Blood Orange

II - Gambit

A gathering of bees wafted along on a string of wind, as gentle as the kiss of a monarch on a bushel of baby's breath.

They hummed and bumbled, aimlessly darting between flowers that bloomed rainbow hues, muted and bold, but none of which they deemed worthy.

In the distance, caught between the split of a great wood, they caught sight of a pale blue that shone white in the overhead sun.

With satisfaction, they perched, only to crumble and fall down to the earth, far too hefty for the decaying petals of winter blossoms.

"Stupid bees," a plume of frosty breath escaped his lips, "The warm seasons are far off."

Cossick turned his head back into the coach where Esandolyn was seated, her foot tapping at a pace against the floor.

"How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." Her eyes had darkened half circles beneath them, threatening to become whole at any second.

"When's the last time you slept?"

"I'm apalled Lysander, how rude."

He exhaled through his nose and frowned, "You look like you're going to fall forward at any moment."

"I will catch myself."

His head dipped, questioning her statement.

"I might catch myself." She corrected.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lip, and he turned back outside to save her the satisfaction of seeing it.

Parked on a patch of grass a short length away from the main road, they rested beneath an oak tree that dangled its dappled light over every surface.

From where he stood, leaning against the outside of the coach, he could see the entrance of the church, a tall building that was almost blinding when it caught the light, imposing in its potential and radiant in its apparent glee.

The church of Saint Alding was neither a church by definition nor was its namesake derived from a patron Saint. Rather, Alding was the name of the grounds on which it was built, a well manicured area situated at the edge of the town near the castle.

It tapered off in gray sloped roof sections and was as simple in shape as a crate but stretched lengthwise. Various windows lined up in file, and their dramatic tracery defaced the otherwise smooth walls.

In a stone campanile, a head taller than the church itself, a bell rang once, the vibrations sent down to the floor and into Cossick's chest.

"They're late. Though I'm not surprised, it goes to show how seriously they are taking this."

He took a step into the coach and helped her up by the arm, leading her outside and helping her down the step.

"Remember, it's fixed, and you've got no friends in there, so don't appeal to anyone."

She took a shaky breath and tensed her jaw. "How long will it be before the punishment takes effect?"

"A few days, it has to go through the council for approval first, so enough time to kidnap you and create a missing person's scandal."

"I'm starting to think you aren't joking about this." she shuffled a few steps away from him.

"No, no, I am joking. It won't be a scandal. They don't want you anyway." He dusted a leaf out of his hair.

She glared at him, "I'll pluck your eyelashes out."

"That is outrageous."

She leaned beside him, her back against the wooden frame.