Chapter 76: An Engaging Encounter (Patreon)

Fin had his mouth covered with his hand and his eyes fixed on the floor as the situation continued to grow out of hand. It was then that the Viscountess herself burst into the room with Clara on her heels.

“Mage Lee! I am surprised to see you,” Annika greeted breathlessly, her normally impeccable appearance entirely disheveled. She wore a cream colored gown that had very obviously been thrown on in great haste. Fin assumed she had been in men’s britches before being summoned. Her long braid had several flyaways, and her cheeks were flushed.

“Viscountess I am incredibly sorry for not properly announcing my intention to come. I had a very curious matter to investigate. Namely the arrival of your personal guard the other evening when Mr. Ashowan here was in trouble. However, I believe I understand fully now.” His blue eyes twinkled merrily, and Annika’s gaze flitted to Fin briefly before her cool mask of control fixed itself over her features.

“Oh?” She clasped her hands in front of her skirts.

“Yes, and please know that his majesty will not be happy, though there are a few who will be more pleased.”

Fin stared at mage Lee blankly. Unable to speak, unable to properly think past the massive misunderstanding.

Annika appeared to be holding her breath.

“The Viscountess has only been close with a handful of people since arriving here in Daxaria, and one of those people was Clara.” Mage Lee addressed Fin before he turned back to Annika. “Your maid handles every meeting, and household matter for you… so when Fin found himself in trouble, of course Lady Jenoure, you would offer your personal armed guards to help. Oh, that means if married, you might have to quit the castle and come here,” Mage Lee turned again to Fin on the last point, his face beaming in pleasure over the very valid reasons for his new ‘discovery.’ The man was completely oblivious to Annika’s stunned confusion.

“Mage Lee, I am afraid I am not entirely certain what you are talking about,” she began hesitantly.

“His majesty would be upset of course as I said before, but I can’t say I’ll be too tearful to see you go Mr.Ashowan. Mr. Howard will most likely host a party... When is the wedding to happen? Will you allow Clara to continue working? I imagine Lady Jenoure may have something to say about that-”

Annika’s eyebrows shot up as she finally realized what the elder was saying.

“Mage Lee, are you suggesting that Mr. Ashowan and my maid Clara are betrothed?”

The maid in question suddenly choked, then snorted. Though she managed to cover her mouth when her mistress shot her a scathing glare over her shoulder. The woman wisely pretended to have been coughing.

“I understand this is a private household matter Viscountess, and you have my sincere apologies for intruding. However, you know how attached the Prince has become to Mr. Ashowan, and I must advise you to reconsider insisting he work for your household immediately after the marriage.”

Annika looked ready to pummel the man. At least it appeared that way to both Fin and Clara who had come to recognize the slightest shift in her eyes.

“Mage Lee, I don’t believe my dear maid will be getting married any time soon.” She smiled prettily, yet both Fin and Clara shuddered.

The old man failed to notice, and waved off her comment before grabbing her hands.

“Now, now, my dear. Your maid isn’t as young as she was when you first arrived. She deserves her chance at love, though I must confess she will have a difficult road ahead of herself being wed to our Royal Cook.”

Clara’s blue eyes were fixed on the ceiling, her face growing pink as Fin covered his eyes, unable to watch the disaster continue to worsen.

“Mr. Ashowan, no need to be so bashful! Our Viscountess has been incredibly gracious and accepting of you staying in her home while you court Clara. Why don’t you two sweethearts stand together while we all discuss your coming nuptials.”

Fin had managed to take a single hesitant step before Annika jumped back in.

“I would love to, mage Lee; however, I do feel a migraine coming on, and I-”

“Oh, Mr. Ashowan can fix you the most wonderful tea. It has helped his highness many times when experiencing such ailments. You know, with this week being Mr. Ashowan’s time off perhaps these two could take their vows in a couple of days and- well now! Isn’t your mother at the castle, Ashowan? Why not have the ceremony while she is here! If you wait longer Kate may be quite stressed if she is also tending to our Queen and the new babe.”

Fin slowly began walking to the door to prepare the tea, his legs feeling as though they were wooden stilts. As he passed behind Annika, her hand shot out faster than anyone could see, and gripped his arm firmly, holding him in place.

“I’m not sure we should be planning Mr. Ashowan’s wedding without him present.” Without meaning to, Lady Jenoure’s grip tightened on Fin’s arm almost painfully.

Mage Lee blinked at the Viscountess’ sudden move, but shook his head dismissively once she released him.

