The Blessed

Chapter Three

"There, you look perfect, but you should get going or you'll be late. I look out the window and curse. Happy I picked flats for shoes I quickly run down the stairs and find my way to the garden. When I get there I smile at the sight. Dustin is sitting at the table his head in his hand, eyes closed humming a familiar song.

"For tomorrow is coming and the moon is a gift from the sun to protect us from the dark." I sing and he startles. Standing up he looks at me and smiles. He wore a black pressed suit and I couldn't help but smile at his messy hair.

"You look ravishing Xi." I blush at my shortened nickname and he grins. I walk over to the small cafe table and sit as he pushes in my chair. The table had two wine glasses and a candle in the center of it.

"I heard from my sister today, and what she told me put me on edge, so I wanted to know, because your mother already said we could. Would you be willing to accompany me to Normundus on Monday morning? " He sits back and looks at me with concern.

"What did she say that put you so on edge?" His voice is low and husky. 

"Read for yourself." I hand him the letter that was carefully folded up and slid into my cuff bracelet. I watch his face as he quickly reads the letter, his anger causing the flames to rise.

"He told his people you abandoned them, we will visit him and I will strangle him myself." I reach out and grab his hand, he immediately calms and looks at me.

"Him seeing me happy and healthy, and my people seeing me married in only a few days after my 'abandonment' will be pain enough for him." he smiles and nods as the server fills our wine glasses and plates the roasted chicken with tomato and basil sauce. I inhale and smile.

"You look like your going to drown in your drool my dear." I laugh as Dustin looks at the food as if he is a ravenous wolf stalking his prey. Looking up at me he winks and I blush looking back down  my plate.

"Tomorrow is a busy day, and since its the day before the wedding I won't leave  your side, because honestly I've known you for a whole twenty-four hours and I don't think I'd be able to go a day and a half without seeing you." His voice trembles as if it was a difficult confession to make.

"I have to agree, because I thought when I found out yesterday morning, I was going to hate you, loathe you for taking me away from my family. But all I've been able to do was feel as if I'm home, truly home." I see a tear rim his eyes and he brushes it away.

"This is the first time that we have been alone together since yesterday." He barks out a laugh and I grin looking around.

"So, did your father tell you I busted a crooked council member today?" He looks at me in shock and his eyes go wider than I ever thought they could.

"Dustin my love would you like to hear the tale of how I realized the bursar was crooked?" He nods speechless.

"Okay so he tried to get a servant to have Eliza sign a release for grain for the settlements to the east that are struggling due to raiders and the winter freezing the grounds. Well he seemed way to antsy so I requested to read it, he wanted people to pay at least fifty shillings for one bag of grain, and those that couldn't pay only got  quarter back, and these are the small ten pound bags of grain. So Eliza and I stormed a meeting and she had me present the evidence to your father, the bursar exploded in my face trying to scare me,instead all he did was spit all over my face. So now he in jail awaiting his trial tomorrow. So we have that on top of finishing decorating for the wedding." I take a drink of my wine as Dustin looks at me pale.

"I'm impressed, how did you know he would be deceitful?" I laugh and shrug.

"I saw a lot of it in my fathers kingdom, so I learned quickly to distinguish true loyalty and  just getting close enough to stab us in the back. Though I wont be there to help them anymore, I hope my brother learns that not everyone is his friend or ally." Dustin nods and takes a bite of his chicken. The rest of the night we talk about the trial and the coronation wedding mixture we will face on Sunday. We continue to talk as a guard walks out to our table.