Martin, true to his word, was there the next morning when King Ramiro read the newly updated rules and regulations for the Graduate program. Nathaniel stood beside the King, watching the crowd like a soldier, his muscles tense, his eyes searching for any sign of danger. It was a large crowd, and few looked happy.
“These rules are effective immediately,” King Ramiro said, rolling up the scroll.
“What are you going to do about the flooders?” someone in the crowd shouted.
“We will update the rules as we see fit, and as we still had no time to fully understand these individuals, we will not make any hasty decisions that might put a mark upon our own souls. Furthermore, since we know so little about them, I personally will not assume these men and women have done anything to prove they are as dangerous as the High Elders perceive,” King Ramiro said.
“But the High Elders say they are dangerous!” someone else shouted.
Next to him, Navir folded his arms and smirked.
“I shall not base my decision on the word of men who have also willingly killed innocent women and children,” King Ramiro said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Nathaniel took a step forward. “I understand this is a new time, that transitions can cause unease, but we must not forget our kindness. Do not fall into the trap of fear. Anyone, no matter their nationality or who they love, will be properly judged if they are found to have the mark of the devil on them, but no such people have yet filled the dungeons, and I will not allow Santollia to dissolve into a mob. We cannot be so quick to fill a group of people with hate. It is not what God would want.”
The crowd was turning dangerous again. Martin strode forward, too fast for Navir and Fadrique to grab him. Martin stood beside Nathaniel, raising a hand and the crowd began to quiet.
“These laws and regulations have my full support,” Martin said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “We have finished what we came to do. Please depart. If you still have grievances, please write a letter or send a complaint through the trees. The King and Queen are good people. They will read and listen to what you have to say. I promise they will give the compassionate answer you seek.”
Martin waited for Navir to rile them up again, but he simply stayed seated, barely hiding his smirk. The crowd, miraculously, listened to him. Most likely to go home and write a letter to the King and Queen right at that moment.
King Ramiro patted Martin on the shoulder. “Thank you, Martin.”
“Something tells me you’re going to have many letters to sift through,” Martin said.
“I’d rather have the letters than a mob,” King Ramiro said, far quieter.
“Thank you, Father. Crowds like this could turn nasty fast,” Nathaniel said, not looking at him.
“The laws and regulations are done, and the Graduates of the Common Class will not have any more missions to do. I will keep doing what I can to help us all understand these individuals, but fear is a difficult fire to put out once it’s given a reason to start,” Martin said.
“It’s worth putting out, though,” Nathaniel said as King Ramiro headed toward his wife and the three noblemen Graduates he requested for her protection.
They said nothing for a moment, watching the crowd leave. Rosa walked up the steps of the small platform they were on, giving a small curtsey to Martin. He bowed back, watching as she took Nathaniel’s hand, leaning in close enough for Nathaniel to give her a quick kiss, which he did. He never got the details of her attempted murder, but whatever happened must have been the thing needed to heal the rough patch between their marriage.
Nathaniel glanced back, seeing the High Elders starting to leave. “This way people love. Is it strictly people who only love their same gender?”
“What do you mean?” Martin asked.
Nathaniel glanced around, looking nervous. “Say the concubine law, for instance. But… but different. If...” Nathaniel rubbed his hairline. “If, say, a nobleman came to me worried because he actually did love two women equally. Would that person have been hunted down by the Graduates before and murdered? Would he be considered dangerous in the eyes of the High Elders?”
Rosa moved her head, looking at Nathaniel before focusing on Martin, curious about his answer.
Martin frowned. “Well, that sounds like a classic case of adultery to me if the man is sleeping with two women.”
“If we ignore the blatant hypocrisy of the High Elders?” Nathaniel asked, glancing over once more to check that Navir, Fadrique, and Dalius were already in their own carriages and driving away.
Martin’s sigh was soft, and he didn’t look at his son. “Yes. If we ignore the blatant hypocrisy of myself and my colleagues.”
“What if the two women already know?” Nathaniel asked.
“The two women know about it? And… they’re fine with it?” Martin asked.
Nathaniel nodded. “Both of them truly do not mind at all. They’re great friends, from what I hear.”
Martin’s frown deepened. He tried to imagine such an odd scenario, but all he came up with was that this was a classic case of adultery. But if the two women didn’t mind? “That… that is an odd way to love, certainly. I’ve never heard of such a way. I’ve heard it with… with all three members being of the same gender, but not this way.”
“Well, I think of it like this. A man gets married in this life, and through a tragedy, his wife passes on and rests with the good spirits. The man, left alone, comes to love another woman and marries her. In the next life, will he have to abandon one of the women he loves for the other? Or will they possibly be able to figure it out in the heavens?”
