Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 74

[ Taiya ]

After Joseph’s demonstration of his magic I had finished my breakfast with gusto.

“The weather is holding today, do you want to go for a walk?” Joseph smiled. It was so surprising how different that quirk of their lips was to Josephine’s.

“In a bit.” My belly felt full and heavy from breakfast.

“Yesterday you were pouting about it like a toddler, and now you want to wait?” Joseph was rather condescending.

“Well yesterday I barely ate my breakfast and today I’ve pretty much consumed the whole thing. Before I contemplate going anywhere I need some time to digest.” I rolled my eyes at him and Han poured me a cup of lavender tea. Jo was looking out over the balcony when Han tapped the table to get his attention.

“What?” He was rather sharp but Han took no notice, instead offering out the tea pot. “There isn’t another cup.” Joseph gave Han a sour look. I’d had quite enough of that and kicked him under the table. Those pretty blue eyes made a sharp switch from glaring at Han to glaring at me.

“Be nice.” Jo seemed to suck his cheeks in with displeasure at my admonishment.

- ASK, I FETCH CUP - Han signed after placing the pot back down. She then crossed her arms and waited.

“Han says that if you would like a cup of tea she will get a cup.” Now Han and I were staring at Jo who looked a very tiny bit apologetic.

“Thank you, Han. I would love a cup of tea.” He said, managing not to sound aggressive but there was no apologetic either.

“Why are you so rude to her?” I demanded once Han had scurried off to get another tea cup.

“Sorry.” Joseph told me simply, with zero explanation for their behaviour. I let it go.

“Do you want to hear about me and the Prince?” I blushed, remembering his dripping wet body as he had stepped out of the hot springs. Right when we were leaving I had been naughty and sneaked a peek.

- YES - Han told me with wide eyes and an infectious smile after she put down two more cups.

“I can’t believe you want to hear it again!” I laughed as she poured the tea, handing one to Joseph and setting one for herself as she joined us at the table. “Ok, so, Yila - who was meant to be escorting me was called away and I was really wishing that you or Han were there because I couldn’t find the light switch, but I didn’t know my way back so instead of sitting in the changing room hoping someone would rescue me I decided I was going down to hot springs… even if I had to do it in the dark.” Smiling and sipping my tea I retold the whole tale from my misunderstanding (thinking Ethyn was offering me tutoring in exchange for s*x) to the heart bursting reconciliation with the imbued stars and poem.

“He said - ‘There are stars beyond stars, A light beyond light, Colours beyond the eye, Sights beyond imaginable beauty. My soul blossoms. You are beyond.’ Isn’t it beautiful?” I sighed into the empty cup. “Does your boyfriend write you poetry?”

Joseph’s face took on a dirty smile.

“Not like that…” He ran a finger up my arm, making me shiver. “He writes his poetry on my skin…”

“Joseph!” My hand clapped over my mouth, muffling his name. Jo’s eyes twinkled with a playful light.

Han, excited, waved her hands for him to continue.

“Yes, tell us about him!” I added my encouragement to the mix. “The sweet things - not the dirty ones.” My amendment came just as Jo opened his mouth. “Unless that’s all there is to tell.” I giggled.

“His name is Garrett…” Joseph started slowly, running a finger around the rim of the empty tea cup. It made a light tinkling sound that matched the sparkle in their eyes. "He is thoughtful and patient … and likes my magic.”

Jo leant back, sitting in the chair as though he owned the balcony but despite the display I didn’t miss the way he swiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

“I was a b***h to him and he’s too nice to call me out on it.” Jo shared unexpectedly.

- FORGIVEN, TRUE LOVE - Han signed and smiled blissfully.

“What she say?” Joseph asked me with a frightening intensity. The fact that he had shown any interest in what Han had to say was another surprise on its own. The morning was just full of them.

“That it must be true love if he forgives you.”

“But you don’t even know what I did -I don’t deserve to be forgiven.” Jo was seething. Interestingly the air seemed to ripple with his anger. Taking a moment before speaking, I pondered the situation. My mind held no back drop on which to frame it but my heart held a warmth and that was from where my words came.

“Joseph…” I began with a carefulness, “if Garrett forgives you then that is up to him. It doesn’t matter if you think you deserve it or not but it is important that you accept his feelings.”

“But he is wrong!” Jo practically shouted.

“So.” I shrugged. “According to you, you were wrong too. He forgave you for being wrong, why not forgive him for being wrong about you if that’s the way you feel.”

- BAD ADVICE - Han disagreed with a deep frown. - ACCEPT YOU WRONG, ACCEPT GARRETT FORGIVES, DON’T DO AGAIN -

“Why is my advice bad?”

- FORGIVE, FORGIVE, AGAIN, CYCLE. BAD. LEARN FROM MISTAKE - Han signed robustly.

