NOVEL NEXT Book 3 Ch 42: Julian - This Is Where It Becomes Complicated
“It all started when my ex-husband beat me to death.” Gerda the Bridge Troll explained, delivering that bone-chilling statement with a casual smile.
Julian tensed, grateful he wasn’t holding anything as he felt his nails bite into the flesh of his palm. Henrietta was less fortunate; the Dark Lady had chosen that exact moment to pick up a huckleberry biscuit from the snack tray. She turned the pastry into powder. “He did what?”
“[Cleanse].” Keith waved a hand to help tidy up the mess before asking me, “I’m assuming you were not living in the Dark Enchanted Forest at that time?”
“The Baldorin Mountains.” She explained. Gerda reached out a comforting hand and placed it on her friend’s arm. “I told you I was divorced.”
“I think this and that are different.” Henrietta laid her own hand on top of the trolls. “But don’t mind me, go on.”
The Dark Lady said so, but the second Gerda turned away to continue her story, Henrietta shared a look with Keith. Julian felt no pity for the fool who harmed the delightful bridge troll. At this point, he should have reminded Gerda that she was meant to be answering security questions and not the details of her love-life, but he wanted to hear Gerda’s backstory. He was invested, as was everyone else.
Madame Potts was a legend. A distractable legend.
“It was a pretty easy separation, since we wed until death do us part.” Gerda took a sip of her tea. “He tried to argue it, but I overthrew the village and then I threw him off the mountain. That’s when I left for the Dark Enchanted Forest.”
“Good riddance.” Henrietta stated. The Dark Lady picked up a new biscuit and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Larry the Bridge Troll was retiring, and I was looking for a home.” Gerda’s face softened. “He taught me everything I needed to know to open up the Bridge Troll skill tree. That was also around the time I gained my Sight ability.”
John gave a signal that the last was not exactly true. Julian note the discrepancy.
“Was that when you made your first Crystal Cast?” Their Royal Highness asked.
“Yes.” She scrunched her nose, drawing Julian’s attention to her white freckles. “While I was questing in the Dark Enchanted Forest, I found the Master Cast Crystal, and used that to start forewarning everyone about important upcoming events.”
Rowen opened their mouth to say something but Gerda cut them off, “Such as Your Highness’s death.”
“And my Guild Leader’s death.” The royal added. “And the dungeon breaks.”
“I have some knowledge of Dungeoneering, as you know from my podcasts.” The troll coughed, “Madame Potts Casts, I mean.”
The word was a slip of the tongue that Julian didn’t understand. Now having conversed with her a few times, he respected didn’t see her making a mistake when she was surrounded by so many. He put the word ‘podcast’ aside, making a note to ask her about it at a later time.
Gerda was already moving on to the next part of her story.
“So this is where it becomes complicated.” She looked around the room. “There isn’t just one planned future, because Fate and her sister Luck work together to provide multiple possible outcomes, and we mortals are left struggling to pick the best one.”
“Are you working for Luck?” Julian asked, curious if the celestial was right.
“My abilities are Fate-based, actually.” Gerda shrugged. “I wasn’t just saying so to upset Alice, I really do think Fate wasn’t happy with her plans. Why else could I change them? If the gods were actually upset with me moving us away from the regular timelines, then I’m sure they would have done something by now.”
"Isn’t Alice that something?” Julian said, poking holes in her argument. “The celestial is Fate’s champion and deliberately set out to undo your work, did she not?”
“But she failed.” Gerda pointed out.
“How many timelines?” Calisto asked, cutting into their conversation with a question of her own.
Gerda paused, “I know of eight.”
Another indication that she wasn’t telling the truth from John.
“Let’s look at Henrietta.” The bridge troll went on, “How Luck and Fate work is that based around the gods chosen. The Heroine of Justice is faced with scenarios with different choices, and depending on her choices, she goes down different paths.”
“With different fated mates?” Julian asked, and then regretted it when the Dark Lord shot him a look that could sour markleberry pie.
“Yes. But, what happens when I change things?”
Gerda stood then, taking a step free of the snack table and couch to stand and face them. She raised one hand and summoned a sheathed blade. Julian felt the room tense, but it wasn’t because she’d summoned a weapon. “This is the blade that Henrietta should have given to her future husband at the Masked Ball tomorrow night. Instead, I have it.”
King Keith leaned forward, “[Identify].”
Between the Dark Lord and the Grand Duchess - who silently cast her own investigation spell - there were few higher level on the continent who could appraise the weapon.
Displeasure and suspicion crossed King Keith’s face. “That sword was made to slay dragons.”
