Metal clinked back and forth as the blades crossed in the hall. Normally it was a place for dancing but on this evening at this hour they were resting. The sun was setting slowly bathing them in soft orange and reds. And it was those times that were perfect for training exercises.
Alistair and Benidict stood on the sidelines as Morrigan sparred. But her opponent wasn’t a knight of Cerise. He was with a boy barely fourteen years old. The boy was a little taller than five and a half feet tall. He had dark ebony skin, darker than Morrigan’s. He had short black hair and small narrowed eyes. His nose was sharp and chin narrow with a sharp scar that went to his lip. He tried to keep his face calm and his brown eyes moving as he watched the movement of his opponent.
He held a rapier in one hand and the other out for balance. But Morrigan was rotating her sword slowly the tip tracing a circle in the air. It was a trick that she had been teaching him for the past year and he had forced himself to not focus on it. Instead, he looked at her hands and her blank mask of a face.
Things were silent for a long moment, feeling each other, before he finally lunged. She moved first and stepped back watching him miss. He stepped back and she swung. He did his best to block and it was so fast he gasped. His eyes widened and he was on the back foot as Morrigan continued her offense.
Startled his sword moved back and forth as fast as possible but it wasn’t enough. So he took a step forward and hugged the sword close to him. He spun around and swung the sword down at her. And suddenly it was stopped. His eyes went wide realizing that she had caught the blade between her fingers.
Morrigan stared down at him and tapped his head with the rapier, shaking her head. “That choice was inspired Rodrigue but it was dangerous. In a real battle something like that is just as quickly to win you a fight as it is to get you killed. Especially against more skilled swordsmen.”
“Well. You’re the best swordsman in all of Cerise!” he said defiantly.
“So it would have worked against anyone else?” he nodded enthusiastically. That made her chuckle. “If you’re confident you may use those strategies once you’ve mastered the basics, Rodrigue.”
He nodded quickly, “Yes mother.” She let go of his sword and they took a few steps back to opposite sides of a ten foot circle. “Mother?”
“Yes Rodrigue?”
“Adam says that I should try to end fights decisively. That a swordsman’s techniques are the difference between life and death and I should develop my own as soon as possible.”
A muscle seemed to pop in her jaw as she ground her teeth together. Both Alistair and Benidict sighed, “Is that so? Well Adam is a prat who knows nothing of proper swordwork and it’s a miracle that he’s still alive. And I won’t have him getting my son killed by giving bullshit advice.”
“Morrigan,” Benidict said giving her a look and she rolled her eyes. “Adam is a different style than your mother or even us. His input is worth considering but not until after your mother has given her approval.”
“Well said,” she said grumpily. “Any other tips you two would give our son that are actually helpful?”
Alistair tilted his head to the side and shook his head, “He’s learned faster than I did when I started learning the blade.”
“You were lacking in teachers during that time,” Benidict said. “Especially with a weapon that none of us used.”
“You’re too kind Ben,” Alistair smiled. “Do you have any critique?”
“No. Outside of Mori’s advice to remember the basics, you have been learning rapidly. I’m impressed at your growth Rodi.”
“As am I. You’ll make a fine knight of Cerise,” Alistair added.
Rodrigue’s smile was so bright it looked like it was noon outside, “Thank you fathers!”
They stepped away from one another and Morrigan readied her blade. “Don’t praise him too much you two. He may be growing well but he still hasn’t passed muster yet. We’ve got a lot of training to do together son. Though he learns faster and thinks better than most of my Queen’s new army. But being able to have a standing army again is its own blessing.”
She readied herself and he faced her his smile still intact. Before they could clash once more the door to the hall opened. The four of them turned to the door and watched Walter, the oldest of the Cersian servants, enter.
He bowed to them each in turn, “Hello Walter. It’s good seeing you,” Benidict said smiling at the older man.
“A pleasure to see you as well sir Benidict,” he turned to look toward Alistair. “You have a visitor sir Alistair.”
“A visitor? Me?” he pointed at himself confused.
“Indeed. I was notified by the other servants. I believe it was a miss Alison who requested your presence.”
“Auntie Alison?” Rodrigue asked brightly.
“My sister’s here?” Alistair brightened as well. “I wasn’t expecting to see her anytime soon. Were any of you?”
“Not that I’d heard,” Morrigan said.
“Me either,” Benidict raised his eyebrows.
“Well she is waiting downstairs in the foyer,” he turned and motioned for them to follow him.
“Well. Looks like we shall continue training another time Rodrigue.”
He turned and nodded to her quickly and raised his sword parallel to his face. She did the same and they both bowed their heads slightly to one another then sheathed the weapons. Their ritual was complete, the two of them joined the others and walked the halls of the castle.
