BK1 Chapter Forty-Seven

Chapter Forty-Seven

Nathaniel’s office was very different to Lieutenant Cragborn’s. Nate hung various halberds instead of a bookshelf along the walls as decoration. A large window behind his desk let sunlight fill the room showing off the intricate pattern woven into a large round rug. His desk was a black dyed wood with silver handles the edgers adorned in silver triangles. A collection of ink was stacked on the right atop a sheet of cloth stained with it.

Everywhere I gazed, I spotted a sign of his wealth as heir to a Marquess. The curtains hung on the window had golden thread embroidered lions matching the pattern on the rug. The porcelain cup he gave me filled with tea was whiter than snow, and the tea itself was spectacular as I sipped on its fragrant hint of lemon. It was refreshing and warming all at once.

Now that I looked closely, I could see lions were etched into the handles of the halberds hung on the wall. Was the Hudson family crest a lion?

“I have to thank you, Lynette”, Nate chuckled as he settled down into his chair behind his large black desk.

“Thank me?” I asked, sipping my tea.

“Yes, you got me out of a conversation I really didn’t want to have with Soren”, he sighed, rather pleased.

“Soren…” I stared, a little hesitant to ask. “Is he a Hudson?” the man had shared so many features with Nate that it was hard not to consider them as family.

“Yes, my younger brother. He’s a bit prickly but soft as a lamb once you get to know him.”

“Right…” I blinked at that description. He really didn’t come across as soft.

“How are you settling in? It’s your first time in Zromore, isn’t it?”

“The capital is grander than I had imagined”, I said nonchalantly, noticing the view from Nathaniel’s window. He had a direct view of the small courtyard Callan and I had walked through to get here. It seemed the small square garden was built at the centre of this auditorium, surrounded by offices and lecture halls.

“It does take a little getting used to; Alinor Keep works separately from the rest of the Capital, though. You will have to explore the city on Earth Day; I can take you to a great restaurant I know if you’d like?”

“That would be wonderful, Nate”, I smiled; having a meal with my first friend in this life would be nice. Maybe I could bring Teresa and Rian? Wait, no, I was supposed to be limiting my time with Nate. He was a Marquess; I didn’t want his reputation to be tarnished by me.

“Now that you are here, I should probably discuss with you about… those complications” Nate sighed reluctantly.

“Ah, right, you did mention there would be an issue after our… event” I blushed, thinking back to the day in the tavern. I had approached Nate for my selfish desire to be with a handsome man. I hadn’t expected him to be someone kind and not at all interested in me that way. Was it the luck of Vishka that I chose Nate that day?

“Yes,” Nate leant over and poked my cheek.

“huh,” I jumped, holding my hand against my cheek as he pulled away.

“You were redder than a tomato”, Nate grinned mischievously, making me grow no doubt redder.

“Please don’t tease me”, I pouted as embarrassment set in, making Nate laugh and hold up his hands.

“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore,” he said, but a glint in his eyes made me suspicious.

“The issue is my mother”, he continued as I tried to forget about my embarrassing appearance.

“Your mother?” I widened my eyes; I thought the issue would have been Marquess Hudson.

“Yes, she is insistent that I marry, has been for a while now. If she finds out about our rumour, she will likely hook onto it. Not to mention-” he paused and grimaced, “there are some noble ladies who will be displeased with you for stealing their chances” he said that last part with disgust.

“You have admirers? That is no surprise; you are a handsome man Nate.” I didn’t hesitate to compliment my friend making him stutter for a moment this time. Ha, revenge.

“Lynette”, Nate covered his face with his large hand. “Don’t tell me you fell for this face as well?”

“It’s hard not to,” I beamed innocently. “You are dazzling; it must run in your family.”

“Oh?” Nate raised his eyebrows with a smirk. “You find Soren dazzling too, then?”

“I -” I felt a rock form in my throat. I had just admitted that, hadn’t I? Crap. “It would be unbefitting of me to lie”, I mumbled, sipping some more tea.

“I suppose” Nate had a cheeky look that made me purse my lips.

“What is it I should be wary about in regards to your mother?” I tried to change the subject of my admiration of Soren.

Nate clearly knew I was but shrugged and went along with me. “It’s the social season you will need to worry about. I know you haven’t attended before, but if you are staying in the Capital, you will come in spring. I suspect you may be approached by my admirers, and they won’t be too cordial with you. Then there is my Mother; if you successfully cancel your engagement, she will try something with you. I haven’t shown interest in any other woman by her knowledge.”

“I see.” I sighed; it would not be my first time dealing with snooty women in conversation. My second life gave me plenty of experience of that as a socialite. “That may or may not be an issue, as I may not be staying in Zromore.”

“Oh?”

