Chapter 18 Destiny

The others said that #17’s mother growled and attacked the Magi Soldiers when they came for her son. Can you even imagine? And look, he didn’t even make it to the sacred circle before dying. There’s no way I’m not embarrassing myself like that. — Prince Eater #34

“No!” Annie paced back and forth through the center of the small attic room gesticulating, pointing, and very nearly stomping her feet.

“Calm down,” Tom said from the rear of the room. He had moved back in an attempt to remain out of the way but found that it made no difference. “Take it easy. You’re overreacting.”

“He’s destroying everything we’ve planned,” she snapped at her husband.

“Annie,” Jon implored, lifting his right arm as if it was causing him undue pain. “Please, don’t. You should have asked me before you made plans, instead of forcing them on me. I don’t want to be king. I want to be with Alec.”

She spun toward him and marched forward angrily. Alec and Craig quickly blocked her path.

“Annie,” Jon repeated, sitting on his bed with his back to the wall. “I’m nothing.”

“Not to me,” Alec responded without moving from Annie’s path.

Jon smiled with the healthy side of his face, while the rest of it drooped without moving. He lowered his head. Exhaustion was overtaking him, and they hadn’t yet planned even the most basic things about the wedding. He didn’t understand why Annie objected so vehemently and wished she would either agree to officiate, or leave so that he could rest. He’d feel better if he could only just sleep for a few minutes.

“I meant royally, Alec,” he muttered without raising his head. He inhaled and exhaled deeply, and then continued, “Annie, I can’t return to Hilltown. If I did, and I am very lucky, Royal Archers will put a quarrel between my eyes. If I am less lucky, they will feed me to those animals while I’m still alive.”

Annie snorted. “Jon –”

He held the palms of his hands out in front of him to cut off her tirade, and said, “My life, whatever it’s going to be, is with Alec. Whether we live here or relocate to New East Anglia. Whether I walk again, or I crawl, I’ll do so by Alec’s side.”

Alec showed an encouraging glance over his shoulder, but Jon didn’t see it.

“Jon, we are going to make you king,” Annie protested. “Plans are already in place. Harrison will be the last ruler under the magi’s control. He’ll be forced to abdicate. He’ll be killed if he won’t. The magi will be destroyed. You’re the future.”

Jon rested the back of his head against the wall and closed his eyes. He focused on breathing for several seconds, before he begged, “Annie, would you leave, please? I appreciate all that you’ve done, and all that you’re still doing, and I don’t want to offend you. I truly don’t, but I’m tired. I need to sleep for a while.” Annie huffed dramatically but before she could form a retort, Jon continued, “I love my father and I am warning you: do not kill him. If something happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible. I don’t want to overthrow him and don’t want anyone else to either. I don’t want to be king. I want to be Alec’s husband. My entire body hurts so badly that right now the only thing I want to do is cry. If your conscience won’t allow you to marry us, just say so. Please. I’m so tired.”

Before Annie could respond, Craig Docherty interjected, “I know someone who’ll be happy to marry the two of you. This is my fault. I’m sorry, Jon. I know you’re tired. I didn’t mean to cause all this upheaval. I admit I was wrong, and I apologize to everyone. My friend doesn’t often get asked, and I know he’ll be excited about it. I’ll send for him.” He tipped his head toward the door and shouted, “Rory!”

Rory appeared in the entranceway so quickly it was clear that he’d been standing out of sight listening to the argument. Craig ignored the eavesdropping and merely instructed, “Run ask Padraig, and find out how soon he can come by.”

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“Yes, sir,” Rory replied and raced down the stairs.

Craig turned completely toward Jon and said considerately, “You go ahead and get some sleep. Alec and I will take care of everything. Don’t worry about any of it, Jon. Just rest.”

Annie used her shoulder to shove Craig roughly. Stepping forward, she tried again, “Jon, please. Just listen.”

Tom dashed forward, reached out a hand that failed to stop his wife, and growled, “Figg’t Annie, why are you always like this? He needs to rest.”

Alec sucked in his lips angrily, snatched up Annie by the waist, and tossed her headfirst over his shoulder. He pinned her legs against his chest, strode out the door, and down the stairs, ignoring her clawing nails and pounding fists. Tom raced after them but didn’t intervene until Annie bared her teeth to bite Alec’s back.

