image [https://i.imgur.com/DuSDcUZ.png]
I spent another moment in companionable silence with Hull. I hadn’t planned to forgive him so soon or so easily, but after watching Lustra try to murder the king… It was a stark reminder of who our true enemies were, and seeing Hull try to stop her, even though I knew how desperately he wanted his father punished, made it clear to me that he wasn’t among them.
Despite these thoughts and my words of assurance to him, I did still feel an inkling of doubt about our relationship. However, I was no longer interested in being beholden to emotions born of fear. After Hull’s actions – twice now resisting darker opportunities – and what I could tell was a heartfelt apology, I chose to believe that he was well and truly my friend. Once I committed that thought firmly to mind, a sensation of peace and ease washed over me, like I was breathing freely for the first time in my life.
“Basil?” I heard Esmi say, and I turned to find her standing behind us.
“Quieter than that assassin of yours,” Hull mumbled, but there was no malice in his words. In fact, I detected a note of pleased camaraderie.
“Our parents,” she said by way of explanation. “They’re waiting for us.”
“Ah, of course they are. If you’ll excuse me, Hull.” I put a hand on my knee to push myself up, but paused in the act. “War Camp will be quite an adventure with the three of us in attendance, but it’s some time off yet. Feel free to come calling at House Hintal whenever you wish before then.” I promptly realized that Hull probably had nowhere to go besides a spare alleyway, which was the last thing I wanted for him. He had coin now, which could provide comfort, but even a nice inn wasn’t a home. “You could stay with us if you have the need. My mother will surely make you pay some sort of price when she finds out how you used our name to your advantage, but I’m confident we can weather it together. You could meet my brothers, see the library, and our kitchen staff can whip up some meals I’m positive you’d enjoy.”
“Sure I would,” he said, looking at me and then his hands held loosely before him. “But I’ve been leeching off you long enough, Basil.” I wanted to tell him that my invitation was nothing of the sort, but he didn’t give me the opening. “I’ve got some things I need to see sorted. Important things. After that?” He shrugged, looking up at the sky. “We’ll see.”
“Nothing that would get you into trouble?” Esmi said, asking precisely what had sprung to my mind.
Hull grunted, heaving himself up. “Had enough trouble today to last a whole year. No reason to worry about me.” He shooed us away, smirking a bit as he did. “Go on, see to your fancy folks. I’ll be fine.”
I stood, taking his hand in mine and giving it a firm shake. After that, Esmi wrapped him in a hug, which he returned, and then he sauntered off, hands in his pockets, headed toward the exit gate.
“You know, he really does look like the king.” I made the comment quietly to Esmi, only daring to do so because no one else was near us, the guards keeping people away from the platform. I would have likely missed the similarities between father and son because they were small, but knowing they existed and seeing the two of them together a short while ago had cemented it.
“When his face is calm,” Esmi said, nodding. “They have the same brow.”
“Well then,” I said, turning to her. “Are we ready to see to them?”
“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” she said with a small laugh. “Shall we tackle them together?”
“If you wouldn’t mind, give me a few moments with mine first.”
“Not at all,” she responded.
It was a short walk to the other side of the platform where a number of different nobility and high merchants were milling about. When our respective parents spotted us, they each broke away from who they were speaking to but neither set moved closer together or all the way up to the platform. Esmi and I split up when we reached the bottom of the steps, squeezing a hand together before breaking apart.
I nodded to a few congratulations I received, more of the thin crowd angling toward Esmi, but it was my parents for whom I had eyes the entire time. They both stood stiff-backed waiting for me, which made me stand straighter as I approached.
“You are well?” my father asked as soon as I came to a stop in front of him. His eyes roamed me up and down, like I had just been through a city raid that had gone poorly, which I supposed in some small way I had.
“I am, yes. I was quite fortunate to escape the madness unscathed.” I still couldn’t believe the ease with which the king had defended himself, the devastating power he wielded so casually. Having seen it, my mind itched to discover what horizons my own abilities might reach in the months and years to come.
“Twins be praised,” my mother said. I knew a bit of emotion from her when I heard it, but she didn’t seem half as worried about me as what Gale had claimed the other day. “If that is the case” – her expression became both serious and reproachful – “there is the not so minor matter of my missing grimoire to discuss.”
I had known this reckoning was coming, which was precisely why I had asked Esmi to give me time. A glance to the side showed that she and her parents hadn’t moved toward us yet, but they weren’t far away and would arrive in short order once they did.
“Mother, my sincerest apologies for taking such liberties with your belongings,” I said, speaking briskly. “I should have, of course, gotten your permission first. We can retrieve the grimoire together from the Colosseum Vault, and I can assure you that you’ll find everything in order.” I had enjoyed using the cards, but I didn’t think Water was quite right for me, so I viewed it as no great loss.
She didn’t look particularly pleased by my admission but neither did she press the issue, which was victory enough for me. It was a true blessing that I hadn’t forfeited any of her cards as ante in my duels; if I had, the Hintal family might have ended the day with only two sons instead of three.
“And your grandfather’s monocle that went missing at the same time?” my father asked, sounding equally piqued.
