She cleared her throat. "We lock them up and escort them to Council. They're the warden's problem now."
And once again, I'm left to clean up the mess.
"Alright. Time to go," Gren said. He hauled Emon from the floor and half-dragged, half-walked him through the hall. Mayr followed, pushing Ryler ahead. They disappeared around the corner.
When the grunts and the snide comments faded, Aeley shifted her feet. "So… you threw the knife?" she asked. Why couldn't I think of anything better?
Despite her smile, Lira seemed nervous. "Looks like that lesson was better than I thought. Even if I wasn't the most attentive student." Her gaze flickered away. "I'd say I'm sorry, but I don't make it a habit to apologize on their behalf."
Aeley made her way to Lira, carefully choosing her footing. "No, don't. They have to answer to it, not you." She took a deep breath. "Just like I have to answer to my bad choices." A familiar feeling filled her and she felt like she was going to spill the truth again. Could she fight it, just for a little while? This was not a good place to have her heart broken, while she was barefoot and dirty in the home of her jealous captors. Even after her awkward escape, she still had more pride than that. "There, before they showed up, I… wasn't in my right mind. I wasn't—"
"Very nice?"
"If you want to call it that. It shouldn't have happened and I'm sorry." Aeley stared into Lira's eyes. She looked as confused as Aeley was afraid.
The longer she stared, the more Aeley felt her resolve slipping. She stepped closer to Lira and her mind rushed with words. She could not help but ramble. "Everything in my head was messed up. I got smacked around and then I got so confused and so worried that I'd never get out. I can't stand being trapped, and then there they were, threatening everybody and trying to force me into a stupid marriage."
Her shoulders fell as she continued. "Your brothers said things I shouldn't have listened to, but I was stupid and listened and I took it out on you and you need more. I'm not always smart, I'll admit it, and I'm stupid for you. You have no idea how stupid for you I am. I'm a complete idiot. I couldn't stop thinking about you while I was locked up and by the Four, you inspired my escape. I'd like to think you got me out because I was stuck. Really, really stuck. But then I was thinking of you and everything made sense. You always make sense. But I know you'll probably hate me because you should have better and I understand if you lea—"
Lira's lips crushed hers before she could blink. The rest of the words got lost in her throat and her thoughts stopped. By the time her mind caught up, she felt Lira's hands rub her back beneath her tunic.
It was a better sign of forgiveness than she had expected. She needed to stop underestimating people and trust her instincts more, Aeley decided, and kissed Lira back. Maybe then she could stop getting into trouble.
Epilogue
"He looks nervous," Lira whispered.
Aeley leaned against the threshold and stared at the back of Lower's dark red hair. The last time they saw him had been at Emon and Ryler's sentencing, almost three months after their arrest. "What could he possibly want? He talked to us at the trial."
"I don't know. Maybe we should ask him." Lira gave Aeley a gentle push into the meeting room and stepped in behind her.
Vant glanced up from his book. "Ah, good, you are both here. We can start."
Lower jumped up from his seat, his youthful face strained with worry. "Aeley, good to see you again. And Lira. A pleasant surprise." He stopped when Mayr ran into the room, hanging onto the threshold as he swung in and rested against the wall. "So it's a full meeting, then."
"Hey… I need to know things," Mayr said, trying to catch his breath. He bent over and raised his hand. "Carry on."
"Thanks for the permission." Lower faced Aeley, his hands buried in the pockets of his long coat. "The good news is that this isn't about your brothers, either one of you. They're gone for the rest of their lives, stuck slogging rock and being penned up. I'm assured by the warden that their visits will be supervised with names and other information recorded. We can't be too certain that they won't try something again."
"Fantastic. No more wasting our time," Mayr said.
Aeley rolled her eyes and waited for Mayr to continue with his rant, more frequent since they captured Emon and Ryler. When he was silent, she smiled at Lower. "The bad news?"
"None, actually, only more good news. Well, for you. Not for your father. Although he's dead, so really—" Lower threw up his hands. "Never mind. What I mean is that the marriage deal is over. Everything I said before—forget it. Never happened. We'll just say I had the wrong document, the wrong family, the wrong everything and move on. You're free to choose whomever you want—or no one, if you want. Whatever you decide, we'll support." He pointed at Vant. "And put that in your notes, sir. Record it as officially said by the Councilman of Tract Stewards and Republic Leadership. It can't be taken back."
