The room is elevated by a few steps. A desk sits straight ahead, a simple bed to the right, a door to the right, and a large window next to it. Two beings wait by the window, their backs to the room as they look out upon the city. The tall things, with a bit of width to them, wear the hoods up on their black cloaks. Vicar Senthia goes to them, whispering something between their heads. The one on the left, closest to us, turns quick. The sudden move lowers her hood, revealing long blonde hair. The silver crown holds rubies along the ring, as well as in the center of the tri-leafed flowers atop.
Her eyes behind spectacles are filled with a worry I could never understand. Wide, desperate, on the verge of letting loose the storm. Yet a hope that is as eternal as her love for her daughter, as everlasting as the sky itself. They lock onto the girl in my arms, and that hope becomes real. Though the tears come, they are accompanied by a sweet smile full of love and relief.
"Mama!" the child cries upon seeing her. She squirms in my arms, and I set her down. Her tiny feet sprint to the woman, Borso's paw held tight in her hand.
"Hi, baby!" she calls back, scooping up her little girl and pulling her into a perfect, warm embrace. They look so similar: blonde hair, though the child still has a long way to go to be half as long; blue-green-grey eyes filled with an unbreakable rapturous happiness; round, rosy cheeks.
The other turns then. He stands only a couple inches taller than her, but wears that same look behind his spectacled blue eyes. Wetness already runs from his eyes to his gingery brown beard. His crown, sitting atop his brunet head, is nearly identical, save for the swords in place of the flowers. His rubies form pommels for the tiny blades. He steps closer to his family, that wondrous elation overcoming him.
Princess Evalina, Queen Mae, and King Friedrich. The royal family of Walteria, reunited.
A tear of my own wells up in my eye. While this moment is rightfully one of euphoria for them, a jealousy grows in me. I'm glad they are all back together, that my mission was a success, but I want her for my own family. She is the one who brings us all together. Otherwise, Torvald and I are just servants of Oakwing and our childless regal rulers. Kym and I are just old flames that occasionally come together for a brief yet hot night. Kym and Torvald are just an assailant and her almost victim. Evalina makes us whole, normal. We need her.
Kill them all. Unless they have magic faster than Lavender, Birgir and Vicar Senthia would be easy to take out. Birgir is close enough as it is, and it would only take a step or two to get the shrouded one. King Friedrich, though well trained with a blade, would be too caught by surprise to unsheath and strike. Queen Mae would be the only challenge. She would need to be persuaded to give the girl to Torvald, who is too intimidated by my very being to disobey. Once that would be done, the two of them would leave the way we came and I would finish off the woman. It would be quick, easy.
Quick. Easy. Wrong.
Who am I to think such things? What right do I have to separate them all again, this time permanently? Regicide aside, they have all been through too much. Though she does not show it, Evalina's abduction must have been traumatizing. I can't imagine how the King and Queen felt when they awoke the next morning to find a ransom note in an empty crib. Devastated is too small, too insignificant of a word. Who am I to cut this reunion short? Besides, until I met the princess, I'd had very little interest in children. Odds are I wouldn't be much of a good parent in the first place. I would have to ride on the coattails of Kym's natural maternal instincts to get through the most basic problems. Even Lavender begs me to stay my hand.
The thought of the slaughter makes me sick with shame. I need not intrude on their moment. With a faint smirk, I head for the door.
"Sir?" comes her sweet voice. It stops me in my tracks. "You were her escort, correct?"
"Really shouldn't use that word in this context, but yes," I tell Queen Mae, turning back around. "I brought her home to you."
"Killed seven of our men," King Friedrich complains in a quiet but deep voice out of the corner of his mouth. "Good men. Our half-giant, for fuck's sake!"
"Language!" she scolds him in the same whispered tone. "We'll find another half-giant.
"What is your name, Sir?" she asks me.
"Rokkoh, Your Highness," I reply.
"Well, Sir Rokkoh, you have done my family a deed we may never be able to truly repay," she says, resting the princess on her hip. "However, we do offer our lasting gratitude and a hefty monetary reward."
