'Now, now, Winslow. That is no proper way to treat my guest,' said Callahan, walking down the stairs with graceful ease and coming to stand behind the apothecary.
The Duke bowed in greeting as soon as he took in his presence and everyone else in the inn, who saw him, followed suit. Except one.
Callahan watched with growing amusement as the apothecary froze at her spot hearing his voice, then turned her head around — quick enough to cause a sprain. For a moment, she only stared back at him, wondering what her next move should be. Then she noticed how the older woman she had been supporting had her head bowed as well, and lowered her head to mimic the action, although still visibly unsure and unfamiliar with the greeting.
'Let us not fake politeness now, Apothecary. I thought we were long past such formalities,' Callahan said and saw her shoulders tense at the statement.
'Forgive me for my insolence, His High-' she stopped mid-sentence and cocked her head to the side, while still bowing, and Callahan assumed she was trying to remember the proper way to address him. Living her whole life in a village with not one noble in the vicinity, she might not be familiar with such protocols. 'Your Highness!' She finished at last.
The woman she had been holding until now, freed herself from her grasp, bowed at him, and walked to the end of the corridor. Eleonora watched her walk away with concern for her health, wondering if she should follow her.
Callahan noted her worry and smiled — a slight tilt at the corner of the lips, barely visible. Pieces on the board, moving freely on their own. He didn't need to interfere. Not yet.
'Ah, but which particular act of insolence are we talking about? You were quite generous with them,' he said, drawing her attention back to him.
Eleonora hesitated, painfully aware of the many eyes looking at her with envy and curiosity. Callahan kept his gaze steady on her face. She was a little creature, a head shorter than him, barely reaching his chin.
'All of them,' she said with conviction. There was caution in her demeanor and worry for her actions, but not one hint of fear. It was a startling change from his usual encounters — a pleasant surprise. Callahan wasn't very fond of people falling to their knees to beg for his forgiveness, not unless he was the one breaking their legs.
'How do you like Ilyndor?' he asked. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Duke Winslow, impatient of the lack of acknowledgement, rush towards him. Arthur moved forward, intending to block him from intruding in the conversation. Callahan lightly tapped the polished wooden floor with his foot, giving Arthur the necessary signal to back away.
'What an honor to have your presence here, Your Highness!' the duke exclaimed with forced happiness and genuine surprise. 'Allow me to indulge you in some of my ales. I brought a few bottles from my latest produce to be distributed in the inn. I hope His Highness will do me the honor of pouring you a drink. They have been approved by your brother, His Majesty himself.'
Callahan finally shifted his eyes to the duke. The jab was expertly hidden behind overt reverence. The confidence on the usually cowardly duke was new, owing to the recent imperial protection. Callahan decided to humour the man. He did not have much long to live anyway.
But first, the apothecary.
'Shall I repeat my question, Miss Eleonora?' he asked in a much softer tone and saw the duke's face twitch with anger for being ignored. Callahan could hear the small crowd of people watching them murmuring among themselves. The rumours would spread in the kingdom, he knew. The whispers about a certain apothecary would certainly reach his brother's ear as well. He only hoped that when the time came, Malcolm would let go of this arrogance and make an intelligent choice.
Eleonora cleared her throat before speaking. 'It's beautiful, Your Highness. Thank you for inviting me.'
Winslow narrowed his eyes at that and the murmur in the background increased. Eleonora looked around herself, then locked eyes with his, feeling out of place and intimated. He could ease her concerns instantly, clear the air, put her mind to rest with one phrase or one command, but he refrained himself from doing that.
He needed to know this woman. He needed to understand her like no one he had understood before. The small report that Emma had delivered to his chambers on the apothecary after she delivered the letter to her cottage was enough to tell him about her upbringing, about her daily life and her routine. That night in the forest had told him about her principles and beliefs. Now he needed to learn about the way her mind worked, the way her heart worked. Because Callahan had to force himself to rise against the wind. He had to learn how to turn his curse into his strength. He had to come to terms with his prophesied terrible fate. Now the woman who unknowingly held his fate in her hands had shown up at his door, and it was only fair he learned everything that was there to learn about her in return. For even if he cannot change his fate, he could understand the reasons behind it by keeping her exactly where he wanted.
'Come now, why not join me for a drink?' he said to Eleonora, then finally gave the duke the attention he wanted. 'I'm sure Duke Winslow would be quite pleased to have another mouth taste of his exquisite brew.'
The duke's face erupted into a huge fake smile that was almost nauseating. 'Very well, Your Highness. The more people the merrier it is,' he said, even as he refused to look at Eleonora. The common folks were no less than slaves, was the duke's philosophy. And even with the Celestial Concord abolishing it several centuries ago, Duke Winslow would be standing in the front lines if a revolt to bring the practice back was ever to break out.
Knowing this well, Callahan broke the protocol and gestured the apothecary to walk ahead of him, much to the duke's displeasure.