Really? Aeley glanced back at Lira. "Why the change? You were adamant before."
"I know, and I recognize the error of my foolish ways," Lower said, bowing from the waist. "It wasn't my best moment. I was trying to honour your father's wishes and I thought they were perfectly good. They fooled us all. My condolences to you both." He waved his hands. "But it's all over. With them punished and everything being investigated, there's really no point in forcing something that obviously won't work. So you're free. We release you."
"It's funny you should say that," Aeley murmured. Reaching back, she took Lira's hand and squeezed it. "We were going to come to you with the exact opposite."
Lower's smile faltered. "What?"
"You keep forgetting there's still a member of the family left," Lira answered. She drew close to Aeley's side and raised her chin. "No one ever bothered to talk to me about it. And you never really talked to her about it."
"Talk to you? But why? The contract was for…" Lower glanced at Aeley, and then Lira, before looking down at their hands. "Oh."
"Yes. Exactly." Aeley tried not to laugh. "We didn't want to spread the news faster than we could enjoy what we have. We've decided to take it as it comes, but we're leaning towards marriage. Meaning I can still honour my father's wishes, but I'll do it my way. Is that going to be a problem, now you've released me and all?"
Lower shook his head. "If it's what you want, we're not going to say anything. Well, except congratulations and happy marriage, whenever you get to it, and don't kill each other. You know, the normal." He held out his arms, a smile brightening his face. "Good news all the way around, then! Except maybe for you," he said, pointing at Mayr. "You'll have two mistresses to serve instead of just one. Think you can handle it?"
"Now that this one's stopped drinking herself blind and the other one distracts her, I think I'll be perfect," Mayr replied with a grin.
"Well, who am I to argue?" Lower gestured to the door. "Suppose I'll see myself out, then, and let you all get back to whatever you do."
After he slipped out the door, Aeley turned to Lira. "What do we do? I can't seem to remember what we had planned."
"Well, you know, I think I'm in need of another lesson," Lira answered. "Because you know I can't be trusted with anything sharper than a knife."
"Only if we close the door this time."
Lira leaned into Aeley, pressing their lips together. "Who said anything about being someplace with a door?"
Before Aeley could fathom her meaning, Lira rushed into the hall, her skirt trailing behind her.
"Better go after her or she'll start without you," Mayr said. "Get out before I throw you out. Time to enjoy a new life."
It is a new life, Aeley thought as she ran into the hall. Lira waited at the end of the corridor, peeking around the corner. When their gazes met, Lira grinned. She beckoned with a waving hand before hurrying away again and making Aeley's heart beat fast.
The playfulness was a reminder of the changes in their lives, not just in reclaiming peace, but the way their lives melded together under the same
roof. While she still had nightmares, they claimed her mind less frequently. Like Mayr said, she even drank less, inspired by Lira to find another way to solve the problems in her head. Focusing on Lira was like holding a light to the darkness. With one soft word or understanding smile, Lira filled Aeley with confidence in her moments of doubt. With Lira, she was never alone.
This was what her life had become and she would embrace everything it offered. If putting aside the melancholy and doubt meant surrendering to someone who filled her with joy, she was ready.
It only gets better from here.
Fin
About the Author
Archer Kay Leah was raised in Canada, growing up in a port town at a time when it was starting to become more diverse, both visibly and vocally. Combined with the variety of interests found in Archer’s family and the never-ending need to be creative, this diversity inspired a love for toying with characters and their relationships, exploring new experiences and difficult situations.
Archer most enjoys writing speculative fiction and is engaged in a very particular love affair with fantasy, especially when it is dark and emotionally charged. When not reading and writing for work or play, Archer is a geek with too many hobbies and keeps busy with other creative endeavors, a music addiction, and whatever else comes along. Archer lives in London, Ontario with a same-sex partner and their cat.
Website: http://archerkayleah.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/archerkayleah
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Archer-Kay-Leah-Author/170517966489444
A Question of Counsel Page 15