Luther's Pride Part 38

Luther approached the trio waiting for him: Eira, Rhosyn, and Criella. The trio waited until he came to a stop before addressing him. Rhosyn kissed his left cheek, and Eira kissed his right. Criella lowered her eyes, but didn’t seem embarrassed or annoyed at the display of affection between the newlyweds. She hadn’t exactly seemed thrilled to see Lavinia, however. 

“Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Lavinia? Or do I have to ask Wulfric to fill me in on the details?” Luther asked as he placed his arms around Eira and Rhosyn’s petite waists. 

“It’s personal,” Criella said. “Not a business matter, my lord.” She adjusted the cuffs of her tailcoat. 

“And what is your personal grudge against her?” Luther asked. “I wouldn’t want to do business with someone of ill repute or questionable character.” 

Criella lifted her eyes to his and sighed. “She’s obsessed with her craft and work; defensive, emotionally closed off, endlessly critical, thinks marriage is a silly and outmoded concept, and has all the social grace of a moderately irate boar.” 

Luther, Eira, and Rhosyn stared at Criella. 

“I courted her,” Criella said. “Some years ago, while you were away.” 

“Oh,” Luther said, surprised. “I take it the courtship ended badly?” 

Criella raised an eyebrow as her tail twitched in annoyance. “Yes,” was all she had to say about that. 

“Do you have any issue with my continuing to do business with her?” Luther asked, which surprised Rhosyn as she turned to verify he’d asked. 

“No, my lord. She’s very talented at her craft and knows her business. I would, however, request a warning if she’s to be in attendance at some gathering or something in the future, and–” Criella paused, closing her mouth with a glance to Eira and shaking her head. “–and that is all I have to say on the subject.” 

“Oh, is it?” Luther asked, knowing full well that it was not. 

“Yes, sir, Criella said. “Do you wish to speak to me on any other subjects?” 

“So stiff, so professional. I thought you’d be over the moon with excitement and rubbing it in my face how right you were when I was wrong.” Luther said, surprised. “You don’t need to act this way just because Eira and Rhosyn are here.” 

Both of Criella’s eyebrows raised as her tail formed a hook behind her, an unconscious question mark punctuating her confused expression. 

“You didn’t tell her?” Luther looked at Eira, then Rhosyn. 

Eira shook her head. “No, we thought you might want to deliver the news yourself.” 

“Where is Miss Burville?” Luther asked, checking the nearby parlor for her, but finding it empty. 

“Visiting the temple with Helena and Jo,” Rhosyn answered. “They had some errands to run in town.” 

“Oh,” Luther said, surprised that they left without saying goodbye or talking to him. To be fair, if he’d been in the vault, they wouldn’t have been able to find him. Or if they hadn’t wanted to interrupt his meeting. Not that they weren’t allowed to run their errands without him, but he might’ve tried to join them. 

“Maybe we should all visit town. I haven’t been since I’ve returned.” Luther said. 

“Perhaps tomorrow?” Rhosyn asked. “Eira and I have to run an errand to our parents’–to our house in the valley. We want to gather our things to bring here.” 

Luther’s first thought was that it sounded like a job for the servants, but then he realized how comfortable he’d gotten with the idea of having servants, which bothered him. Of course, Eira and Rhosyn would have belongings that they wanted to secure personally, and their house was now part of the union’s holdings, which meant he should probably visit it as well at some point. He needed to have a conversation with Criella first, though. 

“What is it that you plan to do with the house? Will you keep it? Sell it?” Luther asked. “There’s space enough for us here.” 

“We may rent it, or use it as a guest house,” Rhosyn said, patting his back. “We’d discussed letting Miss Burville stay there, instead of here, though it is likely safer for her here.” 

“Where is this house, anyway?” Luther asked. 

“On the other side of the valley,” Eira answered. “Closer to the town.” 

“I see…” Luther said. “Will you be back for dinner?” 

“Yes, my lord.” Rhosyn and Eira said together. 

Luther squeezed them in a hug, releasing them. 

“Wulfric is having a carriage prepared for them,” Criella said, gesturing toward the door. “We’re waiting for it here.” 

“And are you going to accompany them?” Luther asked, looking at Criella. 

“No, my lord, I’m going to file the paperwork they’ve signed collecting their inheritance, and do my diligence to verify all is in order,” Criella said. “I have a busy day ahead of me.” 

“I see,” Luther said. 

“But what was it that I was right about?” Criella asked. “That could be anything.” 

Luther chuckled. “My arcana.” 

Criella stared at him for a moment before her eyes went wide and her tail swished low over the floor behind her. “Really? You have Anwyn’s arcana?!?” Her excitement led her to grab him by the shirt, forgetting for a moment that they weren’t schoolyard children anymore. 

Luther laughed. “Yes, but be a little more discreet, won’t you?” 