“How is that different from what I said?” Han rolled her eyes at my words, grabbed her notepad and began scribbling furiously. Joseph watched on with careful curiosity. Finished, she tore out the page before giving it to Jo.

“No. I f****d up. Fullstop.” He scrunched up the note. With a tightness in his jaw Jo tossed the paper ball over the balcony rail.

- FINE - Han stood abruptly, making her chair squeak before cleaning away the breakfast table. Stomping and slamming things as she went I was surprised nothing broke.

“What do you want to do today?” Joseph changed topics over the clamour of Han’s intentionally loud tidying up. "Or do you want to stay here with the i***t mute and learn more of this." He waved his hands about mockingly.

"Joseph!" I fumed. "How dare you. Apologise. Apologise this instant."

"Sorry."

"Not to me - to Han."

"No f*****g way."

"Yes effing way!" I yelled but he sulked, making no move to apologies. "Fine. You disgusting freak." The words tasted vile on my tongue and I didn't mean them. Joseph leapt to his feet; pissed. "See, it's not nice is it?" Realisation dawned quickly and Jo backed down.

"I get your point." Jo had the decency to look a little ashamed while Han was standing straight backed in the balcony doorway. Arms crossed, she held her composure even if she was a little bleary eyed. "Show me." Joseph demanded, indicating with his hands.

"Like this." I made a fist, rubbed it over my chest and mouthed sorry at the same time. Joseph followed suit. Han nodded her acceptance but didn't hang about. Despite everything she was clearly still upset.

"Come on." Jo took my hand and started leading me out of the suite. Obviously Jo was having a difficult week let alone day. Whatever had transpired with their boyfriend had cut them deeply and revealing themselves to me today must have been very testing and so I didn't question where we were going. "Am I going too fast?" Jo checked as he dragged me down yet another hallway.

"A little."

"Sorry, I'm just … frazzled." He said after a pause.

"Are we going outside?"

"Yes, to the stables if that's ok? I took us this way because it's shorter. The quickest way outside is a very long way round to the stables." He slowed the pace as he explained.

"Oh, horses! Can we take some apples or something?"

"Sure, this way."

We took a turn. It meant nothing to me as every turn looked the same but with one more corner there was a tantalising smell. Food. Unfazed by all the bustling staff Joseph strolled into the kitchen like he owned it.

"Can I help you Willis?" The man that spoke had an air of unease. He was tall, Fae tall, with pointed ears and pearlescent tan skin that reminded me of smoked gableroot tea. It was another raindrop moment. The image of a filled to the brim teacup was tumbling through my mind with nowhere to settle. Another mystery memory, certainly I hadn't had any gableroot tea while I was here.

"Lady Esther would like some apples to take to the stables." Jo addressed him over the steaming pots and sound of chopping.

“Ah, Lady Esther!” He turned to me with delight, then gave a little bow. “May I ask My Lady, has the food been to your liking?”

“It has been lovely, thank you, err…” I floundered, realising he hadn’t given me a name by which to address him.

“Gavillet, My Lady but everyone calls me Cook.” He grinned. “Come, try this.” He waved me in from where I was hovering in the doorway.

From a huge pot, on an imbued cooking plate, he removed the lid. Steam billowed out and with it a mouth watering aroma. A little moan escaped my lips. Cook chuckled knowingly while ladling a small portion into a bowl.

“What is it?” I licked my lips, eager to taste.

“Llys’iou,” Gavillet gave me a piece of bread to dip in the thick liquid. It was a warm yellow with meat and veg in it. “Flagrantly spiced, with lamb and root vegetables.”

“Mmm,” I melted as the Llys’iou hit my tongue, “that is so good.”

“Will you be joining the King’s table for dinner this evening?” Gavillet asked, stirring the pot. I looked across to Joseph, who gave a little, shrug/nod. I took it as an ‘if I want’.

“I hope to, yes.” Especially if there was going to be Llys’iou served.

“Good, join the King’s table, I will make you something special for dessert.” He winked, putting the lid back on the pot and taking the empty bowl from my hands. “Now, you want some apples, yes?”

“Please.” Eagerly I followed him through the kitchen. He held what turned out to be the pantry door open for me. It was a huge room, much cooler than the steamy kitchen, jam packed with ingredients.

“Here we go, My Lady.” Gavillet picked up a sack and handed it to Jo behind me. “You have a lovely day now and be sure to let me know if there is anything I can get you.”

“Thank you very much, Gavillet.” My smile was light and content. A little thought struck me and I decided to voice it. “Could I, perhaps, get a little cheese with my breakfast tomorrow?”

“That will be no trouble at all, Lady Esther.” He dipped his head, caramel hair mostly hidden under a chef's hat. “Do you have a variety in mind?”

