Chapter 29
"Kenna! Bash! Daniel! You're back!" Mary greeted the three travelers. "But I think I'm waiting with a hug until you've cleaned yourselves." She smirked slightly. "How are you? What about Greer and Lola? Are they all right?"
Laughing, Bash raised his hands in defense. "One thing at a time. We will tell you everything. But first, how are you and are there any news about the plague?
Mary shook her head. "No case at the Castle, so far. But it is still too early to give the all-clear. Some of my soldiers reported, that almost all villages that are located near the Castle, were levelled to the ground. This time, they are even more radical than the years before. The fear of an epidemic make them blind."
"That's horrible!" Kenna looked down to her son, who could barely hold himself on his feet. "I bring him quickly in my room, so that he can sleep. The ride was very exhausting for him."
"But he did good for his first time!" Bash said proudly. "He will be a good rider someday." He stroked the boy's head. "Go with your mother, son. I'll come later."
Daniel nodded and followed his mother to her room, without resistance.
Mary turned to Bash. "Are you happy that they are back?" she asked smiling.
He nodded. "And this time, I swear to you, I won't let them go again. Before I started my search, I had thoughts about the future. At that time, I didn't know how Kenna felt about me. But now I'm sure."
"Sure about what?" Mary asked frowning.
"Sure about, that it is the only and proper way, to erase any wrong I had done to Kenna and Daniel, to ask her to marry me!"
"Oh Bash!" Mary grabbed his arm. "Then my news won't please you."
He looked at her questioningly. "What are you talking about? What news?"
"I need to go to England. It is an urgent political matter. And I'm asking you to escort me." she said flatly.
"Is this a request or an order?" Bash asked suspiciously.
"Have I ever given you orders?" She looked at him apologetically. "It was not my intent to thwart your wedding plans. But this is a matter of urgency. It's about peace between France and England."
Bash tightened his shoulders. "Of course. Duty before pleasure. When are we going to leave?" he said in an evenly voice.
"I only waited for you to return." Mary replied. "Tomorrow morning."
Bash raised an eyebrow. „Already tomorrow?"
Mary nodded. „Yes, as early as possible."
"How long will we stay in England?"
Mary shrugged. "I don't know. It depends on how the negotiations will go."
"Will they allow us to leave the country?"
Mary nodded. "We have received a special permission. When it comes to war and peace, nothing, not even a plague outbreak, can stop the negotiations."
Bash turned to the door. „I need to speak to Kenna."
"She probably won't like it." Mary warned. "And I can't blame her. But she needs to understand that there are things that are more important than personal interests."
It was Mary's last sentence, that haunted him, when he went to Kenna's room. He hoped that she would understand. He felt bad when he thought that he would have to leave again, after he had promised her to stay. And his gut instinct was right. Kenna didn't respond very well to his news.
"You're leaving?" Stunned, she was only staring at him, after he had told her about his mission. "And this after you had promised me to stay with us?"
They were in his chamber, after he had asked her for a talk in private.
"Yes, I know." Guiltily, he lowered his head. "That was before I knew that our country is at stake." He cupped her chin and forced her to look at him. "It's not that I want to leave. It was not my decision."
She freed herself and took a step back. "Yes, of course. It was not yours. It was Mary's." Kenna rolled her eyes. „She dictates what is allowed or what is forbidden."
"It's not like that..." he started, but was cut off.
"Don't fool yourself! You still would do everything for her. In the past, when she didn't want to be alone after Francis' death, you agreed to stay with her, and now, she orders you to go to England to do God-knows-what!"
Bash wanted to give a reply, but she cut him off again.
"Don't interrupt me!" She took a deep breath to calm her agitation. "Mary needed someone who kept her bed warm. And you pleased her needs unquestioningly!"
"Kenna!"
"No, Bash, now is the time that I can't keep it to myself any longer. And this has nothing to do that I'm jealous! You complained about, that Delphine tried to control your life with the help of witchcraft. Mary is doing exactly the same, without even using magic. And you are totally unaware of that!"
„That's not true!" he tried to defend himself.
„It is true. You are just too blind to see it! I am so sick and tired, that you're constantly running away and conjurs up excuses, why you can't be together with me!" She sighed with frustration. "Nothing has changed. Only the issue is another one. In former times, it was the Darkness and alleged ghosts, you had to hunt down, today it's Mary. She must only snap her fingers and you obey!"
"It's a decision on war!"
"I don't care what it is about! The outcome is the same. You're leaving and I'm alone again. Maybe I shouldn't care, but I feel bad for Daniel. You made him promises you can't honour. And it will break his heart, when he finds out that you left."
"I will come back to you!" he said insistently.
Kenna nodded. "Yes, I know. I don't know, however, if I'll still be here."
She blinked back tears, as she left the room, without looking back.