“I understand, of course; however, this affects you as well, my Lady. Afterall, will Mr. Ashowan permit Clara to continue working after they marry as I asked earlier? Oftentimes it isn’t long after a wedding with two perfectly healthy people that there are children of their own. There is the likelihood that-”

“Mage Lee,” Fin croaked. At the rate the mage was digging his grave for him, he would soon hit the water level. “Perhaps imposing upon Lady Jenoure, interrupting her day, and insisting she listen to a commoner's marriage plans when she feels unwell is a bit much, hm?”

Clara was partially hidden behind Fin and was visibly struggling to stop herself from laughing.

The mage looked crestfallen.

“For once I can see the sense in what you’re saying,” the elder sighed. “I did actually come here to deliver a message to you, Lady Jenoure. I suppose I will do so and take my leave.”

Fin and Clara gratefully bowed, and backed out of the room, closing the doors to the solar behind them.

The two made it to the end of the hall before Clara lost all of her composure and doubled over howling.

“Glad you found that funny,” Fin remarked dryly.

“Oh Gods! I’ve never seen her so close to losing it!” Clara continued laughing until tears tracked down her face. “Gods, you and I? How in the world did he think that up?” she wheezed.

“He was with me when Annika sent her guards to rescue us remember?”

The maid settled down enough to straighten and wipe her face dry, though she was still grinning widely. It was the first time Fin had ever seen the woman show any emotion. Annika was a skilled actress, but the maid was often an icy wall of impenetrability.

“I see. So he believes that because Lady Jenoure is such a good friend of mine that she’d send her men to save you. I suppose it does make some level of sense.”

Fin shook his head and began rubbing his face.

“There, there,” Clara patted his shoulder. “Most of the time she chooses a quick death for her victims.”

“What do you think the message is about?” The redhead changed the topic glumly as they continued on their journey further away from the solar.

“She receives messages pretty regularly from the King. It’s odd that mage Lee would be the one delivering the missive, but perhaps he volunteered to help you plan our wedding.”

Fin looked to the heavens as Clara succumbed to another spell of hysterics.

*

“I beg your pardon?” Annika stared incredulously at the mage who had grown significantly more somber as he delivered his news.

“Yes, hundreds of Troivackian soldiers were discovered in one of the winter market buildings the commoners use. The fire drew our military, and they found that the door had been barred by some barrels that had been knocked over on the outside. Most of the men are fine, though a few suffered burns and some bad coughs… a few even appear to have mental stress. Some of them are babbling about cats setting the place on fire…”

Annika shook her head dismissively. “Mage Lee this is all very… shocking. However, why is it you are informing me of this?”

The Viscountess knew the King wouldn’t be so careless to expose her to the mage. There had to be something more to it.

“Well… my dear, I am sorry to say this but, there was incriminating evidence regarding your brother discovered at the scene. Written orders with his seal. He has violated numerous Daxarian laws by smuggling the soldiers onto our shores, and there is a distinct possibility that the Troivackians have been using this method in all major cities. We are keeping the unit we’ve discovered isolated from everyone and everything. We’ve sent emergency messages to all the cities to immediately search the winter marketplaces so that we have the element of surprise and ideally catch a significant portion of them.”

Annika waited, she knew there was more… the discovery was a huge one. It was massively helpful to their war preparation, but she could tell that the old man was still beating around the bush.

“Well, naturally your brother’s death will be demanded as a result. It is up to King Matthais whether or not it is our executioner who will do the deed, or his own. Then again it could also be the official beginning of the war…”

“Lee,” She reached out and gently touched the mage’s whorled hands. “My brother was a tyrant his entire life. I feel no remorse.”

Nodding in understanding, the elder raised one of his own hands and covered hers.

“My dear, I wish that were the extent of the news.” With a sigh, he pushed on. “The Daxarian court feels uneasy with you being so close to his majesty and the Queen in light of this new development and… well… we think it best if you stay away from court during the war. You’re welcome to stay here in Austice of course, and his majesty himself doesn’t suspect your involvement at all, but it would be a respectful show of how seriously your brother’s misdeeds rests in your heart.”

Annika bit her lip, glistening tears rising in her eyes. “I understand. I… I only want what is best for our King and Queen. You know how much I love them.”

Mage Lee felt his heart constrict. Lady Jenoure had truly become a wonderful woman.

“I am sorry, my Lady. We will all speak of your goodness to those that dare try to say otherwise.”

Lowering her eyes demurely, Annika made a show of smoothing her skirts. Raising her chin regally, she met mage Lee’s stare.

“Thank you. You are a good man.” Her voice warbled, but her brave resolve made Lee silently curse her misfortune.

The elder squeezed her soft hands and after a quiet moment, pulled himself up using his staff.

