Lunar Flare Book 2: Midnight Eclipse

Chapter 10

Thedrick stayed close to Joy's side after Beowulf, Maerwynn and Effie left. They sat together and talked while the rest of the troupe continued to perform on the stage to the passing crowds, every now and then the twins running around with wooden pails to collect offers of coins from the audience or pick up ones thrown at the stage. Thedrick felt like he had been transported back in time many years, though back then he would have joined the others performing on stage as well.

"That Beowulf lad seems nice," Joy said with a smile of approval.

Thedrick returned the smile earnestly. "He's probably the nicest guy in the world...I've really never met anyone like that before."

"And your daughter is just the most precious little thing!" Joy exclaimed with delight, beaming at him. "Though... is her obvious origins not an issue? Surely the king wouldn't be too happy with his wife having a relationship with you..."

"If he was that would make him a hypocrite," Thedrick quipped in return.

A look of shock crossed Joy's face. "Thedrick! You... both of them? Really?" she asked in disbelief.

"What can I say? My charms are irresistible," Thedrick said while smiling smugly.

"That's my boy! I taught you well." Thedrick was slightly startled when Jacques put his hands on the jester's shoulders and leaned down slightly to loudly exclaim that.

Joy smiled and shook her head in light-hearted dismay. "You corrupted him, that's what you did Jacques. And he used to be such a nice boy."

The bard let go of Thedrick's shoulders and threw up his hands in surrender. "I'm a demon, I can't help it; it's my nature. But I only have the best of intentions, and I'm sure all he learned from me came in useful. Probably helped him land that hunk of a soldier!"

Joy gave a weary smile again, though then it fell away as she was suddenly focusing on Thedrick. "Thedrick... did you charm them? With vampire powers?"

Thedrick's eyes widened, and he leaned backwards slightly in shock at the accusation. "N-No! I'm only half vampire and I don't have any powers... and even if I did, I wouldn't use them to force people to love me."

"Well, did the queen know what you are, Thedrick?" Joy asked hesitantly.

Thedrick shook his head. "Neither does the king."

"And your daughter... is she... like you?" Joy cautiously pressed further.

This time Thedrick nodded reluctantly.

"And what if the king found out?" Joy sounded a bit firmer with her question now.

Thedrick shrugged and looked away. "I... try not to think about that," he muttered.

"So then you aren't actually safe here, you're in danger if your secret ever gets out?" Joy asked pointedly.

Sighing, Thedrick was about to respond when he heard a voice loudly cut over the chatter of the crowd.

"Teddy?!"

Thedrick quickly looked up in the direction that the voice had come from, his eyes landing on a woman standing a short distance away, who was staring at him. He almost didn't recognise her at first. She was tall, having grown much taller than her mother, her body well-built and muscular like her father's. Her dark wavy hair was pulled into a loose high bun, with a couple of pieces left free to frame her round face.

She was holding two baskets filled with goods, which she dropped from her hands to the ground as she stepped towards Thedrick, her eyes locked on him and wide with shock. "Teddy, is that really you?" she exclaimed as she started walking hesitantly towards him.