NOVEL NEXT Book 10 Chapter 5
Joan took a deep breath before smiling up at the woman approaching them from down the path. The smile wavered when she saw two more people walking with her.
They had swords at their hips and spears in their hands. Guards. Was this a trap? Had the mayor of Seasrest turned on them? Joan started to move her hand down towards the pommel of her sword, wondering if there were more hidden in the garden. Outside of the clearing the foliage was thick, with all the flowers, vines and fruit trees. It would be easy to hide an army in them. But near impossible to do it quietly. She'd certainly have heard them by now.
The two guards stopped at the entrance to the garden and the mayor approached. She looked about the same age as Hardwin, possibly older. A few smile lines on the corners of her mouth. Her brown hair was tied back in a bun and she wore overly shimmery green robes.
"I can't believe it," the woman said before stopping in front of them. She didn't look dangerous, but Joan didn't let that stop her. She'd met more than a few people who appeared safe until they drew the knife on her. "You must be the daughter of the Chosen, correct?"
And any feelings of threat or worry evaporated when she saw the woman on the verge of shrieking like an excited child, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "Uhhhh, y-yes, I am," Joan said sheepishly, her hand drifting away from her sword pommel. "Sorry for ummm, dropping in like this. But the Chosen were busy and we didn't wish to--"
"No, no, nonsense!" she said. "I am Mayor Wulfwynn Torbica, but please, call me Wulfwynn. I can't believe it, it is truly an honor to have the daughter of both a Chosen and the queen of the Human Empire in my home. I am so sorry I couldn't bring you into the manor, it is so busy all the time and I didn't want you to feel crowded. Besides, it is such a lovely day how could we bear to be inside? That and, well, as a daughter of the Chosen I imagine you must be thrilled to be surrounded by your very gods, no?"
Joan just stared at the woman, her mouth falling open. Try as she might, she couldn't process all the woman said past the first sentence. "Ex… excuse me? Could… you repeat that?"
"Oh, I hope not to offend," Wulfwynn said quickly. "But I imagine you must feel incredibly close to the Lion and Unicorn, correct?" The woman turned and walked towards the statues, reaching out to gesture towards them. "Please, tell me. Have you ever met them? I mean, I know the Chosen embody them. But I've heard that they truly become like the gods themselves at times. Does Lord Hardwin truly live up to his legend? Holding the Lion's power, the essence of anger itself."
"W-what?" Joan asked, blinked. "I-I guess. The Lion does teach us about the value of righteous indignation, but--"
"And the Unicorn, temperance, restraint. Anger is powerful, a fierce tool to be used against the unjust, but it must be controlled. Restrained. Lest we give in and our anger loses its virtue. To give in to such emotions forsakes the gifts of the gods, instead traveling on the path of self destruction."
Joan blinked a few times and stared. She felt entirely lost. It wasn't that she hadn't heard the stories of the gods or how they represented and affected their lives. How each of them held an aspect closest above all others. It was just that she had never been particularly close with the gods. She'd respected them, feared them, even trusted them a little bit. But she was the Hero, her duty was to all of them and the world, not just one.
But that still wasn't what her mind was trapped on.
"Hello, I'm Bauteut," Bauteut said. "I'm Joan's personal healer. A--"
"You even have a personal healer?" Wulfwynn asked. "Magnificent. I don't even have one, and I'm the mayor here. The Chosen must truly value you. Or is it your mother?"
"THAT!" Joan said, finally managing to get the words out. "That, what did you mean by that? Emeline is NOT my mother!"
"Oh, there's no need to be shy," Wulfwynn said with a small grin. "We've all heard the rumors. And, as they say, where there's smoke, there's fire."
"She is NOT," Joan said again, her stomach doing a little nervous flip. "At the time she was, I was… I wasn't… that… I… oh…" She lifted a hand to her mouth and retched a little, closing her eyes.
"Joan?" Bauteut asked, quickly putting her arms around her. "Are you okay? Is it your wound?"
"N-no, I'm fine," Joan said softly, shaking her head. "S-sorry."
"Do we need to go?" Bauteut asked.
"I'm fine, just need to… calm down," Joan said softly.
"Wound?" Wulfwynn asked, her tone nervous. "Are you… sick?"
"It's nothing," Joan said quickly. "Just a little queasy."
"Since you arrived?" Wulfwynn asked and, to Joan's surprise, she sounded almost suspicious.
"She was wounded recently," Bauteut said quickly. "A demonic assassin came after one of the Chosen and she tried to fight them. She's been resting ever since."
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"She fought a demon?" Wulfwynn asked softly, her eyes wide. "And she survived?"
"Barely," Bauteut said.
"Hey, I didn't barely survive!" Joan said quickly. "I HEARTILY survived!"
"If Penthe had come a second or two later you might have been killed," Bauteut said, her voice filled with annoyance.
"But I'm walking around now and I didn't break all the bones in my body or get stabbed all the way through or start to melt or--"
"Joan!" Bauteut snapped, glaring at her with frustration. "That is not something to be proud of. Those are things most people don't go through!"
