Page 38 of The Ballad of a Bard

H e’d held her the entire night.

His arm held her close, his soft, laboured breathing in the shell of her ear as the hours passed. She almost didn’t sleep with how close they were, almost didn’t want to let the night fly by. West slept peacefully without any issue, as did Cobalt. Her mind was a ticking clock in the grand hall as she sensed his calm heartbeats. With the power handed down from her, Crimson had rolled over until she faced the Saint and lowered her palm to his toned chest. With a close of her eyes and a silent command shooting into her soul, she increased the intensity of the pulse.

It was like home.

To hear the way it beat in perfect rhythm, to sense the blood flowing there and to have the echo of it permanently ingrained in her head. It wasn’t something that she intended to forget for a long time, nor would she want to. Not when it vibrated along her veins, skittered over her skin and danced with her own heart. She rolled over with her back firmly sloped against his chest, with the escalated drumming of his myocardium, Crimson fell asleep.

And come the morning, she didn’t want to move, to leave, to disturb that fraction of peace that he’d given her. Only to find that Cobalt had made a mad dash for the kitchens to find something to eat before his stomach ate him, or so he claimed, she found West still asleep. His dark brown hair was tousled, unperfect for once and she wanted to touch it. His lashes dragged across his cheek and he looked so peaceful, relaxed in his slumber.

Crimson fingered the longest strand, the one that fell to his nose and found it softer than she expected it to be for some reason. He always wore it pushed back, in a sloping arch that ended by his ears, with the rest of it closely shorn to his head.

She turned in the navy covers, facing her entire body towards him as she inched closer. Until she was almost in his arms, and his breath caressed her face with a slight tickle of warmth. His shirt must have shifted in the middle of the night, because it was askew enough for her to see the majority of his golden skin along his shoulders. Why collar bones were attractive, she wasn’t sure.

But everything about him was attractive.

Carefully, so tenderly so that it wouldn’t wake him, she kissed him. Just once, enough to comfort that ache that would never leave her.

He was good, he was gentle, he was kind.

And Crimson wanted to love him.

In truth, she may already have begun to.

That terrified her. Enough so for her to pull her arm back and start to move, start the day before she could kiss him and then they’d never leave the bed.

Crimson shut the bathroom door behind her and let out a deep breath. With steady hands, she freed the piece of crumpled parchment from her pocket and began to unfold it. She’d been so close to telling him, so close to sharing the note with him but then he’d looked at her like that and every rational thought flew out of her head like a robin on swift wings.

She could make out the ink through the backside, flipping it over until the elegant scrawl peered up at her.

Your time is running out, little Saint. See how fast it flies, see how far I’m willing to go.

Mark these words.

If you don’t find him by the next full moon, you’ll never be able to see your brother again.

C.

Crimson covered her mouth as a tremor broke out. It rippled across her skin and echoed into her bones. Her fingers shook as she threw the paper as hard as she could, watching it flutter in the air like a butterfly. It drifted towards the ground, landing in the toilet. Quickly, before West could wake and find it, she pulled the silver handle and watched the water take it down the pipes.

Another note, another threat.

But they were so close to finding her father.

And then it would all be over.

No more notes, no more threats, and Cobalt would be safe. As he should be.

There was a knock on the door and she whirled around at it. It didn’t come from the bathing door, which meant it was on the furthest ones that led into the apartments. Footsteps sounded as West rose from the bed, ambling over to whomever knocked. She heard the door creak open and a couple voices speaking.

Thalias’s baritone came tumbling out a minute later as West laughed deeply at whatever he saw there. “He made it to the gardens before we stopped him. But that was after he’d consumed half of the tray.”

Crimson didn’t need to hear more to know that they had her brother in their clutches. She slid out of the bathing chamber and padded into the main room. Her suspicions were correct as she saw the smear of what appeared to be peach jelly across Cobalt’s face and the sticky sugar on every single one of his fingers. Damien held him by his shoulder but that didn’t stop the very proud-of-himself look that her sibling bore.

“What did he do now?” She sighed and motioned for him to come by her side. He glanced up at Damien before the sentry released him and Cobalt pranced into the room. His tongue darted out and licked each of his fingers until he deemed them clean, and then swiped the leftover jam off his cheek.

West rotated on his bare foot, grinning like a cat. “It would appear as though Blue here, managed to sneak into the kitchens and steal an entire tray of freshly baked scones. While the cook proceeded to yell at him from across the way, he ran out with the tray still in his hands and caused quite the stir in the castle. Four guards were chasing him and only succeeded in catching him after he’d downed half of the treats.”

She groaned and slapped her hands against her face. “Oh Cobalt, why?”

“I was hungry. Besides, he’s our friend now so he could have easily gotten us out of anything sticky if needed.” Cobalt jabbed his pointed finger in West’s direction. “Right?”

He looked towards him for confirmation.

“Right.” West snickered, and covered his mouth as she glared at him .

“Don’t encourage this behaviour.” Crimson groaned as she rubbed at her forehead. “It’s not good.”

“With how feisty he was when it came down to defending his well earned snacks, you might want to make room for him in the guard, Captain Saint.” Thalias leaned up against the doorframe, bracing himself with his arm propped up alongside the very top of it. His honey blond hair was pulled up today, in a tiny bun at the base of his neck. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he turned out to be a great warrior.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him.”

