Chapter 28 Apologies

She, my mother, was the one who taught me the best ways to attack prey, and I’m good at it. I’ve never missed a stand-in. – Prince Eater #34

“I apologize, Erienne,” Alec said contritely. He knew she was behind the curtain because Fia’s tail stuck out from under the bottom hem and was wagging energetically.

Erienne tucked her curtain back a few centimeters and peeked at Alec. Behind him, Jon and Padraig sat in the upholstered chairs while Seán sat on the wooden one. All three were staring at the fireplace and pretending as if they couldn’t hear everything that was being said.

Alec lowered his head in shame when he saw her swollen, red eyes, and tear-stained face, but then raised it back up and continued, “It’s no excuse, but I was horrified that something almost happened to Jon. I have loved him since we were students together. My heart broke when I learned that he’d been beaten and exiled. I sincerely thought that I was dying when we were told to execute him.”

Erienne sniffled, and then pushed the curtain all the way back without speaking.

“Since you’ve been here, you’ve made a major difference in our lives,” Alec kept on. “A good difference. Those first few dimmings when Jon’s condition was so serious. I didn’t know whether Jon would live, and I stayed at his side night and day with no breaks for myself, other than the few minutes Rory could spare. You probably realized that I was awake most of the time when you first moved in. I was still worried, still not able to relax and trust your care. It took a few days, but suddenly I found myself sleeping again and having time to do the myriad of things that needed doing. You are valuable. I don’t want you to leave our home. I want you to feel that this is your home, too.”

Erienne looked down at the floor, still without speaking.

“I’m sorry,” Alec said again. “I can’t promise that we’ll never disagree, but I can promise to be more respectful when we do. Please at least try to forgive my outburst.”

“I was upset, too,” Erienne finally mumbled. “You’d warned us to stay together and be alert, but off I went shopping. It’s been so long since I was able to shop that I let myself get distracted. You were right. I apologize, too.”

“Let’s not speak of it again,” Alec said. He held up his arms. “May I give you a brotherly hug that says everything is forgiven?”

Only the corners of her mouth turned up. It was not a true smile, but it was nearly one, and she stepped forward to embrace him. He leaned toward her, being careful to embrace her politely, using only his arms. When he straightened up, he left one arm around her shoulder and guided her to where the others sat. Seán immediately jumped to his feet and offered her his chair. Once she was settled, Seán meandered over to the opposite side of the fireplace from where Alec rested an arm on the mantel and rose on his toes so he could match Alec’s pose.

Jon spoke next.

“Erienne, during the argument, you mentioned something about Annie being willing to get rid of Alec. Would you please tell Commander MacGavin exactly what Annie said, and go over that conversation with him?”

She shuffled her feet, looked toward the pile of clothes waiting to be washed, and then looked down as if studying her shoes. Padraig and Jon waited for her response, but seeing her unwillingness, Jon added, “You can speak freely. Padraig knows who Alec and I were before we came to SnakeIn. He’s been extremely supportive. In fact, he officiated at our wedding.”

Padraig smiled at the memory, but then readjusted his face to look stern and serious.

“She,” Erienne finally said softly. “She said he was in the way. That they wouldn’t be able to put you on the throne if he were around. That she was looking for a way to break up the two of you, and that if she couldn’t, she’d have to see about arranging an accident.”

“Annie and Tom Jarek admitted to you that they want to kill Alec?” Padraig asked dumbfounded.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Not Tom,” Erienne clarified. “Only Annie.”

“Shit,” Jon cursed. He pushed against the arm of the chair to stand, balanced upright with his cane, and then walked across the room and stood with his back to everyone else. Alec glanced at the others and then moved close to Jon without speaking.

Fia leaped from Erienne’s cot and circled the room sniffing at each person, before settling on Padraig. Sitting beside him she nudged her head under his hand so that he would pet her. After a few insistent attempts, Padraig accommodated the dog and suggested into the strained silence, “Abdicate.”

“Is that legal?” Seán asked. “I’ve only ever heard that we either have to accept the throne, and the Ritual along with it, or be killed. I’ve never heard that there was another way.”

“That’s what Annie wants Holy King Harrison to do,” Padraig said. “Abdicate or face execution. Why not take her at her word? Abdicate before she harms Alec.”

