She stood, pulling away from Angst, and curtsied. “Your Majesty,” Alloria said respectfully. She looked at Angst with surprise as he stared, at a loss for how to react.
“Thank you for attending my friend, cousin,” Victoria stated sharply. She eyed Alloria’s attire. “I’m sure he appreciated every moment.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” she replied, staring at the ground. After several moments, Alloria looked back and forth between Victoria and Angst, apparently contemplating whether to say anything. “Thank you,” she said to Angst with a smile before leaving the courtyard.
“It was nice meeting you.” Angst stood and bowed politely.
Victoria smacked him in the chest. “Holding hands?” Tori asked with raised eyebrows.
“I thought it was a...royalty...thing,” Angst replied.
“It’s not,” Tori said tersely.
“Too bad,” he played, desperately trying to salvage the morning.
“Well, if you like, I can arrange for you to hold hands with my mother,” Victoria snapped.
“Upset about something?” Angst asked, returning her raised eyebrow.
“No,” Victoria replied too quickly, looking at the door Alloria had exited through.
“Look, I—”
“Don’t,” Victoria interrupted. “Don’t worry about it. Do what you want, you always do. But I don’t trust her.”
“She didn’t seem that bad,” Angst stated in surprise.
“I’m sure,” Victoria replied before saying more calmly, “She wasn’t, but something’s changed.”
“I’ll be wary,” Angst said, frowning. He wanted to say more, but the moment seemed to have passed.
Victoria recounted her day, sharing in great detail her concerns of court and country. The burdens of title rested heavily on her shoulders. Angst wanted to hold her, and rock her, and take away the pain in any way he could, which meant he spent this time listening and nodding. It was impossible to be everything for everyone, and more impossible to be anything for her other than a shoulder.
At the end of her half-hour rant, her shoulders dropped a quarter-inch. Victoria had let it all out, and he could tell that, if nothing else, she had found more even footing.
“Are you okay? How do you feel?” the princess asked with concern.
With a deep sigh, Angst compressed his concerns and pain and frustrations into the five minutes he knew she could handle. Victoria meant well, but she was also only nineteen, without the experience and years Angst had struggled through. Still, he was happy with what he could get, and what she graciously offered.
“So, are we, you know, okay? Was it weird? Did I do anything I shouldn’t?” Angst rambled on for several moments, attempting to share his concerns about stumbling drunk to her room, undressing her, and passing out while holding hands. His awkward query was met with a dumbfounded look.
“You’re fine, Angst,” Victoria said dismissively. “Thanks for seeing me home safe.”
That was it? The young man beating him in the face, the queen screaming at him in front of...everyone? Heather’s pure, unabashed hatred of their friendship? All she had to say was thanks?
“You’re welcome,” Angst replied simply. He sniffed, and could smell the iron in his nostril.
She looked at him and smiled warmly then gave him a long hug that he returned in full.
“So...are things still broken?” Angst asked quietly, looking around the courtyard.
“I just...I don’t understand it, Angst. I can’t see things like I did,” Victoria said in frustration. “Some visions fit, and still make sense. But others don’t. I can only see some of what you’re thinking now, just bits and pieces. I can’t read Alloria at all, but I can read my mom and Tyrell clearly. It’s so frustrating.”
The princess looked ready to cry and Angst hugged her again. “It’s okay. There’s a lot going on,” he said consolingly. “I’m sure it’s temporary.”
Victoria nodded. “I need to go. Be very careful around Alloria. She doesn’t have your best interests in mind.”
“I promise,” Angst said with all the sincerity he could muster.
After several moments of deciding whether his response was genuine, Victoria replied, “When you’re done thinking about her giant boobs, please remember what I said.”
Angst tried his best to look shocked, which made Victoria laugh out loud. “I’ll see you this afternoon, at the thing?”
“Yes.” He nodded somberly. “I promise.”
