Defiant Revival

by Defiant Revival [Dreamspinner MM] (retail) (epub)

  Aldrious dropped the head, forcing Erek to catch it or have it land on his lap. He was puzzled and entranced by the once beautiful girl’s hungry eyes staring desperately back into his own. “Well, I suppose she could intend to revive the prince, but her other attempt was not really a success. I hear it had full motor and involuntary functions restored, but it had no consciousness. What good would having the prince in that state do?”

  The cardinal placed his hand firmly on Erek’s shoulder, digging his long-nailed fingers into the flesh through the bishop’s burgundy robe. A twinge of pain passed over Erek’s face, but Aldrious was impressed by how little response he got from the innocent monk. “You should not speak of things you know so little about. Enchanting is something all the globe’s children were forced into ignorance of by our predecessors, so I blame you not for your naivety. Do well to understand, brother: there are many ways in which a thing can be done. My cousin did it wrong once, but this does not mean she is not aware of how to do it right. I am surprised she could be bought, though. There is no way she could care enough about politics for this to be her idea.”

  “For as many ways as there are to do things, there are just as many ways to get a person to do them.” Erek set the head back on the table before turning to the cardinal. Much to his surprise, Aldrious looked quite impressed with his apt response. “It is none of my business, but is Chammerline the witch, who you yourself excommunicated, truly your cousin?”

  “Oh, thank Aegis, my pious brother finally shows some humanity and reveals his curiosity. She is indeed my cousin, but I do not believe she knows this. That is a perk of being a member of clergy; my family name never need be revealed unless I choose to. Those predecessors I referred to, the cause of our globe’s ignorance, were really five people of five families. You have heard tell of the Families Five, yes?”

  “I heard of the legend. The five families birthed of the Startspring and sent across the globe to reign over their territories. It is in direct conflict with the teachings of MortiAegis, however, so I never indulged it much.”

  “Yes, indeed it is. However, it is the real truth,” Aldrious whispered hotly.

  Those words made Erek feel as though the wind was knocked right out of him. He was aware the cardinal’s behavior could be considered quite heretical, but what he was saying now was absolute blasphemy.

  Sensing his growing uneasiness, Aldrious chose to explain. “I know this is true, no matter how shocking it sounds, brother. I know, because DuBois is the central family, descendants of sister Chammerline, and my family, the Dalgarie, is the family of the east, descendant of brother Arrikos. Any member of the Families could be my distant relative, but I am aware that Chammerline and I have a direct bloodline through the current lady DuBois. Knowing this does you no good, though, dear brother. It is a secret, and I fear your curiosity has cost your life, as I indulged it. It still feels so good to give in and learn some dirty laundry, does it not?”

  Erek felt a wash of acceptance. These names he had never heard, this threat to his life, somehow it made more sense to him than any of his interactions with the cardinal had so far. Erek turned to Aldrious and gave him a smile, the first and only the cardinal was to see. “I understand, my brother. Thank you. Was there anything else you needed from me?”

  “No, thank you for the company, dear bishop. You truly are a rare breed; such purity is hardly ever allowed to flourish. Do forgive me for snuffing it out.” Erek’s smile grew as Aldrious leaned over his face, leaving a heartfelt kiss on the young man’s head. He plunged his dagger into his brother’s heart before removing his lips. He felt Erek clutch him and grow weak.

  “I hope…. Micah….” That was all Erek could last say. If Aldrious was truly able to read the bishop’s mind, then he is the only one who knows what the end of that statement was to be. I have thought it over numerous times. It could simply be that he wished Micah would return to the cardinal and in his control. Perhaps Aldrious was right about Erek’s carnal feelings toward the prince, and this was some sort of confession, but I find that to be a stretch. I might be an idealist, but I feel this strong and convicted man realized, in his last breaths, where real hope for the globe truly lay. Regardless, the bishop bled out and was added to the pyre that was still burning with our victims from the siege.

  WESTEND IS the poorest borough of Drummond, and thusly holds the most resentment for the richly attired and well fed Mortanion monks. Thanks to this contempt, the villagers uttered not a word of their suspicions regarding the patrons of the Philosopher’s Rest. Conversely, there were quite a group of them staying about the tavern in the days since the prince’s rescue. They were eager to get the monks out and away when they came hounding.

