“Oh right. My grandfather, King Richard Valentine. All of Avia went hungry that winter if I recall correctly. I did find it strange that no one actually complained about it. If anything the people thought it was hilarious.”
Liana sat on a nearby chair. She was still rather weak. “Are you okay?” Vincent asked. “Should I get some water or…”
“No. I’m quite fine. Albeit a tad tired. Though I would be dead if not for you.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything.”
Liana glanced at Vincent’s right arm. “Vincent that arm of yours ripped out something inside of me that was causing my illness. What that was I do not know, but I do know that you, in fact, saved my life.”
Vincent tightly clenched his arm. Liana took notice. “It pains you, doesn’t it?” she asked.
“Some days are better than others. Though I am happy that this thing was finally good for something.”
“Vincent. I don’t mean to pry like my daughter did, but I must ask, what happened to you? Last I heard you were dead.”
“Funny. I could say the same about you.”
“I would’ve been had it not been for Eve. Though I feel as though I have troubled her quite dearly. She put her life on the line to rescue me and Emilia. Then on top of housing us, feeding us, and clothing us, then having to deal with my sudden illness. She’s a very dear friend who I hope to one day repay.
Which bring me to my next topic. Vincent, Emilia is hot headed and driven. You know this as well as me. She intends on freeing all the slaves of Slavers Bay and retaking our castle. Even if she has to do it all alone. I begged her to drop this foolish quest, but she stubborn, as you yourself know. Vincent, I ask you to please help her, not to retake the castle or free the slaves, but just to keep her safe.”
For the first time in Vincent’s life. Someone was bowing to him, begging him. He felt very uncomfortable. “Please do not bow to me, Liana. Until a fortnight ago I was a prisoner. I have no status or fortune. I am no better than a common peasant at this point. Someone of your status should never bow or beg someone like me.”
“Despite it all, Vincent, I will do what I must, to keep my daughter safe. Even if that means swallowing my pride. Emilia considers you a dear friend, did you know that? She may not show it but you are probably her closest friend. Me and Bastion always found it strange.
Bastion and your father hated one another as children, so when we saw you two, albeit you didn’t act like friends, just constant bullying, we saw that maybe there was a chance for peace between Avia and Blackfire. I know Emilia would appreciate your help, even if she won’t ever say it.”
Vincent sighed. What was he to do? It wasn’t as if he could turn her down. He hated the idea of having to put off his search for his sisters even longer now, but he knew that rejecting Liana's request would forever leave a bad taste in his mouth the days that followed.
Chapter 12
Vincent helped Liana back into her bed. It would seem that the simple task of communicating even causes her a great deal of exhaustion. Having to scold Vincent and Emilia probably didn’t help either.
Downstairs, Vincent saw Eve stitching some clothing. “Finally awake, I see,” Eve said.
“Uh, yes, sorry if I caused you any problems. And sorry about me and Emilia. She and I are…”
“In love.” Eve interrupted.
“What?! No, no, no. It’s nothing like that at all. I don’t hate her but I most certainly do not love her.”
“Mhm. I love how you both said the exact same thing. Well, regardless, if you both wanna keep lying to each other that’s your business. So, what will you do now? You gonna hit the road?”
“Yeah. I have some business in Slavers Bay I need to take care of.”
“I see. I don’t know what business you can probably have in that wretched place, but if you’re leaving, you aren’t gonna be leaving my house looking and smelling the way you are. There’s a lake just south of here. Take a bath and then put these on.”
Eve handed Vincent a full set of studded black leather armor. The craftsmanship is nothing he’s ever seen before. It was reinforced at the joints and lined with chain mail with black velvet lining inside the jacket. It provided equal protection and comfort.
“I…I can’t take this. This is far too generous. You’ve already taken care of me this is…”
“A gift.” She interrupted. “I was a leather worker back inside the castle. I never liked my hands being idle for long so I still craft armor whenever I can.”