7
Dignitaries, knights, the queen, and her advisors filled the large hall, which had hosted the banquet honoring Angst and his friends only months ago. The blanket of silence covering those attending made the room so quiet, Angst was certain he could hear a servant sweeping a hallway at the other end of the castle. His cough echoed throughout the chamber, and he swallowed loudly. Heather’s nudge against his armor was louder yet, flushing her cheeks red and making her more upset at Angst.
Whatever forgiveness she had felt after he’d returned from Victoria’s bedchamber faded when he arrived home after his morning meeting with the princess. As though she had suddenly come to her senses, Heather had given Angst a verbal beating that would have made the queen wince. As usual, it succeeded in doing nothing more than making him argue back until he was done and simply stopped. The swifen ride to the castle was tense as dragonhide, and as palatable as Angst’s cooking.
Angst looked around the room warily. Sitting here for this occasion with these people was like sitting naked on a rocky shore. Everyone was surely staring and he couldn’t adjust enough to find comfort, least of all with Heather beside him. Angst had tried pleading with the queen, and then Victoria, and finally Heather to let him stay away, out of sight, or possibly out of country. But they would have none, and so Angst sat in the front row, in armor that wasn’t made for sitting, wishing some emergency could take him away from Ivan’s funeral.
Six knights in full armor kneeled and set a closed, empty casket mere feet from Angst and his friends. The knights stood to attention, bowed respectfully to the queen, and went to stand in line with other knights attending. Queen Isabelle’s face was somber as she rose from her throne and slowly moved to the ornate gold and mahogany casket. She closed her eyes and rested her hand on the casket as though preparing to raise the dead. In her other hand, she gripped a large scroll tight to the point of shaking.
When Isabelle opened her eyes, they focused on Angst for but a second. Her mouth tightened, and he braced for a storm of words. Heather squeezed his hand, and a bead of sweat trickled between his shoulder blades. The queen and Angst sighed in unison before she stepped to Tyrell and handed him the scroll.
Tyrell unrolled the document and began to read. “We lay to rest a Knight of Unsel, Sir Ivan, whose deeds, accomplishments, and services will not be forgotten. Always, Sir Ivan fought to protect Unsel from foes and villains. His good nature, courage, and honor show all knights what they can achieve. For his legacy, and his family, we will recognize the titles and honors bestowed on Sir Ivan.
Knight of Unsel
Stalwart Hero of the Realm
Champion of the Vivek
Keeper of Unsel...”
Angst wanted to vomit. He looked at Rose sitting next to him, at her small, pale fists shaking with anger. Her fingernails dug deep into her palms, and Angst reached over to stop her. Rose seemed taken off-guard, not pulling her hand away from his as she normally would. She looked at Angst with large, dark eyes filled with bitterness and frustration. Still holding her wrist, he turned it over to look at the damage to her hands. There was blood, but the wounds had already healed. Rose jerked her hand away and nodded toward Tyrell. Angst wanted to ask what she thought she was doing, but turned to face the Captain Guard as instructed.
“Guardian of the Domain
The Exemplar Citation
Victor in the Battle of Hemsid
Feather of Valor...”
Angst adjusted once more, as respectfully as he co
uld, and did his best to swallow a large yawn. There was one fortunate side effect of the armor—it wouldn’t let him slouch. He looked around the room, which had a surprising turnout for a man everyone had to hate as much as Angst did. It just made no sense. Had Ivan really been this popular? Had this many people really liked him? More likely, this was some sort of pomp and bureaucracy Angst had no desire to understand.
His gaze found Victoria and Alloria, both of whom stared at the floor in respectful repose. What if Ivan truly had been as pretty as the picture Tyrell was painting? Was it possible he had started on a path of good intentions, no different from Angst? Could it be that magic and power had corrupted Ivan that much? Or was he really just an ass who happened to do his job, and the crown was giving a little credit to save face?
As though feeling his gaze, Alloria looked up, briefly making eye contact with Angst. She winked before returning her gaze downward. Even before he could smirk, Heather had let go of his hand and pinched it hard. Angst stifled a yelp and crossed his arms defensively.