  “Ya fink the tossahs all done wif their questions, na?” muttered the old drunk, Maggie, from her seat at the window.

  “I surely hope so. They do foul up the place, don’t they?” Jessica called over, smiling while she put away some freshly cleaned pint glasses.

  Her heart felt like it had been smashing against her rib cage the last few days and was soon to break it down. The questioning was heavily dedicated to Micah, the kingdom Knox, and a revolution. Only once did they ask her about Logos, and it was a simple inquiry of whether or not she knew any members. They either feigned or were ignorant to the fact of who her parents are. The worst and most surprising were the few questions about Shemmy. Adding to her nerves, they had deception specialists with them. These were a strange sect of the Mortanion order who could read intent, marking all lies with a single graze of their finger in their self-recording transcripts. Jess had no trouble fibbing, but she wasn’t sure how to deceive fellows of this ilk.

  “Bah, f’you ask meh, we otta be ta ones interrogatin’ dem. Keepin’ dem fings in our lord’s ’ome,” Maggie cried and spat on the ground.

  “I second that, Maggie. However, please keep your spit in your mouth or a glass, no matter how right you are,” she instructed with a sigh, walking over with a mop. Alex had relocated to the safe house with Ackerman, so Jess and Roland were now the only ones responsible for the inn’s upkeep.

  Roland saw to it to hire a cook swiftly but was dallying in finding a maid. Most residents who would be interested in the position were likely to be females, a weakness for him. He became unbearably bashful around young ladies and failed to convey the kind of message an employer should. In spite of this fact, he still took it upon himself to go out and find one before Jess could object. This stuck her with watching the bar and dealing with the interrogators.

  Jess wiped up the spit and other spills from Maggie and then scooped up her four empty glasses. As she walked them back to the bar, she was startled by the door swinging open loudly, crashing against the wall. One of the glasses narrowly escaped her grasp and did its own crashing against the floor.

  “I found one!” screamed Roland as he ran over to the thoroughly frustrated Jess.

  She shoved the mop against his chest without even turning to look at him. Continuing toward the bar she growled, “Clean up your mess! What are you babbling about?”

  “Oh, come now, Jess! Do be happy! I found us a maid, quite cheap too!”

  “Oh my goodness, Roland, don’t be saying that.” She finally turned and saw him smiling, next to a very tall and beautiful woman, who was the one actually cleaning up the broken glass. “I am sorry for my partner’s disgusting lack of manners, dear. I am Jessica, de facto manager of this inn,” she said as she skipped over to them. She was quite surprised to see such a pretty woman. She thought for sure Roland would be bringing in a great-grandmother or someone equally diminished.

  “Oh, hullo, Miss! Such a delight to meet you! I am ever so pleased to be joining your team. My name is Loretta.” Loretta’s voice was deep, with feminine airs dressed atop it. Jess was now aware why Roland could speak to her. Her frame was large and long, similar to Billiam’s, with strong hands. A peek of Loretta’s Adam’s apple could be spied above the collar of her gown, yet none of the masculinity
of her body was present on her face. It was made up immaculately, with soft features and full lips. Jessica was actually a bit envious of her mature, ladylike visage.

  “Oi, well, he was having trouble finding work, ya know, being a he as a maid. He started dressing as a lass but was still not able to find employ, so his price is way more than right.” Roland beamed, feeling he had struck gold.

  “He is mostly right, Miss,” Loretta explained. “Although, forgive a bit of blasphemy, but I think Aegis makes a mistake from time to time too. I might be one of those, as I have always felt far more comfortable in the role of maiden than any other. That, and to be female is more befitting to achieving my life dream.”

  “What’s that?” asked Jess.

  “To clean the world! I want to make it all sparkling clean! I love being a maid, a wizard of the household, transforming her realm into pristine beauty. The housekeepers and cleaners I saw have always transfixed me, and I knew then it was my destiny. I shall be the best maid Drummond has ever seen!”

