Ceridor (Danubian #4)

30. Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

One week later

Johann

Ceridor stood next to me at the entrance to Ulbrecht's great hall. He wore no disguise, as the magewoman Ingeborg who advised Ulbrecht and was a mentor to Wren would see right through it, plus he wanted to be himself for this moment.

My lover handed the letter from Wren to the guard, who after reading it, sent a page around the back to get Ulbrecht's permission for us to be admitted. A knock came from inside the thick wooden door and guards on both sides opened to admit us.

"Ceridor the Bard, and Johann of West Danube and East Helvetica."

I forced breath into my lungs as we walked the distance from the door up to the throne. It wouldn't do for me to trip over my own feet and go splat on the hardwood floor.

Wren beamed from where he stood behind Ulbrecht's right shoulder. Igor stood at Ulbrecht's left, and to my surprise I found Marit and Corbi there, looking pleased as we approached. The five of them must have been having a meeting.

Ceridor had informed me that Peter was traveling with Awariye to continue his spiritual studies, based on the vision he'd had of the lanterns some months ago.

After visiting my home of West Danube and being filled with hope at finding it thriving, I'd trained full-time at the Diana Monastery for six weeks, leading up to the summer solstice. Not just magical training, especially focusing on etheric and astral perception in hopes that Ceridor could eventually communicate with me telepathically once we began traveling in disguise together, but Marit had trained me in the ways of the warrior monk, and I had brought him up to speed on the combat training I'd been engaged in my whole life. Marit was now finalizing the branch of Diana Monastery in Ulbrecht's capital, putting the finishing touches on a small old Catholic cloister that had moved elsewhere, while Corbi had already started to train medics with etheric sensitivity at a clinic nearby.

My lover and I knelt in front of the High King.

Ulbrecht stood and came down the steps to us. "Ceridor, it's good to see you," he said, then touched my partner's shoulder and bid him to stand.

"It's great to see you, Ulbrecht. I've brought my partner, Johann."

My heart started pounding something fierce as a long moment of silence stretched on.

Then a hand touched my shoulder and reluctantly I rose to standing, wishing I could stay looking at the floor, I was suddenly so intimidated.

Ulbrecht had aged a bit in the years since I'd last seen him, but the battle-hardened warrior was still as handsome as I remembered.

Ulbrecht's brown eyes widened after a moment of him taking me in. "Prince Johannes Ott. I'd thought you and your sister were dead, or at least gone for good."

I swallowed. "We're safe, sir. Effie is running an inn and dating the Prince Regent of East Helvetica. I am sworn to Prince Regent Magnus, and with his blessing, I've come to swear myself to you. Thank you for installing a temporary ruler in West Danube who is capable. I am so grateful to see the land and people thriving."

"And why, if you're sworn to a Helvetican Regent, are you coming to swear yourself to me, Prince Ott?" he asked.

I cleared my throat, terrified my voice would crack from nerves. "Please, it's just Johann of West Danube and East Helvetica now. I've kept up with my martial training, and I wish to take you up on your offer from two years ago to let me fight for you and prove myself."

"To prove yourself," said Ulbrecht, stepping away from me and placing his hands on his hips. He appraised my partner, who merely bowed his head.

"You want your kingship back," the High King mused. "My regent Harold has no children who could succeed him, plus I tend to move him around to secure unstable areas for me."

I hesitated, but Ulbrecht nodded at me to speak, so I went ahead. "My desire is first and foremost to protect the prosperity of my homeland, even if that is fighting under you with no promise of reward. Seeing West Danube at peace and healthy is enough."

I hoped he could see the sincerity in my eyes.

Ulbrecht drew his sword and I sank to my knees.

Ceridor closed the distance between us and put a calming hand on my shoulder. Wren, Marit, and Corbi came down and put their hands on me, on my shoulders and back as I bowed. Igor stood at Ulbrecht's side, arms crossed and appraising me.

I kissed Ulbrecht's sword.

"We are in the hands of our gods, as Wren likes to say," said Ulbrecht. "May you fight well. Whatever fate awaits you, may it find you standing, sword in hand."

I committed to my path and swore my vow. "It will."

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The End

Ceridor—Danubian Book Four