“Would I get more treats?” Cobalt had the audacity to ask. “I might join if the answer is yes.”

“You are a sugar fiend.” Crimson lightly swatted the top of his head. “Focus on getting better, and then we can discuss your future as a soldier for the Empress, alright?”

He scowled. “You’re no fun, Red. All seriousness and no play.” He went to say something else, mouth open but then his face contorted into a mask of discomfort.

She paused, “Blue?”

He made a noise, followed by another concerning one. His cheeks bulged and he began to cough. Lightly at first but then they progressed into something more violent. Cobalt’s features turned to stone as he began to redden, hacking away as wet coughs followed. She reached for him as blood began to dribble out of the corners of his lips.

“Cobalt!” Crimson cried out as he fell. She caught him as her knees hit the floor. A sickening twist of pain shot through her legs but she didn’t care as he spat up more and more. He was shaking in her arms and nothing, nothing terrified her more.

“Just breathe, try to relax.” She whispered down at him, wiping his face of the thin layer of sweat that started to appear. Cobalt tried to say something, tried to urge her to do something but a large clot came up, spilling out of his mouth. “You’re going to be okay.” Her voice wavered.

Tears poured from her eyes as she tried to contain her sob. She couldn’t lose him, wouldn’t. Every single one of his bouts were terrifying for different reasons, but he’d been getting better only to relapse.

Her hope felt as though it’d been sliced in half.

“Get him to the infirmary, now !” West commanded in a near roar as he found a handkerchief from somewhere and dabbed at the splashes of scarlet that stained his face. “I want him in that bed for the next six days, do you hear me? Thalias, get to the ward now and get everything prepared. Damien, take him.”

Thalias darted into action to alert the healers of Cobalt’s arrival as Damien knelt before her and tenderly took her brother from her. “Let me have him, okay? I promise that we’ll take care of him.” His words didn’t comfort her as Cobalt spasmed but she handed him over because there was nothing that she could do to prevent this.

Crimson could hear her heartbeat in her head, could feel the pulsating pressure in her temples as she cried. It was painful and terrified and she didn’t know what to do as Damien gently carried her brother out of the apartments. Even West’s heartbeat was drowned out in the ocean of panic and horror that slammed against the shoals of her sanity.

“He’s going to be alright.” West knelt before her, drawing her gaze towards him as he took her hands in his. “They’ll make sure of it.”

“What if we leave and then we come back, only to find him gone? What if he passes away while we’re looking for my father?” She shook her head as the onslaught of emotions struck her over and over again, like the clapper inside of a brass bell. “West, I can’t let him die. He’s my world, he’s my everything. If he goes, then I-” She gasped for air in between tears. “I don’t know what I’d do.”

“I know.” He said quietly and wiped at her face. “So let’s get this over with as quickly as possible. Let’s find Heartache and return to him, to make sure that you do see him again.”

Crimson steadied herself, locking his words in tight. He was right. “Let’s go.”

Within the hour, they both had everything they needed and made for the harbour. Osira saw them off, promising to take good care of her brother and check in on him every morning and night until their return, swearing up and down that she would give him everything he ever wanted as well. Crimson threw her arms around the female and hugged her firmly, unable to express her gratitude in any other way. Osira only hugged her back and waved goodbye to them as they boarded the ship.

But Crimson’s attention caught on her son, who watched them with an intriguing emotion displayed for full view. Why he of all people was here for their send off, she wasn’t sure. But every single tethered emotion that connected to her power, flared in warning and she tuned into them, as she had always done.

They’d kept her alive for this long.

Altivar had his arms crossed over his chest, a broad smile that suggested trouble as he caught her stare. “Did you need something, Crimson?” He practically purred like a lazy cat in her direction.

“No.” She uttered before turning towards the gangplank. “Nothing from you, at least.”

“Well then.” His voice was like melted metal, smooth and slippery and she didn’t like it. “I can’t wait to see what this little excursion brings back. I look forward to your return. Sail safely.” And with that, he turned around and headed back up the sandy path to the castle, leaving them all behind.

Crimson watched him depart, wondering if perhaps he had been the one to send her all of the threatening notes. With how West said he was searching for Heartache too, it would make sense. And she didn’t trust him in the slightest. But if it had been him, why would he have signed them as C? It made no sense, but it wasn’t just something she’d easily brush off. Until she could delve deeper into it all, he lingered as the number one culprit in the back of her brain.

West joined her on the railing, folding his arms and applying his weight to them. He started out at the vast sea, taking it all in with a scanning gaze. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

Seagulls screeched above them, swooping and diving for jumping fish with accurate aim. They swallowed them in one gulp, falling back for seconds.

“I know.” She answered. “I just hate being away for any amount of time, let alone at least six days.”

“He’ll be fine.” He assured her and nudged into her shoulder. She managed to produce a weak smile in his direction.

The ships’ captain began to yell orders at his men and the boat creaked under their feet. The anchor groaned as it was lifted and ropes immediately began to unhook from their wooden posts along the harbour. Waves lapped up against the barnacle infested hull as the sailors readied for push off.

And as Crimson looked back towards the castle, she couldn’t help the feeling that nothing would be the same once they returned.