Aftermath 3: Repose
The sunset was violet once again, the colors shifting through the clouds as the sunlight faded. Though the previous day had been one of cheer for the Kingdom of Baron, today, those on the Lunar Homeworld had grieved the loss of one of their own.
Golbez had just returned from Joran’s Passing.
Cecil found his brother sitting up on the battlements. Golbez was staring into the dying light, silent and motionless. His green eyes searched the horizon with a hint of pain, as if he was attempting to hear Joran’s voice again.
“Brother…” the Paladin spoke quietly, placing a hand on Golbez’s shoulder.
“Cecil..?” the Half Lunar barely roused from his thoughts, dropping his chin into one cupped palm. His eyes were still very far away. He was absently toying with his medallion.
“I’m sorry about…”
“It’s alright,” Golbez answered softly. “I’m content to think that wherever she is now… she’s free.”
Cecil nodded, not knowing what else to say. It had been a long road for them both since the day that his brother had walked through the arched gates of Baron. Everything that had happened during the battle on the Red Moon now seemed so far away. Like a hazy dream.
Sygnus — it was hard for him to believe that it was real. So Cecil had decided it was better to try to pretend that it hadn’t happened. Afterall, there would probably never be the need for a Sygnus on the Blue Planet again.
For a long time, the two stood in silence, watching the darkening sky. Then a thought occurred to the Paladin and he remembered why he had come up there to begin with.
“Oh, Golbez,” Cecil said. “I almost forgot… that document you wanted? I have it here for you, ready to be signed.”
Golbez’s face transformed instantly, his head lifting, “You do?”
“Yeah,” Cecil offered a quiet smile, holding out the smooth parchment for proof. “So, when are you going to ask him?”
“Let’s do it now, Cecil,” the Half Lunar caught his breath. “I have to know and I’d never do it without his permission.”
Cecil didn’t have to say anything else. Golbez was already eagerly making his way to the stairwell. The Paladin nodded, following quickly. He was relieved to see Golbez’s mood lighten, if only a little. He had hoped the good news would have that very effect.
The young king nearly had to jog to keep up with Golbez’s long strides as the Master Wizard led them through the twisting halls of Baron. Directly to the Page’s Quarters. Somehow, even if he didn’t know the way anywhere else in the castle, Golbez knew the way here. And to the kitchen.
The first thing they heard was the sound of boys shouting. It was cheering and jeering that Cecil knew all too well – a fight. Golbez’s eyes were wide as he approached. Cecil pulled back on his arm, signaling to let the boys be. Instead, they peeked through the doorframe’s crack.
Chase was standing in the middle of a ring of older boys who were shoving him back and forth. Finally, the golden-eyed boy tripped, stumbling to the ground. His breath was heavy as he pushed himself up with a pained expression.
Golbez’s fists tightened at his side. Once again, Cecil held his brother back.
“Don’t you see what they’re doing to him?” the Master Wizard demanded in a low rumbling voice.
“Yes, I see. I’ve been there before and I know how it feels,” Cecil’s green eyes were clear. “You’ve got to let him fend for himself, Golbez. Give him a chance.”
The Half Lunar’s breath caught in his throat. Reluctantly, he nodded. They continued to watch.
The leader of the boys dragged Chase to his feet with a scoff, “What’s wrong? Are you tired from your loooong trip?”
“Yeah, too bad you came back alive. They already gave your bed to someone else,” one of the other boys sneered.
Chase bit down on his lip.
“So,” the larger boy shoved him into the middle of the ring again. “Did you bring anything back for me?”
The other boys laughed jeeringly.
“Yeah, I brought you something,” the Page’s voice fell low as his gaze lifted.
Suddenly, Chase leapt forward, his little fist slamming straight into the older boy’s face. There was a sharp, painful sound. Blood splattered. Then the older boy toppled over, clutching his gushing nose with a high-pitched wail.