  Jessica laughed happily, not at Loretta’s expense. “I have never heard of such a dream, but I am quite glad we will be the ones to benefit from it. So you are, from now on, our maid and are a lady of our house. Roland and I will do our best to address you as such, ma’am.” She smacked Roland in the gut, causing him to groan before nodding in agreement.

  “Oh, thank you, Miss. No one has ever treated me with such immediate kindness and understanding!” She grabbed Jess and embraced her hard, lifting her tiny body off the ground. Loretta was quite strong and had the hug lasted any longer, little Jessica may have been out of oxygen. “I can’t believe a couple so young as yourselves are runnin’ an inn. That is wonderful. Kudos to you both!” Roland got the enthusiastic hug this time, and although not pulled off the ground, he was left equally breathless.

  “We are quite amazing, ain’t we, honey?” Roland grinned like an idiot while attempting to put his arm around Jessica.

  “Yuck!” shouted Jess, pushing him off before he could fully grab her. “We are most certainly not a couple.”

  She stuck her tongue out at Roland, who just shrugged, as if to say, “It was worth a shot.”

  “My parents and uncle own this inn. The former are on a pilgrimage, and the latter has fallen ill, so this buffoon and I are watching it in their stead.”

  Loretta squealed cutely before exclaiming with a wink, “Oh good, then I still have a shot with you!”

  Roland blushed and hid his eyes behind his golden hair. “Oi, I’m flattered, Loretta, but I’m still gonna wait for Jess here to change her mind.”

  “No, not you! I meant Jess! I only love adorable things, like her. Just because I wear a dress doesn’t mean you should take me for something that I’m not.”

  “Oh, well Jessica has a girlfriend.”

  “What!” Jess shouted, shocked and embarrassed. “Leke and I are not like that… not officially or anything.”

  “That’s wonderful! I wasn’t expecting you to actually fancy lasses! It’s my lucky day!”

  “No, that is not it at all. I very much like men and manliness,” she explained bashfully. “To me, to be a man is to be strong, honest, determined, and brave. Of everyone I’ve met, besides maybe the captain, Leke is by far the manliest, regardless of her sex. She is the only lass I have ever fancied. Sorry, Loretta.” I must say I do not mind being called manly at all, if those are the associated attributes. Honestly, due to my size and strength being a faelock, I never paid attention to my gender nor did anyone else really.

  Roland looked terribly confused before mumbling out, “Billiam is the other manliest? I s’pose he’s strong and a leader and such… but the way he cares about his shoes is just—”

  “No! Not Billiam, you dunce, I was referring to Ackerman before he fell ill.” Jess was growing quite tired of these two and their interrogation.

  “Well, I am all those things! Just you wait and see, Miss Jessica. If not my masculinity, my ability to make everything sparkle shall enchant you! Please let me start at once!” With that Loretta was off with the mop, skipping and humming in a manner that was anything but manly.

  “You are minding the bar now. I have a headache the size of the palace from all your foolishness. Leave me outta your nonsense next time, ’kay?” Jessica was fuming and could be a bit scary when she was angry. She hated to be embarrassed and hated discussing us. I thought it had to do with my sex, but when I asked her, she revealed it was because she feared she would fall for me more than I for her. Keeping me a secret also kept me more distant. As cold as it may be to admit it, she was quite right.

  “Oh c’mon, Jess! I was just teasing you. I’m sorry. I will mind the bar, but I don’t want you storming off. I’ll pour us some drinks, and you can tell me ’bout the monks and such.” Roland had grown up with the twins, and they were the only people who resembled a family for him. Although he did hold a small torch for her, more than anything Jessica was his dear friend and sister.

  Before she could form a retort, the door swung wide open, and with it went the breath of every person in the tavern. Standing there in the opening was none other than Cardinal Aldrious. He held his hand out as a bit of a salutation, each finger cloaked by a ring of gleaming emerald, which created a lovely contrast against his crimson robe. He was smiling wide, seeming truly pleased to be there.

  “Yes, my dear, I too insist you drink and talk with us!” He was laughing softly and melodically as he walked over to my two comrades, who were both frozen in fear. No one had expected Aldrious to catch on so soon, and moreover, to actually come to the inn himself.

  “Afta’noon, Cardinal. What can I be getting for you?” Jess squeaked out. Her body and voice were both quivering uncontrollably.