As he hobbled to the door, Annika stood as well, her stoic expression unchanging.

“You know… Lady Jenoure… perhaps a joyous event of a wedding might help take your mind off of-” The mage began before Annika cut him off sharply.

“Mage Lee, with this grave news I need to be alone with my thoughts. I pray you’ll understand.” She added on the last part even though she wanted to shove the old faker down the front steps of her estate and have him gone.

For once, the elder wisely shut his mouth, bowed, and took his leave.

Annika sat back down in the quiet of the solar for a moment. She raised her hand to her mouth, and let loose all she had held back during the entire conversation.

Then, she stood up to go find Fin.

*

“-Going to be in so much trouble!” Raymond roared with laughter after Clara had regaled him with mage Lee’s assumptions.

Fin stood with his arms crossed and his chin to his chest. He didn’t like waiting to get into a fight.

“Mr. Wit, are you sure there is supposed to be this much butter?” the burly Troivackian suddenly became distracted by the biscuits he was in the process of folding.

“Have I instructed you wrong before?” the redhead answered without moving a muscle.

Raymond shrugged wordlessly while Clara continued chuckling to herself.

“Mr. Wit?”

The unmistakable cool voice of Annika broke the quiet of the room making everyone turn and stare immediately at the Viscountess who stood in the door, her face unreadable.

“Please follow me,” she requested softly before turning and leaving the room.

The witch glanced at Raymond who drew a line across his throat, while Clara feigned hanging herself.

“Thanks. Traitors.” Fin grumbled as the two of them burst out laughing again.

Once the couple was once again alone in her bedchamber, the Viscountess turned and stared at him her breaths began coming out oddly… as though… excited… or angry…

“Fin… I’m not going to have to get married.” Her face suddenly broke into a smile so bright that her eyes watered.

“W-What?”

“My brother is on trial for breaking Daxarian laws, I am expected to stay away from court for the duration of the war given my family tie with him. I will no longer be considered an acceptable marriage option to the Zinferans!”

Fin’s jaw dropped. “Are you okay?!”

“Yes! Fin I can’t be in the castle but, we don’t have to worry anymore don’t you see?!”

“Do you truly mean to tell me you feel nothing over your brother being potentially sentenced to death?” the redhead asked warily while wrapping his arms around her.

“King Matthais would see that as a sign of weakness. He’ll probably accept responsibility and punish my brother himself. King Norman just needs to find the punishment acceptable, and he isn’t usually one to seek blood.”

Letting out a relieved sigh, Fin allowed his forehead to drop to hers. “Then thank the Goddess. I was worried we’d be losing sleep over this for quite some time.”

“Oh we will be losing sleep, just not for that reason…”

Fin laughed, but then made sure to do his part to help her prediction, and so the two shared a passionate kiss as they felt the latest burden on their relationship dissipate.

*

Late at night wrapped in a certain redhead’s arms, Annika awoke, but she wasn’t sure what had stirred her. Blinking sleepily, she gazed over towards the fireplace that glowed faintly in the darkness. Suddenly, she felt something… furry graze her leg.

Letting out a yelp that had Fin jerking awake in a heartbeat and magically lighting every candle in the room, the couple sat up, disoriented and in a state of complete undress. Annika already had a dagger in hand.

Then, their eyes rested on the fluffy black kitten that sat at the foot of the bed, kneading his paws on the sheets.

“Oh Gods… it’s just Kraken.” Fin collapsed back onto his pillow as the cat then began to prowl closer to his witch.

Annika took several calming breaths and released the knife she had grabbed from the night table, and briefly rubbed her eyes before reaching out and scratching the troublesome beast behind his ears.

“I don’t want him in the bed all the time,” Annika explained as she allowed herself to flop back onto her pillows.

Fin was already sound asleep and answered with an incoherent grunt, while Kraken’s glowing eyes regarded her curiously.

With a yawn, the Viscountess continued petting the kitten as sleep began to gradually settle back in.

Until she realized she smelled something smokey…
What was that?

Opening her eyes she glanced around the room. Fin’s magic had put out the candles the moment he’d fallen back asleep, so nothing was on fire.

Annika lay down slowly while frowning.

Kraken gently bumped his head against hers, his silky fur making her smile, until she realized it was him that smelled like smoke.

“Some of them are babbling about cats setting the place on fire...”

Annika stared at the purring feline, suddenly wide awake as she realized that the Troivackian soldiers might not have been mad with shock after all.  

“... Oh my Gods,” she whispered disbelievingly.

The only response she got was a secondary head boop, and a dollop of drool on the sheet beside her as the familiar settled in for the night, unaware that his secret had been discovered a little sooner than he’d planned.