Cardan and Jude

Hunter's Moon (And... Locke)

A half week passes. I'm only ever working or walking the halls, thinking. I try the insomnia remedy, after leaving it for a day, and it works wonders in terms of settling my mind. When I actually try to drift off however, it only makes me drowsy. I can never fully get to sleep. So much for all that effort. 

It's late in the morning, on the last day of the week, when I receive a knock on my door. 

'What is it?' I call, turning from the desk to face the source of the noise.

'Is your door locked again?' The Bomb asks from the other side.

'No, you can come in.' I offer a small smile when she barges through which she returns tenfold, holding a delicately sealed envelope out to me. 

'This arrived for you today. Someone else would've brought it to you, but all the servants are scared you'll bite their head off.' 

I hesitate before taking the letter, recognising Taryn's scrawly handwriting spelling my name on the front.

'The servants are afraid of me?' I ask, giving in and catching the envelope from her hands.

'You've seemed quite grumpy these few passing days... around the castle.'

'I've been thinking.' 

'Maybe you have a scary thinking face.' She grins mischievously and pats the top of my head, before leaving quickly and shutting the door behind her.

I wait for her footsteps to recede before lifting the wax seal and sliding the letter out.

Dear Jude,

You are hereby invited to the wedding ceremony between Taryn Duarte and Locke. It will take place one week after the hunter's moon, on 28th of October at Locke's manor. We would be delighted to have you attend.

P.S

Jude, you are also welcome to come to Taryn's dress fitting at Madoc's household on the 24th.

I fold the letter back inside the envelope and sigh slightly, leaning back into my chair. I'm too tired of Locke to be seething but I'm not overly happy either. I decide to attend and try to enjoy the fact that my sister is getting married, no matter to whom. And I may as well go along to the dress fitting as well. 

Another week passes and the Hunter's Moon celebrations come around. The day before, palace servants anxiously set everything up, preparing a stage out in the gardens for the live music, a banquet table the length of the ballroom in the castle, hanging decorations from every tree and enchanting lanterns to glow softly from hidden corners. I take a walk through the preparations, admiring the hard work. True to the Bomb's word, no servants make eye contact with me and when I near them, they dart away as quickly as possible. I decide to oversee the hanging of a banner decorated with a large moon painted beautifully by hand. 

'Fantastic work seneschal.' I turn to the voice and spy the Ghost who I haven't spoken with in a while. 

'Ghost!' I grin, walking to him and grasping his hand with a firm shake. He returns the smile kindly, pushing a strand of his sandy hair behind one ear.

'We haven't trained in a while, Jude.' He says softly.

'I know, I've been busy with the Hunter's Moon and seneschal duties.' I explain, waving behind me to the servants scurrying around with wind chimes. 'We should train again soon, I need to get away from all of this.' I continue. The Ghost nods in agreement and then suddenly wraps me in a hug. I hesitate.

'I'll see you at the celebrations, Jude.' He mutters in my ear. And then he's gone, disappearing round the corner of a hedge before I can say goodbye. I stand a little longer, thinking, like I only ever seem to do these days. The Ghost has never been physically affectionate with me before, usually restricting himself to handshakes and awkward eye contact. Maybe a rare smile... Strange.