Half-Demon's Fortune
Page 34
“What should I have said? Should I have warned you? Such trivialities wouldn’t have stopped you.”
Still, after releasing Argadon, I was left with a narrowing suspicion that he had managed to outwit me in some way. That’s how demons were; no matter how well you checked the cards and the dice, those jerks would replace the table.
So, what did we have? I was pretty close to becoming a full-fledged demon. If not for Innis... I felt shivers down my spine. I imagined myself, years spent without her, years shrouded in grey ice, and then my death, transitioning into a demon, and then millennia of dark, dreary cold.
Even the flames blazing in the fireplace couldn’t warm me after that thought and it was the middle of summer. Fear overwhelmed me. I had been just a step away from losing my humanity...or even worse, myself.
Michelle had done everything, so I would grow up and avenge her, but Martha, Henry, Rick, and Mira had taught me to love, genuinely and with all my heart. By covering my soul in ice, I was ruining what they had done for me.
Innis was my chance to remain a man—not a ruler, not a demon—just a man. Maybe not the best of men, I still would be cruel and duplicitous, but if I were anything else, she would have died long ago, thanks to the Moraleses.
I knew that being a queen would be demonically hard. I knew that she had a hell of a task ahead of her. But she would make it.
And I would be by her side—to help her.
***
Lidarn paid me one more visit.
“Your Majesty, I have to express my condolences...”
I shrugged.
“I won’t lie to you, I didn’t love Dariola, but I also didn’t wish her death.”
The knight faltered. He had imagined me to be grieving dramatically and that he would console me, no less dramatically. Instead, all he could see was cold apathy. And he went off.
“In any case, you got a good inheritance.”
“My son,” I told him sharply. “He’s the most important thing that Dariola left me and I won’t forget her.”
And I wouldn’t forgive her either, but the knight didn’t have to know that.
“Your Majesty, are you going to live in Radenor?”
“Riolon won’t be neglected. And after my son is grown—”
“That’s why I’m here, actually—your heir. I know that the court is now without a servitor.”
“Which court?”
“Both.”
That was quite possible. The King of Rats had done a thorough job.
“So what?
“We would like the heir to be raised in the light of the true faith. We already have a few candidates for the role of the child’s spiritual advisor—”
“Isn’t it too early for that? The child’s not even a month old!”
“True faith and piety are engrained from infancy.”
As are fanaticism, bigotry, religious zeal, and stupidity. If I let them get near my child, I might not recognize him later.
“I’ll consider this issue.”
The templar had to content himself with that promise. However...
“Your Majesty, I’ve heard that you were going to strengthen the ties between the nations...”
“Lidarn, spit it out. What do you want? I can’t seem to understand you, and then you’ll probably be offended that I did something wrong just to spite you.”
Lidarn frowned.
“Your Majesty, we would also like you to reinstate our lawful right of tithe across Radenor.”
“Oh, speaking of which, I’ll have to ban it in Riolon, too!”
“Your Majesty!”
I shrugged.
“You want too much, Lidarn. I’m not stripping the temples of their property. The number of servitors has dwindled, don’t you have enough funds?”
“We need to restore the Church.”
“You’re doing it wrong, then. You’re trying to build it on land, instead of in people’s hearts.”
Lidarn raised his eyebrows.
Oh, you didn’t expect that? Wait until you hear more.
“You’re asking me for money, but why aren’t you telling me something else? Like how many people have you helped, say, over the last ten days? How many have you comforted or supported in their time of need? Tell me their names, and I’ll send messengers to compensate you for each of them down to the last copper! No? You prefer to keep silence? Then be silent, because it’s not that hard to check. You’re going the wrong way and you know that. It’s easy to find new thralls and teach them to mumble prayers, but making people truly believe? Lending them a hand so they can see that the Church really cares about them? Is that within your power?”
Lidarn’s expression was odd. My tirade probably came as a shock to him.
“You’re carrying out the rites, going through the motions, but they’re empty, devoid of true faith. There is no point to your ceremonies. Right now, you have the chance to build a real Church—use it, instead of mass recruitment! A circus strongman might be tall and muscular, but a warrior would defeat him in no time, even if he’s thrice as short.”
“It’s strange to hear that from you, Your Majesty.”
“What’s so strange in me caring about my people?”
“I’ll consider your words, Your Majesty. I promise.”
“Do that and come back afterward. Not as a petitioner, but as a man who has found his true goal. His calling.”
And Lidarn left.
Two days later, Innis returned to me.
***
I'm home, at Auntie Madie’s. Ready to leave any day. Kisses, I. A.
I barely resisted kissing the plain white sheet of her letter. It had no monograms, no perfume, and no lipstick that court beauties loved to decorate their messages with. Just a few short lines in firm handwriting...that was so Innis. Forcing myself to wait through the day, that night, I slipped away from the palace. I stormed into the dining room of Auntie Madie’s house and swooped up my beloved.