Jon turned slowly to face the Commander of the Armed Watch, and said thoughtfully, “Now that you point it out, I do remember her saying that. Don’t you, Alec?”

“I do,” Alec replied. “But you weren’t here to have heard that, Padraig. How do you know?”

Padraig smiled enigmatically.

“It sounds like a good idea, Jon, but you have to make the decision for yourself. No one else can decide something like that on your behalf,” Alec pointed out.

“Well, I’m going to abdicate,” Seán blurted out. “Gunnar’s next, and then me, and I already know that I don’t want to be part of that horror. Where can we find someone to prepare the document so that it is legal? I want to sign my abdication right now.”

“Wait here,” Padraig said, rising to his feet. “I’ll send one of the boys to her house. It’s only a few blocks away.” He walked toward the door, paused, and then turned back. “Erienne, I appreciate how much help you’ve been, and I offer you my gratitude. Unfortunately, because you are close to Annie and Tom, I must ask that you not leave this room for any reason for the next four dimmings.”

“Four dimmings!” She parroted back in surprise. “But I have to walk Fia, and you know, piss and whatever.”

“Alec will just have to add Fia to his responsibilities. There’s no way around it,” Padraig countered. “Jon and Seán need to stay out of sight, too. You’ll all just have to use the night chamber pot. If you aren’t willing to follow my directives voluntarily I will take you into custody for conspiracy to commit murder.”

The magistrate arrived at the inn about half an hour later with her loose, silk robes fluttering around her, and flaunting an ostentatious scepter in her hand. Behind her, a young assistant with his cap askew and his sleeve snagged on a portable desk, hurried to keep up while juggling the desk, ink, quills, paper, and the magistrate’s seal. Padraig asked Alec and two of the Armed Watch to wait with Erienne in the dining room while Seán and Jon talked with the magistrate confidentially. The documentation for each of the brothers was soon written in triplicate and then witnessed by Padraig, Craig Docherty, and a member of the Armed Watch. The first copies were sealed and dispatched to Holy King Harrison with the magistrate expressing her hope that the king did not punish the messenger for the unwelcome news. The second copies were sealed and retained by the magistrate for her records as a precaution against Holy King Harrison’s anger. Jon and Seán were each given the third copy of their respective abdication documentation for their own use.

When it was time to pay the magistrate for her legal counsel, Jon was at a loss since Alec handled their finances. Padraig and Craig roared with laughter at his predicament, and then Padraig produced the coins from his own purse.

“You’re in debt to me now, Jon Holdingfree,” he chuckled as he paid the magistrate.

“Only until Alec returns and reimburses you,” Jon countered.

“I’ll have to move fast then,” Padraig rejoined, refusing to concede. He smirked at Jon and even the magistrate laughed.

Padraig walked the magistrate and her assistant down the stairs to the front door of the inn. A quick wave garnered the attention of an Armed Watcher who immediately fell into step beside the magistrate.

“Wait, I have to pay her,” Alec said hurriedly. “My purse is upstairs. How much was it?”

“Colossal, enough for me to move into a nice little cottage overlooking the harbor,” Padraig joked before revealing the truth. “You can repay me anytime. No hurry.”

“Now is best,” Alec specified. “Come on back upstairs, or wait here while I dash up. I’d rather pay you right away and know that we’re square.”

“I’ll come up,” Padraig said. He turned to Erienne and offered his arm.

She paused, and then said with a smile, “I’ll be up in a short while. I have to…um. Unless, of course, you don’t trust me to come back up on my own.”

Padraig tipped his head in the direction of Watcher Lynch standing beside them and said, “Lynch will keep a close eye on you. My advice is not to push the issue.”

Padraig turned and started up the stairs after Alec, so Erienne went through the kitchen to the back door. As she walked past Kenzie, she motioned with her eyes for the innkeeper’s wife to come with her.

“Wait up,” Kenzie called out as if she’d just thought of it. “I’ll come with you. I just have to put these biscuits aside to cool.”

When Watcher Lynch walked outside with the two women, Kenzie turned to him and said, “I know you have a job to do, but could you at least give us some privacy? We’ll just be right there.”

©2022 Vera S. Scott