The door creaked open, and Alexander Ford stepped in, a presence as commanding as ever. He shrugged off his coat, handing it to a waiting attendant—a young woman who seemed to blend seamlessly into the background. "Will you be wanting anything, gentlemen?" she asked, her voice soft and practiced.
"Tearling," both men answered simultaneously. Gale forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Alexander chuckled. "Still the same taste, I see," he said, taking a seat across from Gale. His large frame made the chair look smaller than it was, yet he carried himself with a grace that belied his stature.
Gale nodded, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "It's been years, but some things are hard to forget."
The attendant returned moments later, placing steaming cups of tea before them. Both men murmured their thanks, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving an awkward silence in its wake.
Alexander swirled his cup, staring into the amber liquid as though it held answers. "Sweet, light, and warm," he murmured, taking a sip. "Just as I remember." His gaze lifted to Gale, sharp and unwavering. "Do you remember too?"
"Of course," Gale replied smoothly, though his fingers tightened around the porcelain.
Alexander smiled faintly, his expression touched with something distant. "We used to sit together like this, back when Clarissa was still alive. Running through the gardens, causing trouble for the old caretaker…" His voice trailed off, heavy with memory. "Do you remember how we'd sit under the big tree, making grand plans about growing up to be great men?"
Gale exhaled, setting his cup down with a clink. "We were just kids," he said, his tone dismissive.
"And yet," Alexander continued, his voice soft but piercing, "those moments shaped us. Where did it all go wrong, Gale?"
The question hung in the air like a guillotine. Gale's stomach tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. "I'm not sure I follow," he said carefully.
Alexander sipped his tea again, his grip firm on the delicate handle. "You've changed since Clarissa passed. We both have."
Gale's composure faltered, his mouth opening to respond, but no words came. Alexander's voice grew rough, his hands trembling slightly as he cradled the cup. "Her last words to me… 'Take care of them for me.' She meant the children, of course. But it wasn't just them, was it?"
Gale's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Alexander set the cup down with a deliberate slowness, his gaze fixed on Gale. "She trusted you, Gale. Loved you like a brother. She thought you would protect them if I ever couldn't."
A lump formed in Gale's throat, his fists clenching under the table. He looked away, unable to meet Alexander's eyes. "I… didn't know that," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
The silence stretched, heavy with unsaid things, until Alexander leaned back, his voice regaining its usual weight. "That's one of the reasons I'm here."
Gale glanced up, wary. "What's the other reason?"
Alexander's expression darkened. "Someone has placed a target on my children. They were nearly killed in the woods. If not for her…" He paused, the words trailing into silence.
"Her?" Gale asked, though he already suspected.
"A bodyguard," Alexander said, his tone firm. "She's a child, really, but formidable. Strong enough to force me to get serious in a spar."
Gale froze. "You? Alexander 'The Blaze' Ford?"
Alexander sighed, rubbing his temples. "Children these days… they're growing up far too strong, far too quickly."
Gale forced a laugh, though his mind raced. "So why come to me, then? Surely you can handle a few assassins."
Alexander's voice hardened. "If any more come, it will be their blood that stains my land, not mine."
Gale winced, the words striking like a blade. "Still… if you're concerned, why not fortify the manor?"
Alexander shook his head. "Unnecessary. And it certainly won't be required by tomorrow evening."
Gale's chest tightened. Tomorrow evening. Was there something planned? Did Alexander suspect him?
Alexander rose abruptly, straightening his coat. "I must take my leave. There's something I need to take care of."
Gale stood as well, his movements automatic. "Take care, old friend. You're not as young as you used to be," Alexander said, pausing at the door.
Gale's throat tightened as he watched the man he once called a brother walk away. He slumped back into his chair, his mind a storm of fury and panic. "Does he know?" he muttered to himself. "Was that a warning?"
The moon hung low outside the window, its cold light spilling over the luxurious room. Gale stared at it, his fists trembling. "Where did we go wrong, Clarissa?" he whispered, his voice raw with regret.
Outside the tailor shop, Alexander adjusted his coat, his gaze fixed on the knights awaiting him. One handed him the reins of his steed, bowing slightly. "Where to, my lord?"
Alexander mounted with ease, his voice steady. "Deep into the woods. It's time to call in a favor from an old friend."
The knights exchanged uneasy glances at the word witch but said nothing as they followed him into the dark, the sound of hooves fading into the night.