People gave Daniel odd looks at his posture, as if he were holding an invisible, weightless wife against his back. Her hands were wrapped around his chest, her chin on his shoulder, and wings folded back. Daniel dismissed them as every other time.
“I think I enjoy carrying you for once.”
Clara’s chest quaked with silent laughter against his back; her breath felt against his ear.
“You devilish man, lifting me up without effort… You carry me every day in your pocket.”
He shifted her against his back, feeling her shape against it with a gentle smile.
“Oh, I think this is more of a treat than you can ever know…”
Her hands tightened around his chest as she repeated what he’d said about her to another woman mere hours earlier.
“How can even monotony with you feel so nice? Me, the angel? Not even close. I’d stay in these arms and wait out a dozen lives. To sit with you quietly just one more time. Love really is a dance we have to rehearse… Yes, love is better slow.”
As she began to fade, he whispered gently to his workaholic, insecure angel.
“We’ll rehearse that dance when you’re rested, love… Tomorrow, I’m planning a surprise. So, wait for my call.”
Her ear brushed against his as she nuzzled him.
“I wait with bated breath.”
He straightened as Clara left, and he looked heavensward as the last light faded. Only the pale lights of what few houses shed it lit the street. Yet, it wasn’t all that dark to his eyes, in the same way he didn’t quite feel the chill of the fall, northblown wind.
“See you soon, beautiful.”
With a deep breath and sigh, he strode forward to the area he’d left the kids.
They found him two streets before, having kept lookout for him.
The older boy, likely eleven, motioned him toward an alley.
Curious, he complied.
“Psst! Mister. Mister.”
The other boys looked left and right on the street.
“The gang is looking for you.”
“I heard there’s a reward for information on where you are.”
Daniel chuckled.
“Why didn’t you take the money?”
The younger boy held up his copper with a grin.
“You pay better.”
“I guess I do.”
He handed them another copper each to their excitement; that was 50 loaves of bread each.
“You better run, Mister. We don’t like the gang.”
“Thanks, boys. But I’m afraid the gang has someone I need to chat with. Mind taking me to them?”
They looked at each other with a sad frown.
“I guess, Mister…”
“Be careful.”
“Their base is this way. The old city guard building.”
The path to the guardhouse was taken through alleys, abandoned buildings, and little holes he had to carefully navigate at his size. The kids didn’t seem to price his size compared to theirs, which amused him a little. He lost a button on a loose nail that snagged it in passing.
It gave him another excuse to stop by Cooler’s shop.
The kids stopped in the doorway to a half-ruined house, crawling into it from a hole in the back. It seemed no house around the old guardhouse was intact. That pursed Daniel’s mouth.
What is supposed to be the most secure place in the district is the most abandoned. It doesn’t sit right with all the other areas I’ve been in the city. The guards in charge of the area are paid off, but surely there must be others supervising, like the Department of Shadows.
His gaze drifted across the dark street, with only a single building lit. It was large, with three stories and probably a basement level or two, judging by the holes and bars for ventilation.
Several guards were posted around it, patrolling, and they half-wore guard pieces that he’d seen around the city. Sneaking in didn’t seem an option at first glance.
“Thanks, boys. Any secret way in?”
“Nope. They sealed the last one two years ago.”
“Got it… Probably best to get home now.”
The three looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Don’t have one. But good luck, Mister.”
Before he could follow up, the three darted into the shadows like cats slipping into the void. All Daniel could do was sigh, rub his neck, and step out of the umbra to enter the street.
All eyes darted to him, squinting to make him out as he entered the view of the building’s bright windows. The two men at the front did a double take, their focus darting from the light reflecting off his golden hair to his face.
“Toll is… Fancy clothes.”
“You’re that noble with amnesia?”
“That’s me,” he grinned. “I’m here to pay for the High Cleric of the Temple of Light’s debts.”
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They glanced at one another before stepping aside and opening the heavy door.
“Right this way, My Lord.”
The stone-walled room they put him in was decent-sized, with a fireplace, a little wooden chandelier, and lit candles. A coat of arms was half-damaged above the fire. Worn, cushioned chairs sat around circular tables, and a cabinet with goblets and wine was in the corner. There were even a few tapestries of paladins and rugs.
“Boss is in a meeting, My Lord. It’s late. Everyone’s closing out the day.”
Daniel sat and crossed his legs.
“No night patrols, huh?”
The two stumbled through a response about recruitment numbers and left him.
He expected the door to lock. He didn’t hear it, though.
Daniel sat back, head leaning, staring at the high ceiling, then looking left and right.
Probably the nicest room in the building. I suppose they think I am a lord, but this defies my expectations. Maybe my reputation and deep pockets changed how I was received?
“My, now who might you be?” A man’s flat voice sounded out of nowhere. “Too bright an aura to be the stereotypical corrupt lord who usually visits this room. A High Cleric of one of the Great Temples to haul me off? Huh. You almost look…angelic? No. Pfft. Can you believe my lying eyes, Celerina? Six severed wings? I’m seeing you everywhere. I’m that desperate now?”
A silver-haired, scraggly old man leaned out of a wall, scrutinizing him. His ethereal form put one word in Daniel’s mouth.
“Hmm? Oh. Oh. A ghost. Hello.” Daniel lifted an eyebrow and cupped his chin with a small smirk. “You can see that, huh. A peeping spirit was not on my Foresight Card.”
He blinked and tilted his head at the thought.
“A foresight card would be cool, Clara. Just throwing that out there.”
The man’s thick eyebrows furrowed, then rose in comedic fashion.
“Halo! You can see me?”
Daniel grinned and waved.
“I think so. You’ll have to tell me. Got a name, friend?”
