Despite being the concubine of Martin the Healer, Inessa was just as confused as the rest of the city about what happened. Martin and Nathaniel did not return for dinner, and Sara and Rosa were almost beside themselves with worry. Sara kept sensing them in the Cathedral, but only just. The city was abuzz with the recent attack on the Cathedral. Crowds of people were outside, demanding information. It wasn’t until well after the sunset that cleaners were allowed inside and the first of the rumors spread. Indenuel took on two marked individuals in the Cathedral, the same ones that murdered Andres and Lola, and beat them.
Inessa kept pressing the gossip lines for whether or not Indenuel was alright, but she never got a straight answer. Indenuel’s health was rumored to be anywhere from lying dead on the Cathedral floor soaked in his own blood to laughing and joking with the King and Queen in the palace. Inessa herself was sick with worry.
The Cathedral was in bad shape. A portion of the wall came down, and the trees around it had been uprooted, which proved the power of the corrupted individual, and the marvel at Indenuel’s strength that everyone in the city was still alive.
She heard a door open and the familiar voices of Nathaniel and Martin walked into the home. Everyone pretended to be asleep, but once the door opened, Adosina, Ana, Rosa, and Sara were there, talking quietly with the two of them. Rosa hugged Nathaniel tightly, refusing to let him go, asking him if he was alright.
“Look at me,” Nathaniel said with a roguish smile. “Not a scratch. I’m just fine.”
“Stop lying to me. I know this is blood,” Rosa said, touching a dry patch on his arm.
Nathaniel said nothing, simply hugged her. Inessa kept her distance from the family, not sure she should join.
Sara was quietly crying as Martin held her. “Forgive me. Forgive my ridiculous jealousies.”
“I’m fine, Nathaniel is fine,” Martin said, rubbing her back.
“Do you need to eat? I bet you both are famished,” Sara said.
“We know our way to the kitchen, Mother,” Nathaniel said, letting Rosa go, even though she clearly did not want him to.
“What happened?” Adosina asked, worried. “I can’t get a straight story out of anyone.”
Nathaniel and Martin both exchanged glances. “We’re still trying to figure that out ourselves,” Martin said as Nathaniel looked away. “I will need to return tomorrow early in the morning to check on things there, see if anyone has any news.”
“And Indenuel?” Inessa blurted out from the back. She didn’t want to, but no one was asking about him and she was desperate. The group turned to see her, standing nervously. She knew bringing up Indenuel with Martin was dangerous, but she couldn’t help it. “Is he alright?”
The others again turned to Martin to hear his reply. He was calm and composed as he smiled. “Don’t worry, Inessa. Indenuel is just fine.”
She did not feel the comfort she expected from that phrase.
“I will have to be gone tomorrow morning too, my love,” Nathaniel said quietly to Rosa. “I must head back.”
“You won’t leave without saying goodbye to the children tomorrow, will you?” Rosa asked. “They were so worried about you.”
“Of course. I’ll say goodnight to them now,” Nathaniel asked.
“They’re all asleep,” Rosa said.
Nathaniel pointed toward the landing. Rosa looked up with enough time to see Eduardo, Diego, and Aaron scrambling from their hiding places and running to their rooms. Rosa sighed. “Can’t say I blame them.”
Nathaniel smiled, but there was something off about it. Inessa couldn’t quite place why. Too much had happened neither he nor Martin were telling them. Rosa put her arm around Nathaniel’s waist, and he hesitated before placing his arm around her shoulder. Almost like he didn’t know if he was allowed to. It was odd. But he did smile as she beamed at him before they headed toward the stairs as Inessa watched them go.
***
It was barely dawn when Martin walked into his Cathedral study. They dragged a second cot in last night, and Tolomon was there, just finished changing before giving Martin a low bow.
“Good morning, sir,” Tolomon said.
“Good morning to you. I assume, since I got no message, Indenuel had a peaceful rest of the evening?” Martin asked, placing some of his books on his desk.
