The Rising

by Kristen Ashley

  “Wodell is Teddy’s home,” she fired back.

  “Firenze is Teddy’s home,” Faunus retorted.

  “Look at him,” she demanded, tossing a hand to Teddy. “Does he look Firenz to you?”

  “He…is…Firenz,” Faunus growled.

  Teddy turned his gaze to the ceiling and then he looked to Saturn, who was standing behind Moira’s chair.

  It had been days of this bickering.

  Faunus laying claim.

  Moira laying hers in return.

  He had gone his whole life, until recently, without anyone giving any real shite about him, and now two people he cared about deeply were constantly fighting over him.

  And when he laid eyes on Saturn, he saw a muscle jump up his jaw, and Teddy read this as Saturn being angry, at him, for he thought Moira had feelings for him in a manner that she did not.

  “I’m Dellish,” he stated to Faunus then turned to Moira. “But my home is in Firenze. My family is in Firenze. My friends are in Firenze. And I’m sorry, love, but I’ll be going back to Firenze once this business is done.”

  Her brows shot together. “Your family is in Firenze?”

  “The one that matters,” Faunus put in bitingly. “And they are Firenz.”

  Moira glared at Faunus.

  Faunus scowled at Moira.

  Teddy cast a look to Faunus that communicated he wished him to calm down and then he turned to Moira, reached out and took her hand.

  And when he spoke, he did it gently.

  “I fear you’re feeling some unease now that we’ve made the Thicket. Now that we’ve made our report. And now that it is coming closer to me leaving.”

  “You don’t know anything about what I’m feeling, Tedrey Swensson,” she stated heatedly then jerked her hand away, cast her gaze to the top of the constable’s desk and glared at it.

  But Teddy was struck, by her words, her demeanor, the look on her face.

  His eyes drifted up, to Saturn, who was studying Moira with not a small amount of attention, and then he turned to look at Faunus, who no longer appeared annoyed, and instead was also studying Moira contemplatively.

  Teddy went back to Moira.

  “Moira—”

  “Fine,” she snapped. “You’re Firenz. I don’t care.”

  “I think we need to—”

  Her gaze cut to him. “You have missed that I am done talking.”

  She then again turned to the desk.

  Teddy had little experience with women.

  His mother left when he was young, not interested in a life with the husband she chose. So much so, she left her son behind in the leaving, Teddy suspected, because she had deduced that he was not the son she would wish to have.

  Then there were his acolytes, but he had not spent much time getting to know them. He just told them what to do and in the now didn’t like to think of them, for he had been vile.

  And last there was Nyx, who could have moods, but these were usually explained by something Lorenz or Teddy did that annoyed her.

  He had no idea how he’d annoyed Moira, he just knew he had.

  “We will talk later, when we find our lodgings for the evening,” he murmured.

  Moira just made a noise, nothing more.

  The feel of the room was uncomfortable for the surprisingly long time it took for the constable to return.

  When he did, his manner had changed from attentive and efficient to deferential.

  “You did not…” he began then nodded repeatedly as he seemed rather harried and awkward making his way to his desk, his gaze jumping from Faunus to Saturn and back again, but he did not sit. He remained standing. “I understand,” he went on. “Incognito in a foreign land. Though, of course, you could have told me.”

  “I am sorry?” Faunus asked, watching the man closely, his big body suddenly tight with alertness in his chair.

  “You do not wear the mantle of the Trusted Ones,” the constable explained, again looking between Faunus and Saturn, this indication that he was speaking about them both.

  “We do not,” Faunus confirmed.

  “Yes, well, I understand, of course, but I can assure you, I would have been appropriate in all ways. Regardless, of the now, Sir Alfie has requested when we are done that the two Trusted and their retinue move along to Birchlire Castle, where accommodation has been readied for you.”

  “The two…Trusted?” Teddy asked.

  “Yes,” he confirmed, nodding. “We just received word. From the castle. It came from King True himself, speaking for King Mars. When his Trusted, Faunus and Saturn arrive…”

  He stopped when not only Teddy shot straight in his chair, Faunus did too, and emotion was wafting from Saturn as well.

  “I…was to…send you along…” the constable pushed out then asked, “Did I say something to offend you?”

  “You are sure this was the message,” Teddy pressed.

  “Yes,” the constable said. “Apparently, King Mars received a raven that you were coming to the Keep to report. And he returned that, once you are done, you were to hasten to Birchlire so they could receive you.”

  “And he said ‘Trusted,’” Teddy pushed.

  The constable looked confused. “It was made particular note of. ‘They are members of the Trusted,’ it said. ‘Treat them as such.’”

  Teddy felt the huge smile break out on his face as he turned to Faunus who was sitting, his handsome face stunned, staring at the constable.

  “You do not have to hide your rank in Wodell,” the constable shared. “We are allies now. Your Farah is our queen, and the Dellish rejoice. Our Silence is yours, and the Dellish take pride. No one would harm you.”

  “Well, thank you for that,” Teddy said, his voice practically bouncing with elation. “It means much.”