"I'm just saying, I did much better this time, that's all," Joan said sheepishly. "Don't I get some praise for that?"
Bauteut gave a soft sigh before nodding. "Yes, you do. You get some praise for, this time, not nearly dying. Happy?"
"It's a start," Joan said. She then cringed and glanced to Wulfwynn, who looked like she was about to cry. "Err, sorry, I just--"
"Oh, you poor, poor child," Wulfwynn said before reaching out. Joan knew what was coming, but just accepted it this time with an exhausted sigh. Sure enough, a moment later she was being hugged tightly and the woman was lightly rocking her. "To imagine being a child of a Chosen could be so dangerous! You have suffered so heavily at the hands of the demons, it is no wonder you hate them so."
"W-what?" Joan asked, blinking a few times. "I-I mean, not all of them were demons. And I don't really… hate demons. I just dislike the ones trying to kill me."
"Of course," Wulfwynn said in a soft, soothing tone that Joan recognized as one people used when they weren't really listening. At least the mayor let her go, instead looking down at her with pity. "You poor, innocent child…"
"I don't think I qualify as innocent, either," Joan said. "So, ummmm… thank… you? I guess? Errrr… so… then. It's just a bit of nausea. I'm sure it will pass."
Wulfwynn nodded, a look of concern still on her face. "Please, you shouldn't over exert yourself. If you'd like, I could have a room prepared in the manor. It would likely be far superior to that… room… you are staying at in the embassy."
Joan glanced up at the woman and tried to imagine that. Living under the same roof as a woman who was obviously a huge fan of the Chosen. Having to listen to that all day made her nauseous for other reasons. Politics were never fun. "I, err, couldn't intrude in such a manner. But I assure you, we have all been well taken care of. Queen Emeline has made sure we are quite comfortable."
"Ahhh, but of course," Wulfwynn said with a sly grin that made Joan internally groan. Worse, she could see Bauteut smirking as well. Damn it, she just added more fuel to that fire, didn't she?
"Though, if you would like to help us, there is one thing you could do," Joan said as casually as she could.
"For the daughter of the Chosen?" Wulfwynn asked. "Anything. Consider all of Seasrest at your fingertips."
"Chase, the Chosen of Water, has been searching for… for…" Joan trailed off when she saw the woman's face turn from excited to annoyed. "Is… something wrong?"
"All aid we could offer to the Chosen of Water has been offered and, dare I say, rudely dismissed," Wulfwynn said bitterly. "I am to understand that he was once a resident of our fine city? A shame, then, that he finds his trust in us to be so lacking. I don't know why he's searching for that demon, but I do hope whatever the reason it doesn't become a problem for all of us."
"He's looking for a demon?" Joan asked. "Wait, you know?"
"Has he not told you?" Wulfwynn asked. "No, I imagine not. Far be it from me to speak ill of one of the Chosen of the Gods, however…"
"Yes?" Joan asked.
"There has never been a Chosen who was a changeling, and I imagine there is a reason for that," Wulfwynn said before standing again. "Duplicity is second nature to them, creatures with ever changing faces. We've likely had countless such creatures cause no shortage of harm over the generations. Were he not one of the Chosen, I would question if whatever he desired this demon for was truly for the good of the world. Alas, the Chosen are beyond reproach. Even if he was the one who lost this demon to begin with."
"Chase lost him?" Joan asked.
"Yes, this Dixon," Wulfwynn said, a scowl on her face. "Hardly the first time I imagine the Chosen of Water has left his messes behind for others. Alas, our last records of him were him joining a band of pirates and abandoning the city. While I have offered to aid the Chosen where I can, he has rebuked them at every turn. Truly a shame."
Joan nodded numbly, blinking a few times. Penthe had sent Chase off searching for Dixon? "I… I see…" Joan said softly. "So, you aren't interfering or anything in that?"
"Interfere? With a Chosen?" Wulfwynn asked, looking horrified at the implication. "To interfere in the path of the gods would be madness! I am hurt that you would say such a thing!"
Joan cocked an eye, but gave a small nod. That reaction was a… bit over dramatic. But she could at least understand it. The woman was hiding something, but she didn't know what. She couldn't wait to talk to Chase and ask him about this. Penthe mentioned looking for Dixon as well, was he really that important?
"I'm sorry, but I really don't feel well," Joan said with a soft groan. "Bauteut, I think my wound is acting up."
"Sorry," Bauteut said, giving an apologetic smile before pushing a hand to Joan's forehead. "Yeah. Maybe this has all been a bit too exciting for you today. Lady Wulfwynn, I'm sorry to call this meeting short, but you have been an absolutely gracious host. Perhaps Joan could visit again at a later time?"
"Of course," Wulfwynn said with a small smile before bowing politely. "It has been a great honor to have the daughter of a Chosen here. Please, send your father my regards when you have the opportunity."
"Of… of course," Joan said softly. Bauteut got to her feet and then gently helped her up, leading her away. She glanced back towards the mayor for a moment, but all she saw on the woman's face was concern. Why did she feel she missed something? Meh, she almost always felt that way. She still needed to find out if Chase really was looking for Dixon.