“This is…thank you.”
“Your welcome. I couldn’t very well allow you to walk around in those dirty rags any longer. Now, off you go. I can only tolerate your smell for so long before feeling ill.”
Vincent journeyed just past the farm and stumbled upon the lake Eve told him about. He wasted no time in stripping off his clothes and diving into the water. Being that it was the hot summer months the water temperature was just right. He could relax in this water for hours.
He leaned back and floated on the surface of the water. That was when he felt something bump against his head. A rock? He thought. He reached behind to feel. It was no rock. It was soft and had hair. Not to mention it bit him.
Vincent sat up straight and saw Emilia’s bare back turned to him. His face became extremely flushed. “What are you doing here?!” he asked.
“I can ask you the same thing!” she yelled, still not turning around. Emilia glanced behind her. “Don’t look at me!”
Vincent place his back against Emilia’s back. The two of them sat in utter silence not knowing what to do. When they were kids they would often jump into a lake a play, well, Vincent would play, Emilia would put moss on his head. They were naked then, but they had in the innocent of a child then, now they are adults.
“So…lovely weather, right?” Vincent said to try and break the silence.
“Did you see?!” Emilia yelled.
“No! For the love of god no!”
“Liar! I can feel your face turning red. You were waiting for this, weren’t you? Waiting for me to drop my guard so that you can spy on me nude. You’re just like any other man, Vincent!”
“Emilia I’m telling you this is all an accident. I didn’t even know you would be here. Eve pointed me to this lake so that I may wash myself. I had no intention of this happening. Believe me.”
“Wait a minute,” Emilia said. “You said Eve pointed you here? Eve pointed me here. She said it was a perfect place to relax and that no one would bother nor see me.”
“Why wouldn’t she mention you were here…unless…”
At that moment, Vincent and Emilia heard the bushes on the shore rustling. Out from the bushes emerged Eve’s son and daughter who grabbed both Emilia’s and Vincent’s clothing.
“Hey! Get back here you brat!” Emilia yelled.
“Sorry, princess Emilia!”
“Please forgive us!”
Vincent couldn’t help but laugh at this situation. “Oh, this is too rich,” Vincent said, still laughing.
“How can you be laughing at a time like this?”
“How can you not be? Haven’t you notice yet? We’ve walked right into a trap set up by two kids and a single mother. Oh if my trainer could see me now he would say, ‘Vincent! How can you be so stupid and allow yourself to fooled in such a manner?! Now drop and give me a thousand push ups!’”
“Please. You had it easy. My trainer made me balance ten knives. One for each finger while trying not to fall off a type rope.”
“Ha! I laugh at the simplicity of your training.” Vincent said mockingly. “I was dipped in rancid chick meat and literally thrown into a wolves den. ‘If you can dodge wolves then you can dodge a sword!’ he said.”
“Ha! Try an 800-foot vertical leap from on top the castle into a barrel of water while birds are pecking at your face. I can’t even tell you how many time I’ve broken my legs because I was off by an inch.”
“That’s nothing. I had to fight a moose wi
th nothing more than a wooden sword and rock.”
“Throwing knives, at rats, in complete darkness.”
“Stranded on an island for a fortnight with nothing to eat but worms and snails.”
“Ha! Snails were a delicacy. I was taken to the frozen north of Stark, stripped naked, and had to survive for a month.”
“…I’m starting to see that our trainers were insane,” Vincent said.
“Yeah. I’m starting to see that too.”
Minutes passed and neither one of them said a word. Soon, laughter filled the air as neither one of them could contain themselves.
“Did…did they really strip you down naked and leave you in Stark?” Vincent asked.
“Yes! I had to kill a bear with an icicle and skin it with its own claws. I almost lost my left leg to frostbite when they finally came back for me. Did you they really strand you on an island?”