“Innie! You’re back!”
In reply, Innis kissed me deeply.
“I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. Oh, Innis, I would have never let you go anywhere!”
“Then don’t. I...I feel sick when you’re away.”
Who knows what we might have done if Auntie Madie hadn’t started coughing. I had to let go of my precious prey.
“Sorry, Auntie.”
“Well, boy, you might love each other and all that, but you should realize that before the wedding—”
“Auntie, Alex would never do that to me.”
Yeah, Innis probably meant some other Alex, because I would have been glad to since I was going to marry her anyway. But if she wanted to do everything by the rules, then so be it.
“I think we’ll get married in Radenor. Innis, are you all right with that?”
“I don’t have any relatives anyway...other than Tidann.”
The last phrase was for my ears only. I smirked.
“It’s not hard to summon a ghost. He’ll get the chance to be happy at his granddaughter’s wedding, I promise.”
“He’s already happy. I’ve told him everything and that jerk told me that the second child would bear the Andago name!” I snorted.
Oh, Tidann, what a swindler! An Andago, a quarter-demon related to the king...what a terrific combination! Everything to strengthen the bloodline!
“What did he say about himself?”
“He’ll remain here until he sees the new Count Andago.”
“What a cocky bastard.”
“It runs in the family.”
“Great, Radenors would do well with some healthy cockiness.”
“Even more of that?”
“So what? We’re so cute and cuddly, it’s so easy to hurt us...”
“Yeah, right.”
“Am I hearing doubt in your voice, oh the fairest of women? I would never dream of lying to you.”
“Oh, Alex...”
Her smile was everything.
I really wasn’t going to lie to Innis. But keeping quiet about some things? Holding them back?
She would never see that part of me that housed darkness chained inside the grey ice of apathy. I was too afraid to lose her.
***
We left for Radenor in five days, enough for Rene to get there, for Innis to get some rest and pack up once more, and for me to torture Lintor some more.
Rene reported to me and passed me the chancellor’s letter.
Everything appeared to be quiet in Alethar. The chancellor thanked me for saving his son, assured me of his loyalty, and so on.
The matters in the rest of Radenor were a bit more alarming. Bandits had shown up once again; a few regiments were sent to the border. A couple of merchants had tried smuggling in illegal goods; they were arrested and waiting for my verdict.
Trying to get witchweed into my country? Should I hang them? Maybe. I really hated such scum. They made money on people who wanted to get away from reality and who would cure them? Life mages? It’s not like we had enough of them...
Nope, a fitting punishment for smuggling witchweed would be chopping off their hands to send the others a message! Bloody Rudolph had even started a trend: it’s not like people could snort witchweed powder out in the open, but it had been normal to engage in that in the evening, to make a night more passionate. I, however, was against that.
Witchweed could destroy a person’s magic essence, depriving them of any magic gift at all. It was a terrible thing. And sooner or later, the addiction would become so bad that the person would be gone, leaving only an empty shell.
I would have to create a new law upon getting back to Radenor. Everybody involved in the witchweed trade would get their hands cut off and their property confiscated.
And let them argue!
***
Two days later, my procession headed out. If not for the proprieties, I would have abandoned all of them; Ak-kvir could easily carry Innis and me by himself. But if you pledge, don’t hedge; I was the king and such was my lot, enduring the courtiers, their flattery and affectations, both from men and women alike, suggestive hints...
To hell with all them! If I snapped my fingers, they would have climbed into my bed without batting an eyelash, and then started demanding special privileges. Scum!
Still, sometimes the road sprang nice surprises as well. On the third day of our journey, I noticed a familiar man. He had stepped aside to let our procession pass.
“Shimaris!”
The servitor raised his head, found my face with his eyes, and froze in place. And really, it isn’t every day that you realize that you had once spoken to a king.
“Your—”
I jumped down. The courtiers all stopped as well, pulling the reins and waiting for something. Go on, then. Wait.
“Good day, Shimaris. Do you recognize me?”
“Should I, Your Majesty?”
“Need I remind you of that meeting? The tavern, our talk...”
“Yes, the road often lets you meet all sorts of people. Back then, I didn’t realize some things, Your Majesty, but now I believe that I understand you better.”
“And I have learned that you were right. The one thing I was fleeing found me right around the corner.”
“And you’re fleeing again, Your Majesty?”
Fleeing? Innis was looking particularly lovely that day, dressed in a cherry-red riding suit, a small hat on her black curls, laughing and chipper...
“I’ve decided to meet the danger half-way.”
Shimaris gave me a sly smile, having tracked my gaze.
“Oh, yes. Yes, Your Majesty. It’s a huge danger. One wrong step and you could lose your heart.”
“I already did.”
“May I talk to your companion?”
