Chapter 22: Intentions
Shortly after dark, Garfield and Hannah appeared right outside the gate to the royal palace. By this point, the guards were already used to this and they just waved the pair in without making a fuss. Upon entering the building, Garfield was greeted by the Prime Minister who happened to be walking nearby.
“Duke, I’m glad to see you’re back! What happened?”
“We can cancel the plan to send reinforcements to Fork’s Crossing.”
“…May I ask why?”
“The Tyrin army retreated. Fortunately, their commander and other officers all graciously turned themselves in as prisoners.”
“…Let’s go see the King.”
The Prime Minister led the group to a room where the King was discussing the upcoming battle with several military advisors. The King saw the group come in and dropped what he was doing.
“Duke! We were just planning how to take back Fork’s Crossing. If you’re here, I’m sure that means our plans need to be completely dismantled.”
“I did tell you I would take care of it.”
“Is it truly, uh, taken care of?” the King asked, tentatively.
“Not entirely. There are still prisoners to interrogate.”
“What prisoners?”
Garfield walked the King through what had happened, leaving out the part about how he convinced the enemy army to surrender, but emphasizing the fact that nobody in Fork’s Crossing even knew who their Lord was.
“Oh yeah. I don’t know what else they’ve gotten out of the commander by now, but he did tell me that one of their information sources in the Kingdom is Baron Lucke.”
“What! Ben, send a team to investigate that on my authority!”
“Yes, my King.”
“Your Majesty, can you take care of it from here? I want to go back to my manor now that I actually have one.”
“Yes, you… certainly did earn that. Once the dust settles on this incident, I’m sure there will be awards in order for you and any others with valorous deeds. I hope you’ll allow me the honor of bestowing one to you.”
“I suppose that too is one of my duties.”
“Oh, one more thing, Duke,” said the King. “Ever since you had a meeting with her, Kay has not been herself. She’s been respectful and cooperative, except regarding sharing what you talked about. I’m quite worried about her… What did you say?”
“You’re worried about what I did or said to her because she’s being respectful and cooperative?”
“I… realize how that sounds.”
“I told her some of the tricks surrounding my unusual magic. I think she was just needs time to process the implications to magical theory as she understands it. I did ask her not to share the information with anyone because it could have disastrous consequences. I hope you understand."
“Yes, I can accept that.”
“I bid you a good evening. «Teleport».”
The pair teleported directly into the entrance hall of Garfield’s manor. He could have teleported straight to his bedroom, but the staff wouldn’t even know he was there, so he decided not to. He got an urge to do something weird.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
“Honey, I’m home!”
“Welcome home.”
Garfield spun around in surprise at the greeting from Yttria.
“Yttria? I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“I’m sure. My father even told me to join the army which is preparing to march south on Fork’s Crossing.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I heard you traveled south on your own accord to deal with the problem.”
“And?” Garfield prompted her to continue.
“I highly doubted reinforcements would be necessary if you went to deal with the problem personally. I’d just be wasting a trip marching alongside the kingdom’s army.”
“I’d say you know me too well but… isn’t this pushing it a bit? You thought I’d immediately defeat an army of over 25,000?”
“How is that army doing right now?”
Garfield remained silent.
“I thought so. Just so you know, whatever incredible secrets you may have, I’m on your side. You’ve done a good job of hiding your powers, but I don’t think you can hide your true nature. At least, not from me.”
Still, Garfield did not speak.
“If you don’t want to talk about it now, that’s fine, but please don’t push me away.”
“He told me his secrets!” Hannah announced.
Yttria and Garfield both looked at each other.
----------------------------------------
Garfield led Yttria and Hannah to his room for a private conversation. He offered Yttria a chair, then sat in another chair while explaining everything he had already revealed to Hannah and the Court Mage. Once he was finished, he waited for Yttria to speak.
“…All right.”
“All right? That’s it?”
“Do you want me to pretend I’m shocked? You’re not a good enough actor that you should seriously expect me to be all surprised here.”
“Ouch…”
“Have you told anyone else?” Yttria asked Garfield.
“Only the Court Mage who is sworn to secrecy.”
“Even she found out before me…”
“Please don’t take that the wrong way. If you had been present at that time, I probably would have told you as well. Also, you’re not the only one who took the news surprisingly well. Hannah was hardly bothered by the revelations either.”
“Hm, that doesn’t surprise me.”
“Maybe I should use magic to enhance my understanding of other people… especially women.”
“No, it’s much more fun this way,” said Yttria.
“Well, my judgment may not be perfect when it comes to other people, ‘especially women’, but I’m confident I can trust you to keep this information secret, even from your own family.”
“Can you imagine if I told my brother about this? Hah! You’re right, questionable as your judgment may be, I won’t tell a soul.”
“It does feel much better getting this off my chest.”
“I believe there are a few more secrets you’re keeping from me.”
“Hm?” Garfield wasn’t sure what she meant.
“Was there a women who slept in your bed on two separate occasions?”
‘Ah.’
“What’s so special about your bed?” she asked.
Hannah responded first. “It’s soft!”
“Oh, is it? I was being facetious but… let me see.” Yttria walked over to the bed and pressed a hand down on it. “It really IS soft!”
She sat down and sank into the surface. Potential situations like this were exactly the reason why Garfield went out of his way to sit in another chair instead of sitting on the bed. Yttria decided to try out lying down as if she was shopping for bedroom furniture. Hannah, not to be outdone, lied down on the other side of the bed. They both promptly fell asleep.
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Yttria awoke, still enveloped in softness. Her eyes shot open as she looked at the other side of the bed and saw Hannah still sleeping there. Yttria visibly relaxed, then looked around further to see what had happened to Garfield. There he was. Sleeping in the exact same type of bed: A second bed set up on the other side of the room, two snuggling bears by his feet. Yttria was pretty sure that bed didn’t use to be there. This guy was something else.
She quietly rolled out of the bed then looked at the door. She looked back at the sleeping Garfield and made up her mind. She tiptoed to Garfield’s bed and quietly slid into it. After all, Hannah wasn’t plastered to him for once. A few minutes later, he stirred.
“Hm? What?” He recoiled at the surprise of not being alone in the bed, despite the great efforts he went to last night.
“I had another question for you…”
“Huh?”
“When that women slept in your bed, TWICE, why did she do it? What happened between you?”
It wasn’t really fair for her to question Garfield about this, but he decided not to argue.
“Oh. The first time, she snuck into the bed while I was sleeping in some effort to manipulate me into cooperating with her employer, or something. The second time, she sat on my bed while I heard her out regarding how to contact her employer, and she fell asleep of her own accord. I didn’t even get in the bed that time. Nothing happened.”
“Hm.”
“I have a question for you.” Garfield replied. “Why are you in this bed?”
“Felt like it.”
“Felt like it?”
“Nothing happened,” Yttria explained smugly.
Hannah ran over from the other bed and jumped on top of Garfield.
“Gah!”
“No fair!”
Yttria laughed and got up from the bed. “Hannah and I seem to have slightly different intentions. I’ll head home. I think now’s the perfect time to tell my father ‘I told you so,’ don’t you think?”
“I hope you’re referring to the army mobilization and not… something else.”
Yttria raised her eyebrows provocatively and then left the room.