“Danis. Wait. No. No. Danis is my dad. Davis. Yes. Davis is my name. And who are you talking to?”
Daniel chuckled before the name caught up with him.
“I’m talking to my angel. Who are you talking… Oh. Dead, huh? Hmm. That could be a problem.”
“Oh, cool. You talk to an angel too? I wonder if my angel knows yours! And dead? Why do you think I’m… Ah.”
He looked down, put his hand through his own chest, and pushed out his lips.
“Whoops. I slipped out of my body again. Dumb sleep drifting. Bah.” He threw himself into the seat across from him. “Don’t mind the ghost stuff. I sometimes lose my physical tether due to a certain busty ghost girl’s slap. I’m a Spirit Tamer High Cleric. Happens sometimes.”
Daniel folded his hands in his lap and laughed.
“Good to hear, Davis.”
A silence stretched between them for a few seconds as they just nodded at each other.
“So,” the Cleric gestured, “what brings you to this Halo-forsaken place?”
“You! I have a friend who wants to convert to the Temple of Light.”
“Brilliant. Brilliant. I’m sorry for staring. That halo, the aura, and those severed wings are distracting me. I’ve been here a month. Sometimes I see things, and Celerina is ghosting me. I’m a bit fried.”
“Isolation can be the worst,” he sighed. “I suppose it’s not much of a secret if you can see them. I am sort of what you’re seeing. I fell maybe two weeks ago. Lost my memories, too. Crazy, huh? Oh, I’m here to buy your freedom, too. How much do you owe?”
Davis’ head slowly tilted in the ensuing silence, his hazel eyes drifting in slow circles around him. Then, it settled above his head.
“Wait. You’re an angel. An angel with a broken, crown-shaped, pretty impressive halo?”
Daniel lifted a hand over his head.
A broken crown… Can Clara see that, and the citizens?
Why hasn’t anyone told me? What else can they see?
It doesn’t really matter. Clara hated what she did to my wings…
Does she see her own broken state differently than I?
That required more thought before he really dove into it.
“I can’t really see that part. Thanks for telling me. Though it kind of makes hiding what I am a bit harder than I thought. Can all High Clerics see it?”
Davis shook his head, face sobering as he studied him.
“No… I have a fairly strict vow with Argenthal, the Silver City. One of the Seven Seraph Halos… Which of the Halos are you from?”
Daniel leaned forward, joy budding.
“Argenthal…” He felt the world split and realign as the word slipped something within him into place. “My city is called Argenthal. Clara, do you hear that?”
His hand went to his chest, heat flowing out to every fiber of his being.
“Our identity recovered… Thank you.”
He looked up at the shocked High Cleric, the man’s voice quieting.
“You’re the king of Argenthal? The king fell… Who is Clara?”
Daniel sat back, letting the word swim through him like dew on spring leaves.
“Queen Clara is my wife. The Queen of Argenthal. It has a good ring to it. She’s been with me since I awoke. Much of my kingdom has lost its identity for an unknown reason. We’re rebuilding it together.”
Davis’ fingers began to tremble as he leaned forward and clasped his hands together, shaky eyes on him. His voice dropped further.
“What about anyone else?”
Daniel thought back on his earlier claim, sadness coming on as he shook his head.
“I’m afraid I don’t know anyone by the name of Celerina. Clara might. I can ask her later tonight. She is always listening. Do you know anything about Clara?” he asked, looking for anything to help solidify his wife’s confidence.
Davis rested his mouth against his interlocked fingers, the wood popping in the fire coming into the foreground. He stared at the floor and slowly shook his head.
“Cel talked very highly of you… She never mentioned a queen. Do you have any kids?”
Daniel thought about the question, his left eye creasing as he searched for any reaction in himself.
“None that come to mind. As I said, the realm itself lost its identity, and we are rebuilding it. Our power still seems to be intact, though, if your vow is enforced,” Daniel reasoned. “Clara is holding the foundation steady. I sort of think of all my subjects as family.”
Davis’ face looked oddly hollow and maybe a tad scared.
The old, ghostly man swallowed and studied him.
“Can we try a little experiment… I have a vow of nonviolence that only the king of the Silver City can lift. I was fourteen, trying to impress a girl and trying to be chivalrous… I could purify ghosts without violence. It doesn’t matter now. If you are the king…”
Daniel leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head with a smile.
“Sounds like you had quite the first, and young, experience with my kingdom. Sure. What, is it a sort of verbal thing? Curse be gone! Or, vow be lifted?”
The man’s countenance blazed like a star. The ground quaked, the very air trembling. Silver chains, locked in halos and feathered rings, snapped. Twinkling light erupted around the stunned man and consumed the entire room in a supernova of holy force.
When it was gone, so was Davis.
“Well, shoot. I hope I didn’t kill the guy…”
Seconds later, the door slammed open. A burly, scarred man with deep-set eyes and medals on his jacket appeared, scanning the room before settling on him. The boss.
“What in the Wellspring of Eternity was that?”
Several men were behind him, weapons drawn.
Daniel smiled and waved.
“Hello. I’m Lord Daniel.”
Man, I hope Davis is alright.
Maybe he went back to his body…
The boss entered the room, scanning it more thoroughly.
“Scan the whole building and surrounding area… Find out what in the blazes that spell was. Light bled through everything. Did you see it, Lord Daniel?”
He nodded and laughed.
“It was pretty impressive. Shocked me! You guys saw it in the other room?”
“The whole city probably saw whatever that was…” He grumbled, moving to the window to look outside. “Felt like that one time in the Battle of the Bloody Sands, when one of the Six Mythic Paladins came out of the sky and vaporized half the merfolk army… No damage? I’d expect a quarter of the city to be glassed…”
“Crazy.”