Lineage of Zeal, Book One: Rosemary

Chapter Eighteen: Kindness

Mikhail.

The boy stood before Rosemary dressed as elegantly as he had been when she had seen him on the ship in Avendale. With him was Emily, the woman who had kept Rosemary from her son at that time, as well as the boy she had been trying to help, Edward Jenvier.

And behind the three of them stood Kiyohime, the snake woman.

At the sight of Kiyohime, Rosemary stumbled backward until her legs met with the rim of the fountain and she involuntarily sat upon it. She was not afraid, not of Kiyohime nor of the woman who kept her from Mikhail, but the rage that threatened to consume her at the sight of them both together was overwhelming. Numbing. Despite that, she knew that if she wanted to escape this situation, with or without her son, she would have to keep the demon in her in check. Becoming that, even if she might be able to control it, would play directly into the Lord Father's hands, giving him the very proof Prince Gerard demanded. So Rosemary did all she could in that situation. She buried her face in her palms and breathed deeply, slowly, listening with sharpened intent to every word spoken around her, waiting to hear...what? She knew not.

"So, young one, you say you have proof of my accusations?" spoke the Lord Father. He sounded most gleeful.

"Indeed," said Mikhail. Rosemary could hear the smile curling the corners of his mouth through his words. "What's more, this young master can vouch for me."

The sound of a single pair of hands clapping together stirred Rosemary. Peeking through her fingers, she saw the Lord Father wringing his hands together as though he had won some sort of prize.

"Truly, you delight me, young one!" said Lord Father Aldeck, trembling with giddiness. "Now then, your testimony? Please share it with us!"

"One moment!" cried Prince Gerard before Mikhail had a chance to oblige the overexcited old man. "Lord Father, you will excuse me, but as you have entered this my town I am restoring as a guest, you have no authority to conduct inquisitions where a higher authority in this situation, myself, the host of you the guest, exists. Therefore, allow me to continue where you have left off, Lord Father. I, on my honor and authority as the Second Royal Prince of Gratia, shall see to the end this convoluted and entangled situation."

If looks could kill, Lord Father Aldeck would have hung from royal gallows within the week.

"Now then," continued the prince as he positioned himself at the fountain between Rosemary's and Mikhail's groups, "you say you can testify on behalf of this woman Rosemary being a murderer and demon. Who is it that testifies?"

Mikhail bowed deeply, and the three people with him followed suit. "I am Mikhail, a mere traveling magician. The two women, Emily and Kiyohime, are my assistants. The young master I've brought with me is none other than the current heir to the Jenvier estate, Edward Jenvier."

Even Kiyohime acted as his assistant? Rosemary pressed her forehead into her palms and curled her fingers through her bangs until she was resting on fists. She would have to bull her way not only through the first assistant, Emily, but Kiyohime as well if she ever wanted to get her son back. And what was the boy, Edward, doing here? What good was he to Mikhail?

"And you, Young Master Jenvier," said Prince Gerard, indicating the boy next to Mikhail with a wave of his hand as he paced before Mikhail's group. "Can you trust the words of this traveling magician, Mikhail?"

Edward nodded. "Yes. He saved my life on that boat, when..." Edward trailed off. The boy brought his sleeve to his eyes to wipe the tears that had formed, but thought twice about it and lowered the arm, preferring a large gulp of air instead.

"I see." The prince stopped pacing and scratched at the back of his head, a frown forming at the corners of his mouth. "Now, say what you will, magician. Speak knowing slander will not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly."