CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Selene watched the hole in the cotton shirt of the carriage driver.
She was yet to decide if weeping was proper or simply smiling at the absurdity of the situation
A man she barely knew. Surely she wasn't so sure he was deserving of her tears.
But she had one emotion very intact, fear.
Fear because deep in she knew this was one big Field mine that would blow one after the last
Until it blew her up in it's crazy mess too.
Death had a stench, she was sure now.
An infinite sour smell that left her speechless every time she thought of how much of it she'd witnessed in her little moons at the palace of Horace O'alistair
The funeral has been complete with ale passed round and aged women adorned in black robes singing a dirge.
She could hardly hold her tears as she departed
Unable to take food at such occasions
How could one drink over a death? What cause of merriment did it exactly bring?
The Lord was on a mood she scarcely saw him in, not the cold anger or wicked apathy she was accustomed to.
He was grieved. That alone was obvious.
His speech has been a singular "Fair well Sir Nicholas Strafort" and then with a tight smile he has said to the crowd " Merry" and returned gracefully to his throne and sat rigidly
Selene had been slightly amazed at his quick dismissiveness when she'd demanded she leave the gathering
The sun was still high on the horizon. The heat as mild as a late sun could be. The air smelt wet and promised of winter.
The carriage driver cleared his throat and called out
" This ends the palace grounds my lady" he said
Selene have a slight nod and was helped down by the boy.
Mia came down closely to stand beside her and Selene forced out a smile for the younger princess.
"Look!! A Lilly" Mia said as she tugged on a very reluctant Selene's hand
Leading her to a little shrub where flowers littered
"Yes, a Lilly. Do you want it?" Selene asked, her enthusiasm very contagious
"No, if I take it, it will die" Mia said
Selene smiled at her intelligence
She was to wise for her few years
Selene took her by the hand and led them to the rock by the edge of the forest that expanded over view. Far from the carriage and it's whistling driver
Selene sat on the smooth nature and rid her shoes, letting his dainty feet touch the soil. Dirty soil
"Bad. Bad. Put your shoes back on" Mia scolded with a stern face
Selene could not stop the chuckle she gave out
"No one can see us" she said
"So I can put off mine too" Mia asked eagerly
"Well, of course" she replied with a grin
Mia wasted no time in throwing off her shoes and wiggling her tiny fair toes
The air now smelt like leaves, fresh leaves that wafted from the dense forest
She collected her thoughts and exhaled quietly
There was so much she could not hurriedly make sense of, her thoughts littered about like newly hatched flies
The grave mood in the palace was reason enough to affect his already sore mood
How could he die? The Lord was her to speak to her about it and frankly she doubted if he would.
Was he murdered? By a walker? Was he turned and the ruthless Lord murdered him himself?
She frowned at the possibility of such influence being murdered.
Not, she doubted.
The gossips would surely pick that up.
Everyone seemed unaware you f the cause of his death.
Just that it was announced on a windy morning that the butler had passed away the previous dawn.
Selene could not stand the tears and relative ignorance of men as they drank ale from huge steins and devoured burnt meat.
Mia was better away from such places and even her mind needed rest.
Her memory strayed to the other morning.
The Lord had just dismissed her without a second thought. The nerves of him.
To take her from her family and then demand she be his mistress. From that to announcing her a ripe pumpkin for power drunk men and now, discarding her feelings like an old napkin.
Selene could feel the flush of anger as she thought of it all .
Her wayward father and choice less mother. Then the whore of a Governess that was the sole reason for all her misery
She lifted her hands and rested on her little sister, her constant consolation that she was not alone.
No harm had come to her, maybe, just maybe the brooding Lord was not as wicked as she saw him
But she needed to marry and quick, she may not have been gullible to her father's greedy ploy to sell her off to a Lord from some place but knew well that reality was her marrying and being a mother, a respectable woman in society and not a bug caught in Royal scandals.
For her to care for the little girl that was now solely her responsibility, she needed to marry.
Selene has never seen herself too desirable but then she knew men wanted her atleast.
She could secure a decent home and be a wife.