Vicar Senthia moves to her desk, opening a drawer and revealing a fat sack of coin. She walks it over to me. Cold fingers caress (either by accidental or on purpose) my own when she rests the bag in my hand. Its bottom fills my palm. Her head tilts to the right slightly, and I sense a smile shines through the cloth before she retreats to her desk.
"This is gracious," I thank her, weighing the bag in my hand. Hefty is right. There must be at least a few hundred pieces inside, presumably gold. "May I say goodbye to her?"
"Of course," she gleams.
I step over to the three of them, aware of the King's careful eyes on me. Standing before the little girl, a pain stings my heart. This will likely be the last time I see her cute little smile, hear her giggle. The idea of murder is gone, banished until I pray to Skrolba for forgiveness. But that desire to protect her remains. Perhaps that's just in my nature.
"Well, honey," I say to her with a breath meant to keep me strong, "it's time for us to say bye-bye."
"Why?" she asks, distracted by Borso.
"Because you're home with your mommy and daddy," I explain. "Isn't that nice?"
"Can you come too?"
My heart melts and breaks at the same time. I look to Queen Mae, unsure what to say. She does not offer any suggestions.
"That's complicated," I tell her. "I don't live in Walteria like you do."
"Den move."
"You make it sound so simple," I chuckle.
"It is," she says, plain and matter-of-fact. Her eyes smile at me then. Any and all intentions of explaining the improbability disappear. My eyes go back to the beautiful Queen Mae. A little smile plays on her perfect lips.
"So I hear you are in need of some good men." I give her a crooked, yet charming smirk. "Any room for a paladin?"
"Are you kidding?" King Friedrich offers a stifled laugh.
"You said it yourself, Freddy," Queen Mae says to him. "He killed seven of our men. Good men.
"And your half-giant," I tease.
"Wouldn't you rather have him fighting under our banner than burning it down?"
"You're right," he says after a short silence, shining a warm smile to her.
"I always am," she rolls her eyes with that small smile. "You should know that by now.
"Wrap up business on your end," she turns back to me. "Return to the Temple when you can. Vicar Senthia will help you from there."
"Should only be a few days at most," I nod to her, looking to Evalina once more. "You, my dear, are a master negotiator."
"Tank too!" she beams at me.
"Can I come too?" Torvald interjects, excitement burning in his eyes.
Queen Mae and King Friedrich look to me, curious. With a subtle shake of my head, they understand.
"Thank you, young squire," King Friedrich says to him with a polite smirk. "Are you in training to become a guardsman, or a knight?"
"Yes, sir!" the boy smiles wide.
"It might be best to complete that training before you lend your sword arm, son," the King lets him down easy. "The best fighters are those who know how to handle their weapons. I doubt they let Sir Rokkoh here enlist on a whim!"
The King, Queen, and I share in a little laugh. Not at the boy's expense, of course. More to lighten the mood. He joins in a moment later, half-hearted and deflated.
"I guess I'll be seeing you again soon, little one," I say to the girl. "You be good, okay?"
"Otay!" she smiles.
"And remember what that nice lady said about Borso?"
"Needy bear! Cuddles and 'ventures!"
"Good," I smile big.
"You are welcome to stay in town for the night," Queen Mae informs me. "You'll always be welcome in Walteria."
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Any recommendations?"
"If you choose to rest in Lower Yellowberry," she thinks, "you'll be best off at the Baroque. Finest lodgings and dining down here. If you fancy a trip up the mountain, then you'll want the Aureate."
"We look forward to your arrival, Sir Rokkoh," King Friedrich says, offering me his hand. I accept it, giving it a good firm shake.
The three of them pass through the door next to the window, Princess Evalina waving a goodbye. I return the gesture, a heavy sigh leaving me as the door closes. A lone rebel cracks through my strong mask, and I can't help but let it fall.
"Come, Torvald," I call to him, missing the little angelic princess already, "let's find the Baroque."