Allergies and a Harp
by Maelstra
2 - In the Meanwhile
"I can't believe that jerk didn't even show up for the wedding yesterday!"
Cecil sighed at Cid's rampage, but did not comment.
"After all we suffered because of that guy, and everything he owes you . . . !" Cid's face flushed nearly the same color as his beard.
"Cid, please," Rosa smiled sweetly. "It's really okay. Kain just needs some time. Right, Cecil?"
Cid talked right over anything Cecil might have said. "How much time does he need? No one's seen him for over three months! If he wants to disappear into the pits of the Phantom World, that's his business – but, when his old comrade is getting married, the least he could do is show up for a day or two!"
Cecil sighed again, and leaned back in the throne, rubbing his brow. "So, what should I do? Drag him back to the castle? Cid, if he doesn't want to be found . . ."
"He's a dragon knight, sworn to defend Baron! This is cowardly desertion!" Cid stomped back and forth before the thrones. "Look, your majesties. If I decided to just up and disappear, what would you do? Would you just say, 'Oh, well, I guess Cid got tired of Baron. That's too bad,' and then just drop it?"
"Cid . . ." Rosa said warningly.
Cecil stood. "Look, Kain's been through a lot of stress lately, but he's still my friend . . ."
"He's also a dragon knight of Baron!"
Cecil shook his head. "If you're really being technical, Cid, he never swore his fealty to me – only to the previous king." He stood and walked over to look the taller engineer in the eye. "And, you're right, he is also my friend. I do miss him, but I am also going to respect his wishes."
Rosa intervened, trying to smooth things over. "Cecil, you could always ask our friends in the neighboring kingdoms if they've seen him. If there's still no word, we could give Kain a bit more time . . . and then organize a formal search, just to make sure he's not in any trouble."
"That sounds like a good idea," Cecil approved, sighing and trying to smile for his wife's sake.
Cid, his beard still bristling with fury, grumbled poisonously under his breath, then finally growled audibly, "That guy is nothing but trouble! If it makes you happy, though, I'll even help by going to ask the dwarves for you."
"Thank you," Cecil smiled in relief.
"Thank you, Cid," Rosa echoed, in her sweetly, with a graceful wave of her hand. Even when she was being casual, she could look every inch a queen.
"Do you think he's in trouble? I don't want to interfere if he just needs some time alone," Cecil murmured after the loud engineer finally left.
Rosa stood and squeezed his shoulder. "We're still his friends. We're just going to remind him of that. Right?"
" . . . Right."
