“You want me to ask Justice?” Queen Henrietta looked at Julian like he'd grown a second head.

“If you could?”

“I was surprised to find out myself, but Justice doesn't commune with his chosen.” King Keith wrapped an arm around his wife's waist.

“It's true.” Queen Henrietta nodded. “I've only spoken with him only twice; when he announced in his temple that I was his Heroine of Justice and when my parents wanted me to use my connection with him to better their personal standing. But he didn't give me a boon or bond or anything. He said it wouldn't be “fair”. And that I had to prove myself on my own.”

“Which means we would need to find a Temple of Justice to ask.” King Keith added.

“Exactly.” Queen Henrietta said. “Do you have a temple of Justice in the palace?”

“We have one in the town.” Julian gave them directions and asked them to get back to him with what they found.

His sister was easier.

He just waited until Julia summoned breakfast to determine when she was awake, and then dragged her disheveled and disgruntled form off to the Sanctuary.

“I can't believe you interrupted us for this.” His little sister shot daggers at him with her eyes. “See if I don't ruin your wedding night.”

“It's almost noon Julia.” He said.

“Hmph.”

He opened the door to the Sanctuary and pushed his sister inside. It was mostly repaired. The debris swept and the glass gathered together and set aside.

Duchess Calisto had the highest level repair magic of any in her castle, and they were all just waiting for her to recover her strength to repair the murals and stain glass windows.

“I just need you to ask Light what she thinks about Fate’s prophecy, and will the gods really destroy our world if we let Madame Potts save people she isn't supposed to save.” Julian said. “Please?”

“Fine.” The Paladin of Light sighed, and then started to glow. “[Oh great patroness, Light of the world, hear this humble servant]. I –”

“JULIA! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY TEMPLE? THOSE WERE RENBENT MURALS! AND ELIZABETTA LORE SPENT THIRTEEN YEARS MAKING THOSE GLASS WINDOWS. THE DRAPES WERE ARACHNE WOVEN SILK FROM THE ANCIENT CITY OF SHARN…”

Julian dropped to his knees; not because he was religious, but because the sheer weight of the goddess forced him to. It was like a solar flare walking over his body. Dragon flame in his soul. Almost unbearable heat radiated in waves with her words. Blinding white hurt his eyes as the Sanctuary exploded in light all around him.

His sister tried to speak, “Forgive us, Light. Mother will repair it as soon as she can, I promise. Please, my brother is wondering if the gods are planning to end the world–”

“THE DISRESPECT TO MY TEMPLE ALONE IS ENOUGH TO MAKE ME END THE WORLD.” Light's voice was as overwhelming as Shadows, more so even, due to the goddess's proximity and wrath. “BUT DO THEY ASK ME? NO! MY CELESTIAL STARS ARE THE DUST OF CREATION. MY AMBIENT MAGIC THE HOPE AGAINST THE DARK. BUT MY WILL IS NOT THE FUTURE OF THIS WORLD. MY SIBLINGS NEVER ASK MY OPINION. WHY WOULD THEY? I'M JUST LIGHT. WHAT WOULD I KNOW OF THE HEAVENS?”

“You are my Goddess. Life would die without your sun, and Shadow would have no shade without your light.” Julia spoke softly to her patroness. “Of course you are the Heavens.”

“THIS IS WHY YOU ARE MY CHOSEN.” Light's voice softened to the pressure of a hot summer day.

“Thank you Light. I will do my best to repair your temple, with added gifts.” His sister placated, a smile in her voice. “Why don't I have a famous carver come in and go over the benches with etchings of the moon and stars?”

“DO NOT SUMMON ME UNTIL YOU HAVE. OH, AND JULIA.” The Goddess added in a voice soft as a kiss. “Congratulations on your wedding.”

And then Light was gone, leaving behind sunspots in his vision. He blinked rapidly but it did nothing.

Julian was sweating and exhausted from the small exchange, and he wasn't the one facing the goddess directly. His sister grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

“I hope you got your answer.” Julia told him. “Also, your eyes should clear before lunch.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“That's good to know.” Julian did not have an answer, but they'd tried and that was what mattered. He wiped the beads of salty sweat from his forehead and pulled at his damp tunic clinging to his chest. “Gods, I need a shower.”

“As your kind and loving sister, I'll guide you back to your rooms.” She pulled his arm and he readily followed.

…

When Julian arrived at the western garden, he was already running a bit late.

He'd found trouble after he finished washing up.

For some reason, everything he’d planned to wear had felt wrong. It was just a simple tea party, but after changing his shirt and vest for the fourth time… he'd realized the time to meet had passed.

In a rush, he’d simply activated [Light Foot] to jump off his balcony. He was concerned to see that there was no Gerda in the garden waiting for him. Was he later than he thought? There was still time until the official gathering in the hall…

“Gerda?” He called out hesitantly. No one answered.

