Page 187 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
The second word had traveled that Alice had been defeated and the Blackfog spies were no more, a very strong but polite request had come from Peldeep regarding the celestial’s capture. And since Calisto was busy planning an evenbiggerFall Ball to celebrate the return of her prodigal son, she’d been all too willing to move the celestial elsewhere.
Which Gerda had kindly volunteered to arrange.
It had taken the better part of ten minutes between landing in Peldeep, meeting Knight Commander Bastian, and being escorted to the Emerald Palace. Their other party members were being met with a lavish welcome in a palace room with the best food, drink, and a pile of gold each. The reward for taking down Alice was generous, and that was the only reason John was here instead of already enjoying his early retirement.
Julian and Gerda were the only ones permitted to go into Rowen’s inner palace to hand over the celestial herself.
“She already escapedyourunderground security,” the troll pointed out. “And you have to admit, Rowen has probably suffered the most by her hands. They should have the right to her sentence.”
He would’ve argued, but she was correct. They were still repairing sections of the burnt down palace from the celestial’s attack at the Apple Blossom Festival—though it looked like it was almost done.
“Thank you, both of you.” Rowen swept over to take up Gerda’s hands. “I can finally sleep in peace again, knowing this is finally over.”
“You’re welcome,” Gerda said.
“As long as itisover,” Julian grumbled.
“Oh,it is.” The fox smiled, showing all of their teeth. They released Gerda’s hands and snapped a finger. Knight Commander Bastian stepped forward with a medium-size wooden box in hand. It was short but wide enough to fit in the drakin’s arms. “And now, my friends, since you’ve brought me what I most desired, I’ve prepared a few thank you gifts!”
“Oh?” Gerda’s excitement was palpable, though Julian hesitated, uncertain what the fox had up their sleeves.
Bastian offered the box to Gerda.
“Open it!” Rowen urged.
She unhooked the latch and peeked inside. And then she gasped.
“Is that GoldLeaf Grand? And nettle from Moondew Meadow? Wait!Powdered Markleberry!” His troll was beside herself, beaming up at the fox with shining eyes over a case of the rarest teas on the continent. “Your Highness, this is … I don’t know what to say!”
“Say you like it,” Rowen instructed.
Gerda closed the box with care then took it into her arms lovingly. “Iloveit.”
“Good.” The fox nodded before raising an eyebrow at Julian. “Now,am Ito assume that you will finally be stepping up as the grand duke of North Sumbria and letting your mother retire?”
“That is the plan,” Julian admitted. His mother was officially announcing it at the Fall Ball, which was only three weeks away.
“Then I think it’s time I gave you this.”
Bastian brought forward a silver tray with a white silk cloth draped over the gift. Julian’s hands were shaking when he lifted his father’s ducal coronet, one he’d only seen in portraits.
It was fashioned into bimbleberry leaves shaped from burnished orichalcum, and in the center of each leaf was a mithril snowflake that shone from the small moonstones imbedded on each point.
“How … ?”
“I visited your father before the last stand … Before he passed,” Rowen explained softly. The fox reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. “And I want you to know, he would be proud of you, Julian.”
The slip of formal title only made the words hit harder.
“Does my mother know you had this?” Julian asked, ignoring the ache in his chest that threatened to bring back all of his long-forgotten grief.
“She knows I’ve kept safemanythings for you father.” Rowen smiled. “Things he gave me before his final confrontation with Sumbria.”
“Like what?”
Rowen listed on their fingers.
“Treasure enough to cover North Sumbria’s budget for a year in the case of financial troubles, anniversary presents for your mother—he hada hundredyears of presents prepared, can you imagine?” Rowen shook their head, amused. Then continued, “He gave me the amulet you are wearing now, for your coming of age. I also have wedding presents—Julia already has hers—and presents for your children, should you have them.”
