Chapter Two: Carrion returns
Boa slumped in her chair whilst the people around her talked in droning voices; this was supposed to be an important meeting in which they were to discuss where the new donations to the children's foundation were to go, but so far nothing had been resolved. The foundation that had been started by her father King Klaus of Day, had been handed over to her upon her eighteenth birthday, and now one year on she was still enthusiastic about the work she did.
Being the head of the foundation meant mountains of paperwork to be sorted, you couldn't just give people money, you had to have proof of where it come from, that it was legitimate money and that the right amount of tax had been taken and that the correct amount was going where it should, not being skimmed away to line other pockets.
It had been almost six months since she had last seen Carrion, when he had left unexpectedly and without a given reason, but it hadn't been the last time she had seen Finnegan. Hiding in the garden for him to find her, and giggling when he kissed her, knowing she shouldn't be acting in such a way, but not ready to give up the only thing that allowed her to drop her perfect pretence and just be the girl that she was, Boa passed the months away in content happiness.
She didn't know if she loved Finnegan, but she enjoyed the attention he gave her, and the way he doted upon her and followed her every wish. She was fond of him, she knew that much. She liked the way he smiled at her, and the feel of his lips under her fingertips and her own, but she didn't know if it was love, or if it would all come to nothing. But in the days she spent smiling dreamily into her mirror when she brushed her hair, she didn't care.
Pouring over the papers in front of her, Boa knew she needed the people around her to come to some sort of conclusion, so that she wouldn't have to repeat this meeting again just because no one could agree.
"The school in Idjit is falling apart," one of the women said, her voice high in her distress.
"Shouldn't this money go to one of the day islands? We sent money into the night islands last time, and what thanks did we get for that?" someone said.
"We will not discriminate, the foundation is for everyone, and it is terrible, but the night islands tend to need the money more than the day," Boa said wearily. How many times did she need to repeat this? She'd never been on a night island, but she suspected they were just the same as the day, except there was just no light. Even if Scoriae was sometimes a setting sun, or a full one depending on the time of year, it was never pitch black.
"The Princess is right, how can we claim to help all of the children, if we don't?" the woman insisted.
"Isn't Idjit in Lord Carrion's control? Why doesn't he sort out his own orphans?"
Boa stopped yawning as her attention snapped back with the mention of Carrion's name. They never discussed him, it seemed to be a taboo subject, yet someone had broken the silent vow.
"Only in alliance, he has no sway over the actual happenings on the island," someone said informatively.
Boa didn't really know all that much about what the Carrion family actually owned, or had control over, her only connection to them was through her childhood friendship with Christopher. What he was now in control of had never really occurred to her. Thankfully all those around her seemed to be better informed. Clearly none of them spent their time giggling in the garden, or trying to escape the man they were now discussing.
"Midnight is in shambles, it's an absolute mess, there is chaos everywhere!" one man said with conviction in his voice.
"And how do you know that? I don't remember the council giving you money for an expense trip to Midnight!" someone called.
"I passed by on my way home last time we had a meeting, and I tell you, it is terrible," the man insisted.
Boa felt her heart sink. Of all the islands she was trying to help, she had thought Midnight would look after itself. Surely Carrion wouldn't have let it become dilapidated and insufficient? He was too proud to be insulted like that; he would never let it happen, surely not.
"Is Midnight really so terrible?" Boa asked sorrowfully.
"Yes," came the collective reply.
"Has anyone actually been there recently?" she asked again. Nobody answered this time. "Do the children need to be helped?"
Still no one said anything, and Boa felt her faith in them all fall. Her temper flared up, she hated rumours.
"I want nothing more said about Lord Carrion or Midnight, unless you have proof that what you are saying is true, we cannot afford to waste time basing our judgement on rumours or myths," Boa said shortly into the embarrassed silence. "Ladies, Gentlemen, this meeting is over."
There was a ripple of surprise throughout the room, as papers were shuffled, and egos dented. Usually the princess followed their advice to the letter; this dismissal was a shock to them all.
Boa didn't wait around for them all to leave; instead she stood up and left before any of them. Opening the door and walking out, she found Finnegan waiting for her outside; he looked dressed ready for riding.
"Not now Finnegan," she warned before he had the chance to say anything to her. Sighing she leant against the wall and listened to the talking from inside the room she had just left, she knew they were talking about her. There was no law against that, but today she wished there was.
"Boa, you know that you don't have to listen to them," Finnegan said trying to understand what might have happened. "Your father left the foundation to you, you've never gone wrong once, and you've done so much good already."
"But I was following their advice, now they were all in disagreement and I'm left to make the decision on my own," Boa said, her eyes sad and full of worry. Finnegan could see without even trying that this was important to her, and he was horribly aware that he could do nothing that would really help.
"Come riding with me and forget it for now," he said hopefully. Boa shook her head.
"I have to solve this," she told him stubbornly standing by the wall.
