The Forgotten (21 page)

Hope lit her eyes. “Are you in jest, sir?” she asked, holding her breath.

“No, I am deadly serious. The castle will require my attention now, and this place reminds me too much of Neri. It haunts me. The castle has no painful memories for me, so I think I’ll remain there for most of my coming days.”

“I will pay you rent,” she said.

He waved his hand dismissively. “I neither need nor want the money, Nell. My former mentor made me a very rich man. You can keep the profit that this Tavern pulls in. Make it the sort of place it was when my mother was still alive.”

Mother Spratt sat to his left. She was smiling despite the look of pain in her eyes.

“You need to have your wounds attended to,” he remarked, calling for a healing mage. The healing mages that Grifon and Ava had brought with them had yet to leave. In fact, the sooner everyone left the better. He wanted to return to a quiet solitary life now that Neri had left him.

She was dead.

He would never see her again in this life. What’s more, she’d died to save them all. She would become a legend here in Shardizar and in Avonry. If he knew Grifon the way he thought he knew him, he was probably already putting her up for Sainthood.

“Lucan,” Mother Spratt said softly, as the healing mage attending to her wounds got up and left. “You will move on in time. Neri wanted you to be happy, so try to fulfill her wish. You might think that what she did was selfish, considering the fact that she picked Ryn over you, but in time, you’ll see that she made the right decision. I feel quite certain that there is another woman who was made to be your mate.”

He drank the rest of the wine and set the goblet down on the table in front of Mother Spratt.

Those who had fought up at the castle had finally made their way down to the Tavern. Revelry filled the building to the brim, as drink was added to their celebrations.

He watched as Ava and Grifon shared loving looks and stolen caresses.

“Someday you will have that kind of a relationship, Lucan. Don’t fret, it will come in time.”

“When you joined the Holy Order of Celestial Mages did you take a vow of chastity?” His question caught her off guard, for her cheeks flamed red.

She bit her lip in a ferocious manner. “No. I never took that vow, only those wanting to enter the Chaste Order of the Celestial Mages take that vow,” she whispered, looking away from him. “I have sprite blood within me, they are known for their highly sexual natures. I couldn’t bear folding that part of me away and sticking it in a drawer somewhere. That’s just not who I am. I wanted to serve the Gods and Goddesses faithfully, but I never thought that I needed to swear off a life of intimacy to do that.”

“They say I’m part of the Forgotten. What do you think of that, Mother Spratt?”

“Call me Verity. I haven’t heard someone call me by my first name in far too long. I want to hear you say it. In fact, now that I have no Temple and a battered flock, I don’t exactly know what I shall do with my life, I don’t even know if I will continue on with my Holy Order. I suppose I’ll return to the Crown City with Prince Grifon and Princess Ava. As for you being part of the Forgotten, I say that’s pretty hard to pull off given what you did here today. You will always be remembered. As will Neri. None of our warriors should ever fall into obscurity. Their sacrifices and services should always be honoured.”

He snorted, and offered his goblet as Nell came around with a jug full of wine to refill drinks. The Tavern was full of joy as those who had fought the demon hordes celebrated their success. There would be time to mourn their dead later.

“Verity, how would you like to return to Wythley Castle and assess the damage with me?”

She smiled at him. “I could use the distraction. It’s good to know that at least someone still needs me after the events of today.”

He stood up and strode out of the Tavern with Verity flanking his side. He would get Neri out of his mind and his heart—somehow, someway.

The festivities were in full swing at Alby Palace. The old King had even joined in and had taken a few wobbly turns around the dance floor with the female Knight Mages that had battled the Demonic Hordes from Herne.

He left the gigantic ballroom and walked through the Palace until he once again sat in the Hall of Knight Mage Honour, and stared at Algernon’s smiling face. He no longer felt weighed down with sorrow as he had once when he’d sat here.

His journey had come full circle. He was right back where he’d begun when he’d set his course to collide with Neri’s.

Attending her canonization ceremony earlier had made him both proud and melancholy at the same time. It had taken him a few months but he had come to terms with what she’d done. He’d always known that fighting a first love would be almost impossible, and the odds had been stacked against him from the start.

“Did you think you could leave the Ball without being noticed?” Grifon’s voice wrenched him out of his reverie.

“Ah, my old friend you know me. I hate being fawned over and the Ladies of the Court were doing way too much fawning and the female Knight Mages were being monopolized by your father. I can’t compete with a King.

Besides, there is only one woman at the Ball that interests me—and she doesn’t seem to realize that I am interested.”

“Ava says you’re looking love right in the eye and you don’t want to recognize it because of the way that Neri left you.”

“I don’t hate her, you know.” The confession formed a lump in his throat. Though it was hard to admit, it was true. Not once in the dark days following Neri’s leaving him did he resort to hating her. He couldn’t hate her, not after what she’d done. Her sacrifice had saved Shardizar.

“I know. Who could? She filled the world with happiness, and I can understand how she felt for Ryn. Experiencing first love with Ava made me see things through new eyes. As hard as it was for you, we both can’t fault her for wanting to be reunited with her Prince. She loved him truly even if he treated her less than fairly at times, he too, braved the fires of eternal hell for her.”

“See? I told you they would be here, Verity. I can read my husband like a book—and I knew he wanted any excuse possible to flee the festivities.”

“Who could blame the Prince? I wouldn’t envy anyone having to deal with the Ladies of the Court.”

“I know,” Ava sighed. “I surely wish I could enlist a few more female friends here at Court. I keep telling Grifon that he had to make sure the other Knights in his Order find brides that I would approve of. That way, we’d fill the Court with sensible minded women instead of the daft, shallow and flighty ones that fill the ranks now. And that blasted Lady Ethelbert tops them all. She rules them as if she’s me! I can’t abide her and I’ll be happy when she leaves Court to return to her family’s holdings in the East.”

“The King usually enjoys them but even he was basking in the glory of the company of the female Knight Mages,” Verity said smiling.

“I guess even he can have good taste, sometimes,” Ava snorted indelicately.

Lucan smiled. He did admire Ava. She spoke her mind and never made any sort of pretenses.

“I noticed that the Ladies of the Court cast you looks of distain the whole night. They were quite jealous of you,” Ava murmured.

“Why would they be? I’m just a short rather plump woman with sprite blood in me—there is nothing pretty about me. It’s quite obvious what they think of me when they see me. Before the Battle of Wythley Castle, none would even give me a passing glance. Sprites aren’t exactly favoured by the women of this Realm, and living with their prejudices was something I had gotten used to.”

Lucan wanted to tell her that she was much more because she was. In the weeks and then months, following the battle, she’d been a constant source of support for him. He had noticed that she was far younger than her old soul sometimes made her seem and her natural loveliness was hard to deny.

He wanted to say she had ample curves, she wasn’t plump in his estimation and anyone who called her that would have him to deal with!

“You and Ava were the most beautiful women in attendance,” the words spilled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Grifon beamed at him. “They will love you forever for saying that. I think you will have their undying loyalty now you lady charmer.”

“Grifon,” Ava said softly. “I think we should go back and rescue some of those lovely Knight Mages that your father has been leering at.”

“Leering, my love? Don’t let him catch you speaking like that.”

“I treat him the same way he treats me. With utter and complete contempt and dislike.”

Lucan chuckled and Verity gasped. “You could be the bigger person,” Verity remarked.

“But what’s the fun in that,” Ava retorted. “Have a good time you two, we’re off to do our duty as the Prince and Princess of the Realm!” Arm in arm, Grifon and she returned to the ballroom.

The swooshing rustle of Verity’s silk skirts made him turn to watch as she cautiously made her way toward him. She wore a gown the design and colour of autumn leaves. The Royal dressmaker had outdone herself on Verity’s design for she had made her look like a Queen of the Woodland Realms. The modest garnet tiara she wore sparkled brilliantly and gave her a noble air. She did look like a nobly born lady tonight.

Carefully, she sat down beside him. “I keep worrying that I’m going to ruin this beautiful gown,” she said ruefully, fingering the soft material. “As for this tiara, I keep praying it won’t fall off my head. I’m sure it costs more than what I’d make in four years. I feel like a fairy princess!” she said, sighing deliciously.  “I keep worrying I will either ruin the dress or the tiara. I feel quite undeserving of it all.”

“I wouldn’t worry. I paid for them both, and you more than deserve it,” he said softly. He wondered why she hadn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together. The garnet coronet he wore matched her tiara. To most at the ball, they appeared to be the perfect couple. To everyone at the ball, except for Verity. Her innocence was quite beguiling.  

“You did? I thought that Ava had commissioned it, and I believed she’d loaned me this tiara from her own collection. Thank you for your kindness and your generosity, Lucan. I was going to attend wearing my dress robes and then I remembered that my new ones hadn’t arrived yet and my old ones were destroyed in the fire. And the shops that would let me in had merchandise I couldn’t dream of affording,” she sighed sorrowfully.

“I know,” he said, moving to take her hand. Her small hand was cold against his, and he closed his fingers around her hand, hoping to force some warmth into her.

“Algernon was a good man. I’m glad I had the opportunity to see him as a Celestial Knight,” she murmured softly, as she gazed at Algernon’s portrait.

“So am I,” he said. “I am paying for the construction of the new Temple.”

“Thank you for your beneficence, Lucan, but I hate to shatter your dreams by telling you that I doubt I’ll return to the Holy Order of Celestial Mages. After the battle, I feel more suited to be a Templar Mage and yet—I don’t know if that’s the kind of life I want anymore. Templar Mages don’t get assigned plum posts like the one I had in Glynneath. They get the border towns and villages.”

“You are not going to stay here, are you?” He looked at her sharply. He couldn’t abide the thought of returning to Glynneath without her—if she stayed, he would have to stay. In fact, now that he thought of it, he couldn’t think of living without her. The thought caused him great distress!

