Luther's Pride Part 12

Luther entered the dining room well-kempt and orderly. He’d fixed his hair, washed his face, and freshened his clothes. He stepped into the room, and the chatter at the table hushed as his guests spotted him. Their commentary on his bout with Helena had run its course. They’d moved on to other topics, speculating about his Arcana and his reluctance to reveal his specialty.


Bertilak and his wives credited his cunning. Lucas credited it to his lack of ability, suggesting his Fey nature produced a less skilled mage than if he were human. After this, the Cerul family stopped speaking with Lucas, and Petros nearly challenged him, except Regina’s cooler head prevailed. This insult to their host diverted they ate in relative silence, with only a few polite exchanges over the first and second courses. 


“Forgive my brief absence.” Luther apologized to the room. The table set for eighteen was a lavish affair, and his missing the first course was punishment in itself from the assurances Wulfric made him. 


“Of course, my lord.” Jo spoke up. “We understand the priority of business when emergencies arise.” 


Luther nodded his thanks and took his seat, joining the second course underway as a servant placed a salad on his plate. “Thank you.” Luther said, out of habit. 


Lucas sneered. Gratitude toward a servant being beneath him. Emily’s surprise at their host’s civility softened her expression. 


Luther was in the center of a long rectangular table, with the potential spouses seated nearest to him. Emily was on his right, and Helena sat on his left. Across from them sat Jo, Eira, and Rhosyn. Holly sat beside Jo, and their families filled out the rest of the table, with Lucas seated opposite Emily, beside Rhosyn, across the table. 


Luther nodded and joined them after a brief scan of his silverware. He determined from Eira’s plate which was the proper one to use. This was his first formal dinner in a long while. 


“I trust you settled everything with your solicitor?” Lucas asked. 


Luther nodded. “Yes, nothing a bit of reading and signatures couldn’t handle.” 


“You certainly have a peculiar taste in… solicitors.” Lucas said. The hesitation before the word solicitor earned him a few glances from the table. 


“Criella was my father’s solicitor and a friend of mine from childhood.” Luther explained. 


“Of course. ‘A dear, dear friend,’ you called her.” Lucas said. “How charitable of you.” 


Luther’s nostrils flared, but he restrained his anger, even if he could not help his retort. “I am indeed most charitable with whom I keep company.” He looked at Lucas as he said it, and the room didn’t miss his intended target. 


Holly smiled when Lucas didn't offer a retort and only grunted at what might have been someone’s foot against his shin. Emily had shifted but sat demurely now, smiling when Lucas glared in her direction. 


“We were conjecturing on your travels before you arrived.” Holly spoke up, engaging Luther. The redhead was friendly enough but quiet among the others. Even now, her voice was soft, making Luther lean forward to hear her. “You mentioned having traveled, and the fighting style you demonstrated in your bought was unusual.” 


Luther nodded. “Yes, I learned it from a master on the other continent.” 


This statement produced murmurs around the table. The Empire was not the only landmass on the globe. The second largest was far enough away to mystify most citizens. It was a land of myths and strange tales. 


“You crossed the sea?” Holly asked. “How did you make it past the sea tribes unscathed?” 


“I didn’t.” Luther’s answer was as simple as it was shocking to those around him. “A sea tribe vessel attacked the merchant ship I was on before we reached the Eastern boundary. They boarded and slew many of us. They took me and several others prisoner and added us to the rowers of a galley ship.” 


“Did they ransom you back to your father?” Holly asked. 


“No.” Luther said. “They ransomed the others but put me to work.” 


“You were a slave?” Jo asked, surprised. 


“Yes. For two years.” Luther nodded as though the information was not surprising or traumatic. The others at the table had difficulty reconciling his experiences with the man sitting before them. 


“It wasn’t all bad. I worked my way out of being an oarsman and became a navigator.” Luther said. “My father’s astronomy lessons were thorough, and my knowledge of the sea outstripped some of theirs. They almost elected me captain when theirs took ill, but the quartermaster won the vote.” 


“I understand the sea tribes are uneducated.” Dame Primrose suggested from her place down the table. 


Luther realized the entire table was listening to him, not only those nearest. He didn’t mind, but raised his voice so it carried. This allowed his guests to listen without having to lean over their food. 


“On the contrary, I found them to be well-educated.” Luther said. “Only their education is specific to their way of life and their survival. They know little about agriculture and almost nothing about metallurgy but know more than us about sailing, carpentry, and fishing. They couldn’t milk a cow, but they have a way with the sea-beasts that allows them to live in harmony.” 


“Fascinating.” Helena said. “And their fighting?” 


“Spears are their most common weapons.” Luther said. “They’re used for hunting, but they double as killing weapons. They make their spears shorter than ours and barbed. Their magic is the same, but they do not have access to the union ritual or our universities. They make do with more limited arcane powers. Their mages teach their skills through oral tradition rather than by writing, which was fascinating.” 


“You studied with them?” Lucas asked. The question was an accusation, not an inquiry. 


Luther leaned back to allow the servant to remove the now empty salad plate and place the cheese plate. 