“It is in regards to what I wished to speak with you about.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk about so urgently? Your brother didn’t seem all too pleased,” Nate mused as he leaned back into his chair. He had cut his blonde hair since I last saw him; it was shorter now and styled with a flick across his forehead. It suited him.

“It’s nothing pleasant”, I sighed, placing my cup down on his desk. “Roger Heversham has written a request to have my blood contract revoked. Eduard has handed it in this morning.”

“What!?” Nate paused his cup in shock as his eyes widened. “Why on earth would your father do that?”

“Roger believes I should be a reserved woman. He wants me to marry Lord Asher and be a good housewife.” I mumbled sullenly. “He doesn’t believe women belong in the Army.” or anywhere other than a bed chamber for that matter. As a traditionalist, Roger would be happy for all women to birth heirs and nothing else.

“Gosh, I knew he had a reputation for being traditional, but that’s a bit much” Nate frowned, tapping his finger on the desk. Roger would be aghast with a man like Nate.

“I have only been accepted as a foot-guard, so the likely hood of Rogers request being accepted is probable.”

“Oh, I see.” Nate’s expression faltered for a moment as his eyes searched me. “The generals probably will revoke your blood contract if you join without your father’s permission. Without Aether as a footguard, they won’t see a reason to go against his wishes. Foot-guards are not supposed to sign a contract until they pass their weapons exam, so your case is unusual.”

“I know” I tried to hold the knot that was forming in my stomach. There was no time for me to grow my core to become reviewed as a summoner. I won’t be able to get my hands on Jabascus root until Earth Day, two days from now.

“Lynette…” Nate looked at me with sympathy, “There’s nothing I can do to change the general’s decision when they make one.”

“I know, Nate, that’s not why I am here” I forced a smile as I reached into the chest pocket that held my letter. “I have an idea, but I don’t know enough about the law to know if it is feasible. I was wondering...hoping you would be able to advise me on this?”

Nate leaned his head on his hand, curious, as I placed the letter on the desk between us.

“If this isn’t an option, I would be grateful if you… didn’t mention it to my family.”

“Of course, though I will be irritating Eduard when given the chance” Nate grinned as he took my folded letter.

“Please, maybe refrain yourself from that” I smiled, remembering how irritated Eduard had been with Nate in the past. Nate really did know how to get on Eduard’s nerves.

“No promises”, Nate mused. “Now, what is this?” he unfolded my letter and began to read. I watched his expression change to shock as he paused and looked at me.

“Lynette… Are you sure about this?”

“Very sure.” I nodded as my fingers gripped the material of my grey cloak. I had come so far in this life, my last life. I will do anything if it means I can stay.

“There is a way you can do this, but I-”

A knock pounded on Nate’s office door, making us both jump at the surprise.

Was that Callan? Why was he knocking so loudly?

“Lord Hudson, I understand Lady Heversham is with you. She has been summoned to the tribunal; we have come to escort her.” A deep voice I did not know spoke loudly through the door.

Nate pursed his lips at the interruption. “Talk about timing”, he muttered. “One moment”, he shouted louder so the man behind the door could hear.

Quickly he stood up from his desk, my letter in hand, grabbing one of the round wooden stamps. Nate plunged it into a bowl of red ink and then stamped the base of my letter. He then opened a drawer, grabbed some fresh paper sheets, and began writing something. His quill moved swiftly as he wrote with a furrowed brow. It was short, but he sealed it with the same stamp he had used on mine and then folded them both into an envelope.

“Here, it’s a sound plan, but are you really sure about this, Lynette?” Nate held out my letter as I gingerly took it back from him.

“I am; if it’s possible, I will use it only if I have no other choice.” I don’t know what decision the generals are going to make. Nothing is set in stone yet; I still had my chance to argue my opinion.

“It is indeed possible; I have added a note of my own should anyone question it. My seal will be enough to know it comes from my hand, not yours. That should provide legitimacy for you.”

“Thank you, Nate” I felt a bubble of emotion welling inside of me. “You really are too kind to me” No one I knew would do this; it was a crazy plan. Some would say stupid, but Nate accepted it and stamped it with his own seal. I hadn’t wanted to get him involved, only his advice, but his seal would make it difficult not to involve him now.

I had already inadvertently broken my promise to Callan not to get Lord Hudson involved.

“Lynette, it’s hard not to want to help you” Nate smiled as he placed his large hand on my shoulder. “I worry about what you intend to do, but I trust you know what you are doing. It’s not something someone would make lightly. If you truly do want to stay in the Army, I will support you the best I can.”

“I could not ask of you for anything more than what you have already done for me, Nate; thank you.” I bowed and lifted the hem of my cloak as if I were wearing a dress in my utmost respect for this man.

My first friend.