I had to shake my head. “This kingdom will be forever saved because you write things down.”
Priest Edes was already skimming through the pages, smiling. “This is incredibly helpful. So much information here! Thank you, King Edwin.”
“You’re very welcome. If he thinks of anything else, I’ll tell you. He does remember bits and pieces he doesn’t include in the original telling. It’s why I started writing things down.”
Edwin had every right to be proud of himself. That was good work, there. And saved me a lot of explaining.
Priest Edes clutched the notebook to his chest and promised Edwin, “This book will become part of our annals.”
Now my husband looked alarmed. “Wait, it was just notes, I didn’t dothatgood of a job writing it all down! Give it back, I’ll write a better copy—”
Priest Edes clutched the notebook tighter to his chest. “Not on your life. Er, Your Majesty.”
I tried not to laugh. They reminded me of two schoolboys arguing over the same toy. Hold it in, hold it in, hold it in…
“You don’t have the time to rewrite it,” I pointed out to Edwin. “We’re up to our necks in tasks as it is.”
He made a face, nose wrinkling, but didn’t argue.
“Priest Edes, can I leave this to you?”
“Of course, Your Majesty, and I promise you weekly updates.”
“Thank you. Please make sure we have plenty of holy oil as well. I’m sure Edwin wrote it in the book, but anointed holy oil on a person’s forehead will keep them from being possessed. We want to keep enough holy oil on hand to anoint our soldiers, protect them.”
“I’ll ask all the temples to start working on it,” he promised.
“Very good. I’m afraid we’re out of time, but if you need to confer with me, I will make time for you. I promise you this.”
Priest Edes bowed his head, so happy and excited I was surprised he hadn’t vibrated out of his chair already. “I would love to sit and properly talk with you about what you experienced in the waiting area and write that experience down as well.”
“Likely a good idea,” I said ruefully. “On that note, we must leave. Lila, I’ll see you tonight?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” she promised.
We made graceful farewells, left the garden—picking up my knights, who were waiting by the front door—and were in the carriage on the way back to the palace before I asked Edwin my burning question.
“Why did you start writing things down?”
Edwin gave me a pitying look. “Darling, you told me point-blank the reason why you struggled so hard battling the Demon King was because the prior generation who’d fought him didn’twrite down their methods. You had to reinvent those methods all over again, which cost you time and lives. After hearing that, did you expect me to repeat the mistake and not write things down?”
It was official. My husband was smarter than me.
Sixty-nine
James
I returned from meeting Priest Edes, feeling quite hopeful for the future. With the major temples working on the problem, with excellent information at hand, I could only hope we’d be able to mitigate any of the truly awful events of the future. I was worried still about the Demon King rising, because Nimus giving us the tome was quite the hint, but there wasn’t much I could do right this second. I had delegated all the right tasks to prevent his return to my people—I had to trust them to do the job.
On a trolley cart next to my desk sat an elegantly wrapped present. It caught my eye, so I lifted the card to see who had sent it: Valentina.
Oh hell no.
I promptly moved backward and pointed to the cart. “Send that back.”
Sir Collins and Sir Osbourne shared a speaking look, like they’d known I’d say that, and removed the cart without another word.
I knew they were obligated to deliver any present sent to me, but Zinos take me, must we do this song and dance? Also, what the hell was Valentina thinking, trying to buy her way into my good graces? She could offer me all of Ascor and it would be insufficient. Really, the only gift she could offer that I would accept was the gift of her absence.
