Iwatch as Goldie trails her fingers along the trinkets at the merchant’s table, her eyes alight with happiness in a way that was difficult to bring out for a while. She was mourning, I understand, but I’m glad she’s able to be more carefree now and able to walk among the people with nothing but happiness and hope for our future.
It isn’t common for a queen to walk among the market, wearing a crown on her head as she searches through the jewelry. Cora insisted on giving back to the people, so each week, no matter the weather, she comes out and purchases from them—food, trinkets, clothing, whatever they sell, she buys. Sometimes, she gives it to children running by. Sometimes, it’s for the women. Every so often, she keeps something small for herself.
Today, she’s decided to purchase items for each of us.
“Do you think he’ll like this one?” Cora asks, holding up a golden chain sporting a rather large jewel. It sparkles in the sunshine that graces the entire realm, catching the light and throwing it around. The merchant looks excited at her interest, and when she asks my opinion, his eyes move over to me, waiting for my answer. There’s no fear there, but not because he’s not afraid, but because he’s a halfling with a talent for jewels.
“Krug does love his jewels,” I reply, smiling gently at her. She hasn’t picked out something for me, not yet. I suspect she’ll try to keep it a secret until she decides to gift it to me.
Smiling gratefully at the merchant, she hands the necklace to him and says, “I’ll take it.” Her eyes catch on another jewel, a brooch, sitting on the table. It’s a glittering twist of wire and small beads that forms the shape of two birds in flight. Carefully, she picks it up before handing it to the merchant. “This too, please.”
“Who is that one for?” I ask curiously. It isn’t a style she’d choose for any of us.
She smiles at me and takes the parcel from the merchant, nodding her head at his gratitude for her business. “Come,” she tells me. “I have one more place to visit.”
I trail along behind her, both for protection and companionship, as we move through the city that’s grown since the Fracturing of the Shadows, or at least that’s what the people have been calling it. Humans, monsters, and halflings live mostly in harmony, rebuilding their world in ways that bring us together. Only those who were from the Gilded Lands struggled in the beginning, but now they know they have no choice. Still, one day, I know there will be someone who will want to fight Cora for creating this peace, and when that day comes, we’ll be ready.
I’m not surprised to see the cemetery come into view. Cora spends her time here when she needs to speak, though the gravestone is only a marker and nothing more. Kai’s grave sits on a small hill, where the sunshine always gleams. Fresh flowers constantly decorate the grave, a request from Cora.
Although there is a marker, no body lies buried here. In the end, we’d been unable to find Kai’s body in the ravine. After weeks of searching, we gave up, assuming something had either gotten to the body first or it had simply been swept somewhere unreachable. Cora mourned not being able to bury her sister, but she has this place now, and she says she feels like Kai can hear her when she talks.
Anything Goldie wants, we give it to her.
I stand back as she moves forward and sets the small brooch on top of the grave, leaving it like an offering for the sister she gave everything for and still lost. Goldie had lost some of her shine before, but it’s back now. Still, I know nothing can take away that pain, so I assume the role she needs of me.
Her protector, her jester.
Her love.
“She would have liked it,” I say when she comes back up to me.
Smiling gently, she nods. “She would have.” Her eyes catch on a different grave, her brows furrowed in confusion. “That’s Kai’s lover, the one she was planning on marrying.”
I follow her gaze and find a small bunch of handpicked flowers sitting on the grave. “He died?”
She leans in. “Apparently so. How sad.” She continues to stare at the flowers. “I don’t think he had much family to mourn him.”
Shrugging, I offer my arm. “At least someone mourns him. That’s enough.”
Lingering a few seconds longer, she finally threads her arms through mine before reaching into the bag at her hip. Her fingers come out with a wrapped parcel I never saw her purchase.
“Sneaky, sneaky, Goldie,” I tease when she offers the package to me.
A mischievous smile curls her lips. “I knew you’d be watching, so I purchased this last week when Nero was with me.”
With far more care than I ever intended, I peel open the wrapping to find a golden dagger nestled inside. The hilt sports a large red jewel in the center and a series of smaller jewels in intricate designs.
“It’s a blood ruby,” she says when I stare at it. “I’m told someone with a connection to blood can feel the power inside it.”
Reaching out with my senses, I discover she’s correct. My throat goes thick with emotion at the beautiful, thoughtful gift she’s given me. “It’s perfect, Goldie. I will stab all of your enemies with it and make sure they know whom I’m honoring as I do so.”
Her smile brightens. “I love you, my fey.”
I tuck the dagger into my belt, displaying it for all to see, and then I pull her into a brutal, sensual kiss. When neither of us can breathe, I break the kiss, only to press my forehead against hers.
“And I love you, Goldie, always and forever, until we both bleed dry.”
Even then, it wouldn’t be long enough.
