Chapter 202 - 203
"He’s probably playing with some stray dog in a patch of mud somewhere," huffed Anice, who crossed her arms and turned her head. "Fifteen years old and he’s still such a rascal."
"Don’t you think it’s sweet?" said her friend, who fingered the fabric of her dress as she seemed to imagine the scene in her mind. "What other nobleman would dirty his clothes to wrestle with some pups?"
Anice didn’t answer, refusing to admit that this was one of the traits of his that she loved most.
"Hey, Anne," said Lily, differentiated from her sisters only in that she was currently holding Jaden’s hand. "Where’s your father going? Isn’t he supposed to stay here to welcome the bishop and the other delegates?"
Anice and the others followed her gaze to where Caedmon, Alder, Stason and Mr. Albeck were in the midst of hurrying down the street with urgent steps. Judging by their movements, it seemed that something was wrong.
Who’s that with them, she wondered? Trailing behind her uncle was a man dressed in riding leathers, indicating that he had recently dismounted from a horse. Perhaps he was a member of the delegation that had arrived first to inform her father of some important matter? She expanded her magical awareness and tracked them northward, noticing that they were heading toward the cathedral. If it were Alistar, he’d be able to sense them all the way outside of town, but the length of South Street was Anice’s limit and she could only guess after their destination once they crossed into the central plaza.
Thinking of her cousin, Anice tried her best to ignore the empty, lonely feeling that had been bothering her as of late. Conjuring a small amount of water to drink amidst the heat generated by the surrounding bodies, she stood around and conversed with her friends as they awaited the procession’s arrival at the parade grounds. They weren’t the only ones that were growing impatient, for most of the county’s population had crammed into the city in order to catch a glimpse of the famous Bishop Maels, whose name was growing more common throughout the empire in light of his recent achievements. If she were to guess, there were probably around sixteen thousand people lining the streets from here to the cathedral, which was all the way across town.
What’s so special about some bishop? Even a commoner could show up to an appointment on time, but these holy men couldn’t? An inexplicable sense of unease suddenly arose within Anice’s heart, and she turned her gaze to the south as she kept an eye out for her cousin. Where are you, Alie? The unwelcome feeling was abrupt and unexplained.
After looking around for a few moments, she caught sight of someone approaching Mayhaven’s southern entrance, a vague silhouette of a man dressed in some sort of close-fitting, crimson clothing. She and her friends were very close to the fringes of town and could see the verdant countryside just beyond the distant gates.