Finnegan bit the inside of his lip, boa could worry too much sometimes, and he felt it his duty to relieve some of the burden however he could.
"Solve it on the way," he said taking her hand and not letting her pull away from him. "Oh no Princess, I insist."
Boa let herself be lead outside and into the sun, she followed knowing it was better just to comply rather than have another argument. Finnegan was right, there was no reason why she couldn't think as she rode, and she hadn't been out for so long.
Jumping up into her saddle, she was surprised when Finnegan climbed up behind her and kicked the horse lightly to make it move.
"This is rather improper Finnegan, you should get down," Boa said as her horse made its way slowly out of the stable yard and out into the garden walk.
"No one is going to know, we'll ride down by the docks, no one will be down there," Finnegan assured her.
Urging the horse on faster, Boa felt Finnegan's hand wrap around her middle as they went quicker. The horse snorted as he galloped over the grass and small stones of the meadow by the sea, his hooves hitting the ground with a spring and the familiar sound of rhythmic thuds.
Boa smiled until they reached the dock and she saw which ship was waiting in the harbour. It was too late to switch directions, and by the way she felt Finnegan's hand clamp down protectively on her middle, he was thinking the same. Slowing the horse, Boa couldn't help but smile when she saw the expression on Carrion's face; he clearly hadn't been expecting her arrival. But when he saw Finnegan his countenance changed dramatically.
"Good day My Lord," Boa said in a way that made Finnegan's skin crawl with jealously. She never addressed him as her Lord, and somehow it seemed more inferior to be always just Finnegan.
Boa slipped down from the horse, taking Carrion's hand as he helped her down onto the ground. He stared up at Finnegan as she jumped down in front of him.
"Princess," Carrion said in greeting. He said nothing to Finnegan.
Boa beamed at them both, the ride had lifted her sprits and her face was flushed making her all the more alluring.
"Let me walk with you to the palace," she said beginning the climb up the steps on the side of the harbour that lead to the quickest way to the palace.
Carrion stared after her, cruelly looked back at Finnegan and then followed her. Finnegan held the reigns tightly until his knuckles turned white. He knew Boa was only acting out of politeness, but it still hurt that she preferred to walk with Carrion than ride home with him. Turning the horse around, Finnegan took one last look at his princess before turning back the way they had come.
"Can I ask you something Christopher?" Boa requested as they walked slowly along the town road, the shops and houses lining the way for them. Carrion didn't reply, but looked at her patiently.
"My foundation gives money to help children," Boa said knowing he already knew this, but knowing her question needed some sort of starting point.
"You want me to sponsor it?" Carrion asked.
Boa looked at him surprised, he had even sounded willing to do it.
"I would never ask that of you, it's a big commitment for one man," Boa said trying to return to her own question.
"You are only one person, yet you take on the biggest challenge," he told her.
Again Boa was surprised. Maybe she had avoided him unnecessarily all those other times; he was more pleasant than she remembered.
"I am not only one person, I have advisors..."
"You do not rely on them for every decision you make?"
Boa blushed down at the ground. She wished she could be as confident as the Prince of Midnight. She wondered what it felt like to never doubt your own decisions, just to have the conviction to make them.
"They are all in disagreement, and it concerns you," Boa said. Carrion stopped walking and Boa was forced to stop also. She didn't like the way he was looking at her, it was threatening, as if he was ready to defend himself in some violent way. "They say Midnight needs our help, is this true?"
"Midnight needs no help from you," he replied without even considering what she was saying. "It is a different place, you would not understand it. It's not money that is lacking, it is light."
Boa frowned. She took Carrion's words literally, and wondered why Midnight couldn't get enough light. Could the electric not work in some places?
"I was speaking of the children..."
"I have only been in power a year, every decision I make is either condemned by the rest of you or criticized by my Grandmother, and now you insult me today."
"I didn't mean..."
"I didn't come here to see you, I came to see your father," Carrion added maliciously, walking past her and continuing up the road faster than Boa could go without running.
"Fine," she called after him, then changing her mind hurried after him. She seemed to spend her whole life running about after people. "Wait, Christopher..."
He didn't wait for her, and Boa was forced to run round to the front of him and push her hands into his chest to stop him.
"The school on Idjit, will you give me your permission to help them?"
Carrion started when she touched him, and when her hands remained on his chest, he felt his heart beat even faster.
"Idjit is out of my control."
"But you don't protest?"
"Not if you insist upon it."
They were close to the palace now, and Boa could see the large gates further up the road. Letting her hands fall down to her sides slowly, Boa bowed her head.
"I am sorry, I should never have said anything about Midnight, and it was not my place. I am ill informed," Boa said trying to appease him. Slipping her arm under his and continuing to walk, Boa's action stopped him from replying. Feeling her smaller body bump into his every now and then stopped Carrion from thinking, and he rested his other hand over hers in an attempt to keep her there, forever.
Tbc…
