Yours ever,
Gareth
Staring down at the firm strokes of Gareth’s pen, I felt a pang of regret. Gareth didn’t know. When I told Alan that I had no intention of spoiling everyone’s holidays with the doom and gloom of my imminent death, I had meant it. The last thing I wanted was to spoil Sumarene’s first truly peaceful Wintermas holidays.
I was beginning to realize that perhaps secrecy was not the best of ideas. Alan probably had the right of it. My true friends, few as they were, would be aghast to hear of my struggles. They would be devastated to discover that I had faced such a massive threat on my own.
But at least I am not alone, another part of me pointed out.Alan has been with me every step of the way.
The memories we already shared together comforted me… and that was an odd realization. Had I not begun this whole ordeal dreading the thought of spending more time in Alan’s company? I had. But I had also changed. He had changed. Or perhaps we were both the same, but the opportunity to work together had cleared away preconceptions and misunderstandings. Either way, I was grateful for the time I had been given with Alan.
Gareth and Landis would be less happy though. If anything were to happen to me, I corrected myself.This might all blow over easily enough.
I repeated that to myself when I spent the morning at Landis and Alan’s side as they oversaw the preparations for the Wintermas Charitable Basket Charity Soirée. Today, we were sitting in Landis’s offices, sharing a table as we went over security measures for the soirée. The Wintermas Charitable Basket Charity Soirée. I choked down laughter just thinkingabout the title for the event. Alan’s naming, of course. I could just tell by the bombastic length. The event was aimed at bringing together lords, ladies, and all manner of well-to-do gentlekin for a night of frivolity… and giving.
According to Landis, the Charity Soirée would be an evening spent together with the aim of sending the proceeds to the Lower Rime. Various activities would provide the guests with a joyous method of parting with their coin. The most anticipated activity would be the auction where rarer potions made by Alan, donated handicrafts made by the most skilled tradesfolk, baked goods courtesy of the royal household, and various other less useful relics and antiques from the royal treasury house would be sold. Landis and a few of his courtiers had also come up with a grand scheme to auction off the company of willing nobles and knights for coin.
“You will be up on auction as well, Hugh,” Alan said. “Along with some other Sunna and Munni knights. Payment forgentlecompany.”
His spectacles glittered warningly in my direction, and his violet gaze skewered me with intense observation as if looking for any sign of mischief. I presented him with an innocent smile and said, “Your wish is my command, Alan.”
This only made Alan even more annoyed. He glared at me, huffed, flicked his ears back and forth, and whipped his now very fluffed tail from side to side. I chuckled. It was clear that Alan was allowing me to participate only out of the goodness of his heart and concern for the catkin living in the Lower Rime. If he had his way, I would no doubt be pulling double duty as head of the castle guard, and I would be nowhere in sight of Landis’s court. However, my presence in the auction would be sure to bring coin. Alan’s lips compressed into a thin line as he quietly fumed to himself.
That was when I noticed that the nib of Alan’s quill was quite worn away thanks to his disgruntled tapping, and a massive blob of black ink now covered the edge of his parchment. Brushing a new quill against his nose, I smirked as Alan jerked back, startled out of his thoughts.
“You are destroying your quill, Alan,” I said, poking him in the cheek with a fresh quill. “Here. Take this one.”
“My quill is just fin—“ Alan’s protests cut off as he glared down at the blunted end of his quill. “Oh.”
“Yes. Quite.” I said smoothly.
“Well, I can just fix—“
“You already sharpened it twice, Alan. The quill is dead. Accept it and move on.”
“I had just started to use it!”
“It certainly looks well used…”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Our bickering broke off as Landis’s chuckle drew our gaze over to where the golden-haired king sprawled in his seat. His deep blue eyes were fastened on Alan and me with no small amount of amusement. Landis grinned.
“What?” I asked, feeling a bit defensive for some unknown reason.
I was suddenly aware that Alan and I were no longer alone in the comforting privacy of his laboratory. Alan himself had stiffened, comically poker-faced as he struggled with mortification. Landis’s grin softened to a more gentle smile.
“I like seeing my friends happy,” he said simply.
The fur of my tail settled as his words sank in. I knew what he meant.
Looking around the cozy study, I realized the small ways in which Corrin had left his imprint on Landis. There were bows mounted on the wall now, and a new bearskin rug on the floor by the hearth. Several pieces of glimmering amethysts sat in a rowon the mantel above the fire. Touches of Corrin’s home, hints of another world. In many ways, Landis and Corrin’s lives had become so deeply entwined.
Like Alan and mine, I realized as Alan’s fingers brushed against mine, taking my offered quill from my lax fingers. I looked down at Gareth’s letter.If Gareth were here, I would tell him, I thought.Gareth and Landis… and Corrin. They all deserve to know.
But not today, I decided.Not when Alan and Landis are so busy with preparations for the charity soiree. After it’s over, I’ll sit down and talk with Corrin and Landis. We still have time.
“You were quiet today,” Alan said, after we left Landis and Corrin alone for the afternoon. Corrin had risen early to spend more time with Landis, so Alan and I quickly took our leave.