  “Of course,” the constable said. “And as we have your story and the names and descriptions of the men who participated in the massacre, and I can assure you they will be sought, thus, this information will be of great assistance to our colleagues in the east. You of course know the families of these women are searching for them, and I will personally send word they are found, in good health, and they can be collected forthwith from Birchlire Castle.”

  “We are invited to the castle too?” Moira asked.

  The constable again appeared confused. “The entire party.”

  Slowly, she turned her head to Teddy.

  Teddy grinned at her.

  The constable spoke again before she could grin back.

  “You and the other ladies will enjoy Queen Farah and King True’s hospitality, although they are not here. They are fighting the righteous fight in Airen. But nonetheless, you will enjoy their hospitality until your families come to collect you,” he shared.

  But Teddy was watching Moira’s face as he did so, and he saw it close off.

  This was when Teddy’s sense of elation wore off that Faunus and Saturn had clearly earned a promotion along their campaign to rescue him.

  “The journey is not long to the castle, but do you need refreshments before you go?” the constable asked.

  This was a commendably polite hint that he had things to do and they should be on their way.

  Thus, Teddy stood.

  “No, we’re fine. We’ll be on our way.”

  The constable nodded. “Thank you, again. There were many questions that needed answers with that sorry business out east and you provided them. Mixed tidings to those who lost, but soon, some families will rejoice.”

  Teddy nodded.

  And then there was a good deal of hand shaking before they left the office, he collected his women, Faunus collected his men, and they rode to Birchlire Castle.

 

  “I go with you.”

  “Faunus.”

  “I go with you, Teddy.”

  They indeed had been received by the staff of Birchlire.

  In fact, Sir Alfie Henriksson, True’s captain and counsellor greeted them himself, stunning Teddy by l
ooking in robust health and fine spirits while sitting in his chair.

  There was a lovely woman at his side who had twinkling brown eyes, and both Sir Alfie and she, who went by the name of Bronagh, assured Teddy and his party all their needs would be met before asking them to join them for supper in the informal dining room.

  They had accepted.

  Teddy had seen to it his women were settled while Faunus had seen to it his men were.

  And now, in their room, before they prepared for dinner, he needed to go speak with Moira.

  “I hope it won’t offend you, as I believe it won’t surprise you, that you are not her favorite person. She has endured much. I do not know what the end of that means for her but clearly there is something troubling her and I would know it before we make our journey home.”

  “No, I am not her favorite person, for you are. To her, I am simply the man who will take you away,” Faunus retorted. “But do not think she is not mine, for you are hers and this is something that gives me happiness.”

  Teddy liked his words so much, he didn’t know what to say.

  “And as such, I saw her reaction and I am concerned as well,” he continued. “So, I will go with you to see to it she is all right.”

  Teddy considered this before he made a decision.

  “Just keep quiet,” he ordered.

  “I will not keep quiet if I have something to say,” Faunus returned.

  “Well then, if you have something to say, make certain it is not something that will upset her.”

  Faunus sighed.

  “All right, let us go,” Teddy muttered.

  He moved to the door, feeling Faunus move after him, but he stopped at it and looked up to his friend.

  “We have not talked about you becoming a Trusted,” he noted.

  “No, we have not, but we must for I have not become a Trusted, not yet. And I must have your permission to do so.”

  Teddy blinked in bewilderment at this statement, and as he did, he did not have the opportunity to ask after what that meant for Faunus reached beyond him and opened the door himself.

  He determined to understand Faunus’s meaning later as they moved down the hall to where Moira’s room was located.

  One thing at a time.

  Even Dellish, he’d never been to Notting Thicket, thus he’d never seen the castle.

  He had heard it was grand and immense, but it was far grander and more immense than could be imagined.

  They could host twice as many women and Firenz warriors and have room to spare.

  And Teddy thought this was good, for after what they had endured, he quite liked them to be spoiled with a stay at King True’s castle.

  They both stood at the door, but it was Teddy who knocked.

  Moira opened it, looked to Teddy, to Faunus, and said, “Oh, it’s you.”

  “Poppet, let us in.”

  “I have to get ready for dinner. Bronagh sent us gowns to wear and—”

  “Moira, please,” he whispered.

  She looked to the side, then again to him, to Faunus, and finally she stepped back, fully opening the door.

  He and Faunus entered her chamber, but they did not take seats in the comfortable seating area by the cheerfully crackling fire.

  They both turned to her.

  “Now, tell me what’s troubling you,” he urged.

  “Do you care? I mean, why are you even here?” she asked Faunus.

  “Yes, he does care,” Teddy said quickly before Faunus could reply. “He knows what you mean to me, what we’ve been through together, and what means something to me means something to him.”

  She was glaring again at Faunus.

  “Moira,” he called.

  She kept glaring at Faunus, who stood there, holding her gaze, and silently taking it.

  “Moira!” Teddy clipped.

  Her eyes shot to Teddy.

  “You will go, and you will be with him and you will…and I will…and the girls will go home, and I will…”

  She swallowed.

  “You will what?” he prompted gently.

  “They were scared,” she declared.

  “Yes, we all were,” he replied.

  “Terrified.”

  “Yes,” he agreed.