“All of these things were accomplished and earned by Sir Ivan. His hard work and perseverance will always be remembered. A true hero to the end.” Tyrell finished with a bow of his head. His tone had remained both sincere and unemotional throughout the eulogy.
Several knights and one duke stood to give similar, fortunately shorter, speeches. Each brought Angst closer to the abyss of deep nod though neither Angst nor his friends had any choice but to remain alert and respectful since the queen had placed them front and center. The final speaker was an old knight Angst did not recognize. His armor seemed ancient—polished silver etched in great detail with ornate golden leafy flourishes. His height, chiseled features, and haughty nature made him so familiar that all Angst’s friends tensed. Before saying anything, the man stared each of them down with an angry scowl, finishing with a sneer at Rose.
“No man wishes to outlive his son, but how could I be more proud? Ivan once again proved himself to be the hero Unsel needed. How could I ask for a greater honor than that which my son has bestowed upon me?” Ivan’s father took a deep, pained breath.
“I didn’t even realize old Vars was still alive.” Hector leaned forward and whispered between Angst and Rose. “The man is crazier than Ivan ever was. I’d recommend ignoring everything he says and find a happy place.”
“He was the last of my bloodline to carry the family torch through the ranks of knighthood. His death is a great loss, not only to me but also to our entire kingdom. I taught Ivan myself how to deal with the... undesirables, the criminals among us, the true danger that is hard to ignore.” He stared directly at Angst.
Angst’s jaw clenched. He wanted to leave, but Hector’s restraining hand on his shoulder kept him in place. He glanced at Victoria, who was making shocked eye contact with a young man standing nearby. Her gaze moved to Angst, and she shook her head, pleading with her eyes for him to refrain from anything foolish.
Vars smirked and looked about the room with wild wide eyes that made most shift uncomfortably in their uncomfortable seats. “I’ve heard many stories about my son’s death. Many stories about the magics,” he said with a growly whisper. He stared at Angst and Rose. “But I know my son! I know Ivan would have died before becoming a pawn of that infliction!”
Tyrell was now standing behind the man, a sign that Vars’s moment to speak was over. “There is nary one man who can deny my son’s heroism,” he said loudly, pointing to everyone in the crowd. “And nary one man who can prevent the wake of results from his charge to do right.”
Tyrell pulled the larger man back, firmly yet gently, and ushered him to his seat. Vars stared at the casket with a lost expression, tears streaming openly down his wrinkled cheeks.
Angst wanted to slap the man across the mouth for raising such a bully, and for being such a blithering idiot.
“He obviously wasn’t told what actually happened,” he said, pacing their corner of the room. “We came to the funeral. Do we really need to stay for the wake too?”
“It’s polite to stay for a little while, Angst,” Heather said apologetically.
Hector and Dallow were doing their best to calm Rose, who seemed poised to launch herself at Ivan’s father. Tarness stood by Angst, gnawing on a turkey leg in one hand and gulping from a goblet of mead in the other. Angst stopped his pacing to look at his munching friend, glancing at the food, and the drink, and then at Tarness, who shrugged with a lopsided grin.
“What? Idiots make me hungry,” Tarness stated without an ounce of apology.
“You’re right, Tarness,” Angst said with a nod and a chuckle. “Maybe I should shake this off. It’s done. We risked everything to save Unsel, and probably the rest of Ehrde. That should be enough, right? Thanks for reminding me.”
Angst smiled at everyone and, with a nod, left to wander the crowd.
“Is that really what I meant?” Tarness asked around a mouthful of turkey.
“Now I’m not sure who’s crazier, Angst or Vars,” Rose replied, shaking her head in dismay.
Angst ignored the crowd in search of Victoria. After the speech by Ivan’s father, people made extra room for him as he waded through to seek her out. Wasn’t it her job to save him from these things?