  He smiled deviously and licked his lips as he looked her over. “I have so many ways I’d love to answer that! First, some privacy, hmm?” He held up his arm and drew a crude circle around the three of them. “Right, that’s better. Everyone shall still hear us talking, but it will be benign drivel. You will probably both compliment my attire a few times, and I am sure to drone on about the weather. We will keep all the juicy bits to ourselves!” He seemed downright giddy and grabbed one of each of their hands, letting his nails dig into their skin. “To answer your question, Jessica Mantine, daughter of Pierre and Nairee Mantine, I wouldn’t mind you getting on your knees. How’s that for a start?”

  Roland grew enraged and threw down the cardinal’s hand. “Don’t you speak to her like that!”

  “No, you don’t speak, boy!” Aldrious shouted, drawing one of his nails against Roland’s mouth slowly. As he did, his lips fused together. His eyes bugged out in panic, and he started to thrash about. “Now, now, if I were you, I wouldn’t do that. You are limited to only breathing in and out your nose, and since I take you for being much the mouth breather, Roland Dallow, I would save your energy.”

  Roland ceased his desperation and closed his eyes hard before reaching for Jessica’s other hand. It was terribly clammy, and she was barely able to grip him at all. He looked over to her, and it seemed she was breathing even less than him. Her eyes remained transfixed on the cardinal’s. What is he doing to her? What is he doing here! Roland thought, trying hard to not let anger or anxiety overtake him.

  “I agree; however, I could have been lacking some tact. We ought get down to business first. You see, dear girl, your lovely parents paid me a visit a few days back. I have a feeling they didn’t expect me to be present. They must’ve remembered how much I love surprises! Despite that, they were terrible guests. They angered me so awfully, I was forced to rip off my lover’s head and heave it at their accomplices as they made off with my lamb. I really am quite sore about losing my Marla. I think the least you could do is take her place. What do you say?”

  Roland gestured wildly before getting slapped across the face by the cardinal. After, Aldrious grinned and cocked his head to the side innocently.

  “I must run this inn, sire,” said Jess in a robo
tic voice, unblinking and unflinching.

  “Right, right. Well that isn’t all I’d like to speak to you about,” he said, finally motioning that the two should sit with him at a table. Before Jess could drop into her own chair, he forced her into his lap. “I had a lovely afternoon, chatting with one of my bishops about the events of three days ago. He enlightened me to an exciting fact before I stabbed him to death. This tidbit is that the enchantress Chammerline DuBois has successfully resurrected a human being. This convinced me so vehemently that the ones who attacked me must be the stupid Knights of Logos, who think they can revive their prince and retake the realm. I was already quite certain it was you lot by spying Pierre and Nairee, but with what I learned today, I know why they would dare come against me so directly! It also let me know exactly whom I need to have my people search for. It is quite obvious that pitiful faggot, Billiam Grimhart, is with his stupid prince now and must also be with my cousin Chammerline. Knowing who to kill makes it just so much easier to kill them!”

  “She goes by Shemmy.” Roland was shocked to hear that was Jess’s only response. He could tell she was in some sort of trance, but why was that of all things what she managed to say?

  Aldrious peered over Roland and saw Loretta watching them quite relentlessly. “Right… I think I remember that nickname! Well, I should make this quick, as I feel that lass over there may be on to me. She is quite a beauty, hmm? If it doesn’t work out with Jessica, you will introduce me, won’t you, Roland?”

  Roland slammed his fist against the table, prompting a loud, gleeful laugh from the cardinal.

  “Oh, I love the spirit on you rebels, so much fun to toy with. I must say, though, I think she looks slightly like my brother. How wonderfully bizarre!” He set Jess into her own chair as if she were a porcelain doll before continuing to yammer, “My monks do not know about you all and your inn. I scrambled upon it after killing my bishop and deciding I ought skim through his transcripts after all. They mentioned this place and the young caramel-skinned beauty running it. I knew it was either one of Nairee’s twins or at the least, a suitable conquest. Now that I am here, it reeks of Ackerman and the Logos tradition. I was hoping to reach out and see how ragtag a group I am really up against. It goes without saying that I am quite pleased with how pathetic you are.”