“I suppose I am. I don’t have anywhere else to go…and I doubt my grandmother’s people would allow me passage into their Realm. Not after what I’ve done. The King wanted me to stay here as one of his personal Templar Mages but I don’t know if I could deal with him looking at me like he wants to gobble me up every time I had to attend to his spiritual needs. ”

“You haven’t done anything to be ashamed of, Verity. You did what had to be done and I admire you greatly for it.”

“Thank you, Lucan.” She smiled at him, the gold flecks in her moss green eyes sparkled. His heart twisted in his chest. He couldn’t think of life without her soothing influence now. She kept his mood serene, she made him a better man—and a better wolf.

“If I asked you to come back with me—would you?” He tried to keep his tone neutral but he failed at keeping the emotion from his voice.

“You know I won’t be returning as the Celestial Mage of the new Temple.”

“I know,” he said huskily.

“That where would my place be? I can’t live in the Woods. I’ve gotten used to my creature comforts,” she chuckled.

“If I asked you to be come back with me, to be with me, how would you feel about that?”

“I suppose I could be your Head Steward or your Head Gardener. I have quite a green thumb believe it or not. I might even be able to be the castle’s cook…”

He laughed. The deep rumbling noise echoed throughout the great hallway.

“I rather had a different idea of your role at the castle,” he admitted. “I wanted you to be my lady wife.”

She pulled her hand away from his and stood up. Redness touched her cheeks.

“Don’t jest with me, Lucan. I know I’m not the sort of woman that is meant to marry a Duke, or a decorated Knight Mage. I just didn’t think you could be so callous about it all. Don’t play with my emotions like that, please, I beg of you. I thought I meant more to you than that. I thought…I thought we were friends…good friends,” her voice broke with strained emotion.

She turned her back to him. Did she really have no clue? How innocent she was to the ways of the world. He thought she would know how attracted he was to her….

“I am not the run of the mill kind of Duke. I was a born a bastard and some say I still am one but I wasn’t jesting when I asked you to be my Lady, Verity. I wouldn’t toy with you like that. Before I had all of this wealth, I was well known for my honour and I hope I still am. An honourable man would never be so callous. You will make me a great wife, and a most gracious lady, my love.

You have a kind and generous soul and yet you’ve embraced the side of you that can protect and defend the weak. As a Knight Mage I require a woman that can stand next to me with a weapon in her hand and not be cowering behind me. I would like to know that my wife would be able to protect our children, should the need arise.”

Slowly, she turned back to face him. “So you are not making fun of me?”

“Never,” he said, standing up. “In the time since Neri passed, I’ve come to count on you and see you far differently than I did when we first met. You covered yourself up in those robes of yours, you denied yourself the grace of your own beauty.”

Hope lit her eyes. He stood up to come and grasp her two hands in his and held them to his chest. “We will have a long engagement. I think that’s best considering how fast things went with Neri, and we’ll give Ava plenty of time to plan our wedding as she told Grifon to tell me that she wants that honour.” He smiled at her, and Verity gave him a tremulous smile in return.

Loud footsteps interrupted his proposal. He looked to see who had interrupted them. Sighing heavily, he looked back at Verity’s calm visage.

“Your Grace! I thought you would have paid me more attention tonight rather than the little grubby sprite you have there. You may return with me to the Ball and we shall thrill everyone with our combined stately bearings. I have told my mother that I have decided to honour you and become your lady wife!”

Lady Ethelbert really had surpassed his past impression of her. She was worse than he’d thought! Now, she was trying to seal the deal by digging her impressively sharp claws into him. He wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of making a further spectacle of herself, and he attempted to overlook the degrading remark she’d made about Verity.

He started laughing at the absurdity of her speech. Before Verity had entered his life he probably would have gone off the deep end and completely verbally assailed Ethelbert with a caustic reply. Now, now, he only found her arrogance amusing.

“You will have to try selling your wares elsewhere, Ethelbert. I am a taken man—my heart belongs to another. This fair lady is about to accept my proposal of marriage!”

“Well, I have never been so insulted! You will regret not marrying me. How dare you throw me over for that little sprite! Why the King himself will tell you that you’ve made the wrong decision. Yes, you will definitely rue this night!”

“I don’t think I will, Ethelbert. I am sure you will regret my refusal since the Court gossipmongers say that your family has fallen on hard times and that you were hoping to catch one of the wealthiest men in the Realm. I think your dear mama will be crying for days, and your father will probably continue his whore-mongering ways. As for His Majesty, he’s quite fond of Verity and his son told him that Verity would soon be my wife—he more than approved. You see, Verity is a heroine of the Realm—you, Ethelbert, are only a whore of the Realm.”

Ethelbert harrumphed again, turned on her heel and stamped her way back to the ballroom.  

“I think you need to reconsider, Lucan. I’m the wrong woman for you. Lady Ethelbert, prejudiced as she is, is right. I am part Sprite and there are many others who feel the same way as she does. Plus, I’m not like Neri at all. I am not graceful like a cat, I don’t have the beauty of a fairy, and I’m not nearly as cultured.”