“Yes, sir. Still in the devil’s sleep.” Tolomon moved his cot aside so Martin could check on Indenuel. He placed two fingers on the boy’s temple, sensing the corruption in his body from when he used it before. That would take a little more to get in order. “Is he alright?” Tolomon asked.
“With what he’s gone through, it might take him a week to wake up. In another few days we’ll get Navir to make his incense,” Martin said. Tolomon nodded as Martin patted him on his back. “Are you alright?”
“Fine, sir. Recovering well.”
“Surviving grey death one week and fighting with the devil the next. You truly bring honor to your title as Graduate.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Thank you, sir.”
Martin eased himself into his chair. “No one is allowed into this study except me or the other High Elders. Tonight, when it is well and fully dark, you can move Indenuel back to his home. Navir doesn’t want to use the incense for another few days, because Indenuel could be disjointed if he’s woken up too soon. We need his mind clear for his confession.” Tolomon nodded again.
There was a knock on the door and Martin stiffened. He didn’t want to turn anyone away, but with Indenuel deep in the devil’s sleep, he couldn’t let anyone see. “What do you need?” Martin called through the door.
“It’s Nathaniel.”
Martin relaxed. Nathaniel wouldn’t be surprised by the scene. “Come in.”
He did, giving a tired smile as he held a bottle of wine. “I was just leaving to return to my men, but I wanted to say goodbye.” Nathaniel placed the bottle of wine in Tolomon’s hand.
“What’s this?” he asked, turning it around and reading the label.
“I bought you a drink,” Nathaniel said.
“No, no. Nathaniel, I broke first.” Tolomon handed the bottle back, but Nathaniel backed away, keeping his hands to his side.
“No, you didn’t. I got your favorite.” Nathaniel headed toward the door.
Tolomon placed his arm against the door to keep it closed. “I got angry, Nathaniel. You saw how hard my blows got. You won, you take it.”
“And I broke by doing nothing, leaving you to fight the devil yourself. Don’t argue with me, commoner,” Nathaniel said.
“That’s not going to work on me, nobleman,” Tolomon said, stuffing the wine in Nathaniel’s hands.
Nathaniel shook his head, a sad smile on his face as he looked at the wine. “Here, Father. Serve that to Tolomon the next time he and Indenuel come over for dinner. Knowing Mother, it will be soon.” Nathaniel placed the bottle of wine on Martin’s desk.
“Happily, son,” Martin said. Tolomon had a tight smile on his face. Martin gave Nathaniel a tight hug, and he returned it. “Are you alright, Nathaniel?”
He broke away, trying to smile, glancing at Tolomon. “We need to talk about this before I leave.”
Tolomon nodded, not looking at Nathaniel. “I realize, now, that even though I’ve never been physically intimate with your wife there is still the emotional part of it that-”
“Oh stop,” Nathaniel said. “I’m not going to force you to never see her again. That’s petty and childish.”
“Nathaniel-”
“You’ve already promised you’ll never sleep with her. I trust you,” Nathaniel said.
Tolomon frowned. “There isn’t just the physical intimacy. She is your wife, if you require it of me I will-”
“I refuse to order you around like a commoner,” Nathaniel said.
“The devil clearly showed you how we interact when you’re not around, and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Tolomon said.
“It’s not…” Nathaniel trailed off. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek, clearly wanting to tell the truth, but something was stopping him. Martin realized what this was. Nathaniel felt obligated to tell the truth, but in doing so he might paint a woman in a bad light. It wasn’t Tolomon he was worried about. It was Rosa. The devil had gotten to him and managed to put a chip into their relationship.
“Son,” Martin said quietly, knowing he shouldn’t intrude, but he couldn’t help it. “Did you talk to Rosa about this?”
Nathaniel looked down at the floor. “How can I? I would have to tell her how I saw the memories. I… I don’t want to scare her. Not this soon after the Day of the Devil.”