There were servants along the halls, cleaning, and bringing food to those requested at the various points of the castle. In the rebuilt version, they were able to house more than ever before. Though their numbers had shrunk they were rebuilding quickly.
Walking out of a curving staircase they approached the large open foyer. The two sets of stairs that looped around to the main floor were covered in glowing magical light of the torches that were starting to come to life.
Alison stood looking around, still marveling at how much things had changed and yet were exactly what she expected. But when she turned around and saw them she spread her arms. “Rodi!”
“Auntie Alison!”
He took the steps two at a time, stumbling down to the bottom, before hugging her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him and then crouched down to her knee and widened her eyes, “Whoa you’re taller than us now,” she put her hand to her forehead and her hand went to just above his eyes. “How’d that happen?”
“I hit my growth spurt,” he said standing up straighter. “And I’ve been practicing. Fathers say that I’m a natural.”
“That so,” Alison said glancing at them as they arrived.
“Sure did,” Alistair laughed and then walked over and hugged his sister. “It’s good to see you sis.”
“Good to see you,” she squeezed him. “It feels like it’s been so long.”
“Because it has been,” he said. “At least a few months. I thought we were going to do better at seeing one another.”
“We’ve been trying,” she made a face. “But we’ve been busy.”
“Doing dangerous missions by yourself, right?” he said staring at her.
“We mean. Are we ever really alone?” she tapped her eye and he was unphased. “Okay fine yes. We were doing our missions and saving lives. You know.”
“I do,” he sighed. “Well it’s good to see you regardless.”
“And good to see you,” she smiled then stepped away from her brother and finally hugged Morrigan who, used to this now, hugged her back. “Hi Mori.”
“It’s been a while Alison. How are you?”
“Not as good as we wish but we’ll get to that,” she said then spread her arms out to Bendict. “Come on you. You too.”
He laughed and hugged her tightly as well, “For a sister in law I believe you are a solid one.”
“That’s a compliment we’ll take,” she said.
“Auntie Alison! Is Vincent here too? And Bernadette?”
“Vincet is but no Brynie this time. We’re not staying long,” she said and he pouted. “Don’t worry Rodi. I’ll bring them for a proper visit next time.” She glanced at them all and made a sour face. “We assume dad’s not here?”
“No. He’s doing some work for her majesty,” Alistair said. “Have you two talked since the last time.”
“In passing. We caught up somewhat.”
“But.”
“No buts,” she shrugged.
He made a face at her and she made a face back at him. Despite all the time that passed they shared many of the same traits and facial expressions still. Down to the same quirk of the eyebrow and the reserved scowl.
Finally, she folded her arms and looked away, “Dad and us have talked.”
“Have you really?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re not just making things up.”
“Why would we?”
“Come on Alison.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and he did it right back. Rodrigue looked confused while Benidict chuckled. “I sometimes forget how much alike the pair of them are.”
“They are twins,” Morrigan sighed and looked at her sister in law. “Alison. Something tells me you didn’t come here just to visit us.”
“Unfortunately not,” Alison’s face turned grim. “We’re going to Nerodala and we want you to accompany us Morrigan.”
“Nerodala,” Rodrigue repeated. “The land to the south of us?”
“The home of the Zodiac,” Benidict added.
“Exactly,” Alison nodded and looked at Morrigan again.
“What do you need in Nerodala? With the Zodiac no less.”
“A lot’s happened in the past week. Thankfully nothing has happened to impact Cerise but it may soon.”
Alistair stiffened and looked at her, “What’s happened? Details sis.”
“Even if we told you, you wouldn’t understand it without dealing with it firsthand,” she said frowning harder.
“It’s that serious than?” Morrigan asked and Alison nodded again. “Fine. When do you leave?”
“As soon as possible.”
She nodded and then looked at her husbands, holding out her hands. They each took one slowly and sighed, “You want to go. That much is obvious.” Benidict said.
“Is it?” Morrigan asked,
“Anyone who knows you can see that much,” Alistair replied.
“Alison doesn’t make these kinds of requests lightly,” she glanced back at her.
“That’s strange Vincent would journey with you. Or even be okay with you fighting considering,” Alistair motioned toward her. “I’d think he’d fight to keep you home.”
“He doesn’t know,” Alison said meekly.
“You haven’t told him?” he asked, eyes going big.
“We were waiting for the right time,” she said quickly and even to her it didn’t sound convincing.
“Alison,” he sighed. “Fine. Having him with us will be good. But I still have a bad feeling about this in general.”
“What kind of bad feeling?” she asked frowning.
“I don’t know yet. Magic is still not something I’m intimately familiar with,” he touched his chest with his free hand. “But something says be on guard more than normal.
“You won’t be coming with me?”
