Chapter 47: Contention at Home

Night had fallen over the Arquix castle and Cosaria waited in Delrik's room by the door. She had come for their nightly curse healing, but Delrik was on the other side of the room, leaning against the wall in the shadows, facing the other direction.

She had been waiting patiently for half an hour.

Finally, he said, "Begone!"

"B… but Lord Delrik, I need to heal you."

Delrik rolled his eyes, "I won't turn into a beast after one night."

"But-!"

"Leave me!"

༻✧༺

On the couch in her room, Cosaria cried as Tilda's arms were wrapped around her in a motherly embrace. Marley sat nearby, fretting on how to help.

Patting Cosaria on the head, Tilda said, "You're better off without him."

Cosaria pleaded for Tilda to believe her as she said, "But I love him. I need him."

Tilda leaned back and asked, "Why do you think that?"

"I'm the same as the character in that book," Cosaria said as she pointed at 'Love, love, love, and the meaning behind looks' sitting on the table. "My heart flutters at his mere presence. No, even at the mention of him. I think of him day and night. I only want to be near him. Isn't this love? …But I'm too late now."

"You can't just believe what you read in novels. Sometimes love isn't always the best thing."

"But love is the strongest force in the world!" Cosaria whined.

It's like trying to reason with a stuffed animal, Tilda thought. She patted Cosaria's back as a new surge of tears came streaming out. Marly bit her lip, feeling partly guilty for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Maybe you're right," Cosaria said, "Our love is already doomed since Delrik hates me now."

"That's not-"

Marley said, "You've got it all wrong Lady Cosaria! He's mad because he cares. He was just trying to protect you." Then she muttered, "And I also think he was jealous."

Cosaria said, "But he didn't even want me near him."

Marley said, "Uh, well, he's just all pouty, that's all. My nieces and nephews act the same way, you know. Especially when things don't go their way. Isn't that right Tilda?"

"Yes, Lord Delrik is acting like a spoiled child," Tilda said flatly.

Marley said, "See, it's not because he hates you, it's because he cares. He was worried about you, that's all."

That's much worse, Tilda thought. Hurting someone in the name of 'caring too much'. Now THAT is bad.

Cosaria looked up, hopeful for the first time, and said, "You really think he cares?"

Marley nodded, "Absolutely!"

"Ladies, let's think about this," Tilda said, becoming the voice of reason, "He dragged Cosaria out of the ballroom. He could have given her a bruise. Then he went off on her, and condemned, criticized, you name it. Then later, he continually gave her the cold shoulder, again, and again, and again. He's the one holding a grudge, and yet blaming everything on her. Even if he cares, that is bad behavior. His actions are not justified by his motives."

It was a smart speech wasted on women not ready to hear it.

Marley continued to justify Delrik, saying, "He's just learning how to express himself. He might not be very good at it now, but he'll definitely get there."

That was exactly what Cosaria wanted to hear.

Tilda asked, "You're expecting him to change?"

Cosaria grasped Tilda's hands and pleaded with her yet again. "Tilda, I love him. That's all that matters!"

Tilda frowned, "It really isn't."

༻✧༺

Lord Delrik brooding Arquix stood in his melancholy room, by his melancholy window. His mind was consumed with trying to justify his actions. He thought, It's better for her if she stays away from the likes of me. Me, the one who makes her cry.

The door creaked open and Felux peeked his head in.

Felux asked, "You need something?"

"Investigate Grysle. Make sure he's not planning anything."

"What happened to staying 'inconspicuous'?"

"Irrelevant. He's targeting Cosaria."

"Aye, I'll find out his secrets."

༻✧༺

In the dining room, Cosaria ate at the table alone, by herself, looking miserable. Marley came and sat next to her.

Marley suggested, "How about you try taking him some food?"

Cosaria turned to Tilda and asked, "Do you think that will help?"

Tilda said, "He probably just needs some time to cool off. It might be better to leave him alone."

Marley said, "No way, I'm an expert in love. Now is a crucial time in the relationship."

Tilda was done with getting involved in all this contrived drama, as she said, "Fine, do whatever you both see fit. If you want to learn this the hard way, go ahead. But don't say I didn't warn you."

I said I wouldn't involve myself in this relationship, and I won't. Tilda thought. She sighed. I wish I could ask Felux about this, but he's gone on some secret trip. He usually gives the best advice when it comes to dealing with his grace.

༻✧༺

In 30 seconds of insane stupid courage, Cosaria carried a plate of food into Delrik's office.

Delrik barked, "What are you doing here? Where's Kevler?"

Kelver was Felux's temporary replacement as Delrik's personal bodyguard. Morc took over Felux's other jobs, like protecting the castle, training troops, and being knight commander.

Cosaria said, "I thought that I could be the one to bring you food today."

"Don't you know how to stay away from things that could hurt you?"

"But I only wanted to check up on you."

"What's next?" Delrik spat, "Will you be trying to chase down monsters in the forest, ah, I see. You've already done that, haven't you? What other further situations must occur until you realize the danger you put yourself in?"

"I'm sorry." Cosaria said quietly, "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Just leave."

"But your lunch?"

"Take it with you. I'm not hungry," Delrik said. How long until she realizes her mistake? Delrik wondered. If she can't get it then I'll have to force her to understand.

Cosaria set the food on his table.

"Maybe you h-h-hate me now," She said with tears flowing down her cheeks, "But at least eat your lunch."

She wiped her tears and said, "I won't give up on you."

Then she exited the room.

And the room became very quiet.

༻✧༺

In a small country village, town folks ran as burning buildings toppled. A cursed monster appeared from the shadows and fire.

A man ran away screaming, "HELP!"

The cursed beast shot out a talon and pierced the man. He fell down, bleeding.

A mother carried her child. As she tripped and fell, the beast came upon her.

She cried, "HELP US PLEASE!"

"Revertere!"

The monster backed off, as it was blinded by light.

A group of priests from the church carrying glowing staves approached the monster. The staves had ornately designed symbols on the end; A star inside of a triangle with bells decorating the star's points.

In unison the priests chanted, "Revertere! Revertere! Revertere!"

The monster continued backing up, as if it were in pain. Slowly, the priests surrounded the monster.

"Now!" Priest Goopty said, and the priests raised their staves.

The unison chanting continued, "Capiendus. Inclusum esto. Non poteris movere."

The monster screeched, as lightning came down and surrounded the monster, trapping it in a cage of electricity.

As the monster fell unconscious, the mother approached Priest Goopty and said, "Thank you."

Priest Goopty said, "We're only doing our duty."

In the distance, Felux watched the fire in the town burn. From his vantage, he could see the priests carry the monster away and a townsman weep over the one who was stabbed by the monster.

Felux thought, I'm too late.

Movement a few paces away caught his eye.

On the other side of the hill, Lord Grysle was surrounded by his Knight Yrse and Priest Goopty.

Goopty asked, "What would you like done with the cursed one?"

"Take him back to his cell. We'll see if we can't use him again in a different town." Grysle said, then he turned to Yrse. "Inform the King of this incident. It should be the final straw to sway him to sign my request."

Yrse nodded.

From the place where Felux was hiding, he thought, What request? I'll need to know.