Criella released him immediately, embarrassed about grabbing his shirt. She brushed her hands on her trousers and stepped back. “Forgive me,” She said to Eira and Rhosyn, whose faces had been close to her hands. “I got carried away, that was… that was extremely inappropriate of me.” 

“From what I understand, you’ve earned some excitement,” Rhosyn said, though she didn’t intend any innuendo. “It’s an inspiring ability.” 

“You might not die!” Criella said, holding her hand over her heart. “Oh, I’m so relieved.” 

“I might not have died either way,” Luther said, slightly offended at her evaluation of his abilities before unearthing his arcana. 

“And you might’ve become Emperor,” Criella said, illustrating the ridiculousness of Luther’s statement to Eira and Rhosyn’s surprise and Luther’s annoyance. 

“It wasn’t that dire,” Luther said. 

Criella laughed. “Oh, forgive me,” She said quickly to Eira and Rhosyn. “I’m just so relieved! Luther, this is excellent news! Miraculous news! Your father was right! His years of research paid off. This is huge! It’s the discovery of a lifetime! You’re the first verified existence of this arcana since the founding of the Empire! We have to document everything! When did you discover it, how?” 

“Oh, look, our carriage is here,” Rhosyn said, sliding away from Luther and an increasingly intense Criella. She kissed her husband, then waited for Eira at the door as Eira did the same. 

Kissing farewell was bittersweet, nowhere near as invigorating as kissing hello or lovemaking. The end of the kiss pressured him to release Eira as she walked out of his arms, which felt like losing something. He’d see them again in a few hours, but his desire to keep them here roared within him. The weddings were so recent, and the bonds of marriage so new, that preparing to go hours without seeing them equated to bracing for torture. 

Eira and Rhosyn lingered in their departure for the same reason, waving goodbye and blowing him a kiss each before leaving. 

He and Criella stood alone in the hall, and Luther gestured for them to sit in the parlor. “If you are going to grill me and insist on documenting everything, then I insist on doing so in comfort.” 

Criella rolled her eyes, annoyed by any delay of an answer. She’d already waited patiently while he said goodbye to his spouses, after all. Luther knew her impatience was growing with every second, but he tugged on the rope by the fireplace anyway and took his time sitting in the chair. He gestured for Criella to take the chair opposite him, but she ignored him, pacing by the window instead with her hands clasped behind her, her tail swishing furiously with every step. 

A servant in a plain suit appeared in the doorway. “You rang, my lord?” 

“Yes, please have some drinks brought in. Perhaps lemonade? Criella?” Luther looked at her, but she didn’t answer him. “Lemonade, water, and if we have anything with alcohol, something moderate.” 

“Yes, sir.” The servant nodded. “Will there be anything else?” 

“Some writing supplies, I think, and a journal, a fresh one, from the supply,” Luther said. His father always kept a supply of empty journals ready for whenever he needed to start a new project, or for when he filled an old one and needed to replace it. “That will be all.” 

“Right away, sir.” The man replied. 

“Oh, and I didn’t catch your name?” Luther asked. 

The man froze, his face showing signs of surprise and fear. “Is there something wrong, sir?” 

“Not at all.” Luther chuckled. “I just like to know the people working for me, as I’m sure my father did, and I don’t think we were ever properly introduced.” 

Luther rose from his chair, and for a moment it looked as if the man might run away, but he held his ground, even if he didn’t shake Luther’s hand when he offered it. “I’m Luther.” 

“Yes, sir, I know.” He bowed. “My name’s Orson, sir. If there’s anything I’ve done that’s–” 

“You haven’t done anything wrong, Orson,” Luther said. “How long have you worked for my father? Or I suppose I should say, how long did you work for my father?” 

“A year last month, sir,” Orson answered, swallowing his fear and straightening slightly. 

“And did my father insist upon formalities, titles, and propriety between himself and the staff?” Luther asked. 

“No, sir, but he was fey, and Mister Wulfric insists we are to act more proper with you, sir,” Orsono said, bowing again. 

Luther nodded. “Thank you, Orson. Please don’t be frightened of me. I may not be as fey as my father, but I’m still a tad strange.” He winked, and Orson looked afraid to smile, but did it anyway. “There’s a good man.” 

“Yes, sir,” Orson said, nodding, bowing, and backing away into the hallway to make his escape. 

“You really need to learn how to be a lord,” Criella said before she could stop herself. She covered her mouth with her hand when she realized she’d spoken aloud. 

Luther laughed. “Do I? Maybe for Wulfric’s sake. Poor man’s going to pull out what hair he has left if I keep carrying on, learning people’s names, and treating them like beings instead of lower life forms.” He crossed the room and returned to his chair. 

Criella hid her smile, lowering her hand and turning to look out the window. She kept her back to Luther, her left hand holding her right wrist behind her as she observed the grounds. “So… how did you discover your arcana?” 

Luther shifted, getting comfortable in his chair and staring at Criella’s back. “I’ll tell you everything if you tell me the story of you and Lavinia.” He offered. 