Benidict chuckled, “We have a son. We can’t just leave him or take him with us.”
“I can go,” Rodrigue said excitedly.
Morrigan looked at the pair of them and then shook her head slowly going to stand in front of him. “No. Not quite Rodrigue. You still need to study and train a bit more. But you are getting there. One day soon you’ll be able to. But this is something for just me and your aunt to do.”
He pouted unhappy with this but Morrigan stood up straight and Rodrigue did the same on instinct. He almost saluted but he wasn’t holding his sword. So instead, he folded his arms behind his back. Morrigan nodded again, “You remember your training regime, correct?”
“Yes mother.”
“And you won’t miss a session even if your teacher is not I?”
“No mother.”
“Good boy,” she took a step forward and wrapped her arm around him and he hugged her tightly. “I’ll miss you Rodi.”
“I’ll miss you too,” he mumbled. “How long will you be gone mother?”
Morrigan looked back at Alison and she shook her head. Sighing Morrigan turned to face him again. “I don’t know. But I can say that I will be back before you know it.”
He made a face but nodded slowly. “Okay. When you get back, I’ll have learned all my lessons!”
She smiled brighter and put a hand on his head, “I’ll hold you to that.”
The first thing that she did was go to her queen’s chambers and inform her of the situation. Though she did this as a formality because she had a strong feeling as to what her queen would say, she wouldn’t dare to leave before asking first. But as she kneeled in front of her throne her queen waved her hand and spoke.
“You are an extension of my right hand dear Morrigan. You need not ask my permission. Especially at the behest of our Alison. My only command is that you return to me in one piece. But I did not need to tell you that did I?”
Morrigan smiled as she looked at the ground and shook her head, “No my Queen. You did not but it is always a comfort to hear it from you.”
“Then return my dear knight. For both myself and for your son who I am quite fond of.”
“Of course my Queen.”
As the queen leaned on her hand she raised a hand, “A thought my knight. What if your Alistair was to accompany you.”
“Al?” she repeated lifting her head.
“Yes. I think having him at your back will be beneficial for your journey.”
Morrigan looked at her and tried to decipher the look that was hidden behind her gaze but she couldn’t so she nodded. “Very well my queen. I will tell him.”
With that she left going back to her chambers with her family. Alistair was hesitant at the queen’s suggestion but Benidict encouraged it as well. So, Alistair agreed and now their journeying team had grown to be like it was once upon a time.
She changed her clothes, and gathered some meager supplies but most importantly she found her sword. The blood weapon that she left behind only when it was time to train. Now she fixed it to her hip along with the blood weapon of her father in law. A belated wedding gift he had called it.
With both curved weapons at her side, she looked at Alistair who was ready as well and both looked to Benidict. They both kissed him and held him tightly. “A sudden goodbye is always bittersweet,” Benidict said. “But so is our lives.”
“In another life I didn’t have much to live for. And now I have so much to return to. Coming home is always my first goal now. Each and every time,” she said reaching out and stroking Alistair’s cheek and then pressing her face against Benidict’s.
“I’ll take care of Rodi,” Benidict chuckled.
Alistair nodded, “And I’ll make sure we return in one piece.”
“Of course.”
She shared one more chaste kiss with him and lingered a few moments longer not wanting to leave yet. Before the three of them could all leave together and she would never fear what could happen because they would be at her side.
But ever since they brought Rodrigue into their life, things had changed in a direction that she hadn’t expected. An emaciated and starving little boy that they found living in the ruins of the castle. Looking at him now, she wouldn’t have ever believed that four years ago he was on the verge of death. And she would have missed this happiness.
She took a deep breath and nodded. “We will come back. You just better not spoil our son too badly.”
“Maybe just a little bit,” Alistair added and Benidict winked.
Bendicit saw Morrigan and Alistair off as she met with Alison in the foyer. Alison was eating the last of a snack that Walter had provided for her. She wiped her mouth finishing the last of it and nodded toward her. Morrigan arched her eyebrow while Alistair gave her a teasing smile. and Alison threw a wry smile.
“We can’t say no to free snacks. Especially when the jam here is so tasty.”
“So I’ve heard rumor.”
“What are you doing here Al?”
“My queen has given a suggestion that I should come with,” Alistiar smiled gently. “Just like old times right?”
“Exactly like old times,” she hugged him tightly and laughed. “Vince is going to love this.”
“So shall we?” Morrigan asked.
“We shall,” Alison replied and gasped as Penny stepped out of her, a dark shadow of her host. The pair of them linked hands, creating the portal of magic. The glowing circle of light opened to them and Morrigan shielded her eyes for a moment. Alistair took her hand and led her through it and feeling the warmth of that magic around them.
The Harlequin Library 