. Donalt!"
Donalt looked up, saying, "What?" He had been picking at the nail on his finger.
Angelo said, "Bring here the smoked meat, will you? For Lady Arquix."
Donalt grumbled, "Right now?"
"Yes, right now."
"Fine," Donalt said as he trudged out.
Angelo frowned, saying, "So hard to find good servants these days."
Delrik's eye twitched in deep anger. His patience was wearing thin. Very thin.
Angelo said, "Oh, it seems I am going to be just stuffed from this meal. You must take me through a stroll in the gardens, truly. I'll have to walk to get the digestive system working."
Delrik clenched his fist, thinking, He's stalling. "If you have something to tell me, you had better get on with it."
Angelo could sense that Delrik was ready to throw him out.
He said, "Right, of course. Shall we meet in your office then, to discuss such intimate details?"
Delrik said, "That is feasible."
Donalt entered the dining room with the smoked meat as he announced, "I have the meat."
Angelo said, "Take it back, Donalt, we've not a need for it now."
"Seriously!?"
"Yes, can't you see we've finished our meal? Honestly, you must be more aware. After you've finished cleaning up, meet us in Lord Delrik's study. We've much to discuss and you must bring my notes, do you understand?"
Grinding his teeth, Donalt said, "Yes."
Angelo said, "Now, it's my leatherbound notes that I need, not the notes in the paper case, do you understand?"
"Sure."
Having finished talking to his 'personal assistant', Angelo turned to the Duke and said, "Shall we retire then, Lord Delrik?"
Delrik didn't want to waste time answering. Instead, he stood up and walked out.
Bowing to Cosaria, Angelo said, "It is a pleasure to see you again, my Lady. I do hope our futures include more such encounters."
Smiling, Cosaria said, "Me too!"
Angelo blushed.
"This way," Felux said, as he led Angelo out of the room.
Tilda watched as the Lords left the room. She thought, He doesn't even try to hide that he's in love with Cosaria. Even in front of Lord Delrik. That's a risky move. And Cosaria has no idea how she's leading him on without even trying.
Tilda sighed. She was getting tired of dealing with all this petty drama. For once, maybe it would be nice to worry about her own problems, instead of Cosaria's.
༻✧༺
Donalt walked into Delrik's office carrying a leather-bound folder.
Angelo grabbed the folder, saying, "I told you, the paper folder, not-" He opened the folder and glanced at its contents. "Oh, no, this is correct. Well done, Donalt."
Donalt huffed as he went to his spot near the wall, next to Felux and out of the way.
Delrik, who was bored of chit-chat, said, "Speak."
Angelo passed the opened folder to Delrik who began to read through. He explained, "I thought it would be best if you see for yourself. I was in the temple, you see, when a revelation came to me. Indeed, it was truly an inspired revelation. I'd contemplated becoming a priest myself. Heaven knows the church could use more people like me. Perhaps eventually, but, as it stands now, the church is so useless and corrupt. I doubt it would be worth my time, truly."
Delrik's eyes widen as he caught sight of a specific passage. He said, "They want to open the gate."
"Indeed," Angelo said, "The very gate to the demon realm. They want to open it and flood our world with their inhumane creatures. And Cosaria…"
"And Cosaria?" Delrik said dangerously.
"She is the very key."
Delrik bolted to his feet, his cape flapping veraciously. He barked, "How did you find out she was the divine maiden? Who told you?!"
Angelo took a step back and Donalt dropped some papers he had been holding as Felux blocked the door from any attempt at escape.
Angelo said, "Truly Delrik, that's what I was saying. It was the inspiration I received at the temple. No one but the heavens above told me. It was revelation in the purest sense. You can't hide the divine maiden from the church forever. They can feel a surge of divine power amongst the kingdom, and others like me will go to temples seeking the source of the surge. For now, however, the priests who aren't corrupt are all too busy on their demon hunt to think of anything other than that."
"Does anyone else know?"
"I am the singular source of this information, truly. I've brought with me a pendant that will hide Cosaria's identity from priests. I've personally overseen the blessing of this talesman, truly, it will be most effective. And I took into consideration how it will shine on Cosaria's fair skin to compliment her in every way."
The thought that Cosaria would wear another man's jewelry disgusted Delrik. But there wasn't much he could do about it. He needed to keep her safe. Receiving the gift, Delrik said, "I'll see to it."
"You must beware to keep up your supply of holy water. I heard rumors about curses getting worse throughout the region."
"I'll keep that in mind." As Delrik thumbed through the remaining papers, he said, "Is that all?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I was unable to uncover the exact location where they desired to open the gate."
"This is more than enough. Thank you. You may leave now."
Angelo gestured to the window in forlorn sadness, saying, "It seems the time has gotten to be ever so late. I had expected my gracious host and hostess to put me up for the night. The Red Forest at night is… as you are aware, an unforgiving place."
"Very well. You may go."
"A most gracious host you are, Sir Delrik. I am forever-"
"Get out."
Angelo and Donalt left the room.
Finally, alone in the room with Felux, Delrik sighed and said, "He grinds my patience like nothing else."
Nodding, Felux said, "Aye, I'd suspect he's the very reason for the phrase windbag."