“You honestly think Rosa will try and break your marriage?” Tolomon asked, sounding as though Nathaniel had officially lost his mind.
He shrugged. “There’s still doubt. Doubt I’m not good enough. Fear she only married me because of my titles.”
“Stop, Nathaniel,” Tolomon said. “You know her. You know me. You do not know the devil. We have never done anything, because both of us revere your marriage as the sacred union it is.”
“The devil played mind tricks last night. He’s known as the father of lies for a reason,” Martin said.
“Rosa loves you,” Tolomon said. “All of us can see it. Whether you’re together or apart, that woman adores you far more than the friendship she has with me. It is obvious why she made the choice she did.”
Nathaniel nodded, trying to smile as he glanced at Indenuel, sleeping on the cot.
“You ought to talk to her about it. Whatever the devil showed you, get her side of it. You will see Rosa loves you,” Martin said.
Nathaniel shook his head. “Later. Once the Day of the Devil is more of a memory.”
“You still think so little of yourself that you believe Rosa only married you for your titles?” Tolomon asked.
Nathaniel gave a pathetic shrug. “She elevated her life. Servants at every corner. A life of complete luxury.”
“You honestly think so little of Rosa to believe she would marry just for all that?” Tolomon asked.
Nathaniel paused, then a genuine smile finally flickered past his face. “You’re right.”
“Hell yes, I am. I know her. She wouldn’t have considered me as an option if she was just in it for the titles. She chose you because you are, sickeningly, everything a nobleman should be. Honorable, gracious, never letting his titles go to his head, and treating everyone around him as though they are his equal. Not only that, but you have this disgusting ability to make people think they are better than they are. That they’re actually worth something. So, damn you, forget what the devil showed us and remember you and Rosa belong to each other.”
The sadness disappeared from Nathaniel’s face, and instead he looked embarrassed at the praise. “I… well I… thank you, Tolomon.” Nathaniel hugged Tolomon tightly, and he returned it. Martin smiled, relieved that despite going up against the devil, these two men were still as close as brothers. He witnessed possessions of demons where the evil words did irreparable damage to family relationships.
“You’ve got to save a few Kiamese soldiers for Indenuel to fight. Don’t forget,” Tolomon said.
Nathaniel let out a laugh as he broke away. “I’ll whittle it down for him. God knows that boy has gone through enough already.” Tolomon smiled, patting Nathaniel’s shoulder. “If it’s… if I’m asking too much…”
Tolomon nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on Rosa and your boys. My promise remains. She is your wife, and I have never, nor will I ever do anything to hurt that sacred union.”
Nathaniel smiled. “Rosa really did have a hard time choosing between us. You are a good man, Tolomon.”
“Ugh,” Tolomon said, rubbing his head. “Don’t. I’m supposed to support you for once.”
“Impossible. It’s my noble code that gets in the way.”
“Quite sure that’s still something you made up,” Tolomon said.
“It’s not. Father? Noble code?” Nathaniel said.
Martin nodded. “The code of conduct one is expected to follow as a noble.”
Tolomon shook his head, smiling. “Something I’m quite sure your father made up to get you to act better.”
Nathaniel chuckled before his gaze again fell on Indenuel, still deep in the devil’s sleep. “I better leave. I don’t dare leave my men much longer.” Nathaniel smiled before he turned and left the office. Martin watched as Tolomon grabbed a chair and moved it closer to Indenuel’s sleeping form.
“Thank you, for your friendship with my son,” Martin said.
Tolomon didn’t look at Martin, but he did smile. “Thank you for giving him that imaginary noble code of yours, or else I never would have been his friend. If he acted like literally every other nobleman at military training, I wouldn’t have lasted.”
Indenuel took a deep breath, and Tolomon glanced at him. Martin watched, figuring he was still a few days out still. Indenuel moved his head, still asleep. It almost looked peaceful, except for the worry crossing his brow. Tolomon settled into his chair, ready to keep watch for as long as needed.