All she had to do was go to the town and become active in the reputable circle of the ton
She had been forced as a girl into all this by her father, she would use them now effortlessly.
Maybe a man would never make her happy but she needed one. She lived in a foolish society that believed it made every good woman. A man.
She used her right hand to drag her corset to her upper bossom. It was getting chill, the sun had fast softened it rays and the forest transpiration made the air cool and fresh smelling.
She would wed, she needed normalcy. Wedding would give her just that
The galloping of horses dragged Selene's eyes to the grass that stretched out before her.
A lone rider came at a considerably high speed towards her.
She could feel the slight sense of alarm at the approaching stranger.
Until she caught sight of the sapphire overcoat and the badge of the Solian Empire on it.
The Lord conversed quickly with the carriage rider and then turned to the rock that they were perched on.
Mia stood and quickly put on her shoes, unwilling to let any one see her naked feet. Manners that were thought in the Riverland court.
She gave a slight curtsy and looked at Selene as if urging her to.
Selene ignored her baby sister and sat straighter, looking off into a particular oak that suddenly fascinated her upon the King's arrival
"I do not accept your stray from the palace till this hour Lady Selene" Edgar said in a voice that was as strained as his sullen face
"I do not remember being a prisoner here" Selene replied without as much as a glance to the man
"No doubt. Do come back to the palace now" he stated, trying to curb a fight.
"I like the air here, far away from death" she said, goading
Edgar swallowed his next word in a painful gulp.
"You are safe in this grounds. But if you keep vanishing from my sight and my men and wander off with a stable boy then I should not assure you no more" Edgar replied factually
"What killed him?" Selena asked plainly
"Matters of such have no place in your head child. Now be off to the palace" Edgar replied sternly
"Even when I'm put in danger? Or sh...." Selene stopped short to look at her sister who was so engrossed in the banter, looking with such keen interest that she was convinced the younger girl very much understood all they said
"The cold will make your nose run Mia...I'll see you in the horse house in a little while" Selene said to the little girl who didn't look too convinced but left for the carriage nonetheless with a funny curtsy again at the Lord.
"Come" Edgar said
"what killed him?" She asked again
"Selena I am not sure why you ask but I can assure you it will do you no good" he stated
" He was a fair man" Selene said
"He should never be killed so causally, I can not imagine what will happen to me or my baby sist..."
"He took his life" Edgar said solemnly
"Why would he?" Selene asked, touched
"Was he turned? Bitten?" She asked
"The physician condemn that thought. He just ended his life.
And this has nothing to do with you. You are safe, so is the little girl. Stay within the walls.
I have enemies that seek all I have, they could try to harm anything to my name, that my dear includes you.
I may not war today, but all my enemies will fall but my sword. All I need you to do is be by my side, always. Within sight" Edgar said, unwilling to hide any thoughts.
His tired heart aired more than he needed and he knew the stubborn wench would use it to her advantage the very next minute. Threatening to take a groom no doubt just to spite him
Selene was still dumbstruck. Relieved that the threat of a walker was not so prevalent but awed as to why Nicholas would take his own life. No reason seemed reasonable enough.
"I m sorry" she muttered without thought
"I'm not. Come" Edgar said as he walked to her and pulled her up by the elbow.
Then noticing her discarded foot wear, a lather sandal that was doubtlessly made from bear skin.
He took hold of the shoes and lifted her porcelain skin to fit into them.
Feeling her hands grip his crowned head for balance.
Feet clad, Edgar walked a still silent Selene to the carriage and watched it sway away before he too mounted his horse and rode after them.
His thought still on the on going festivities. She needed her space no doubt but not too long.
She had gotten him worried. And worry. Worry was the last thing he needed to salt his grief
The body of Belle was yet to be found, no one knew where she was or how she always met with her father.
He was growing careless. Or maybe his enemy more careful.
The littlest of tryst never eluded him. No.
He should have known if the man was blackmailed, depressed or threatened in my way whatsoever.
Now he had lost another person, so close to his non-existent heart
He had almost rode to his death with the raid. He knew not what to make of the death. But he knew one thing. He wished Nicholas was still alive