“That was a punch that I brought all the way from Fabul,” Chase glared down at the sniveling boy. Then he turned a wicked, golden-eyed glare on the others, “Is anyone else interested in a gift?”
The other boys backed away, before rushing off to their own little spots in the room. No one looked at the boy with the bloody nose. No one looked at Chase.
“Did you teach him that?” Cecil accused Golbez in a low whisper.
“Not me!”
“It was a good punch,” the Paladin mused.
“Well… those boys really deserved it!” the Master Wizard scowled.
“Yeah. Just watch this,” Cecil rose to his full height, then slowly swung the door inward.
The entire room of boys turned. Then ogled. Furious whispers fluttered from bed to bed as the King of Baron entered the Pages’ Quarters. The children stared up at Cecil with a combination of awe and fear.
Chase turned with a smile, “Your Majesty!”
“Hello there, Chase,” the Paladin smiled back, patting the boy on the head.
The other boys stiffened. A lowly page had been recognized, by name. By the King of Baron. Their world was coming to an end.
“There’s someone here to see you,” Cecil told him.
Golbez took his cue and poked his head into the room. Even if it was only a bunch of children, he still looked uncomfortable under the gaze of so many eyes. As his attention turned to Chase, he seemed to forget his discomfort.
“Ben!” Chase called cheerfully. He raced up to the Half Lunar, throwing his arms around his neck. “Where have you been?”
“Hiya, Chase! I’ve got something I want to show you,” Golbez grinned, lifting the boy up in the crook of his arm. He turned back to the peering eyes of the other boys and added, “Why don’t we go outside?”
“Okay!” the page agreed cheerfully.
As Cecil closed the door behind him, the room broke out in a chatter of excitement. The Paladin’s eyes glittered with mirth.
“Did you see the look on their faces? That was great!” Chase giggled. Then he paused with a worried frown. “Does that mean that you saw me…”
“What?” Golbez asked. “Punch that other boy?”
Chase swallowed hard, “You saw..?”
“Yes. We saw. And you have very nice punching form,” Cecil notified him with a droll arch of his eyebrow.
Chase’s worry shifted into a bright beaming smile.
Golbez led the boy over to the nearest bench and sat Chase down on his knee. As he brought out the parchment, his words were slow and grave. “Now, Chase. I have a very important question I want to ask you. And I want you to think hard about it before you answer. You… don’t have to say yes if you don’t want to. But, I…”
The boy cocked his head, the light catching his golden eyes.
Cecil felt a shiver run through him.
“I…” Golbez bowed his head. He handed the boy the parchment, “I want you to read this…”
Chase took the parchment between his fingers, holding it wide so he could see. He stumbled along as he sounded the words out, “With the power invested in me, King Cecil of Baron, I do so declare that the boy known as Chase Wescott be released from his status as a Page of Baron…”
The boy stared in shock, eyes flicking up, “But… but… Your Majesty! I..!”
“Hold on,” Cecil shushed him. “Keep reading.”
Chase swallowed, but continued. “…and I give legal paternal guardianship of this boy unto Golbez Benjamin Ya…”
Golbez bit his lip.
The boy looked up, puzzled, “Paternal guardianship? Does that mean..?”
“Chase,” Golbez held the boy out at arm’s length. “It means I want you to be like… my son.”
Chase gasped. “You… want to adopt me?!”
“Yes…”
“Me?” he squeaked.
“I’ll give you time to think about it!” the Half Lunar’s eyes grew fearful. “I understand it’s all so fast. I don’t expect you to answer right away.”
“Ben!” the boy threw his arms around the Master Wizard’s neck. “You really want to adopt me?!”
Astonishment kept Golbez from answering.
“Chase,” Cecil did the honors. “Golbez cares about you very much. He wants nothing more than to watch over and take care of you. Do you want that, too?”
“Yes,” the little boy whispered. “More than anything else in the world!”
Golbez’s face broke into a lopsided grin as he handed his brother the parchment. “Cecil… Sign it for us, please.”
Without another word, the Paladin King did.