“Yup. The problem was the entire island sank into the sea come nightfall. All that would be sticking out of the water was the top of a tree I had to sleep in each night. Let me tell you, you will not sleep a wink when you see a shark jump out of the water and try to take a bite out of you.
Oh, how in the world did they get away with this? What were our parents thinking? Well, mine went insane, but your mother and father don’t seem the type to put you through something like that.”
“It’s a tradition for Blackfire women to go through. The boys are coddled as they are next in line for the throne, while the girls are forced to train and serve the next king to the best of his ability. Never had any brothers, but the skills I learned do come in handy.”
“Yeah. I can attest to that.”
“Vincent…sorry about earlier,” Emilia said.
He paused for a moment. “Did you just apologize?” he asked with a look of confusion.
“Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
“No, no, no. Emilia Blackfire, a woman who swore she would never apologize to me just apologized. Oh, where is a scribe when you need one? I need to have this documented as a historic day. I must shout this mountain tops. Emilia Blackfire just apologized! Let it be known near and far!”
“Oh, by the gods, shut up!” Emilia yelled. “You always know how to ruin a moment. I regret I even said anything now. I just…I went to far this morning. I’m…sorry. Wow. Why did that hurt my head so much?”
“Cause you're a hothead who thinks she’s always right even when she’s wrong and the very idea that you can be wrong cause you great psychological distress. Having to apologize just added to it.”
“Vincent…the second I get my clothes back I’m going to slap you.”
“Ah, now there’s the Emilia I know and love. All is right with the universe again.”
“Not everything.” She muttered. “I’d be lying if I said your arm still didn’t concern me, but you saved my mother. I can respect your privacy.”
Vincent looked at his still-bandaged arm. If there was one person in this world he can tell this too, it would the be the woman at his back. He began to unbandaged his arm. “Emilia,” he said. “Look.”
Emilia turned her head and saw Vincent’s now black hand. “What…what happened to you?” she asked.
“So much, Emilia. So much. My father became obsessed with the Old Religion. The items he brought back from those caves…changed him. He became hungry for more power. The more he obtained the worst his madness got. As did the rest of my family.
When my father discovered that I had frequently visited my twin sisters he…I…I don’t even know how to describe it. He strapped me down to a table and…tore open the very space above me. I remember staring into blackness. I couldn’t breathe, think, or blink. I had no idea how much time had passed. I was mesmerized by this portal. Then I snapped out of it when I saw fire red eyes looking at me through the portal. My arm began to burn and then…nothing. I awoke in my room and my right arm was forever changed.”
Emilia couldn’t help but embrace Vincent in her arms. She was the first person he ever told that story too. He felt…relief in a way. As if a massive amount weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
“Emilia…” Vincent said.
“What is it?”
“I can feel your breast on my back. I’m guessing 32C or 34C. You’ve grown quite a bit.” You can always count on Vincent Valentine to kill a touching moment.
Emilia dunked his head under the water prepared to drown him.
Chapter 13
Piña and Clara arrived at the border after hearing multiple explosions just days prior. Pockets of smoke still rose from the now destroyed wall. Pieces of what was once the wall lay about, burned to no end, with the pungent odor of gunpowder filling their noses.
“What did this?” Piña muttered.
“I think we can guess,” Clara added. “Look. On the floor. Horse prints. I’m guessing you brother caught up with Vincent, but only to have a wall get blown up in his face. I see a lot of dead bodies scattered about.”
Piña, who was now frantic, began to check all the bodies. She soon calmed down when she realized that her brother wasn’t among any of the deceased. More black hoof print could be seen going into Blackfire. Zeke is anything if not tenacious when he sets his mind to something. He’d probably hunt Vincent till the ends of the earth given the time and resources.
The sun was setting and the moon was rising. Clara suggests that they make camp for the night. Many things stalk these woods at night. Piña was in agreement. They turned to the forest to set up camp. Clara was surprisingly well versed in setting up camp. She gathered some fallen branches and leaves to use as a makeshift bed. It wasn’t even close to the level of comfort Piña is use to, but it was better than sleeping on the floor.
