Page 23 of I Ran Away to Evil #3

She Flew Off

Julian

“How hard is it to walk you up the aisle, let go, and stand by the front seats?” Julian grumbled to his sister, who was gripping his hand very, very hard.

He ignored the notification window showing him just how much damage he’d taken so far.

“We will practice as many times as it takes,” Duchess Calisto chastised from her spot at those same front seats.

“I think I’m going to throw up,” Julia said casually.

At first glance, she looked like the calm, confident Paladin of Light renowned for her charming smile. At second glance, Julian could tell her facial muscles hadn’t so much as twitched in some time, and her eyes were glazed.

“You’re doing great, love!” Chloe called from the dais of the castle sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was dedicated to Light, and could hold at least two hundred people.

There were long windows stretching up the hall, with colorful gold and silver sun and moon embellishments etched into the glass.

It was bright and welcoming, and the banner behind the dais featured the cycles of the celestial bodies.

Their Royal Highness Rowen of Peldeep stood there in the guise of a long white-haired stately court official.

They even had a long thin beard that hung down to their chest, and a small red cap. Everyone else was in normal attire.

After finishing with the tailor, Julian had been brought directly to the sanctuary, where he’d listened to the detailed wedding plan, again , and was now doing the walk-through.

This was his fourth walk up the aisle.

His sister had managed fine the first time, but each walk had seen her getting more nervous. They were halfway up the aisle before she whispered, “I don’t think I can do this.”

Julian tried to calm her with a soft, “I’d rather be eating dinner myself; do you know what we are having after this?”

His sister’s body went from rigid stiffness to uncontrollable shaking. Her smile broke, and she repeated, “No, I don’t think I can do this .”

And then she flew off. Literally.

Her [Wings of Light] burst out, and she kicked into the air before flying out the open sanctuary doors.

“Julia!” Chloe called out, concern and surprise in her voice. The necromancer enveloped herself in shadows and disappeared, presumably to run after her nervous bride.

There was an awkward pause before Grand Duchess Calisto turned to Julian and said, “ This changes nothing . We will rehearse until we have it right, with or without the brides.”

Julian wanted to go after his sister, but he knew she preferred to have some time alone when she needed to think about things—and if anyone found her, it should be Chloe.

If they worked it out, then the wedding would proceed as planned.

If Julia truly didn’t want to marry the necromancer, then that was that.

He’d support his sister in whatever path she chose. It was easy as that.

What wasn’t easy was having to go through four more passes of the rehearsal before being set free.

Dinner that evening was goose stuffed with minced wild carrots and fennel root, seasoned with rosemary and sage and Sweet Anne’s Lace root. There was a side of wild daffolyn greens tossed with creamy dillweed dressing, and twice-baked purple sweet potatoes with butter and chives.

It was delightful.

“Mother-in-law!” Chloe chose the moment that he was chewing a large bite of potato to burst through the dining room doors in a panic. “Julia is missing!”

To her credit, his mother patted her lips gently before standing up without question. “I’ll send out the guard.”

Julian coughed. “Are you sure?”

His sister often hid away to process her feelings as a child, and from the letters they often exchanged, she’d continued to do so.

One time, she’d gone missing for three days and was found practicing the sword in an old weapons storage room in the basement of the palace.

Another time, she’d holed up in the attic above the stables for a week while she came to terms with her nanny retiring.

He didn’t think he was being unreasonable, and wasn’t expecting the glares directed his way.

The wedding party was already packing up to help.

Rufus frowned at a notification, and King Keith was whispering into a button on his open tunic.

Julia’s bridesmaids—Gladiator Hana Lanora and Striker Wendy Lanora—were on their feet equipping their weapons.

Hana sheathed a sword at her waist while Wendy equipped holy knives, a tiny crossbow, and a golden lasso. The items glowed with faint holy light.

“The city is under constant annoyance by a group of spies who have Julia’s name on a list of targets,” his mother reminded him, already sending the guards quests with her [Grand Duchess] ability. “It is always better to be cautious.”

“I know my darling.” Chloe crossed her arms. “She isn’t in the east lookout or the west fountain or the palace training rooms. And the guards say they didn’t see her fly over the walls. She’s hard to miss.”

“That just proves my point then, doesn’t it?” Julian stabbed a chunk of daffolyn from his salad. “If she’s still in the palace, then she isn’t missing. She’s probably just chosen some place we won’t think to look so that she can blow off some steam.”

“I know this is not my place, but even if she is merely hiding, we should still try and find her today,” Their Royal Highness Rowen stressed, “You know, before the wedding.”

“Rowen is right.” Duchess Calisto stood, sweeping a lock of hair over her shoulder.

“I usually am.” The fox grinned, then tapped their chin. “I will search the east wing, since that is where I am staying.”

“I appreciate that, Rowen.” The duchess nodded their way.

“We’ll help search the north,” Hana and Wendy said together.

“And we’ll search the south.” King Keith stood with Rufus and Bronwynn. “Henrietta and Gerda will search the city on their way here.”

Julian sighed. “Then I’ll search the west wing.”

“We are not to enter private rooms without cause,” Grand Duchess Calisto informed. “My personal knights have been dispatched along with the guards. If you see one of them, tell them your findings.”

There were three units of North Sumbrian knights. The Grey Hawk Knights, who guarded his mother; the Black Brigade Knights, who were responsible for the safety of the towns and cities throughout the duchy; and the Coral Mare Knights, who protected the palace.

Grand Duchess Calisto walked over and placed a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”