Everybody was looking at him with awe and fear. He came straight to his mother and knelt. She kissed his forehead. Jay stood up and gave Tod a brotherly hug. Then Tod approached me.
"This is my present for you." He handed me the dagger. The monster's blood was still fresh on the blade.
"I shall never clean it." I said quietly looking at the blood.
I'm not sure how we managed to get back to the carriage. In my head I was thinking about what happened again and again. The vision of Hadrim Moreta dying by Tod's hands kept repeating in my head.
I couldn't believe it.
"I thought he will kill you" I said out of the blue as we were sitting together in the carriage, Tod, Jay and I. Their mother went by separate carriage.
"You thought wrong." Tod smiled while looking at me.
"Tod is a sword genius. Father was excellent but you brother, you are on another level." Jay patted brother's shoulder.
"Yes but he had years of practice, Moreta was older and more experienced." I looked up at Tod.
"He was out of practice, he killed a few people during his invasion and then took care of politics. I train every day for a few hours. What is more Kian, I was taking part in raids on the sea and yes, I killed quite a few men. I do have combat experience too."
"I didn't know that. I was so scared." I added looking at the dagger I was still holding in my hands.
"You killed that monster just like that. Your father would have been proud of you."
"I haven't done it only for my father's sake." Tod suddenly became more serious, his eyes were flickering as he was looking intensely at me.
"Calm down Tod. Kian is all yours. First we need to bury our father and then you can take him to your house. You shall have all the time in the world to spend with him as you please."
Jay grabbed Tod's hand and squeezed it a bit. Tod smiled back at his brother and I felt like air again. They were talking about me, yet none of them was concerned about how I felt.
Right, I gave him a promise. I was sure I will kill the prince and bear the consequences or Tod will die, so either way it shall be over. Now the situation has changed.
I felt Tod staring at me, the atmosphere became heavy.
"Not today Tod, we are still in the mourning period. Wait three days. You have been waiting for such a long time, three more days is nothing." Jay seemed to read his brother's thoughts and I felt cold sweat rolling down my spine.
I returned to Gale's house along with Tod. Jay went back to his mother's house. They were supposed to meet in the evening to conduct the usual prayers.
I went to my room and sat down on the bed. I put the dagger away and washed my hands. The number one from my death list disappeared and I felt both glad and empty. His death changed nothing. I was still here, Lorcan was gone and I was still someone's property.
I stretched on my bed, the faint smell of Lorcan was still present. I grabbed the sheets and buried my head inside it. I closed my eyes and felt his arms around me. I must have fallen asleep because I was woken up by somebody knocking on the door.
"Sir it's dinner time." I heard a female voice.
"I'll be ready in a moment." I got up quickly and combed my hair. I changed my clothes to a dark blue set with white shirt. I added a brooch. Lorcan loved watching me wearing those jewels, so it was for him. I didn't have the time to do something with my hair so I just let them loose and went downstairs. They all were sitting at the table, Lorcan's sons, his wife and Gale.
"I'm sorry for being late." I apologised and sat down. The only free place was next to Lady Ashling. Tod was sitting opposite me.
"Tod, you were amazing today." Gale started the conversation.
"You were just like your father or even better." He praised him.
"Thank you."
"Tomorrow we shall burn the body." Lady Ashling announced placing her glass on the table.
"We shall collect all the ashes and bring it back to his home." She continued.
"Jay, you shall take over the castle and the bridge, as for your marriage we will wait three months and then we shall proceed with the celebration." She seemed now so determined to be a true matriarch.
"You Tod will head to your estate by the sea."
Silence. Not a single word about me. I was eating my soup quietly lost in my thoughts when Gale suddenly made an unexpected announcement.
" This might not be the right time but I shall make an offer to buy Kian."
I almost choked with my soup.
Tod looked up at me then at Gale and finally at his mother.
"I'm sorry to inform you but Kian will become a part of Tod's house. He is well versed in economy, languages and trade. He shall be an important asset." Lady's voice was firm again, her words seemed reasonable.
"I see. Kian indeed has all those qualities. I shall pay you five hundred golden coins if he stays with me for three months, then I shall send him to Tod." Gale didn't seem to give up. I felt like a cheap whore. Well maybe not so cheap. I put the spoon aside. I lost my appetite.
"Gale, that's a whole fortune." Lady smiled.
"Not a chance. Kian is mine." Tod suddenly broke the humiliating discussion.
"May I go to the chapel?" I asked because I wanted to leave this place. I had enough.
"We shall all go. No need to rush." Jay continued eating.
With these words I was forced to stay back at the table. Lorcan was gone and his slave remained. I felt so cheap, not like a real human. I knew Tod was glaring at me the whole time.
We finally went down to the chapel. A priest was already waiting there and for over an hour we have been praying for Lorcan's soul.
I was watching his body lying motionless basking in the dim light of candles. I felt my loss again. I would like to tell him that the prince who ruined my life is finally gone. I would like to hug him. I could barely concentrate on prayers.
When the priest finished everybody stood up and started slowly walking out. I waited to be the last one. Lady Ashling looked at me and smiled gently.
"Come Kian." She reached for my arm and I had to accomply her wish.
We were walking in silence when she looked at me and stopped.
"There was a moment when I was jealous of you. I thought that nobody could rule my husband's heart. I thought he had no feelings and I felt better that way. Yet you appeared and my husband lost his head for you. I've never seen him acting that way." She touched my hair.
" Gale offered an astronomical sum for three months with you, my son Tod goes crazy about you. You sure are beautiful Kian. That beauty might be your curse. I'm not sure whether you are a lucky charm or a stunning Nemesis."
I said nothing. What did I expect from Lorcan's wife? That she would like me? Respect me? Surely no, at least she was honest. She could have sold me to Gael and then to other noble men. I could end up as a prostitute bringin quite a fortune to her income..
I was tired and I just wanted this day to end.
Finally I was able to wash myself and lay down in my bed. Lorcan's smell was no longer present. It was gone, they changed the sheets.
I closed my eyes. I was tired, still I was wondering if I should be able to fall asleep after all that happened.
The door to my room opened and I turned around only to see Gale standing at the entrance.
Shit.