“Don’t you dare, Annie!” Tom called emphatically. “Alec, you’ve made your point. Set her down.”

Alec swung to face Tom, nearly slamming Annie’s head into the wall. His expression vacillated between arguing and acquiescing, but finally, he dipped his head in agreement and then returned Annie’s feet to the floor. Tom bound down the last few steps separating them and snagged Annie’s arm as she swung a fist toward Alec’s face.

“You’re out of line here,” he barked at his wife.

“This brute just hauled me down two flights of stairs like I’m a sack of root crops, and you’re blaming me,” Annie shouted, enraged.

“You’re lucky I didn’t throw you the rest of the way down,” Alec snarled.

“Yes, I am blaming you,” Tom agreed as he held up the palm of his free hand to calm Alec. “I have no idea what has gotten into you. Jon has every right to live his life how he wants to.” When she jerked her arm in an attempt to free it, he advised, “Don’t. I’m warning you. Jon asked you to let him rest, but you had to keep running your mouth. Jon isn’t strong enough to withstand your browbeating. And he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Tom –” she began, but a shake of his head cut her off.

“He isn’t your war axe,” Tom growled. “You should be happy for the two of them. Right now, I’m ashamed to be associated with you.” The former Captain of the Kings Soldiers turned to Alec and continued, “Don’t worry about any of this. I will still help you and Jon all that I can, regardless of anything Annie says or does. I won’t withdraw any support. It’s my money to control, not hers. I didn’t understand before why her father set it up that way, but I certainly do now. You and Jon are good. If you need anything else, more upholstered chairs, anything at all, simply ask. I’ll stop in tomorrow to see if Craig’s friend will lead the ceremony.”

With that he continued down the stairs, tugging Annie along with him.

Alec watched them descend part way down and then climbed back to the attic. A quick look showed him that Jon was asleep. Beside the bed, Craig was setting out food and ale on the small table. The innkeeper acknowledged Alec but continued his task without speaking. The former Royal Archer sagged into one of the soft chairs and buried his face in his hands. He remained that way for several minutes even after he heard Craig slip out of the room. When Alec finally did open his eyes he discovered a generous glass of brandy waiting for him on the little table.

“They’re good men, Annie. Fine people,” Padraig objected as Annie confronted him in the kitchen of the inn before the wedding service. “I don’t understand why you are badgering them.”

“I’m not badgering them,” Annie Jarek defended herself. “As a matter of fact, Tom and I are helping them as much as we can.”

“Tom is, yes. He’s doing all he possibly can, absolutely,” Padraig agreed. “At the same time, though, you’re pressing the Contingent to force Jon onto the throne. As First Contingent you wield a great deal of influence, so realistically, you could pull this off, but he’s hurt and your behavior is unconscionable.”

Annie stared at him, unable to comprehend why Padraig couldn’t see the fabulous opportunities that had opened up now that a prince was within their grasp. Shaking her head, she rose to her feet, walked a couple of meters away from him, and gazed out the kitchen door.

Padraig slammed his fist once against the table behind her.

“I’m not against the concept of Jon being king,” Padraig continued forcing a sense of calm into his voice. “I’m against you making the decision to push that agenda without considering his opinion. He has told you plainly that he is against it. Plus, you’re recklessly pursuing the idea while ignoring the fact that he needs to heal. Pushing him like you’re doing might kill him, and you’re ignoring that he will have some disability for the rest of his life.”

Padraig watched Annie’s shoulders rise and fall in exasperation, and could sense her disapproval by her posture.

“He will be my king,” she stated slowly.

“I am warning you First Contingent Jarek,” Padraig said firmly. “If you interfere with the legal ceremony joining this couple in matrimony, I will arrest you.”

She spun around, her eyes wide and her mouth open in amazement. “How dare you.”

“This is SnakeIn,” Padraig responded. “Even the First Contingent is subject to the law. And right now, I am more than willing to lock you in gaol.”

Padraig nodded respectfully to Tom Jarek and then marched out of the kitchen toward the pub.

©2022 Vera S. Scott