Chapter 14

 

 

Valron died a few days after his brother’s arrival. One of the maids was going to give him water, but he was unresponsive. Maybel sought me out to tell me the news.

I stood there in his chamber, staring down at his body. His skin was a shade of grey, and his body had wasted away to nothing. I didn’t know how to feel. I should have been crying… even sad, but I felt nothing. What’s wrong with me?

Lanbert put his hand on me. “Don’t worry, Madam. I will take care of this.”

“H—how?” I asked, somehow managing to find my voice.

“If you must know the details; I will have his body burned and pour his ashes in the river.”

“But that’s not our way. He’s a duke—or he was. He should have a proper ceremony. His body should be given to the Vitreus Sea.”

“The weather’s too cold to ask everyone to travel right now. Would you have him left in here to rot in his bed until his peers can see him off? We’ll have a small ceremony with his household here,” he countered.

I shivered at the image his words produced in my head. “Someone should tell the king.”

He scrunched up his mouth in thought before offering, “I will write to King Zaeden to inform him of my brother’s death.”

I nodded. I needed to write to my mother. Perhaps she would let me return home now—even if just until she found another man to marry me off now, though it’d be tougher now that I was a widow.

I locked myself in the guest chamber—my new chamber. Even if I was now the owner of this household, I’d never be able to sleep in the room I’d once shared with Valron—the room his body now lay in.

I picked up a quill and dipped it in the thick black ink.

 

Dear Mother,

Valron has passed away. He grew ill after spending a night cold and wet when his horse threw him and never recovered. My only wish is to come see you… if only for a while. I miss Aquila. I miss my home. If this war is to happen, and I can do nothing to stop it, I’d rather be there with you.

 

With love,

Chel

 

“Madam? I would speak with you.” Lanbert’s voice sounded from the other side of the wooden door.

I set down the quill and folded the letter. “Yes, come in.”

Lanbert let himself in and eyed my folded letter. Curiosity lit up his eyes.

“I was writing to my mother—to tell her of what happened.”

“Ah. Would you like me to see it delivered to her?”

I shrugged. “If you wouldn’t mind.” I didn’t see any reason not to trust him with the task. It’s not like he could’ve read it. It was written in code.

He took the letter from me and stuck it in the pocket of his grey trousers. “I’ve come to speak with you about matters of the household.”

When I didn’t answer, he continued. “Before my brother died, we came to an agreement. The agreement was that once he passed, I would inherit his land. I have the papers here. He signed them himself.” He indicted a mark on the piece of paper in his hand.

I leaned forward and peered at the paper he held out for me. It was indeed a document with Valron’s signature at the bottom. I sighed, “That’s a relief, actually. I don’t know how to run a household, and I’d prefer to return home anyways.”

“It’s settled then. No hard feelings?”

“None at all.” I gave him a small smile.

“Take all the time you need to pack your things. It’s better to wait until the weather is warmer to make your travel home.”

“Thank you—Your Grace.” I wasn’t sure what to call him now that his title had risen and mine had fallen.

“Please, just call me Lanbert. I haven’t been appointed as duke yet.”

“I’m sure the king will grant you the official title when he has time.” I didn’t bother to tell him that could be a long time with the war on the horizon. I wasn’t sure if the impending news had reached his ears yet.

Once he’d left, I fell forward onto the bed. I couldn’t help but feel eager. I was going home. As soon as Valron’s death ceremony was over, I would take my leave.

With the whole household bundled up in furs and wool, we made our way to the river that ran along the edge of Cansbroke.

Lanbert led the way, holding onto the little box that held my deceased husband’s ashes. I walked beside Maybel. A light dusting of snow blanketed the frozen ground. I stumbled along, trying not to roll my ankle on the clumps of frozen ground. Each time we breathed, puffs of steam appeared.

When we reached the river, we lined up along the edge of the bank to say our goodbyes. A few of the staff members had kind words to say.

Maybel’s voice shook and tears streamed down her face as she said her goodbyes to Valron.

When it was my turn, I sucked in a deep breath and raised my chin. “Duke Valron Michester of Cansbroke was a good man… a good husband. He treated me well, even though we’d never met before our wedding day. I will always be thankful for that. I grew to love you Valron, in my own way. Goodbye, husband. May Celestia take care of you.” My voice wavered on the last word, and I bowed my head. It wasn’t enough. My words weren’t enough. But I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Lanbert opened the box.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” I asked him.

“I’ve already said my goodbyes.” He bent down and slowly dumped the ashes into the icy river. They floated on the surface to be carried off to the Vitreus Sea. How I missed the sea!

With nothing left to say or do, we ambled our way back to the palace.

I decided I would ask our driver, Herik, if he’d take me back to Aquila within a few rises of the sun. I didn’t want to wait until the weather warmed. I was restless in Cansbroke, and there was no reason for me to tarry there now that Valron was gone.

I told Lanbert this at dinner. He seemed oddly annoyed by the notion.

“I just don’t want you or Herik to fall ill as my brother did.” He glared at his food.

“That is a different case. We’ll be taking the carriage. Everything will be fine.”

“Unless something goes wrong.”

I crossed my arms and glowered. “You have no say over what I do.”

His little eyes grew wide enough to make me think they might pop out of his head. I thought he’d continue to argue, but he surrendered. He put his elbow on the table and put his chin in his hands and mumbled, “Fine. If that’s your wish.”

I couldn’t keep the smile from my lips. It seemed he wasn’t used to dealing with strong women. “Thank you.” I went back to eating the slab of meat on my plate.

We ate in awkward silence until he piped up again with a new suggestion. “Will you wait several sunrises so I can escort you to Aquila? I can see King Zaeden then. I do still need to be made duke.”

It took everything I had to keep from rolling my eyes. “Yes. Sure. Why not? What’s a little extra time?”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

I’d had enough of his company, so I excused myself and retired to my bedchamber. I was beginning to understand why Valron didn’t like his brother. He was awkward and something about him felt insincere. I’d be happy to leave him behind.