Criella’s tail stopped, then the tip swished in annoyance before resuming its leisurely sweep. Her tail’s near-constant motion when she stood still was a clear indicator of her energy needing an outlet. “Fine,” She said. “You go first, my lord.” 

Luther folded his hands, leaning his elbows on the arms of his chair as he retold her the events of the morning. He went into details, only stopping when Orson returned with their drinks. Two others accompanied him, carrying an empty journal for Criella, a writing pen, and a small writing table for her to use. 

She kept her notes quick and concise, leaving room to add details later. Several times, she stopped him to ask questions, pressing for more information about his visualizations and what he meant by matching someone’s spirit. Eventually, however, they came to the end of their practice that morning, and Luther didn’t see the need to inform her of what happened in the bath. 

“So, Lavinia?” Luther asked, sipping his lemonade as Criella set her pen aside and closed the inkwell. 

“I met Lavinia several years ago,” Criella said. “While you were away. We had a rough start, to be honest. Lavinia isn't the friendliest person in the world, but your father sometimes sent me on errands to the forge or in town. One day, while waiting for a delivery, I found myself watching her work.” 

Criella didn’t look at Luther, but turned her eyes toward the paintings on the walls. “She was beautiful, in her way. I remember watching a bead of sweat trail along her arm as she worked. She wore an open white shirt beneath her leather apron and rolled the sleeves to her shoulders. She caught me staring at her and asked me what my problem with orcs was. I got so flustered that I told her the truth: I didn’t have a problem with orcs. I was staring at her because she was beautiful, and I didn’t know what to say or do about it. She told me she thought I was more beautiful than she was, and invited me to dinner, and the rest, well, we courted each other for two years before I asked her to marry me.”

Luther’s eyebrows shot up at that. 

“She laughed at me,” Criella said. “She said that if we married each other, we’d never find a third willing to join our union. Two demihumans? An asmodean and an orc? We’d be the ugly wives no one wanted. Better to keep things as they are, where we could be free to dissolve without issue. Not that she had any great love for marriage, she mocked the idea repeatedly. But there was someone she was willing to marry—your father. And even if I could overcome my peculiarities, he would never join a union if I were part of it, since he saw me as a daughter more than anything. She had ambitions, and they didn’t include me.” 

Criella didn’t look at Luther as she spoke, keeping her eyes on the wall beyond him. 

“She sounds like a very foolish woman,” Luther said. 

Criella’s eyes flicked to him, then looked away again. “It’s a recurring theme in my life.” She shrugged. “You had ambitions that didn’t include me, so you left. It hurt to find the same was true of her.” 

“Cree…” Luther shifted forward in his chair, but Criella held up a hand to stop him. “I asked you to come with me.” 

“I wouldn’t have been welcome at your university,” Criella said. “You know that.” 

“But–” 

“I understand why you left, even if you don’t understand why I stayed,” Criella said. “But I can’t pretend I wasn’t hurt by it then, or angry. Things were what they were. Lavinia and I ended things that night, after I proposed at one of your father’s parties, and she laughed at me in front of everyone. She explained herself later, but I don’t intend to put myself through that again.” 

Luther swallowed his words, letting silence settle before he asked the question burning on his tongue. “Now that I have an arcana, would you reconsider–” 

“No,” Criella said. “My answer remains the same.” 

“Do you still claim not to love me?” Luther asked. “None of my wives has protested the idea of you joining our union.” 

“My lord, you are the only man I have ever loved,” Criella said. “But my heart’s been broken too many times. I’m not sure I can feel the way you do anymore, and I’m certainly not made for the life you’ll lead. As a lord, you will always face challengers and dangers from beyond the mountains, and while that’s fine for you, with your traveling and adventuring to places I’ve only read about, I am ill-suited to such a match. I’m a solicitor, a legal advocate, a member of a different class in our society, and I am satisfied with my position.” 

“So that’s why?” Luther asked, confused. “Every time I ask you, you give me a different reason.” 

“They are all valid reasons, Luther, and one should be enough. I do not even need a reason to say no. You’re just obsessed with getting me to say yes because I’ve told you no.” Criella said, glaring at him. 

“You know that isn’t true, Criella. I love you.” Luther said. 

“You love a memory,” Criella corrected him. “But I’m glad for your arcana, and for your marriages, and for your health and prosperity. Let that be enough. Let our professional relationship, and even a friendship, be enough for you, Luther. Or you will lose me entirely.” 

Luther was silent at that, sitting back in his chair and clenching his teeth as he worked his jaw and mulled over how to respond. Every probing assault on her fortress found resolute stone. Yet, before the weddings, when he was unattached, they’d made love in his father’s library. Was it just the pent-up passions from his years away and nothing more? 

“Fine.” Luther said, his annoyance clear in his tone. “I will not ask you again. If you change your mind, you must ask me, but I promise, if you ever do, I won’t laugh at you. I will say yes.” 

Criella met his gaze, held it for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”