Chapter 43 A Legion

Chapter 43 A Legion
She wrote a letter apologizing to Bethias for worrying her and explained that something had come up. She did not go into detail and would tell her in person when she saw her.

Done with her food, the maids took it away because she had little appetite. 

Sapphira hurried to find a footman to send it off. 

Lucy lay in her bed as the exhaustion began to overtake her and the excitement of the day wore off. Her eyes became heavy as they slowly closed before the dawn had even broken. 

Patricia quietly snuffed out the candles and left Lucy’s chambers, allowing her to sleep in peace. 

When Lucy woke, her body still felt tense, as if she had spent the entire night on edge, ready to run. Her muscles ached as she stretched. 

She lay in bed till Patricia tentatively opened the door. “My lady?” The maid knocked as she opened the door. 

“Enter,” Lucy called, giving her permission. 

Based on how Patricia looked at her with relief, she must have looked better. The maid immediately went about her duties with less concern than the day before. 

Lucy asked for another bath to help her aching muscles. Patricia quickly obliged. 

The water did feel good as she relaxed. Whatever Patricia had put in the water had a soothing smell. 

While Lucy was in the bath, Patricia left to get her breakfast. The moon was already high in the sky, making Lucy wonder how long she had slept. 

Her stomach was hungry after barely having eaten the day before. With her appetite returning, she quickly ate the entire tray. Patricia asked if she should ring for more, but Lucy had stuffed herself far too much. 

To wear that day, Lucy decided on a blue gown. She wanted to wear her riding attire because it gave her greater mobility. Though she knew she would not be returning to the stables. 

Seeing her reflection in the mirror had been a shock. She was getting paler from the lack of sun, but what worried her was the blue bags under her eyes. She had slept the day away but still looked tired. 

Sapphira came in as Lucy had finished dressing, “My lady, if you are feeling up to it, Lady Bethias would like a minute of your time.”

“Of course, I’ll go see her,” Lucy said, finishing placing her locket on her neck and looking herself over.

Sapphira stopped her. “She is waiting outside.”

Lucy looked around her chambers frantically. Everything seemed to be in order. “Then by all means see her in.”

Sapphira crossed the room and opened the door. A moment later, Bethias was crossing the threshold, worry written on her face. 

“There you are, I’ve only heard bits of your ordeal.” The vampire embraced her in a hug before holding her at arm's length, looking her over. 

“Thank you, I was in shock yesterday. Let us sit,” Lucy said, gesturing to the seating area. Bethias sat next to Lucy with a look of concern. It made Lucy uncomfortable and happy at the same time. 

She was unfamiliar with this level of fussing over her, since it had been so long since anyone had really cared about her. “I am sorry to have caused you any worry. I had planned to practice our lessons yesterday.” Lucy apologized, worried that she had pulled Brthias from whatever she had been doing.

The vampire waved her off. “There is nothing that cannot wait, but I think you had quite the lesson on your own.” She said with a pointed look.

“I did,” Lucy agreed, exasperated. 

“Tell me all about it,” Bethias said, trying to prompt Lucy. 

She recounted her desire to go to the stables to see the horses. Meeting Cinnamon and then Caen startling her and taking her for a ride. 

At the mention of Cinnamon, Bethias’s eyes widened slightly, but she did not interrupt. 

Not wanting to share Caen’s secret place, she just said they went into the wilderness to explore. She had grown cold, and Caen left to make a fire. While he was gone, the Rovers appeared, but thankfully, the king returned just in time. 

Bethias asked for tea as the story went on. While the maids were gone, she spoke to Lucy of what she had heard. 

“A messenger arrived asking if I had seen you. Then I came to the palace, and Sapphira said you weren’t in your chambers when she went to check on you. The servants started scurrying about, and I knew something was wrong,” Bethias recounted. 

The servants never seemed to break compusre, and if they had, that would be cause of alarm. Remembering the state that Caen had brought her back in, they were definitely scared. 

“I had left here when the sun was still shining,” Lucy added as the reason why Sapphira had been unable to locate her.

Her disappearance must have scared the maids if they were sending a messenger to Bethias, but her reappearance may have scared them more. 

“The king sent out a legion to track down any lingering rovers,” Bethias told her, causing her to gape at the vampire. 

“But he was safe in the palace?” Lucy cocked her head to the side slightly in confusion. He had handled the Rovers so swiftly that she did not think him afraid. 

Bethias let out a laugh, “My dear, he was not concerned for his own safety.”

The words did not sink in at first. “Me? He was concerned for me?” Lucy fiddled with the locket around her neck. 

“A few rovers are no match for the king.” Bethias waved her off. 

Lucy sat back in her seat. “But why?”

“An attack against you is an attack against the king. Remember that, and remember it when others disrespect you.” Bethias was serious again as she did her best to make her words sink in. 

Lucy was still processing everything Bethias had told her. “I can only imagine the fuss at the last meal. I hope it did not disturb the king.”

The vampires were probably annoyed at the fuss she had caused in the palace. They would probably turn their noses up at her in scorn for allowing herself to be carried by the king. 

What was worse was that Lucy began to wonder how many of them wished to drink her blood. 

“The king was not at the last meal,” Bethias informed her, and Lucy was surprised, as it was part of his duty, if not his obligation, to preside over the evening meal. 

“I hope my situation did not pull you away from your plans,” Lucy said as Patricia passed her a cup of tea and Sapphira one to Bethias.

Bethias shifted a little uncomfortably. “It was a welcome distraction.” The vampire chose her words carefully, and Lucy knew not to pry. If she had wanted to, she would have told her more. 

They sipped their tea since Lucy’s throat was still a little sore.