Glancing out the window, Celeste saw it was early. The True Father above not yet past his apex, and the crowds of the Red Curtains had yet to form. Celeste watched the few who moved about in the day with keen interest. Plenty of Silver Skulls wandered the streets, keeping an eye out for any trouble. Though more often than not Celeste saw muscular, tough appearing women helping some of the courtesans with small daily tasks. A smile stretched across her face as she watched them all, the courtesans of the Red Curtains.
They had shown kindness to her and Kriss back when they were children on the streets. Looking around her own room, Celeste remembered a room much like it. When the winters were cold, and men didn’t brave the streets for pleasurable company as often. A warm hearth had been hers and Kriss’s so long as they stayed out of the way of any of the men. The women back then often giving Celeste and Kriss small treats when they could, little chunks of bread or dried fruit. It wasn’t much, but then nobody had much around here, so to them it had been a feast.
Looking down at the women crossing the street in their threadbare skirts and lowcut gowns, Celeste realized that hadn’t really changed. Not as much as she and Kriss had at least, though she knew that was because she was able to get away. The women out there still struggled, were still sickly and weak. Weak of body, not heart. The Korek had two words for that, a difference that was important to them. Watching these women, Celeste understood that importance well. A coughing fit from one of the women, red welts covering half her face, Celeste felt something stir within. She could finally repay those women who had helped her all those years ago.
Celeste reached over, rang the bell on the bedside table and Valleresa came trudging into the room. She had been surly ever since the attack at Rekiak’s home. At least she had grown a bit more fair-tempered when Arabella had returned, if only a bit.
“Radiance.” Valleresa answered giving a slight, if not quite respectful, bow. “What do you want?”
“Could you please fetch Brother Gardinal?” Celeste asked ever polite.
“If I can drag him away from that Jöln man for a moment.” Valleresa groaned but did as she was asked, darting out of the room without delay.
Celeste sighed, watching as her friend left. She had apologized to Valleresa several times since that night, but the woman still seemed angry with her. Or perhaps it was frustration? Or fear? Celeste wasn’t particularly sure, and every time she had tried to talk to her about it Valleresa had quickly stormed off before they could get anywhere.
It took some time for Gardinal to finally appear. He had been doing some sort of research in the basement with the Jöln man who had taken up study in the house. Archibald, she thought he had called himself. She had only met him briefly after asking for an introduction. Easily the thinnest man Celeste had ever seen, he had made her laugh with his witty quips and smart remarks. Likely he talked circles around her dear Gardinal, but if it kept him interested in an intellectual pursuit then perhaps whatever they were doing was for good. Regardless of his investment in the project, Gardinal would come up to check on her at least twice every hour. Ever since that day, he had been reluctant to let her out of his sight for barely more than a moment, choosing to sleep just outside her room every night.
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“Your Radiance.” Gardinal spoke, entering the room and giving her a deep bow.
“Brother Gardinal, I wish to go for a walk.” Celeste announced, pulling herself out of the bed. As her feet met the cool wood floor, she felt her legs quiver a bit. With a steadying hand on the bed, she rose.
“Are… are you sure Prophetess?” He asked nervously. “I don’t think you’re quite up to that task yet.”
“Brother Gardinal, I am sure if it were up to you, I might spend my every moment atop a palanquin.” She responded.
“Well, it would certainly make things easier.” He responded without a hint of humor to his voice, Celeste only shook her head and chuckled.
“Come now Brother Gardinal, It is time I stretch my legs.” She stated, and Gardinal helped her from the bed, silently accepting her decision. He always did, eventually. It was something she had learned she needed to be careful about. The man was loyal to a fault, and from helping her down the stairs to taking a spear for her, he would do it all. It was a responsibility for her, to watch her words in front of Gardinal, or else risk losing him.
“Heading out?” Vallerian called out as they descended the staircase. He was lounged in the entry parlor of the building, a place where in the structures like this down the street men would come to drink and partake in enjoy the comforts of women. That was how Vallerian had explained it at least. Charlotte rested atop Vallerian’s leg, bent up on the chair’s arm, and he was feeding her some raw chunks of meat. As Celeste stepped off the stair, Charlotte turned to look at her with her big silver gold eyes and bowed.
“Yes.” Gardinal responded with a slight grin. “Would you care to join us and be useful today, or continue to sit on your rear and eat on our coin?” Gardinal grunted at the man, though with no real bite to his words. He had grown much fonder of the count after the attack at Rekiak’s home. Apparently Vallerian had been hurt quite badly, and for some reason that seemed just the thing to win Gardinal’s trust. Men could be odd like that, Celeste had learned.
“As much as the sitting on my rear sounds enjoyable, perhaps I could go for a stroll.” Vallerian responded, moving Charlotte to his shoulder and rising. Striding over to them, Vallerian patted Gardinal on the back. “Besides, I’d hate to miss watching your little legs scrambling after our dear Prophetess here.”
Gardinal rolled his eyes but continued out the room. Reaching the homes front entrance, they found Valleresa and Arabella in their cloaks already preparing to head out.
“You coming too Reesa?” Vallerian asked his sister.
“No, my lord.” Arabella responded, Valleresa giving them all the cold shoulder. Seemed her temper extended to all of them at the moment, save Arabella of course. “We are heading to the market get what we need for supper.” She explained, and the pair quickly moved off walking arm in arm. Arabella seamed to lean on Valleresa a fair bit as they walked away into the streets, her head resting against Valleresa’s arm. Despite Celeste’s best attempt, the healing must not have been complete.
“Have those two always been that… close?” Gardinal asked with a confused expression on his face. Celeste looked at him with a matching expression.
Vallerian sniffed amusedly. “Valleresa? Let’s just say she always was close with the maids, Brother Gardinal.” Vallerian openly laughed after that, and Gardinal grew beet red. Every question Celeste asked to clarify that statement just seemed to make Gardinal more flustered, and Vallerian laugh more, so she decided to ask about something different.