“Alessandria, we all did a great thing today,”
“But Daniel the two other masterminds still live. You and the Queen aren’t safe yet,”
Squeezing Harrison briefly, I replied: “As soon as I knew I was gay. I knew I wouldn’t be completely safe. We need to live whilst we can,”
Alessandria shook her head but nodded in the end.
“Daniel, what about the Greenscales?” Hellen asked.
“Yes,” I said as she reminded me, and I looked at Alessandria. “I received a letter from her thanking us for the withdrawn of the military from her land. And as promised, she has promised you her family’s support on her honour,”
When I saw Alessandria’s face light up, I was happy for her. My sister slowly getting her way.
“Thank you, Daniel for arranging that. I promise you I will find the other two members of the Triad before they can hurt you,”
Nemesio tapped her leg carefully and said: “No you won’t. We will all find them together,”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
With everything wrapped and Harrison being close to me, I decided to say to everyone: “It is early evening, you could all go out,”
Alessandria looked as if she was about to tell me off for being rude. Then her face changed to a gentle smile and she blew me a kiss.
“Um, yes. I think I have some paperwork to do at the castle,” Alessandria said as she got up. Hellen and Nemesio both clearly understood what I wanted so they got up to leave too
“Nemesio!” I shouted before he left. “I’m sorry. I forgive you, my friend,”
The former Inquisitor looked a bit taken by my comments, but he gave me a sort of confused nod before he left.
As soon as they all left, I turned to Harrison and said: “I’m ready,”
***
Stepping out and shutting the wooden door to Harrison's house, Alessandria took a moment to compose herself. Looking around, she enjoyed seeing the dirt road lined with small stone walls in front of Harrison's little garden. With the trees blowing in the evening wind.
The smell of fresh green grass covered her senses as the evening wind from the coast a few miles away blew gently past her.
Waving goodbye to Hellen, Alessandria couldn't stop smiling as she saw her best friend walk off humming a merry little tune to herself. Tapping the floor with her big stick as she walked.
Raising her head for an unknown reason, Alessandria admired the clear blue evening sky as the dimmish sun reminded her there were plenty of hours of daylight left on this warm summer evening.
She knew this task was done. With the help of her friends and brother, she had killed a threat to her Queen and saved her country. As much as she wanted to enjoy that fact, Alessandria still shook at the idea of two powerful people alive and plotting against Daniel and her Queen.
Nemesio stopped and stood next to her. Joining her in looking at the beautiful countryside on Harrison’s doorstep.
Looking at him, Alessandria realised that she could enjoy this moment of victory. For if she didn't try to enjoy the wins, then what was the point of them? There would always be more fights and people to stop, but true friends and family weren't in plentiful supply.
Turning her head back to the house, Alessandria smiled as she thought about Daniel and Harrison progressing in their relationship. They were in love, they cared about one another and Daniel had encouraged her to pursue a relationship. But should she?
Walki
ng towards the dirt road, Alessandria and Nemesio didn't say a word to one another. Yet Alessandria knew he was smiling. Should she just ask? But what would she ask? She was Nobility and noblewomen don't ask out men. It's surely the other way around.
As the two heroes walked along the dirt road back to the castle, Alessandria felt the rough stones and sand under her leather boots, it finally dawned on her that this was her life. She might have been a Dominicus Procurator and a Noble Lady, but this was her life and she was determined to enjoy it. Especially, after almost losing everyone she loved today.
She gently grabbed Nemesio’s wrist and asked: “It’s still early evening, do you... want to get some dinner?”
Nemesio smiled.