A Wager Of The Heart

18. Enlightenment

:::Kent:::

"What are you doing?" I ignored Brandan and continued to search the bookshelf in front of me. "Kent." He said more firmly and still I ignored him. I heard his boots scuffle across the floor and felt as he stopped next to me. "Your parents left nearly an hour ago."

"And?" I asked merely to annoy him.

"You have guests to attend to." He said indignantly.

I finally took my eyes off the books in front of me and looked at my friend. "What do you think of my Lady?" I asked.

Brandan scrunched his nose and watched my face just as closely as I watched his. "I think she's too good for you and you should marry her as quickly as you can before she, or someone else, realizes it."

I laughed at his frank assessment and asked, "Have you regaled her with my many tales of rakishness?" 

Brandan ignored my teasing and continued seriously. "I have told her all that I've dared."

"And?"

He looked dubiously at me. "You will not like it."

I tried to keep the peevishness from my voice even if I couldn't keep the snarl from my face. "Tell me."

Brandan sighed and lowered his head. "She said that everyone has a past and a secret they guard with all of their heart." He was quiet for a moment as her words sunk into my mind. "She has also informed me that love is worth fighting for, because it you are so ready to give it up than it mustn't have been love in the first place."

I growled again. "Just what I need, a romantic girl with her head in the clouds thinking her love strong enough to change me." I smiled wickedly. "Many of my girls have felt the same way." Brandan smiled warily at my broad assessment. "I suppose I will have to dissuade her myself then. But the game must be subtle."

"And you have to worry about that maid of hers. Quite a demoness you have there." Brandan observed quietly.

I smiled to myself, "Charity is nothing more than a means to an end. An end that promises to be much more rewarding that her mistress."

Brandan laughed and watched me closely for a moment. "Would it suit you better if the maid-"

"Charity," I interrupted.

"Pardon?" Brandan asked, feigning innocence. 

I scowled but repeated myself, "Her name is Charity."

"Ah," Brandan smiled, losing all pretense. "As I was saying, would it suit you better if Charity were to be your bride?"

I laughed at him and turned back to the perusal of the books. "That is a moot point to argue. Besides," I said finally selecting a book from the thousands before me, "if she were forced on me by my parents than it wouldn't matter. I would rebel as I am now." Maybe not as vehemently, I admitting in the back on my mind, but I would still refuse.

Brandan nodded and walked to the door. "Perhaps if you give Geraldine a chance you might find her just the right amount of refreshing."

I snorted and followed him into the hallway. "Be as refreshed by her as you like, I still not marry her."

"Good," Brandan said smiling at me. "I don't know how we'd be friends if I wasn't spending my time dissuading people from liking you or defaming your character."

I laughed and threw my arm around his shoulders. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

Brandan shrugged off my embrace and we walked silently to the gardens and my Lady. Geraldine and Bastion sat on a bench on either side of Charity and I marveled at the strangeness of their close relationship.