Short Stories From The World Of ARTK

The Priestess And The Knight, Part Four

  Though he were calm and expressionless on the outside, his rage at the thought of Ali having been harmed were still running wild. Many of the servants and other castle staff were apparently unaware of his death, since he were able to walk through with just a few strange looks- then ones of shock when he ran into two other kingsguard just outside the king's chambers.

He could kill them.

He could kill them here and now, with servants just down the hall to witness. He'd have it over with in less than sixty moments, but he didn't wish to waste his time. He were here for one man.

"Let me pass." He said. "Let me pass and no harm will come to you. Your daughter will still have a father."

"Threatening a member of the kingsguard is an act of treason." The one with a daughter and five sons said.

"Aye-"Ser Gifford nodded. "Tell me, what is the punishment for killing one?"

  "None if it is at the kings command." The other spat. "But you know this very well. If I were you I'd get out of Dedor quick, let the king believe I was dead and settle with some nice beautiful village girl who would never hear rumors of what you are. That is the best someone like you could hope fo-"

  "Someone like who?" The king yawned, his eyes still halfway closed when he opened the door. His kingsguard bowed, his eyes widened- and then he went as pale as an Ebonian. "Let him pass. I suppose we have some things to speak of."

The kingsguard did so hesitantly, both standing at attention when the king brought Ser Gifford into his rooms and shut the door.

  "You should not be alive. It is unnatural."

  "You should not be king. You're very bad at it."

  "You're very bold for someone who appears to still be in pain from whatever they did to bring you back." The king raised an eyebrow, and the second he spoke of it Ser Gifford became aware of the pain again. "What am I to do with you? I can't have the common people finding out a person like you were serving me in the first place, but if I welcome you openly into my service again- I will lose the respect of my other kingsguard. They will think me to be a coward; a man who fears those he is supposed to rule. Then again .... I suppose what they think or feel does not matter."

  "You should." He said, thinking of the blood magick priestess who brought him back. "For many give you reasons to be afraid of them. And what makes you think that I would ever serve you again?"

  The king stepped closer, placing their faces less than a finger's width apart. "Because if you do not, I will make sure the man called Ali dies in the most painful way possible."

——

Two years later

 
  At least he hadn't died in pain. At least it were just the fever and dehydration that killed him- at least that was what Ser Gifford told himself. For two years he'd continued to serve on the kingsguard, feeling as if he had no choice(because he did not)..... but what where the point now?

Ali's illness had made it's appearance over a month ago with a simple cough and seemed not to spread, so Ser Gifford had spent every moment he weren't working in Ali's cottage. He'd watched his love deteriorate, shit liquid or puke anything he ate or drank. A few days in the shaking began, then the blood in both his puke and shit- so he were surprised at how long Ali held on.

At least now he were free, Ser Gifford tried to convince himself. Free of this damned place, free to love whoever he pleased. He believed- as did the blood priestess standing beside him, that not a single one of the gods or goddesses would condemn a good man to the hells for who they chose to lay with.

They were the only two there on that beach edge , and she were waiting on his approval now.Ser Gifford nodded.

He'd kept it together so long, but when Aisha began her chanting and lit the pyre he lost it. His sobs were so intense, so deep that he could not hold himself up- that he sank into the sand and paid no mind to the pain it caused his knees. Aisha only joined him after her job was done and they could watch the flames slowly turn Ali into ash; and when she did so the sobs only grew louder.

  They'd been great friends after she brought him back to life; but the past few weeks had helped him really separate her from her work. She'd done what she could to help heal Ali, but the illness had been aggressive and he hadn't wanted blood magick to touch him- so she respected that. For a short while Ser Gifford had tried to convince her to do it anyways; and she had to explain that if one's heart were not open to the practice, it would be very physically painful to her to make it work.

As his sobs slowly faded, he looked to her.

  "When I die this time....... Do not bring me back."