“Again, I’m afraid I must apologize,” I said, fishing the artifact from my breast pocket and handing it over to him. “I found myself in desperate need of more information.”
My parents shared an unreadable look, and when they returned their attention to me, it was my father who spoke first. “I hope you haven’t developed a penchant of illicit ‘borrowing’ from this new boy we hear you’ve been spending time with. The unkempt one who came in fourth? Such behavior could see you landed in the stocks, or worse. Just because I command the guard –”
“You won’t help me if I deserve the charges. Yes, Father, I know.” I honestly felt more guilty about not informing him about the stack of illegal cards slowly meandering their way out of the Coliseum. It might have been smarter to keep the Chaos deck myself, both financially and to limit Hull’s ability to find trouble, but my parents knew my fidgets and tells too well, which I surely would have had if I was carrying such treasonous contraband on my person. Hull was clearly much more comfortable about such things. “He is quite the man, and I hope Fate will bring us all together soon.” I didn’t add that he was also the king’s son; that was his secret to tell should he choose to. “You should also know that Hull had no involvement in those choices of mine, so please do not hold them against him. As I said, my need was great, and I hope you both can trust me in that. The insight the monocle gave me and the flexibility of card choice I had access to with the grimoire were significant factors in my ability to advance as far as I have, both in the tournament and personally. You are part of that achievement.”
My parents shared another look, this time a small nod passing between them. I assumed they were already aware of my soul advancement, and even if not, they surely hadn’t expected me to place as highly as I had in the Tournament. Both would only serve to increase the reputation of our House. Philosophies like “Ask for forgiveness, not permission” and “The ends justify the means” were ones I had never dared put into practice personally before, but they appeared to be working strongly in my favor at the moment.
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“Might I ask where Gale and Randel are?” I inquired into the lull. My brothers had never been particularly encouraging where my achievements were concerned, but for an event such as this, I had expected at least one of them to muster enough familial pride to show.
“Randel is assisting with the setup of the War Camp on the outskirts of the city,” my mother said, and I nodded at the explanation. While not ideal, it still felt as if he was supporting what I had accomplished, in some small way.
“As for Gale…” My father started but then trailed off. A look behind revealed the reason why: the trio of House Haraine was approaching us.
“Well done,” Esmi’s mother, Alissa, said to me. Her voice was deeper and rougher than most women I’d heard, but not in an off-putting way. I knew the gossip, the same as most, that she smoked heavily, claiming it as part of her Fire cultivation. “Not as well as our Esmi, of course,” – she said, beaming at her daughter – “but to place right behind her and the prince is quite an achievement, Basil.”
“You are too kind,” I said, bowing my head to her and Esmi’s father, Rikshorn. If my performance could satisfy them as well as my parents, I would have achieved precisely what I had hoped for from attending the Tournament.
“To say what is is no compliment, my boy,” Esmi’s father gruffed. He was a barrel of a man, no taller than his wife, with golden cufflinks in the shape of small volcanoes on his wrists. The pair flashed in the setting sunlight, a reminder to any looking of his Charbonder heritage. “Be direct or don’t bother. You’ll need to learn that if you want to stay afloat with this one.” He jutted his bearded chin toward Esmi when saying the last.
“Father…” she started, sounding embarrassed.
“And you have another Rare son, Nesta,” Esmi’s mother said to my own. “You must be proud.”
“Quite so,” my mother replied, which was nice, though I might have hoped for more. “Our family has been fortunate of late, and we are forever grateful to the Twins for the opportunity.”
“Yes, well,” Esmi’s father said, “your youngest has shown himself to be a star on the rise, much more so than… others.”
I was sure that brief hitch in his voice had been in reference to Plutar, but he carried on, gathering steam as he went.
“We were doubtful about this match, just as I told you when we made it, but we aren’t ones to overlook clear value when it is there to see, and Basil has proven your case for you. He is, so it seems, the right man, after all. We’d like to set a date.”
“Indeed,” Esmi’s mother added, all smiles. “We were thinking a summer wedding.”
My eyes snapped to Esmi’s, and her look of sheer excitement mirrored my own. Many engagements among the nobility were drawn out affairs, both families using the pairing to leverage better opportunities, but Twins be praised, we would escape such political jockeying. I was so overjoyed by the news it took me a moment to realize that my parents hadn’t answered.
“We’re glad to hear you say so,” my father belatedly replied, failing to sound convincing to any of those present.
“You can’t be thinking to change the terms of the arrangement in your favor,” Esmi’s mother said, responding with more than a little hostility at his tone and hesitation. “Our daughter won the Rising Stars tournament.”
“Far from it,” my mother assured the other woman. “However, recent events have given us cause to reconsider. Our eldest, Gale, has become Epic.”
“He’s what?” I asked, unable to keep quiet at the revelation.
“How did he achieve such a thing?” Esmi’s father asked right on top of me, clearly doubtful.
“He was one of those sent to deal with a nearby Demon Rift,” my father explained. “He managed to take down a wounded Gargath Epic, and in so doing, the Twins decided to grant him an unexpectedly large boon.”