He exchanged his empty goblet of mead for a full one from a passing tray and continued wandering until he saw her long hair, which was black once again. The crowd shifted to make a clear path for him to his friend. Victoria was looking up, nodding, and flirtatiously patting the arm of a tall young man standing in front of her. Angst’s face felt flush.
“That’s the cutest thing I think I’ve ever seen,” Alloria said behind him with a giggle.
Angst spun around to see the young woman sipping deeply from her goblet. Her funeral attire was form-fitting and low cut, and he could only hope his own funeral was honored with equal vigor. He once again willed himself to maintain eye contact and smirked.
“Your Majesty,” he said, only a little mockingly. “What would that be?”
“Your ears,” she declared, reaching up to touch the top of one with her finger. “They turn very red when your cheeks flush.”
They became even warmer, and he looked at the ground, embarrassed. She giggled again and clapped her hands briefly as though she had won a contest.
“Your armor is different than everyone else’s.” She walked around him to look more closely, running a finger along the open spot behind one of his arms and making Angst shiver slightly.
“That’s so I can make birds out of stone.” When he saw she didn’t completely understand, he leaned closer to whisper, “The armor is designed for people who do magic. Armor like this hasn’t been worn for a very long time.”
Alloria smiled at this and nodded, apparently impressed. “Well, you look very handsome,” she said warmly. “I think what that man said about you, and magic, was just awful.”
“I agree! That’s not how it happened at all!” The words burst out of Angst. Alloria had triggered exactly what he’d been trying to repress. He did his best to rein himself in. “We didn’t want this for Ivan, but he chose his path,” he whispered harshly.
“That’s exactly what Victoria said,” Alloria agreed. “Though the queen seems to have mixed feelings about what happened.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Angst said. “But it doesn’t matter. My heroing days seem to be over.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Victoria said as she approached from behind Alloria with the young man in tow.
Angst smiled at her, until he realized she wasn’t smiling back. He turned around to see that Vars had found his friends. Ivan’s father was yelling at Hector while holding Rose at arm’s length. Why was Hector being diplomatic when Rose was in danger?
“Hey, aren’t you Angst?” asked the young man standing beside Victoria. He squinted at Angst as though he recognized the older man.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Angst said with a sigh as he made his way to Ivan’s father.
&n
bsp; Alloria had moved to get a better look and now stood between him and his friends. It took several precious moments to set her aside gently. Angst was once again angry with Vars, and the familiar surge of power coursed through him. Moving Alloria reminded him he wasn’t supposed to use magic, and he calmed that power, balling his fists as he stomped toward the group instead.
The tall man reached back with his free hand, winding up to strike Rose in the mouth. Angst grabbed the man’s wrist, but without magic, or even the visible shock of wielding a giant sword, it simply wasn’t enough. Vars swung wildly, pulling his hand free and punching Rose hard in the face.
As quickly as she reeled and fell to the ground, Tyrell and Tarness were on Vars, shoving him against a nearby wall.
“You killed my son!” the crazed man yelled at Angst. “It was your magics that tainted him.”
Angst dropped to his knees by Rose and watched as she forced her broken jaw back into place. It didn’t take long for the wound to heal, but he could tell it hurt all the same. Angst felt pangs of guilt for her tears.
The guards pulled Vars away, dragging the kicking man from the wake. Tyrell turned to Rose, his stern face actually showing concern. “Are you all right?”
Rose nodded, holding her jaw with her hand while she opened and closed her mouth. Seemingly healed, she stood and dusted off her dress, avoiding all eyes with embarrassment large on her face.
“Rose, I’m sorry, I didn’t think he...” Angst trailed off as he realized he didn’t know what to say.
“Where were you when I needed you, Angst?” Rose asked angrily. She stared at him, waiting for an answer. When it was obvious he had none, she stomped out of the room.
Everyone was quiet, staring at Angst and his friends. He turned away from them and kept his eyes on the ground to avoid looking at anyone.
“It’s okay, Angst,” Heather said consolingly. “Maybe this just isn’t for you anymore.”
Angst Box Set 1 Page 41
