Page 41 of The Curse Between Us

Edric felt the weight of her gaze, and for a brief moment, his usual polite reply faltered. There was something in her tone—something knowing—that made him hesitate. "I am physically recovered from my brief illness," he said instead, his voice quieter than before. "But otherwise—"

"I am sorry for the difficulties of your situation," she said softly, her voice a touch gentler than usual. "Perhaps a distraction will help?"

"Perhaps." Edric leaned forward, setting his glass aside. He could feel the conversation about to take a more serious turn. "Did you have something particular in mind?"

Hadley smiled, as if she had anticipated the question. "Yes. We need to discuss the way forward for Rafria and its people."

Edric tensed for a moment, instinctively bracing himself, but forced himself to relax. Hadley, as High Priestess, held a position nearly equal to his own in the kingdom. More than that, she was wise, subtle, and deeply devoted to Rafria's welfare. He knew he could trust her judgment, even when the matters at hand were complex and difficult.

"You have my attention," he said, his tone both respectful and attentive.

Hadley paused, her eyes thoughtful as she took another sip of her wine. "You can feel it, can’t you? The expectation in the air? The sense of the kingdom holding its collective breath,waiting to exhale?" she asked, her voice calm, but there was an undeniable weight to her words.

Edric nodded slowly. "Yes." He leaned back in his chair, trying to push away the feeling of unease that had been gnawing at him for days. "It’s as though we are all dreaming, and we know that any minute we might wake up."

Hadley shook her head, a slight frown forming on her lips. "But it is not a dream. And it is time we accepted that, and dealt with it."

Edric furrowed his brow, but then nodded in reluctant agreement. "We have made our visit to Eskarven," he said, keeping his voice even. "And they have done the same. The boldest among our merchants have already begun to cross the mountains. What else do you suggest we do?"

Hadley’s expression grew more serious, and she sat up straighter, clearly prepared to share her thoughts. "There are many others to consider, but I believe we ought to begin with the soldiers."

Edric instinctively glanced upwards toward the offices where Alec and Herbert, his two trusted military advisors, were likely tucked away. They had been adamant about maintaining the strength of Rafria's military, and so far, there had been no mention of disbanding the army. They continued to train the guards and soldiers every day. He met Hadley’s gaze. "Go on," he said, his curiosity piqued.

Hadley shifted slightly, her hands folding neatly in her lap. "The temple has long suffered due to the war," she said bluntly, her voice carrying a quiet authority. "It used to be a place of contemplation, of community, of sanctuary to those who needed it. But over the years, those who might have considered joining the ranks of its attendants have found themselves serving in the army instead."

Edric’s mind immediately grasped the logic behind her words. Under his father’s rule, Rafria had become more militarized than ever. He knew better than most how deeply his father had been invested in the war effort, and how many other areas of the kingdom had suffered as a result.

"And now you wish to see them serve in the temple instead?" Edric asked, raising one eyebrow.

Hadley shook her head quickly, her voice firm. "Only those who wish it," she said. "We have won not only peace, Your Majesty, but a measure of freedom. I believe some of the soldiers will find surprising common ground in temple life—the community, the structure, and even,"—she paused with a glimmer of humor in her eyes—"the hierarchy."

Edric let out a laugh at the suggestion, the tension in his chest easing for a moment. "You make a convincing argument. But I believe this is something that must be first discussed with my brother, and then with the soldiers on an individual basis."

Hadley smiled, pleased with his response. "Of course," she agreed, rising to her feet. "I merely wished to plant the idea in your mind. We have many people to tend to in this time of change, Your Majesty."

Edric stood as well, bowing formally. "Thank you for your counsel," he said, his voice sincere. "As always, I welcome and appreciate it."

Hadley smirked slightly. "I doubt that," she replied dryly. "But even kings must be humbled on occasion." She curtsied again, then swept out of the room with a rustle of her skirts, leaving Edric to his thoughts.

Sitting back down, Edric took another sip of his wine, the conversation playing over in his mind. It would be good to see the temple restored to its former glory, to provide the kingdom with a sense of unity and purpose. He had never known the temple as a place of peace, having grown up with the constantshadow of war. And Hadley made an excellent point: Rafria had many soldiers in need of new opportunities, but that was a conversation he would need to have with Alec first. He knew well enough that his brother would resent any intrusion into the running of the army without proper consultation.

Edric stood and wrote a swift note, summoning an attendant with a wave of his hand. "Please deliver this to Prince Alec," he instructed. "Thank you."

As the attendant left the room, Edric glanced out the window. It was already full dark, and he realized there was little time left for much more to be done that night. But tomorrow, he vowed, he would begin anew. His kingdom was changing, and so were his responsibilities. Perhaps if he buried himself in the work of helping his people adapt to their new circumstances, he could ease the ache that lingered in his chest every time he thought of Zephyr’s face.

???

“I received your note,” Alec said briskly, striding into Edric’s chambers the next morning, his boots clicking sharply against the stone floor. “You wished to speak to me?”

Edric stood up from the desk, stretching his arms above his head, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue from another restless night. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft, golden glow through the windows, and he glanced outside for a moment, letting the warmth of the morning light soothe him. “I did,” he said, his tone a little more reflective than usual. He caught the glimmer of sunlight dancing off the stone walls, and for a brief moment, it almost felt like everything might be alright. But the thought of his brother, his kingdom, and all the change weighing on him kept gnawing at him. “Will you take a walk to the market with me?”

Alec raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “What do you need at the market that you cannot have fetched for you?”

Edric shook his head, his voice taking on a pleading note that was unusual for him. “Please. Trust me.”

Alec sighed deeply, rolling his shoulders as he tied his long hair back with the leather strip he always kept on his wrist. He had no love for ceremonial pomp, preferring things to be straightforward and to the point, but there was something in Edric’s tone that made him pause. “Very well,” he said, though his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

As they exited the castle through the southern gate, Marsh and Eileen followed at a respectful distance, giving the brothers enough privacy to converse without an audience. But their presence was still enough to keep Edric's thoughts slightly guarded. Alec broke the silence first, his voice low as they began walking down the road toward the town.

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