He waited five minutes more and then decided he would swing by the palace entry. If she wasn’t there, then he’d send out a search party. He could loop back through the garden and then comb the west wing.

It was a short distance to the gathering point, but his heart was beating faster and faster as he went. After Julia’s kidnapping, he was already devising a plan for the worst.

All of it built up until he saw her standing there.

She was speaking with a group of younger debutants, none of whom he readily recognized. Relief washed over him, and then embarrassment, and then frustration.

He’d been late, of course, but she could have waited for him… Julian wasn’t used to letting his emotions get away from him, and he fought back against his own thoughts, trying to find his feet.

And then she spotted him.

Unexpectedly, a bright smile pulled at her lips and he was free from the storm of frustration that plagued him. She politely excused herself and walked his way, her smile playful and expectant.

“You made it just in time,” She greeted, taking a spot beside him.

“Did I?” Julian replied, trying to read her expression. She didn’t seem angry at him for being late to their agreed upon time… simply genuinely glad to see him.

Gerda glanced over her shoulder back at the group she’d just come from, explaining. “Lord Erik kept asking me who I was going with and I didn’t know how to tell him that it was you without boasting.”

One of the young men had a surprised look his face that quickly turned into disappointment. Another member of the group slapped Lord Erik on the back in sympathy, and Julian quickly reached out to offer Gerda his arm. “Then it’s good I wasn’t any later…”

She readily took it and stood beside him, seemingly unaffected except for the soft flush under her white freckles.

He wanted to ask, did she forget they were supposed to meet in the garden? Had it slipped her mind? Or did he simply recall incorrectly?

She squeezed his arm and leaned in a little closer, covering her mouth so others might not eavesdrop. “I know I’m not technically a part of the investigation team… but do you know of any assassins that escaped yesterday?”

That brought him up short, “No? Why? Did you see something?”

“Heard, actually.” Gerda sighed and dropped her hand. “But I’m sure it’ll work out. I’ll see what I can do before we leave.”

“Stop me if this is rude,” Julian broached, his mind trying to recover from its earlier emergency planning mode and subsequent struggle, “but is there anything I should know about today?”

“No… well, maybe one thing.” She searched the room, found what she was looking for and then gestured with a slight head nod towards a human woman without a partner standing with three others. She had chestnut brown skin and long black hair, bright pink eyes and she wore a very exciting shade of pink that hurt to look upon.

Julian tore his gaze away.

Gerda nodded, “The girl in the unfortunate pink. She’s going to light her date on fire at the ball tonight. Which isn’t so much the problem as what comes next…”

“What comes next?” He asked, also leaning closer in to her. She smelled like the pine forests in the north after a fresh rain, crisp and refreshing and of the earth.

“He ruins the toast.” The troll shook her head sadly. “Knocks into a waiter while he’s trying to put himself out and shatters glasses everywhere. I was going to do something about it, but it would probably be easier if you just let the staff know ahead of time?”

“Alright,” He agreed, and a small part of him relaxed for the first time in what felt like days. Having a date who knew the future had its perks, honestly the least of which was knowing the future - Gerda herself was already keeping him on his toes.

“I’m not saying that’s the only thing that will happen.” She said, immediately shattering his calm. “But that is the only thing I’m going to tell you.”

He tensed, and he knew that she felt it. Before he could respond, she raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. Julian took a deep breath and managed, “As is your right.”

“Damn right it is,” She nodded, and he was taken aback by her strong statement. She softened it by slipping back into a smile. “But you can relax. Honestly, nothing else is going to affect you much, and if it does that’s only because you're escorting me. Sorry.”

Julian didn’t think he was going to relax again anytime soon. Maybe when he was not-so-safely back in the North, fighting off another monster surge and getting some of this nervous energy out on the battlefield.

“Welcome everyone.” Grand Duchess Calisto descended the grand stair in the lobby, overlooking everyone in the room until her eyes rested on Julian. He caught her eyebrow twitch when she saw whom he was partnered with. “And thank you for joining me for an afternoon under the sun. It’s so lovely today, so I’ve moved us to a shaded area near the goblin-lily pond.”

There were a few happy whispers from the crowd of debutants. It was a hot summer’s day and no one wanted to be out under the direct sun for long. Especially in semi-formal attire.

“Please follow me.” His mother looked kindly at a few of those standing off to the side, alone, and added, “And if you have yet to find a partner, you may pair up now. Do not worry, we are simply making introductions. Meeting new people is all a part of the experience. We have an odd number this year so why don't I partner with... you, Lord Shiro.”

The fox stiffened, but recovered quickly and hurried over to offer the grand duchess his arm.

Calisto eyed Julian once, and from the look she gave him, he realized he’d dodged a flaming arrow - she’d probably planned to partner with him and use him as a proper etiquette demonstration.

He barely contained the shudder, unconsciously holding Gerda closer.

It was time for tea.