Page 9 of Heart of the High King
“Eat up, lads, we have to let our people know we’re splitting from the emperor. We will not be asked to leave the very land that has sustained us. I never needed an overlord, and we shall flourish without him.”
Rafferty had no choice but to agree with his father, but it rankled that he had to defy Fate to do so. Taking no issue with the emperor except for when he fussed over the other kings’ complaints, he had concerns regarding what would happen without the other dragons. However, it was his duty to aid Charlton in ensuring that Court Kestle flourished.
∞∞∞
1906 AD
Court of Kestle
Rafferty raced down the hill, nearly sliding when his shoe hit a patch of mud, but he managed to right himself. Squashing his hat more firmly on his head, he neared the cottage at the edge of his father’s land. When he reached it, he straightened his jacket and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so with his heart racing, he pounded harder.
“Molly, are you there? I wish to speak with you,” Rafferty yelled. Having just learned from Sullivan that Molly had moved out of the main house, he could not understand why she would go or how his father had let it happen. Since he was born, Molly had been there to care for them, and she was truly the one person who consistently treated Rafferty with kindness. Although he loved his brothers, they were men who liked to taunt and tease. Rafferty did not wish to think of himself as someone who could not take a good-natured ribbing, so he held his tongue when they hurt his feelings. “Please Molly, do you have a moment? I’ve just a few questions to ask.”
Time was immaterial as he stood there begging her to answer. Rafferty tugged off his hat and laid his forehead against the wood. “I already miss you, dear Molly. In truth, I’ve always thought of you as my mother. I hope it does not offend you to hear it because I only wish to tell you the depth of my love for you. There is such fear inside me, knowing you are no longer at the house. Please, won’t you let me in?”
Rafferty stayed in that exact position until a familiar but unwelcome beast roared in his head. “I’ve no time for you, dragon. Sod off.”
With a mighty exhale, Rafferty forced himself upright and straightened his clothing. Trudging back up the hill and solemnly making his way to his bedroom on the top floor, he sat on the bed and wondered if it was something he’d said to make her want to leave their family after so long. It wasn’t until the light grew dim that Rafferty rose again. Belly rumbling, he stomped down the stairs to find food, grimly wondering if he would need a new size in pants again soon.
“Paunchy, your trousers are too short,” Neil observed, striding into the dining room. There was a servant named Heather instead of Molly placing dishes on the table.
“I know,” Rafferty muttered, grabbing a dish and filling it with food that would never be as tasty as anything Molly cooked. “I made a joke to Sullivan that he ordered my last suit with the wrong measurements, so he told the tailor to remove a few inches.”
“I think it will start a new fashion,” Sullivan remarked, and his brothers all burst into laughter.
“What are you fools carrying on about?” Charlton demanded when he arrived.
“You’re in a horrid mood, Your Highness,” Sullivan said.
“I’ve every reason to be. Can you believe that woman moving out?” Charlton asked. “Have I not allowed her to make household decisions for centuries? Suddenly she finds out she’s having my babe and wants nothing to do with us. I fear she thinks herself above royalty.”
“Molly’s with child?” Rafferty asked, nearly dropping his plate, unsure of what was more shocking—that she was expecting or that Charlton was the father. Rafferty still lacked any sexuality, and the relations of others often left him trying to figure out how they could so willingly fall into someone’s arms.
It was part of dragon culture at Court Kestle to find partners that expected nothing but a single night together, and Rafferty simply could not understand why he’d want to do that. His brothers repeatedly called him a prude when he dared comment on the subject, so he’d long ago given up asking questions. Born with a defect in that regard, Rafferty might go to his funeral pyre never figuring out what was wrong with him. But Molly with his father went one step further because he’d never guessed they had those types of feelings for each other. It left him slightly queasy.
“Yes, and she’s already complained to me this afternoon that you’re bothering her,” Charlton said. “You’ve got to leave her well enough alone, Rafferty. She doesn’t want to have a thing to do with any of us. Insists on raising the child herself as if I’ve erred some way with you four.”
“But, why?”
“Son, if I knew that, I would probably have the answers to the universe itself. Women get strange when they find out they’re expecting.”
“Do you think she might return after the baby is born?”
“Rafferty, you need to let Molly go. Her choice is to stay clear of the house and our lives. Is that understood? We have come to an agreement, and Molly will tend to the babe alone. I allow my sons great freedom, but you must heed my rules. Leave her alone.”
Woodenly, Rafferty bobbed his head. “Yes, Your Highness.”
“Paunchy, if you start to cry, you’re going to ruin my meal. It’s bad enough I must watch you eat as if you’re a pig at a trough. I can’t take your womanly tears as well,” Sullivan snapped. “Molly was always far too comfortable in her role here, and I believe it is best that we’ll have servants who know their place.”
“Molly’s a kind woman,” Rafferty argued quietly. “I will miss her.”
“Of course you will, she’s always had a soft spot for you,” Sullivan retorted.
“She must fancy fat dragons,” Nollan guffawed.
“With short pants,” Neil tacked on, laughing so hard he had to lean against his twin.
Rafferty tuned them out as they discussed his issues with women, illness, and anything else that came to mind. The truth was, they were welcome to make their snide comments; he was far more concerned with Molly’s choice to cut them out of her life. Although he would respect her wishes because he did care for her and he’d never defied one of his father’s orders, it hurt to suddenly have her absent. All he could do was hope it was nothing he had done to turn her away and if he had done something, then he wished for an opportunity to make amends.