“I did, yes.” Luther said. “There was an Areomancer I befriended during my time with them, and he taught me many of the traditions as he’d learned them from his master.” 


“Are you an areomancer, then?” Holly asked. 


“No.” Luther said. “But I’ve always enjoyed a broad study of magic.” 


“And then where did you go?” Helena asked. “You traveled with these people to the other continent and attended another school?” 


“Not quite.” Luther said. 


“Did you raid the empire with these people?” Lucas asked, his eyebrow raised. 


“Of course not.” Luther waved the concern away and lifted a cracker with the cheese to his mouth. He chewed and swallowed while the others waited for him to continue his story. “Their territory was by the Eastern Boundary, and I navigated for them until I earned enough money to buy my freedom. Once I’d done that, I returned to the Empire until I could book passage on another ship. This time, we traveled west, and a storm shipwrecked us. A few of the others and I survived until a fishing trawl from the shores of the waste found us.” 


“You spent time among the Northern barbarians as well?” Holly asked, now intrigued. “The great tusked giants of the North?” 


Luther shook his head. “The Northmen, yes, but I’m afraid the tusks are a theatrical invention. And they’re no taller than Helena here. I became a fisherman, then a caravan guard, which is how I came to the other continent.” 


“You crossed the Northern Wastes?” Jo asked. 


“I passed under them.” Luther said. “It’s too hot and dry to pass under the sun. Even their camels often die before reaching the Oasis. So, many travel under the wastes, using rock worms to dig tunnels and build entire cities below the Earth.” 


“I’ve read stories about such things but didn’t think they were real.” Emily said. 


“They are real.” Luther assured her. 


“And Dwarves and Gnomes? Are they real too?” Lucas asked, his voice full of scorn. “Next thing you know, you’ll tell us how you became a personal friend of the goblin king, and he’s the one who gave your father the money for this mansion.” 


Emily shifted again, but Lucas only smirked at her, having shifted his stance in his chair. Rhosyn glared at Lucas. Eira also turned to see him, the twins moving in perfect concert with each other. They returned their attention to Luther. 


“Nothing so dramatic.” Luther said. “Though their stories in the deep places put our horror stories to shame.” 


Eira and Rhosyn smiled. 


“Did you ever meet any foreign nobility or lords in these travels? How do they compare to those of the Empire?” Emily asked. 


“I saw a few, and a traveling companion introduced me to one. They’re people like us, but I was the oddity to them. Most didn’t believe me when I said I came from the Empire.” Luther said. 


The servants cleared the empty cheese plates and set out the beef course. 


“I think it would be the other way around. I’m surprised none of them tried to marry you themselves.” Jo said. “A handsome man like yourself must have faced the temptation to leave the Empire for good.” 


Luther nodded. “My father was here.” He explained. “I always intended to return, and given my father’s nature, I’d assumed I had all the time in my lifetime to do so without fear.” 


The mood in the room shifted from one of curious adventure to sobriety. Helena bowed her head, her black ribbons falling over her face. “Did you inherit your father’s gift for storytelling?” Helena asked. “Can you tell us a story? One of your adventures in the other kingdoms?” 


“Another time.” Luther said. “I’ve been monopolizing the conversation when I’d prefer to learn about you.” He lifted his glass to Helena and drank from it. “Perhaps you can tell me about yourselves? You come from strong families, but what are your interests?” 


Helena shrugged. “I enjoy fighting. I’m good at it.” She gestured to Holly, who bowed her head, accepting her turn in the conversation. 


“I enjoy animals and gardening. My parents have large flocks, and I’ve learned much in their care. Do you have animals, Lord Luther?” Holly asked. 


“Yes.” Luther answered. “I’ve inherited a few holdings from my father that include well-bred stock, but mine and my father’s interests always tended toward horses. We have a few, and my father was skilled in training them.” 


Holly cocked an eyebrow in interest, intrigued. 


“We enjoy music.” Eira and Rhosyn said together. “And the arts.” 


“A coached answer, I expect.” Luther said. He glanced at Primrose and Bertilak a few seats down. 


“No.” They said together. 


“Eira is more the musician.” Rhosyn said. “I prefer to sketch.” 


“I’ve always enjoyed sculpting. Do either of you sculpt?” Jo asked. 


“We’ve attempted it.” They said. “Though it is not our best work.” 


“Do you sculpt?” Luther asked Jo.


Jo nodded. “I’ve always enjoyed it, though, to be honest, my arcana makes it much easier for me than most.” 


“What is your Arcana, Priestess?” Lucas asked, butting into the conversation. 


“Geomancy.” Jo answered. 


“Ah, an elementalist.” Lucas said. “Not particularly handy in your line of work, is it? Aren’t most priestesses healers?” 


“A common misconception.” Jo said, her tone crisp and polite. “The Temple needs defenders as well as healers.” 


“But don’t you have to marry within the church to qualify to be a defender?” Lucas asked. 


“I have to marry, yes. But not necessarily to a priest or priestess.” Jo said. 


