The words that Queen Valerie used to put Lord Carrion in his place ran through my head on the way back to Benate's house. After seeing Princess Alina to her room for the rest of the day, the palace guards took over the task of her safety, leaving me to walk home amongst the boisterous crowds of the second day of a tournament.
Banners of golden and red were being replaced as their blue and green counterparts multiplied. As the banners waved, I thought of Sir John and Lord Carrion. I resolved to make it a priority to find a way to warn him of Carrion's tactics before the tournament tomorrow. Although such an experienced fighter probably has already deduced all of the foul play.
With my mind formulating how best to relay my concerns before the match, I jumped when something flew toward me. I turned ready to draw my sword when I realized someone had thrown a decorative flag toward me.
Maybe I would not have jumped if it had been the golden tones of home, but the deep red of the clan of Falcon startled me. I turned to see Gella's smiling face taking down the banners from the clans not represented in tomorrow's finale from the window dressing of the clock shop.
"I thought you might want a momento from today, Lord Holden. From your reaction to the last match, I assume you were rooting for Sir Gavin to win?" Gella smirked.
"As a guest of the royal family in the royal box, I should claim neutrality in all matches in which my own clan does not compete." I said as professionally as I could.
Her smile disappeared. I must have spooked her with my formality. I picked up the thrown token and placed it in her basket before cutting my eyes in both directions.
"But you are not wrong." I added softly.
I surprised myself with how closely I unwittingly stepped to be able to put away the flag. Her eyes had flecks of gold I had never noticed before.
She cleared her throat to break my trance. How long had I stared into her lovely eyes?
"Lord Holden," Her breath caught momentarily before continuing, "I am sorry that your champion did not win." Hesitantly, she found the words.
I shifted my weight to my back foot giving us both some room to breathe.
"I am sure Benate will be fine in a day or two." I joked knowing that was not the champion she was referring to, but the only champion I should be discussing.
"I am sure he will recover even faster than that. Indeed, I believe he has already recovered." Gella motioned toward the steps of his home.
A mountain of every flower sold in the market lay piled in front of his stairs. A gaggle of ladies passed by to leave notes and favors alongside the flowers.
"I heard a group of admirers in the stands during the tournament. One of them convinced the rest that Benate might need to be consoled in his time of loss and that someone who supports him might be seen as an eligible companion." Gella explained with a roll of her beautiful eyes.
"Should I deliver your note of admiration personally?" I laughed. "I happened to know the gentleman quite well, so my opinion might hold some importance."
Gella recoiled in surprise. I might have offended her.
"I have no such letter." She quipped back.
"My apologies. I saw you wearing our clan's colors. I should have known your support was simply out of neighborly affection. Growing up together, Benate is basically your brother." I tried to smile through my horrid explanation of my joke.
Her cheeks reddened. This is why I should stay away from court. Directives for my men are easily written and dispersed. Doing border checks and scouting missions rarely require formal discourse. Somehow this city gets me out of sorts and I cannot behave like a normal human being.
"Does he see me as a sister?" The question hung in the air so earnestly that I had to consider all of its implications.
I took a moment to think about that. I had no idea how Benate felt about Gella. She had not made him a token of her affection or thrown a flower on the pile near his doorstep, to my knowledge. I do not think Benate's ego is fragile enough to weigh that with his affections.
She had cheered him on during the tournament, but there were only eight champions. Maybe chance played a factor in that. Perchance being chosen would allow him to see her in a familial light.
Other than the fact Benate liked to tease me about Gella like he tried to do the night I helped with her clock delivery, I had no frame of reference for how he felt. I suppose if Gella married me, then Benate would have her as a sister.
My own cheeks flushed. I did not intend to make it seem like I had unspoken intentions toward Gella.
I simply meant that we all knew each other almost as long as siblings. If she was Benate's sister, then I suppose that would make her mine as well. Hopefully Gella was just asking if I too saw her as my sister. That answer I knew was a resounding no.
"I cannot say I know my brother's opinion on the matter." I sputtered out, deflated.
Several expressions flashed across Gella's face in rapid succession. I did not have time to puzzle out even one of them before she resorted to a blank slate.
"Thank you for your honesty, Lord Holden." Gella took her turn using a formal tone.
"To friends I am just Holden. Even if you might not claim my brother as a sibling, please at least do me the honor of being called my friend." That sounded more eloquent than I meant it.
Hearing my title at that moment reminded me of Lord Carrion and all of the responsibility that my position carries. For once, I wish I were simply messing up just my own life and not having to fix that which my privilege required of me.
Gella smiled softly. "The honor is mine, Holden."