Chapter 48

The next day, Maria sat at the common room’s dining table, glancing at the now cold food before going back to staring at the door to Tirr’s room. It was already noon and he still hadn’t come out. She already regretted not approaching the issue more carefully yesterday and now she wondered if he would just ignore her indefinitely.

Times like this really made her miss her Grandmother. Nora would have known just what to say and do to keep God happy and safe. Once more maria couldn’t help but feel like it would have been better for her Grandmother to become Tirr’s apostle.

As Maria wondered over what she should do, Claire entered briskly, a frown on her face as she glanced about, before looking confused when she noticed only Maria. The young priestess could only sink down, holding her head in her arms as she nodded towards Tirr’s door.

“He hasn’t come out yet?” Claire said as understanding dawned on her. “Where’s Doron then?”

“Hasn’t come back yet. Still with his military friends, I’m guessing…”

Claire’s frown deepened, and she let out a growl of frustration. “I’m sorry, I’d like to help really, but my father stuck me with enough work for a whole department this morning, so I’m not going to have even a moment to spend with you guys. I just came to check in and let you guys know before I get dragged off again.”

“That busy?” Maria asked surprised.

“Yeah, some of it has to do with the coming trial, but other stuff seems almost like busywork. Claus is going through the same thing.”

“So, what am I supposed to do here?” Maria asked looking again at Tirr’s door.

“I’m sure he just needs some space for a while, until the shock of everything blows over...” Claire thought for a moment before letting out a smile. “Why don’t you go out today? I’d feel bad if I left you to sit in this grimy castle by yourself. We really only went to food places, yesterday right? You can bring Jill out with you and just enjoy yourself. Visit some of the other stores that might interest a young woman...” Claire snickered, raising her eyebrows as she elbowed Maria.

Maria glanced once more at the still shut and silent door to Tirr’s room before nodding her agreement.

“Great! Let’s go get Jill and get you out of here, it's already pretty late so you’ll have to hurry.” Claire dragged Maria out of her seat and started to rush her out.

“Wait!” Maria cried resisting Claire’s grip to pull out a scrap of parchment and a quill from a nearby desk. She scribbled quickly before leaving it on the dining table and following Claire out.

The room sat silently for a minute after they left until the door to Tirr’s room slowly creaked open. He glanced about, checking to be sure the room was actually empty, until the hungry Garm in his arms could take it no more and barked hurriedly, struggling to break free and run for the table.

Seeing the room was clear, Tirr let him go and watched as he quickly jumped onto the table, devouring the thin cuts of meats that had been left. Tirr went over as well and quickly noticed the scribbled note that Maria had left behind. Be sure to eat something…

The note sent a pang of guilt through him and he thought about running out to catch up and apologize, but the King's words from the day before and the voice from his nightmares held him back. I’ll do it later… He thought as he settled in to eat, wondering what he himself should do if everyone else was out.

Thinking back to that small garden within the castle grounds. Tirr decided to head there, bringing the now stuffed Garm as he left. He arrived quickly but was disappointed to see the King not there, wanting to continue the talk from the night before. Instead, he sat watching as Garm ran about, chasing butterflies from flower to flower.

“I didn’t expect to see you here so soon…” A surprised voice called out, making Tirr jump. He turned around to see King Torn walking towards him.

“So, what brings you here again?” The King asked as he sat down, watching Tirr carefully.

“Didn’t have anything else to do.” Tirr answered hesitantly.

“Why aren’t you with your follower?”

“We had a fight…” Tirr answered reluctantly.

King Torn looked at his sad expression for a moment. “Well, it isn’t unusual for someone with your power to have people who cling on, acting like friends while you’re of use...”

The words shocked Tirr and he snapped up angrily, “Maria isn’t like that! She just… worries about me...”

The King watched for a moment longer before standing up, “Well if you have nothing to do, why don’t you come with me? Watching squabbling nobles and paperwork probably won’t be the most exciting, but it might be better than nothing.” He flashed Tirr a smile while holding out a hand to pull Tirr up.

Tirr thought for a moment before taking the hand, following after the King. He was interested to see how a ruler of this time handled things and thought he might find some answers to his own problems.

He shadowed King Torn for the rest of the day and felt the king really hadn’t lied. Most of the King's work was paperwork in between meetings with nobles that complained about this or that. Tirr entertained himself during the more boring parts by playing with Garm, leaving some of the noble visitors to wonder who the dark-haired boy playing in the corner was.

Between the nonsense like the baron who complained about a neighbor planting crops on his side of the border. There were also occasional reports of troop movements and battles along the border of Lutel, which interested Tirr. He listened carefully to the reports of raids and skirmishes before finally asking about the pile of documents that had been left for the King to sign.

Torn let out a sigh as he picked up a quill and started working his way through them. “Death notices, for the families of those that died in the fighting. The least this Kingdom can do is provide some compensation and sympathy to those who have lost their loved ones, though it will never be enough…”

“If so many people are dying in this war, then why does it continue?”

“There have been people who had the same thought. While there have been some ceasefires, the closest we have ever come to true peace was twenty years ago, before I was even King.”

What happened?” Asked Tirr curiously.

The King let out a sad smile. “There was a Lutellian princess who questioned the point of a war that brought so much destruction and no benefits. She went against the priests of the water spirits there and convinced her father the King of Lutel to appoint her as an ambassador here in Rasor. After working tirelessly for three years. An agreement was reached, a declaration of peace that both countries were more than happy to sign…”

“Then why is the war still going?” Tirr asked confused.

“On the evening of the signing, a feast was held here in the castle by my father. That night assassins who had hidden among the princess’s escort slaughtered their way through all who attended. My father died from his wounds, as did my older brother and my first wife. I barely survived once the fighting was done…” The King opened his shirt briefly showing the start to a terrible scar that ran down his chest.

“And that wasn’t even the end.” Torn continued his voice rising, “While I lay there bleeding, I saw the Lutellian princess. Blood spilling from her throat as assassins from her own country killed her and the rest of her group for going against their stupid spirits.”

The King sat back in his chair a quiet fury in his eyes, “That is why there can be no peace, and that is why I will do anything, sacrifice anything, to burn their country to the ground and let this war end…”

The King's eyes softened for a moment as he looked at Tirr, “And that is why I need your power, with your help I can improve the rate at which Shard users are created and come closer to ending this fight. Please, even if you can’t pass on the Shard like your Blessing, your healing will be invaluable.”

Tirr sat silently for a moment absorbing all that he had heard. “The shard…” He started looking up cautiously, “Probably comes from me…” And as Tirr spoke he never noticed to glint that grew in the King’s eyes.

Maria said goodbye to Jill as she traveled through the Castle hallways back towards their quarters. She had had a good time trying on clothing and accessories, most of which were things that a village girl never thought about even seeing let alone buying. As she walked through the Castle, a figure suddenly caught her eye. She froze, uncertain of what to do as the figure of Marquess Monter slowly walked towards her.

As she stood frozen, the Marquess noticed her as well and gave her a sad smile. “A good vassal should never leave their lord unguarded…” He whispered quietly as he passed by.

The words struck fear into Maria’s heart, she gave him one more scared look before breaking into a run through the castle.