“Um, surprise me!” I beamed as Jo ushered me out of the kitchen, clearly impatient. Gavillet smiled, shaking his head in amusement. “He seems nice.”

“Of course he does, everyone is nice to a ‘Lady’.” Joseph responded, pulling me down a different hallway from the one we had come by. At least I thought it was a different one.

“What do you mean by that? You’re not nice to me all the time even though I’m a Lady.” Joseph paused at my question.

“Do you want me to? I can smile sweetly to your face, be false.” The way he stepped up to me, the challenge in his change of demeanour seemed almost dangerous. “I can laugh at your jokes, tell you all your ideas are amazing, be vapid and disingenuous just to make you feel like everyone ‘likes’ you.”

“I never said that.” I gulped, my back was against the wall. Alone with Joseph in this empty stone hallway my heart was fluttering with irrational fear. “Do you not like me?” It came out a whisper as I looked up into his powder blue eyes.

“What is there to dislike about you, Esther?” He pushed my hair back behind my ear and just like that the strange intensity was over. “Let’s go, the horses are waiting on these apples.” Jo gave me a cheeky smile.

At the end of the hallway Jo opened an unassuming door and stepped into the late morning sunshine. On the threshold I hesitated. This was the first time I was going outside since the night I died. The balcony didn’t count. Joseph seemed to understand the significance and waited patiently on the path with the sack of apples.

Stepping out, on my own, breathing easily, heart beating softly, sun kissing my skin was the best feeling. It was freedom. Earth and Sky be blessed, I could kiss the ground.

“Better?” Jo gave me a knowing smile.

How could I say that the castle was a cage? A beautiful cage but a cage nonetheless. I was trapped by my affliction and my circumstance.

“Would it be ok if I took off my shoes and walked on the grass?” I asked instead.

“You’re the Lady, do what you like.”

So I did. It was damp beneath my toes but I didn’t care. Jo was swinging the sack of apples as he walked and I was admiring the natural open space. We didn’t chat, instead took the time to be in the moment - a moment of peace, with twittering birds, soft rustling caused by the spirited summer breeze and delicate earthy notes of yesterday's rain.

The stables loomed. A large rectangular building in dark wood. It had a chest high stone wall, set several feet out to leave a large walkway that encompassed the back and sides of the structure. At the front the wall became a fence that made a pen with a side gate either side and a large gate at the front. I could see a horse hitched to a post and someone was saddling it.

I was bursting at the seams. Horses! The source or reasoning for my excitement was absent but the excitement was still there. Regardless of my poor, lost memory, this feeling was no less really. Joseph unlatched the gate, only holding it for me for a second before they stomped through.

Catching the gate as it swung back I heard a voice. It was like a clap of thunder in my mind. A storm began to rage. There was a deluge of rain, turning into a river that just upended itself in my brain, falling to nowhere - well not quite. Especially when I saw his face.

The sweet damp earth was gone, replaced with a dank cold. The kind bird song and soothing whisper of the breeze shifted to the sound of chains rattling and flesh connecting with flesh.

“Jo?” The nightmare of a man called out. I gripped my head, sinking to my knees. It felt like it might split open.

“No!” The word a loud panicked screech as the bute stepped towards me.

“Deep breath, Lady Esther, deep breath. I mean you no harm.” He stopped, hands up, palms out.

“Esther…” Joseph came back. He joined me on the ground, wrapping his arms around me. “You’re ok.” He rubbed my back helping me get a lung full of air. “Garrett, you should go.” Joseph spoke sharply. Sucking in a sob I peeked over Jo’s narrow shoulder.

“Wait, t-this is your boyfriend?” Through my tears I gave him another look. True, his face flashed in my mind, the same face but with a hardened look instead of the hurt look I saw now. There were dark circles under his eyes; soft brown eyes that were like two bowls filled with sadness. He looked a little broken. Like me.

“...yes.” Jo was tentative.

“M-my head…” I moaned. Something was pressing against my skull, like a potter pressing on a fresh block of clay. I looked at him again trying to place him before my mind exploded. “I know you… you were, you were there. You were going to hit me, the,” I grabbed a deep breath, “the King called you Captain.” I was working with what I did know and trying to place the rest. “You…” I fought for that shadowy memory. There seemed to be two of them fighting for front and centre.

He was shirtless, blood on his knuckles. He was naked, my body on his. The terror was from him looming over me as I lay on that metal table. Neither of these memories held fear. It was as though those thoughts belonged to a whole different person.

A person that trusted this man.

Do you want him…? The voice came from nowhere. We will give him to you…

He is Jo's, why would I want him? I whispered back in my mind. Anyway, I like Ethyn.

You can have them both - whatever you want, just come to us… come to us and you can love him again… this time he will love you back…