  “But I was…I should have…”

  When she stopped speaking, he told her, “Moira, with what we have been through, with what we have shared, you must know you’ve come to mean a great deal to me. Thus, love, I can assure you that you do not need to hold back. You can say anything to me.”

  She jerked her chin up like a stubborn mare and announced, “I did not encourage them to go back to their homes, or you to take them there, because I didn’t want to go back to my own.”

  Teddy stood still, knowing instantly he would not like what came next.

  Faunus did the same, likely knowing this too.

  “My mother is dead, and my father likes his drink far more than he cares about his daughter,” she stated. “He probably doesn’t even know I’ve been gone. He probably didn’t even know I was around to be gone.”

  “All right,” he said quietly when she did not continue, though as suspected, he so did not like her words, he was uncertain he wished her to continue.

  “I have, for a very long time, Teddy, taken care of myself and him, even though he does not care as he loses consciousness in front of the fire without putting the screen before it and thus it is a miracle our cottage has not burnt to the ground. Or he stumbles into the kitchen and breaks the crockery that I not only have to clean up, I have to find some way to make the coin to pay to replace it. Coin he steals to buy his grog. His whiskey. Whatever he can find to erase the loss of her and the existence of me, for I am not her, but would be a daily reminder of her if he allowed himself lucidity.”

  Yes, Teddy had been right.

  If he would have known what was to come forth, he would not have wished her to continue.

  Nevertheless, she carried on doing so.

  “I wash his clothes that are always soaked with spirits and sometimes covered in his vomit. And it is…” She shook her head. “Too much. It’s just,” her voice dropped, “too much. And you…you…you took care of me. You…you…risked your life to save mine. And I have not had someone look after me, someone who cared about me in…”

  She pulled her lips between her teeth and looked away.

  He hated knowing this to the extent he wasn’t able to form words before she spoke again.

  “And I had purpose,” she told the wall beside them. “A good purpose. I…what I did had meaning. They depended on you and me. They…you saved us, and then we kept them safe.”

  “Yes,” he said softly.

  “It was selfish,” she whispered.

  “It wasn’t, love, they had a say. In all of it. And it was you that made that so. It was you who asked them what they wished to do and listened,” he reminded her.

  She took a deep, broken breath.

  “And now you will be gone, and I will have to go back to him and that life and…” She again gave him her gaze. “It is just that, I will miss you.”

  “No, you will not,” Faunus decreed.

  Her body jerked, her eyes narrowed, and so did Teddy’s as he swung them up to Faunus.

  “Faunus,” he hissed.

  “She will not, for she’s coming home with us.”

  Teddy again stood still.

  Faunus cast his gaze Moira’s way. “Saturn wishes you in his bed.”

  “Faunus!” Teddy bit.

  Faunus looked down at him. “He does.”

  “Stop speaking,” Teddy demanded.

  He did not stop speaking.

  He turned again to Moira and declared, “That is your decision, your desire to take him or not. He is randy and he is lusty, and I see this in you as well. If you were to accept him, you would be a good pairing. But if you do not, that is your choice and it does not affect our plans. You will come home. To Firenze. Where it is warm and where you
will know affection and respect. You will be Teddy’s sister. He will see to you. Through Teddy, you will be my sister, and I will see to you as well. And you will be Nyx’s sister, most likely, for she has a bent to adopt the Dellish.”

  Slowly, Teddy turned to Moira to see she was gazing up at Faunus with her lips parted.

  “It’s true,” he said, and her eyes skittered to him. “I do not have much. I am a teacher. I had not quite settled my life there, but I intend to find a dwelling, and if you come with us, I will just find one that has room for you.”

  “You would…you would…” she stammered.

  “Of course I would,” he said.

  Tears sprang in her eyes.

  “Oh, poppet, come here,” he murmured.

  She did, falling into his arms.

  He closed them around her tightly.

  She sobbed into his neck.

  At that, Faunus’s arms closed around both of them tightly.

  She sobbed again.

  “Hush,” Teddy cooed to her. “There’s nothing to cry about, love. Nothing’s changed. We’re doing what we’ve been doing since we met. We’re off on another adventure.”

  “If Mama had b-been able to give me a b-b-brother, I’d want him to be just like you,’ she said into his neck.

  Teddy closed his eyes as the silk of that slid through him.

  He opened them and teased, “I would not choose you as sister, for you’re too bloody stubborn.”

  He heard her hiccup a laugh before she sobbed again.

  He then met Faunus’s gaze.

  Faunus was staring at him with so much warmth in his eyes, Teddy knew he’d feel it for the rest of his life.

  And that slid through him like silk too.

  Teddy moved from changing into borrowed sleep pants, splashing water on his face and washing his mouth out in the antechamber, to the bedchamber where Faunus was not wearing sleep pants, or anything, and lounging on top of the bed.

  Teddy felt himself stir at the brilliance of the spectacle before him, but he did not give into that feeling.

  He moved to stand at the foot of the bed, and he looked to his lover.

  “Moira sorted, dinner at the royal castle with the King’s Counsellor done, everyone bedded down under velvet and Dellish wool, now we must talk,” he declared.