“I’ve always thought my Arcana would be handy for a defender.” Helena said, joining the conversation. 


“Have you any interest in joining the priesthood?” Jo asked. 


Helena shook her head. “Not really. I appreciate their work for the Empire, and I love the gods of Heaven. But I’m not much of a singer, and I’ve never been one for rigid schedules, despite my parent’s attempts to get me to join the army.” 


“Well, if you marry Lord Luther, you’ll have your chance to defend these lands.” Eira said. “And he’s met your qualifications, hasn’t he?” 


Helena swallowed and nodded, falling silent. 


“You might as well wait.” Lucas shrugged. “Give it three days, and he’ll be dead; then you can marry Branan and have everything Lord Luther might have offered you.” 


Eira, Rhosyn, Helena, Jo, and Holly turned to stare at Lucas’ bold rudeness, but Luther ignored him, having grown used to the man’s insults by now. 


“Are you looking to marry soon, Lucas? Before your parents pass whatever inheritance they might pass to you?” Luther asked. 


Lucas nodded. “Soon.” He said. “But I’m in no hurry, and I’m not as…” He looked at the surrounding women. Then turned his gaze at Luther with derision in his eyes. “Narrow-minded in my tastes.” 


“There’s nothing wrong with having preferences.” Rhosyn said. She glanced at her father and his wives.  


“Not surprising, coming from someone raised by a narrow-minded fool.” Lucas spat. 


“Careful.” Eira and Rhosyn said. “If our father hears you, he may very well challenge you over the insult, even if he gains nothing but satisfaction from killing you.” Their simultaneous speech had an unnerving effect on those others. Coupled with a threat, they improved its efficacy. 


Lucas’s eyes snapped to Bertilak, then to Rhosyn. He frowned. “Luther’s not the only noble at this table, you know. I stand to inherit a title and am looking to marry. Only I’m not as desperate as he is.” 


Eira and Rhosyn pretended they hadn’t heard. 


“Lucas.” Emily said in warning. “You’re being rude tonight. Perhaps you should refrain from finishing any more wine.” 


Lucas huffed but stopped. Rosy blush on his cheeks suggested he’d had his fill of the drink, but Luther didn’t fault him for that. The wine served tonight was from his father’s cellar and was an excellent vintage. Flavorful and sweet red wine slid easily across the tongue, and even Luther realized he’d had more than he intended. 


“So, what are your plans after dinner?” Emily asked Luther. “Perhaps a tour of your father’s library?” 


“I believe I can arrange that.” Luther said. “I know you’re curious to see it.” 


Emily nodded, and the others nodded their assent as well. 


“And are we to expect any formal proposals this evening?” Lucas asked. 


“At least one.” Luther said, a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. 


“The temple binds spouses one at a time. Then there’s the ceremony to plan and execute. Will you rush through your weddings to prevent Branan from challenging you?” Lucas asked. “Will any of you even accept knowing his enemies are coming for him so soon?” 


“I will save you some time if only to silence you from braying like a jackass.” Helena raised her hand to silence Lucas. She stood, pushing her chair back and drawing everyone's attention. Helena towered over those seated, but only for a moment. She lowered one knee to the floor, moving her skirt out of her way, and placed her hands before Luther. Her palms pressed together, her fingers pointed toward him in a sign of beseeching. 


“Lord Luther, you faced my challenge with bravery. You defeated me in single combat with all the cunning of a mighty warrior and grace speaking to your nobility, not only of your title but of your spirit. Will you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my husband? Of binding your soul to mine, so we may live our futures together, whatever they may hold?” 


Every eye at the table turned toward Luther, whose expression was one of surprise. 


He glanced toward Helena’s family, who were smiling at them, pleased and having expected this development. She had her family’s approval for the match, and they were friends of his father's. Thoughts of Criella came to his mind, but she was not here to witness this. Not including her when choosing someone at the table felt like prioritizing them over her. 


He gazed into Helena’s eyes and saw fear. Fear of Branan? No. Fear of Luther. Fear of vulnerability and rejection. She had entered the arena without a single expression of fear, and now she bore fear behind her mask of patient inquiry. He couldn’t let her go without answering, and he couldn’t deny her proposal.


“Yes.” Luther said. “I accept.” He pushed his chair back and stood, taking Helena’s prayerful hands in his in a gesture of acceptance. She rose, and they kissed. Their lips met, and Helena's open mouth was gentler than he’d expected. 


A light applause sounded from the guests at the table. They continued kissing until Luther broke away with a blush on his face. Helena’s smile did not fade as she retook her seat. 


Eira and Rhosyn eyed Lucas, then turned toward Luther and his first fiance. 


“How soon do you want to marry?” Lucas asked. The sneer in his voice earned him a glare from Emily, but no one else was paying him any attention. 


Still, Helena answered his question. She looked at Jo and raised an eyebrow. “Could you do it tonight? In the sparring ring, with those elegant yellow flowers surrounding us?” 


Jo looked at Luther, who nodded. 


“Of course.” Jo said. “I’d be happy too.”