Piña had a hard time sleeping. As did Clara. Their minds kept racing not to mention the wretched mosquitoes.
“Clara.” Piña said as she looked towards her. “You said that you owe Vincent a debt. What did you mean by that?”
“He saved my life at great cost to his own. It’s a day I shall never forget. Although given what happened afterward, I assume he may now regret that decision.”
“What happen?”
Clara fell silent. “With all due respect, your grace. This isn’t something that I wish to talk about. The horror of that day has haunted my dreams for years now. I can only imagine what they did to Vincent.”
“Was it truly that bad?”
“No. It was worst. Anything that has to do with the mad king is a hundred times worst than you can possibly imagine. It has…scarred me. I sometimes blame myself for that day. If I hadn’t been there then maybe…anyway, enough about me. Why are you doing this? You saved Vincent’s life when returned home. Surely your debt to him has been repaid.”
“You would think, right? No. I’m not just going for Vincent. I’m also going to stop my brother. I’ve seen what Vincent looks like when he takes a fight seriously. He fights like a Blade Dancer almost with how he moves.”
“You’re talking about him defeating the dragon? Probably was an impressive sight all in all.”
“Sadly I did not witness that. No. Before we arrived at the cavern, my men turned on me. They dragged me out of my tent, tied me up like some pig, and were preparing to kill me. They were doing it for the good of Avia, supposedly. On orders from either my father or brother. Had it not been for Vincent, I’d be dead right now.”
Clara became furious. “Your grace, forgive my language, but are you stupid? You say your men turn on you and that either your father or brother put them up to it. If that is true, then why are you out here trying to save him?
Forgive me for saying this, but your brother is not worth you committing treason over. He’s a vile and awful person who abuses women and cares for no one but himself. If you ask me, the gods have finally decided to punish him for his deeds.”
Piña chuckled. “You’re right. Zeke is a terrible person. Do you know he has twenty-one bastards floating around the world somewhere? Then wh
en the women claim he’s the father, he has them executed. I don’t even know what he does the children, but father for some reason doesn’t punish him for this. And he’s the future of Avia. Yet, despite all that he is, Zeke is still my brother. My family. And I love him with all his faults.
Maybe Zeke isn’t worth dealing with my father’s wrath, but family is worth it. Also, if my brother is the one who ordered my death, Clara, believe me when I say that I will punish him. Family or not.”
“Well said, your grace. Well said. I suppose that is a far more believable story than you having a massive crush on Vincent.”
Piña’s face became flushed. “What are you talking about?”
“You don’t have to play dumb with me, your grace. I’ve seen the way you’ve looked at him over the years. You can’t even say his name without smiling.”
“Look, Vincent…” Piña stopped when she felt the muscles in her jaw forming a smile. She rolled over and closed her eyes. “Good night, Clara.”
Clara laughed. “Goodnight, your grace.”
A little after first light, Vincent and Emilia set off to Slavers Bay. Eve, having apologized on many occasions yesterday for her attempt at matchmaking, provided them both with some provisions for the journey. And after receiving an earful from Emilia, she was bound to sign over the whole farm if asked too.
About halfway to the bay, Vincent noticed Emilia staring at him——his arm to be more precise. She had been doing that for nearly two hours now. “My eyes are up here, Emilia,” Vincent said.
“I…what? Yes, um, sorry. I didn’t mean to stare it’s just…”
“How does an entire arm go black like mine did? Yeah, I don’t know how either. Whatever I saw that day did this to me. By the way, if you were so curious about my arm, why didn’t you unbandage it when I was sleeping?”
“I tried!” she yelled. “Every time I touched your arm I’d get electrocuted.”
“Weird. It’s never done that before. Then again you’re the only person who knows about it. Everyone else who knew is dead.”
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