Temptation Of The Knight ✔

Chapter 30: Childhood Friend

"Aśs si fort?" The voice inquired. (Is she gone?)

"Jo," (Yes) Gerbert responded as he entered the room. "Si aśs virun e puer Stonnen mat hirem papp fortgaang." Gerbert stood near the untidy bed, staring at his son, who was standing in front of the room's only window. (She left a few hours ago with her father.)

Heavy curtains kept any rays of sunlight from penetrating the window. No lights were turned on, and the only source of light, the window, was also closed, leaving the room dark. In response to his father's words, he nodded and sipped the contents of the copper wine glass.

"How is she, Father?" He asked solemnly.

"Much better after treatments and therapies," Gerbert informed and Drazhan only nodded his head. Silence consumed them and only the sound of Drazhan sipping the wine, filled the room.

"Wéi laang haalt Dir Iech hei agespaart?" Gerbert inquired after a while breaking the silence, his voice cold and solemn. (How long are you going to keep yourself locked up here?)

"Soulaang et dauert fir sech ze berouegen an iwwer hatt ze vergiessen." Drazhan replied in a stern voice. (As long as it takes to calm down and forget about her.)

"Gleefs du éierlech, datt dir just iwwer hatt vergiesse kënnt?" Gerbert shook his head and scoffed. (Do you honestly believe you can just forget about her?)

"I can," Drazhan replied firmly.

"You wouldn't have let her in if you had the strength to simply forget her!" Gerbert hissed angrily. "Also sammelt är schäiss a kommt aus dësem gott verlassen zëmmer eraus. Du hues hatt a selwer scho genuch verletzt!" Gerbert barked, and Drazhan threw the glass across the room in rage. (So gather your shit and get out of this God forsaken room. You've already hurt her and yourself enough.)

"I don't need you to tell me what to do! Or what I did! Gitt d'Häll eraus!" Drazhan growled and Gerbert flared up in rage in retaliation for his disrespect. (Get the hell out!)

"Don't raise your voice at me, boy! I understand how you must be feeling, and given what you're going through, I'll let you have it. Take your time leaving this room. Ech wëll dech mat Äre Bridder gesinn, wa mir vun Trista gesinn!" Gerbert stormed out of the room, hissing in command.

(I want to see you with your brothers when we see off Trista.) Drazhan's fingers laced into his hair and yanked on them harshly as a thunderous and mournful scream penetrated his chest.

4 weeks later:

The street, grey and cracked with age, winds its way up the hill like a carelessly discarded belt. The houses are separated by yards wide enough to accommodate farm animals on either side, but this is not a rural neighbourhood. The houses are many times larger than even the largest of families require, but each is generally occupied by parents with one child. To each dwelling, there are more sports cars than people and kitchens that cost more than ordinary people's homes just a block over. The wind buffets the car carrying Fabian and Judith, but it is ineffective. They were moving forward, and nothing short of a divine tragedy could change that. The tyres hiss incessantly over the rain-washed street, and the air that passes through the filters is meadow-sweet.

Judith's gaze is unwavering, uncaring, and distracted as she watches the passing mansions. Fabian cheerfully converses with.

"-and we'll bake there again, just like we used to. Aren't you thrilled about it, little dove?" Fabian inquires, and Judith gives him a sidelong glance. Judith couldn't help but smile and nod when she saw his bright, cheerful face. "Yes, I'm looking forward to it."

Fabian grinned at her response, and Judith turns her gaze to the street through the window on the little tin box. Judith looks out the window at the street where she grew up. This was the road she rode her bike down every day as a child and teen. In this street, she had run around with her friends. She could recall all of the days of silly pranks and annoying the posh neighbours, as well as all of the complaints against her to her father. They were on their way back home. After three years, she was returning to her childhood home. Fabian's company was gradually regaining its footing, and they had paid off their debts in less than a month. And they reclaimed their home from the bank.