“Of course. Will you accompany us, Servitor?”
“How dare I defy the king?”
“You? Oh, you could, couldn’t you? Don’t you serve only the Bright Saint?”
I was openly enjoying our banter and Shimaris smiled right back.
“The Bright Saint is far away, while the secular authorities are close. It is known that those who only look at the sun are prone to falling into deep pits.”
“Or getting into prison...”
“Many things could happen to a humble thrall...”
“I’m glad you realize it. Therefore, holy one, I’m going to do something you might consider outrageous. How about traveling with us to Radenor?”
“It’s been a while since I’ve been there.”
“Right. So that’ll be a good reason to visit.”
“Why would you need me there, Your Majesty? Don’t you have enough of my brethren?”
“Lots of your brethren, very few of them honest.”
“Oh, really?”
He doubted my words. Well, no surprises. I was lying, after all. And so, I had to breathe out and confess.
“I would like you to perform our wedding ceremony, holy one.”
Shimaris furrowed his brow, as expected.
“But you’re married, Your Majesty.”
“No, Dariola died.”
“So that’s how it is? Could you swear that you had nothing to do with her death?”
I shrugged.
“I can’t. It was my child. Is this really the place for that conversation?”
“Not the place and not the time, Your Majesty, that’s true. But we’ll talk later, you, I, and your girl. Or...”
I could only shrug.
“All right.”
I wasn’t going to forbid it anyway. There was no point.
People like Shimaris couldn’t be stopped with a battering ram if they set their mind on something. I was afraid of his conversation with Innis, but...
***
The next time we talked was in three days. The servitor had been avoiding me, while I hadn’t invited him to talk, knowing that everything was to happen in due time. And at last, that time had come.
“May I talk to you, Your Majesty?”
“How about we share a dinner?”
“Well, why not, for variety’s sake? We’ve already had breakfast together. Maybe it’s time for new horizons.”
I snorted and ordered the servants to bring another set of tableware. Then I dismissed them. Who said that the help had no ears and no tongues? I had never met such.
“So, what will you tell me, oh holy one?”
“That the wine is great, that your cook is above praise...and that Countess Andago loves you, Your Majesty.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Innis is a miracle.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. But do you deserve that miracle?”
The fork bent in my hand.
“You presume too much.”
“If you wanted a toady, you should have called for one.”
I winced. “Is there really any need to call them?”
“Then bear with me, Your Majesty. Innis loves you, but will she be happy with you?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Will you be able to support her when the entire court turns against her?”
“I’ll execute some of them; the rest will fall in line.”
“What if you stop loving her?”
“I won’t.”
Shimaris examined me closely and nodded.
“I suppose so. You know what you’re about to face.”
“Dariola already had.”
“Did she die a natural death?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you sure that it won’t happen to Innis after your feelings fade?”
“I don’t think that’s ever going to happen, but I can promise that I will release her if she wants to leave.”
“Will you find it within you to let her go?”
“You’re good at asking questions, holy one.”
“No, Your Majesty. I’m afraid of asking questions because I’m scared of the answers I might get.”
“Ask them and I will answer.”
“Will I be able to bless you after them?”
“I don’t know. But I can swear one thing: I’ve never been the first to attack.”
“And you’ve never provoked your enemies?”
“I did, but I never forced them to. I didn’t make Darius foist his sister upon me and send assassins, and I didn’t make Dariola try to poison me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, holy one. I hope Innis won’t poison me.”
“No. if you betray her trust, she’ll turn around and leave.”
“I’ll do everything in my power not to betray it.”
“You’re sincere, Your Majesty.”
Without a word, I stared into his eyes. What could I say, Servitor? You see everything: me with the dark stains on my soul, and you see her, too...
Any thrall could marry us, but I wanted it to be him: the only person unafraid to look into my heart.
“I’ll bless you, Your Majesty, and I’ll be happy to marry you and Innis. You might sometimes err and stumble on your path, but your goal is true. There is love between you, and love is divine. Your union is already blessed by the one above me.”
“Then should we bless something that’s already holy?”
A mischievous smile appeared on the servitor’s face.
“As I’ve already said, Your Majesty, where’s the sun and where’s a pothole?”
When I asked Shimaris to go with us, he shrugged.
“I’ve wanted to visit Radenor for a while now. They say there’s no city as great as Alethar.”
I nodded. True, Alethar was magnificent.
“Shimaris, the position of court servitor is open...”
He frowned.
“I can’t help you with that, Your Majesty. The court is the most fetid place of them all.”
It was hard to argue with that.
“But as bad as it is, I still need support there.”
“I doubt I can help, Your Majesty.”
“Afraid of hard work, holy one?”
“I don’t want to overestimate myself, Your Majesty.”
I thought he was underestimating himself, but maybe he knew best.
***
In Radenor, everything was just as I had left it. Home...I had missed it so much!