“Due of this,” my mother picked up, “and your daughter’s impeccable performance in the Tournament, we believe that they would be a preferable match. If it is agreeable to you, of course.”
I looked at my parents in utter shock and horror. To have my brother eclipse my achievement so quickly was absolutely gutting, but to have my parents use it against me to destroy my future was unthinkable. Both refused to meet my gaze, keeping their eyes forward on the older Haraine’s.
“Epic, you say?” Esmi’s mother asked in her husky voice, bringing a manicured nail up to her red lips. “Interesting.”
Esmi’s father’s eyes had narrowed but there was a calculating look about them I found distressing. “We would need time to consider this new arrangement.”
I saw Esmi frowning in consternation, which gave me hope. “But I –” she started.
“Of course,” my mother replied to Alissa, casually talking over Esmi as if she were a lowly child. “We’ll be hosting a gathering to celebrate both of our sons’ elevations a month hence, the evening before War Camp begins. We’ll make the announcement official there, once you have decided.”
“That is agreeable,” Esmi’s mother said.
“I concur,” her father echoed.
“Mother? Father?” Esmi said, looking between them, her voice getting higher. She was a champion under the Dueling Dome, but unfortunately for both of us, this battle seemed outside her expertise.
“Change can sting, but the sensation will not last,” my father offered, but his words were hollow to me. This poor treatment – being overlooked, ignored, unconsidered – was the same I had finally managed to conquer, the very thing I had earned my new Soul for. What’s more, Esmi was in need of my support, and I refused to fail her again or to lose what we had cultivated together.
“Gale –” my mother was saying.
“Can find someone else’s fiancée to poach,” I interrupted, something I had never done in my life. “We will continue to look forward to that summer wedding date, so please, mark it on your calendars.” My mother looked at me in wide-eyed shock, and the other three House leaders seemed just as a goggle by my outburst. “Thank you all for coming to see us, but after the events of the day, I’m sure you can understand that we require a reprieve” I reached out to Esmi, and there was a long breath where my hand hung alone; it was like an abyss opened beneath me, and I thought that I had just made the biggest fool of myself in all the world. But then she took it, and I pulled her away, the calls of our parents failing to slow us as we made our escape.
When we were far enough, alone beside one of the trees that was planted in the Coliseum grounds, I stopped. “I believe I haven’t told you enough times nor with proper vigor how marvelously you performed in your last duel against Gerad.”
“I was about to say the same to you!” she exclaimed, cheeks flushed from the brisk pace I had set.
“Yes, well,” I said, starting to smile, “it was a long overdue match.”
“Telling my parents I wished to marry you and getting them to agree was the closest I’ve come before,” Esmi said. “When they said they wanted to set a date, I thought we had truly done it.”
“As did I. My parents thoroughly ruining it was certainly an unpleasant surprise, but I’ve dealt with worse.”
She gave a half pained laugh, putting a hand on my arm. “I suppose you have.”
There was a bench by the tree, and I walked her over to it, holding her hand as she sat and then taking the spot beside her.
“Truly,” I said, “it’s amazing how almost dying can change one's perspective.” And it was amazing: I had expected to be abuzz with the thrilling terror of having spoken so brazenly to my parents and hers, but after having feared for my life and immortal Soul, I found this moment paled in intensity.
“What perspective is that?” she asked, sounding genuinely interested.
I fluttered a hand in the direction of our families. “They’re just words, not a knife in the belly. They can’t stop us from doing as we wish.”
Esmi nodded but didn’t look entirely convinced. “The Church of the Twins will not marry us without our parents' permission. Not unless we can prove that they are somehow mistreating us or are delinquent in their care, but I doubt we will be able to convince the Tenders of either.”
Respecting and heeding one’s family was a foundational principle of Order, especially among the nobility. However, I was finding myself less and less tied down by those precepts.
“What about the Rapturists? They’re not so strict, are they? They could see us married.”
Esmi’s head moved side to side in a so-so gesture. “They might. But I’d always imagined my parents being there for my wedding day…” Her face fell. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make things difficult.”
I took her hands in mine, kissing the fingertips.
“Perish the thought. If we need to convince them further, I will simply have to outstrip my brother. I was planning on it anyway.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Were you now?”
“Indeed I was,” I answered with a smile I felt in my bones, sitting with her, holding her. “And it starts with becoming the best duelist I can be, a path we are already on. War Camp and what follows shall be our crucible of opportunity.”
Esmi seemed to think on that. “If that is the plan, I have some notes about your last match with Hull.”
I laughed. “And I would love to hear them. As long as you promise that we will share this journey. I want you at my side, always.”
She looked at me a moment longer, searching my eyes.
“Basil,” she eventually said.
“Yes?”
“When you make an impassioned declaration like that to someone, you’re supposed to kiss them after.”
My smile grew wider. “Only if you agree.”
“I can’t believe you think you need to ask,” she said, leaning closer.
And perhaps it was because I had almost died a few hours earlier, or maybe it was because her lips were soft and fiery and belonged to the woman I loved, but that kiss, a short walk from the Coliseum Arena and under the limbs of a birch tree, was the very best life had to offer.