The Kingdom

24

James met Cliff on his way to work, finding him with a sad semblance and promptly asked him why he looked so worried.

"What is wrong?" Cliff asked quietly as they walked side by side.

"Keira..." James let out. "I am worried about her."

"Hum..." Cliff mumbled vaguely expecting James to say more but his friend had his eyes set on the sandy path and on the grey horizon of that morning. "What about her James? I find you so distressed this morning."

"You know how diseases have been happening in the village..." Cliff nodded hearing him. "...Keira hasn't been feeling alright. She complains she has been feeling dizzy and this morning she threw up. I am afraid she caught some disease..."

"Maybe it's nothing my friend." Cliff said placing a hand on James' shoulder for support. James looked at him and smiled.

"Maybe I am worrying for nothing."

"But... how long has she been feeling like that? Maybe she should bleed a little to balance her humors James and expel the evil from inside of her."

"Since last week. It comes and goes you know... the dizziness attacks and then it's gone just like that and she says she is alright but then this morning... she didn't hold the food inside of her... I am so afraid."

"You should talk to the priest and let a monk visit her. A monk can bleed her until she is cured."

"I know that but Keira refuses to do so."

Cliff curled an eyebrow. "How's that?"

"It's part of her..." He answered not wanting to go in details even if Cliff knew Keira was a Celt.

"It's not part of her beliefs, you mean." Cliff concluded.

"Keira is Christian, Cliff. She is a fully committed one I may assure you that but some things are still part of her. She has her own way of cure. Her faith is undeniable at this point." James told him.

"Why don't you go back to London?" Cliff shot, making James turn his head at him fast.

"You know I can't." He said dryly.

"Why not? The king would receive you with his arms opened."

"I am married to a Celt, Cliff. Are you forgetting that?"

"And since when would your father deny you that?"

James stayed silent. "Does she know the truth James?" Cliff insisted.

"No." He said low, eyeing around afraid other people would listen to them.

"London mourned your death for months. Your father was devastated..." Cliff insisted. "You should go back."

"The king is fine now thinking me dead."

"His majesty King Alfred was devastated..." Cliff insisted. "What did you tell her?"

"That I was a warrior... which isn't a lie..."

"Why didn't you tell her the truth? If you married that woman why not telling her the truth?"

"Because at first I was afraid and so I let her think what she wanted." He shot a little irritated. They stopped as they reached the giant doors of the church. "Then, I didn't know how to tell her. I was always against my father's decisions, you know that."

"But you fought by his side."

"What did you want me to do?"

"So, she thinks you are a simple warrior?" Cliff asked and James nodded.