“It was.” Gerda agreed, matter of fact, “What did you think Feliwyn was going to do when she found everyone dead?”
Henrietta reached out and grabbed her husband's hand, not saying anything. Everyone had heard of the love story between the Heroine of Justice and the Dark Lord… and how she was originally sent out to slay him and the forces of evil.
The room lapsed into silence for the second time.
Julian didn’t stay quiet for long. He wanted to bring them back to the important question at hand. “So in your eight timelines, did you see who was working with Guild Mistress Alice or no?”
A little curt, but he thought Gerda could handle it. Julian had found enjoyment in their back and forth discourse since he’d met her, and she didn’t disappoint.
Gerda smiled at him. “I did.”
He waited.
Her soft brown eyes moved away from him to address the person sitting beside him. Something frustrated him that she didn't address him specifically to answer the questions... He pushed it aside. Like he’d been constantly pushing thoughts of the troll aside, and failing, since they’d first met.
“Your Grace,” Gerda said to his mother, “The reason that I wanted to speak to only those here, is I believe a member of the Continental Council to be a Blackfog Spy.”
Of course, his mother just returned the accusation with a smile and replied, “You mean Master Thomas?”
“You knew?” Gerda looked shocked and then contrite. “Of course you knew.”
“The boy is an all powerful mage who was the last to enter the Sanctuary before you found all of the traps." Calisto sipped her tea, finishing off the last of it and placing it down firmly. “He might be strong... be is terrible at overestimating his own brilliance.”
Their Royal Highness was not amused. Their control on their aura slipped, leaking pressure back over the room. Julian had felt it when the fox directed it at Gerda, but it was impressive in its full weight.
“Oh come off it Rowen,” His mother chastised the fox. “The Blackfog Spy weren’t any harm two months ago. They are simple information dealers who you yourself have contracted.”
“That was before they burned down a wing in my palace!” Their Royal Highness barked, but they were reining in their power.
“Thomas owed Alice a favor.” Gerda said, “One binding magical favor; and she called it in. So you may do with that knowledge as you so choose. Personally–” The trolls’ voice took on an edge, “I think you should let it go.”
“Why?” Henrietta surprised Julian; she seemed like the least bloodthirsty in the room.
“Because future Thomas is currently going to make it up to all of you.” She said with certainty. “Even if you don’t know it.”
Julian didn’t need John to tell him that she wasn’t lying. When Gerda spoke just then, she’d sounded like a Madame Potts Cast.
“How do you know?” Henrietta asked.
“Something similar happened in one of your routes.” Gerda explained.
“Was Master Thomas–” Henrietta cut herself off and squeezed Keith’s hand. “Never mind.”
“I cannot promise anything now.” Calisto shot the still unamused Rowan a look, “But we will keep your words under advisement.”
Then Calisto stood. Julian jumped up to steady his mother when she swayed from the mana burn. He offered her a mana potion and she gladly accepted, smiling at him in thanks. He flinched. The headaches alone were enough to make him hate the debuff and his mother needed to go to bed before she fell over or potentially died from the side effects.
“Thank you Miss Gerda,” The Grand Duchess Calisto of North Sumbria bowed to the bridge troll. “For your aid, and for answering our questions. If you need anything during the rest of your stay, please just let me know– and I’ll send someone to check on the west wing after you have left, to make sure you had a good stay.”
Gerda’s green cheeks blushed a soft and surprisingly endearing shade of pink, highlighting her freckles. His mother wouldn’t allow just anyone teleport access into her palace - even the famous Madame Potts.
“Now if you will excuse me everyone.” The duchess allowed Julian to escort her out, leaning heavily on his arm for support.
“To the dining hall.” She ordered, and he didn’t argue. The luncheon wasn’t the official reception, it was simply a gathering after the ceremony to offer Julia and Chloe well wishes. The ball tomorrow evening would act as the official reception and toast for the newlyweds.
Still, his mother would make an appearance at the luncheon. Even if she had to down two more high grade mana potions to do it.
She came, she greeted, and she even managed a piece of cheese.
After six minutes, Julian put his foot down and made an excuse to get his mother off to her rooms and straight into bed.
He didn’t want Chloe to have to revive her new mother-in-law on her first day in the family.
Despite her grumbles, Julian summoned a healer to check over Calisto’s health, and then plied her with another mana potion before leaving her to rest. He flinched when she caught him just before he escaped the room. “And Julian, I’ll see you tomorrow for afternoon tea.”
“Of course, Mother.” He sighed.
And then he went for a walk.