Martin felt stumped at that. “I… have heard of such things and it being worked out in the heavens, but they usually wait until they are in heaven to make that decision. Though… I doubt I am qualified to say what happens in the heavens.”
“Then is my nobleman friend in danger of the High Elder’s wrath?” Nathaniel asked.
“Just tell him to be careful. Especially now. Tensions in the City are high, and I don’t see it ebbing away any time soon. I doubt different love between a man and two women will get quite the same attention as those of a same gender, but it is still different from what society expects. The people are looking for a scapegoat right now.” Martin folded his arms, watching the King and Queen talking with other Graduates across the way. “I guess it also depends on the position this nobleman has, as well. There are some rights afforded to him as a nobleman, but a mob rarely cares about a man’s rights if they’re angry enough.”
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“What if it’s actually a noblewoman with two men?” Rosa asked.
“Hmm, that changes it. Not a lot, but possibly enough. A woman is looked upon differently than a man, especially when dealing with sexual matters. I wish it was different, but it’s true. Not only that but rumors of the court can be deadly, and depending on the position of the two gentlemen, it might make it hard.”
“If the two gentlemen are a nobleman and a commoner?” Rosa asked.
Martin prepared his mind to speak, then his words froze in his mouth as he turned to look at Rosa and Nathaniel, saw how nervous Rosa looked, and how protective Nathaniel was of her. Realized the rift in their marriage was gone, and though he didn’t expect an explanation, they had given it to him anyway. His mouth was partially open, and instead of the speech, he simply said, “Oh.”
The two didn’t say anything. Martin found himself glancing behind him just to make sure the High Elders truly were gone. “Nathaniel… we can’t be sure if… this might still send you to hell…”
“Do you honestly think that, Father?”
Martin sighed, rubbing his chin. “I don’t know, son. It’s just… different. And maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to warn of hell for things that are different, but it’s a terrifying enough place that I cannot help but make sure people stay away. No one should follow me down there.”
“Father, you’re not going to hell,” Nathaniel said.
Martin gave his son a knowing look, one that made Nathaniel incapable of meeting it. Martin always knew this path would lead him to hell, but hearing Nathaniel not fight back confirmed it. His sins were bad, and he doubted any amount of charity work could ever get him back on the path of God. He stared at the dwindling crowd, his voice dropping. “Tell your noble woman to be careful. I cannot promise anything in terms of safety for the three of them, both in this life, or the hereafter. If they are serious about this new relationship, then they need to be aware of the dangers right now. The courts could very well tear her character apart if they found out, even if they just get rumors. Tell the nobleman to research all the bylaws he can to keep the other two from adultery charges. I’ll send a book over to you with underline texts to send on to your noble friend. Even with all that, tell the commoner to do everything in his power to never let himself be discovered in bed with a noblewoman he isn’t married to while there is so much hate in the city right now. It doesn’t matter what the laws say, and the connections the nobleman would have with his friend. A mob could kill him if they wanted to. There is too much anger in the city for anyone to be doing anything different right now. But something tells me the commoner will be excellent at keeping himself from drawing attention. And by God’s holy name, never let Navir find out. He will make all their lives a living hell.”
Nathaniel rubbed Rosa’s shoulder before he kissed the top of her head. “I’ll make sure to pass those messages along.”
***
Indenuel followed Tolomon out of the carriage. Inessa stayed at home. Tolomon assured her that she would be safest in a room full of Graduates, but she declined, and neither one of them pushed it. Indenuel noticed, of course, that Inessa had never left the house since the attempted attack. It’d been over a day, and Indenuel thought it was progress that she moved to a room with windows. She assured Indenuel she would be fine, but right now she just needed to stay at home. But Indenuel wasn’t satisfied until they brought in another Graduate to keep an eye on her.
Indenuel walked beside Tolomon who was quiet, his face unreadable. “Are you excited? I honestly can’t tell.”
“Excited to be going to a banquet? With other Graduates who are done with the program? As they talk about all our accomplishments? And good deeds? Possibly. I think I’ve been around the higher class enough that I can pretend to enjoy it,” Tolomon said as they walked inside.
“Don’t drink too much wine,” Indenuel muttered.
Tolomon smiled, giving Indenuel a push before they entered the banquet hall.
It was just a banquet for the Graduates with the King and Queen. Nathaniel, despite getting the laws passed, was still an incredibly busy man, and the High Elders’ presence would be an insult after everything they’d done to the Graduates. Indenuel was never in the mood to smile when the High Elders were in the same room, so it was better this way.
