225 Last Orders (1/2)
Ash still felt burdened as she looked at the bruises on Harold's body. Multiple dark spots lined the King's face and chest. His mouth was swollen. His eyes were too. Lucia had already provided them with a list of herbs to lessen the swelling and hasten the recovery. Ash spent all of last night gathering such herbs. The medicine was at least working by the looks of it.
When she was little, her father would always lecture her about honor and justice. She believed in those things. She still does. But the way she became a spy, a person with shady honor, was also because of honor itself. She thought that honor meant following what is right and what was promised. But she had found that sometimes, things were not that easy. Life had complications.
If not for the person she betrayed, she would have already died. By the ways of the Wismarines and the Eastern Cantonese, hanging would have been her fate. But her neck didn't touch the noose. Her feet didn't fall from the platform. Her life didn't end. Strange. It was strange. The person she deceived was the one who saved her.
Harold opened his eyes. Those murky brown eyes were still teary. Harold had been beaten by his own royal guards. It must have been such a pain for a King to suffer a beating from the same people sworn to defend him. Harold lost consciousness just after the Falconhead returned him to them.
”Ash” He smiled, showing his crooked teeth. He looked around ”W-where are we?”
”Mythrille. But you need not spend worry. Those people can't hurt you now. King Timothy and Queen Lucia are here. They will protect us”
He nodded. A lowered head followed ”I am s-sorry”
”For what?”
His cheek shaded red ”For t-taking your maidenhood”
Ash laughed and buried her face on the mattress. A few coughs later and she said, ”I gave it to you. It was of my own decision”
”Still, it must h-have been awful”
”It was” Ash agreed ”The first time I vomited in disgust. I just closed my eyes and told myself that I am merely doing my duty. The second time was more welcoming. I got used to it. But why are we having this talk?” Ash smiled ”It is a little strange talking about this now”
”Because I s-still love you. I know that we have more important t-things to deal with but do I have a chance?”
”Every person has the right to courtship” Ash said, not closing her doors yet not promising anything.
Harold held out his hand ”Then let us s-start by being friends. I am Harold”
Ash shook it with a smile ”And I am Ash”
Knocks rang against the door. A moment later and Ash saw King Timothy and the Queen.
”You are awake. The moonbringer probably took effect. Good” Her Majesty Lucia said.
King Timothy, on the other hand, went closer and cupped Harold's forehead. ”No fever. You'll be fine. Eat well and recover”
”I s-should get up but I am unable”
”You shouldn't bother. We are equals anyway. Canton would join Tulosa, Castonia and Vanadis, yes?”
”I am s-smart enough to know that we are not equals. Canton is to b-become your vassal and I w-would become your vassal King”
”Then that makes it easier for both of us. You are right. We desire you as our vassal. But don't worry, we will be fair” King Timothy grinned ”Now, I hate to discuss politics and diplomacy with a man recovering from his injuries but time is a commodity. Tomorrow we will leave for Hadea and Inkit”
”So soon?” Ash blurted ”King Timothy, Mythrille and Cloudcliff are still resisting. Yesterday I heard that twenty-five acts of violence were committed against our stationed soldiers. With you leaving us, the rebels would become bolder. A month at least. Stay with us for a month to stabilize the situation here”