Chapter 62 – Heartaches and Hard Breaks

Wherein Valentina’s wishes are fulfilled. 

Valentina was feeling only slightly better when Luminsday came rolling around. Aside from Venlica’s note, there had been no more communications from her family. The tension had her considering destructive behaviour.  

So she decided to honour the time-old tradition of having coffee at Paragon's Cup. She would be out of the house for a few hours, get some sun on her skin and smog in her lungs. 

Maybe if she was out, she would be able to stop the carousel of blame and defeat. 

She braved the journey in solitude.

There were people around her, but to them she was just another body on the tube. She could not quite figure out if she actually liked that. 

Forgoing the second tube to end up closer to Brine Street, she walked. The physical exertion made her feel better. Her feet carried her where she wanted to go, her mind finally quiet.

Right outside Paragon’s Cup stood a four-horse carriage, emblazoned with a nobleman’s seal. Too numb to notice, Valentina entered the café, basking in the smells, and the warmth, and the familiar atmosphere.

With Bosra at work, and Rose at Bardic College, she would have some time to herself here.

"Here is the little slut," a dispassionate voice spoke at the same time her sore arm was taken into a death-grip. Nails dug into skin through the fabric of her tunic.

Hissing, she tried to pull free, yet only managed to cause herself more pain. She looked up, straight into Lord Elvendale's magnificent face. 

All conscious thought fled her mind. 

"Now, now," a voice that sounded a lot like her mother's, but wasn't, intoned, "don't draw hasty conclusions, milord. Nudity is quite natural."

Next to Lord Elvendale, Theodora's face appeared. She was a full head shorter than the tall elven lord. The compassion in her eyes belied her mask of contempt.

"Not if one portrays it indignantly," the cool voice continued. He shook her, making her head loll. Her vision swam and bile rose in the back of her throat. 

Theodora put her hand on Lord Elvendale's arm. "Remember why we are here."

Lord Elvendale snorted, his face contorting into a grotesque.

"Right." He looked haughtily down his nose at the mess that was his fiancé. He let go of Valentina and brushed himself down.

"I regret to inform you that your services as my wife will no longer be needed. Due to your escapades this weekend and the very public display thereof you have made me look like a fool at court. I cannot marry such a creature as would make a habit out of it."

"Once is not a habit," Valentina croaked. Shooting pains travelled down her neck and up her skull. 

"According to your sister and your cousin, this is merely the first time you got caught on sketch. I loathe your distasteful ways and your whining. I release you from your vow; if it ever held any worth to you, make sure you never set foot in my sight again." Lord Elvendale slapped her across the jaw. "Impeccable breeding means nothing if the child has birth defects." 

Tears sprung into Valentina's eyes. Her teeth ached. Her cheek felt like it was about to split open. 

"Come, Theodora, we are late for an appearance at the castle." He sidestepped Valentina and moved to the exit. 

Theodora however, took a moment to touch her sister's shoulder in kindness. Valentina looked into the same blue orbs as her own, blinking away the brine.

"Things are bad, Val. King Adevald was willing to break the alliance over Lord Elvendale's temper tantrum. You should get out of the city. At least for a while."

"Theodora!" his Lordship called, one foot already outside, his tall figure propping the door open. 

Valentina hugged her sister. It wasn't a prepared action. It was a spur of the moment thing. "Take care of yourself. Do not... don't let him dictate your every move. Please." 

Thea grinned a wicked little grin. "I will not. I learned to manage people from the best." 

"Venlica is not the best," Valentina grumbled. 

"You. Silly." Thea quickly kissed Tina's cheek, then hurried after her future husband. "Some things a lady has to tell her sister in private. Men have it so easy, they can always be loud about their insults," she exclaimed by way of explanation.

This appeased the elf, who grumbled agreement.  

Valentina watched them go. 

The door swung shut and her knees gave way. She fell to her bum in the middle of the cafe, aware of the witnesses to her humiliation.  

She wanted to be anywhere but here. She wanted to do anything but cry. 

Bob the barista rushed over and helped her to a seat. A frothy latte with extra spice appeared on the table in front of her as if by magic. She was also given a chilled bottle of milk wrapped with a towel to cool her burning cheek. 

An older woman sat down next to her, patted her hand, and rubbed her back in consolation. She responded to questions, but she didn't know how accurate her answers were. She was waiting, waiting, waiting for Bosra or Rose. Waiting for a break in the wave of compassion that swept over her and made her feel more vulnerable. 

The older woman left. Another customer took her place. The new one talked of day-journals, the fire at Bardic College, the scandal of three unknown entities - people - living in a student dorm and cooking drugs in a make-shift lab without college administration knowing anything - anything - about them. 

Valentina let the wave of chatter wash over her. 

The warmed up milk bottle was replaced with a cold one. Her half-drunk latte was replaced with a full one, this time accompanied by a large slice of apple pie. 

Very slowly, Valentina felt less shaky, though she was still drifting on a current of experiencing the world too minutely. The buzzing, plopping, whirring of the coffee machine. The motes of dust dancing through space in a whimsical tune. The smell of wet coffee grounds, patisserie and leather upholstery competing for attention, and everything mixed together with the odours of citylife every time the front door opened to let customers enter or exit. 

Until, at some point in time, the door opened, letting in a gust of warm city air, and Rose strode in. 

Tina noticed her friend slowly. Dirty cowboy boots first. Tight woollen leggings second. Next, the embroidered trim of her tunic and the belt that cinched the waistline into shape. Deep neckline, exposing pale freckled skin underneath. Round chin and face, with light pink lips, button nose and distressed brown eyes under a dark brow. 

"Tina... Are you alright?"

She flew from her seat to hug Rose as tightly as she could. She sobbed. The milk bottle slipped from her hand, bounced once, then broke upon impact, spilling milk and glass everywhere. 

~

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