Indenuel said the prayer over the feast, and they began. Tolomon at first wanted to simply stay by Indenuel’s side through the whole thing, but Indenuel insisted he eat with the others. Tolomon still checked every course, and kept an eye on him, but remained with the other Graduates. Indenuel picked up on it the moment Tolomon sat back down with the Graduates, because he had so often felt it himself. Every single Graduate there was of the noble class. The stories they shared, the life experiences, they all had a coating of nobility to them, and Tolomon could pretend to smile and be cordial. But none of them could truly understand him, just as he couldn’t understand them. Tolomon simply smiled, listening to their experiences, sharing jabs of his own, but he stayed quiet for the most part.
A servant walked in, handing Tolomon a note. Tolomon barely glanced at it before sliding it in his pocket.
“Note from a lover, perhaps Tolomon?” one of the Graduates asked.
“You know I’ve got about twenty years of catching up to do,” Tolomon said, going back to his drink.
“Same, Tolomon. Do us all a favor and leave some women for the rest of us. With your reputation, you might have as many prospects as the High Elders.”
Tolomon finished his drink, not looking at anyone. “Might be a woman that finally knocks me out.”
They all roared with laughter at that, and Indenuel smirked at his food. Another Graduate started a story with details so grisly he wondered how it was that all the others were laughing. And eating. He pushed his plate to one side, sipping his drink as the others not only laughed, but added grisly details of their own. The King chortled at some of the details, but Indenuel had spent enough time with the nobility that he noticed the subtle change in Queen Lisabeth’s smile to one that looked painted on as she took smaller bites.
Once the banquet was done, the rewards were given out, with Tolomon being the last. The list of his accomplishments were so long, Queen Lisabeth had to give King Ramiro a second scroll just to fit it all. There was a sense of theatrics to it, as the other Graduates laughed while Tolomon shook his head. The queen presented his medal as he bowed, getting the biggest cheer of the night as he returned to his seat, his face impossible to read.
“Thank you, men, for the service you gave Santollia,” King Ramiro said as Tolomon straightened in his seat. “Understand that there is still much to reform our country, but we appreciate the services you’ve given us.”
“Yeah, I had a question about that. Is it true?” one of the Graduates said, looking at King Ramiro before focusing on Tolomon. “Is it true what the common class Graduates were asked to do.”
Tolomon traced his finger over the edge of his cup. “They weren’t asked. They were forced.”
“‘They’? You’re common class too, right?” another asked.
Tolomon didn’t look at anyone, simply stared at his cup. “I went to Reynaldo’s office to get my final Graduate test at nineteen. He told me to kill two women, and I was not allowed to ask questions. I refused, so he sent me somewhere to die.” Tolomon kept his face impossible to read. “He didn’t expect me to come back. When I did, we made a bargain. In exchange for not telling anyone what the common class Graduates are asked to do, I never got one of those assignments.”
Despite the truly grisly stories that were exchanged over dinner, Tolomon’s story brought an uncomfortable stillness among the group. Tolomon took a sip. “The only comfort I can take is that I had a hand in ending it.”
One of the Graduates shook his head, draining the rest of his wine as the one next to him looked deeply unsettled. “Is there anything we can do to help those Graduates? Show our support?”
Tolomon picked up his cup. “Understanding that it happened is a huge step. It’s a matter of creating a support system, now. For the longest time I was their only support and they’d come talk to me. At least, those that didn’t resent me did. We’ve got to be there for them, or this will get as ugly as Thiago’s leg in the Battle of Zornovol.”
The others chuckled as one of the Graduates grumbled. “Just one meeting. One meeting among Graduates without bringing that up. Is that too hard to ask?”
“About as hard as finding your bone when it shot out of your leg,” one of the others said.
Queen Lisabeth’s nobility mask dropped as she screwed her face up in disgust. The others went back to their laughing.
“Can I just say, that is such a Tolomon maneuver. Being sent somewhere to die only to come back. You, my friend, are unkillable,” one of them said.
Tolomon shook his head. “Nah. Just as aware of my own mortality. No doubt as aware as Thiago’s-”
“As my leg. I get it,” the man, Thiago, said.
They all laughed, and Indenuel was doing his best not to imagine the kind of pain in that man’s leg too much.
Indenuel waited as Tolomon said his farewells, which weren’t long. Indenuel was surprised when Tolomon walked over, hands in his pockets. “Ready?”
Tolomon nodded, glancing at the door. They walked out of the banquet hall.
“So, you’re officially done?” Indenuel asked.
“As official as I can be,” Tolomon said, glancing at the bushes near their carriage.
“Well, tonight we’ll have another cele-”
Tolomon grabbed Indenuel and pulled him behind. Indenuel hardly had time to react when his bodyguard grabbed something from the air, but it wasn’t a rock. It was three eggs, and he caught each one. They all broke, spilling onto his hands and hitting his face.