Chương 182: 5.6

Ginter couldn't see very clearly anymore, he had trouble walking and the last of his good teeth had come out. But he was going to make it at least to the point he could hear the marriage of the one who saved Adelyne. Nevermind that an old free man was not supposed to be allowed up here on the wall fort that separated Middle-Town from the Countess' Keep. He had nearly a Knight's Mark of gambling debts owed over the Countess' men to make sure he was not bothered.

And more than that his granddaughter was now the bonded servant and charge of the Shining Wyrm Of Visnove. He couldn't do anything to the men that had tried to take her, but the fear of a Wyrm's ire had left one of them near pissing himself.

Good fortune that, as soon as he heard she'd been taken to the keep Ginter dug up every debt, favor and dirty deal owed him across all of Kaeketeh and from there traded and released them both to get the leverage held by grifters, brothels and dens of ill repute on the Countess' men stationed in the wall fort. He was ready to have his poor fool of a girl 'misplaced' out of the hold of that terrible woman even if it meant spending every single favor and coin owed him over his whole life.

But by a star damned blessing he'd been left with assurance she would live, well and truly, far outside of Kaeketeh. Only found out after he had peddled a lifetime of favors for the debts to the Countess' men unfortunately. Collected from those that would not take them back. So once he knew Adelyne was safe? He couldn't find it in his tired bones to make the fuss of it. Four years away from home in bondage to the heir of the entire county and the city? That would be good for the fool girl.

She'd lived too much in the city. And even if they worked her like a dog It was better than being disappeared to something no amount of swindling or bed talk with the whores could pry from the Countess' guards. To a man they were stoney silent and terrified about whatever it was. Only rumors and hearsay about horrible things in the dark flowed through Kaeketeh on its missing daughters. And frightful stories of a child torn apart from back before Adelyne had been born.

He had to take a few moments to breath hard and even then his feet and arms still tingled. At last he was past the fortune damned stairs. He was getting feeble in his old age. But Ginter had finally made his way to the top of the wall. Now he hobbled with stiff legs and stiffer back over to the battlements where he could stare blearily at the wedding and listen to the sound of the ceremony. His eyes were long past good. He saw a smear of colors indistinct for most of the crowd and decorations.

But he'd have to be properly blind to not spot her moving amongst them. Tall as can be shining like gold. The lady, the one his very heart and bones had sworn to serve as soon as they were called by her voice. Who had in passing done more for him and his then any noble or lord ever had. Saved his fool headed grand daughter when she should not have been playing at the thieving game like a child anymore. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Was too old and filled out for that work, too tall and notable. Drew too much attention no matter how she dressed herself mussed up or dirty. Fool girl got herself caught and nearly worse. His vision blurred even more as the sting of tears welled up in his eyes and then ran down his sun-weathered cheeks. But a quick wipe of his forearm was enough for that. A good shake too at the lingering feel of needly cold pricks up and down his forearms.

The Shining Wyrm was having her wedding and Ginter would never get the chance homely as he was to thank her properly. But he could wish her well from afar. Ladies and Great Big Dragons simply did not deal with or for folk like Ginter and his. Except this one had. And he would be a miser if he did anything less than wish his stars do well by her. Word carried from looser lips then the Countess' guard. She'd stood up to the baby-faced-crone all piss and vinegar and ready for a fight.

The eyes from the crowd in gate town that were sharper than his had ever been told it straight too. She'd been ready to unmake the men that had been after his poor fool Adeylne. Would have not even been hardly mussed for it since she was heir and all. Nevermind a fortune damned dragon. The Wyrm had saved his granddaughter and gone to fight the Countess for her. And there she was, fuzzy and muddled and yet still shining and beautiful.

He guessed by the colors they probably draped her up in some fancy getup but in his eyes poor and doughy they might be that was mostly lost. Still she was the sight of beauty itself. Like a sunrise over the Ridgetails. Like noonday sun breaking up a thunderstorm. Like a sunset sinking below the western hills. It didn't make it any less beautiful for the smeary blur of his eyes. His granddaughter was saved from a monster that played at being a woman by a beast that if word be true was everything nobles pretended at.

Adelyne was a fool girl but he felt she would do well in service to such a thing. And after her four short years he could tell her off for the idiocy that had gotten her there. Ginter took a heavy breath and then coughed and shivered. The tingling bites were all up and down his legs. It was straight up noon sun and not too late in the season but he was feeling a mighty coldness for all the strange spirits biting him.

Still he stood there and after shaking himself out and rubbing his arms he focused again on his vigil. It was her wedding. It was the first chance he was going to have to see her at all after she saved his dear little Adelyne. And his ma had always told him weddings were important to the gods. If there was ever a time his stars would hear him it would be for a wedding. And even down here below the heavens with mere mortal man there was much ado about it, people in colorful smudges of rich folk dress.

Fancy foreigners he'd been told. There were even more of them setup in camps outside the Gates and every inn was booked full besides. Barns and pastures were making silver that even a fine room would normally charge in Kaeketeh this season. For the city was so full of visitors. The ceremony was progressing, he heard familiar melodies. Same as more common weddings they were. But played and sang in more expensive guts and in apparently more divine throats. He thought it was alright music and song.

Was so rich and full it carried wistfully to him all the way over here across the bridge at least. He saw the moment that the oaths were made and the barely-a-boy was given what he guessed was a solemn kiss judging the angle of the great shining blur that was the wyrm. Then flowers and such were tossed up and cheers soon followed with delighted voices. The crowd and the color and the music all a mix with the motion. And he swore he could feel the gaze of the shining wyrm herself on him if only for a moment.

He certainly was faint enough for it. A sting of indigestion struck. Something felt stuck in his chest and he tried to cough again. Everything suddenly was very heavy. Hard to stand up. Dizzy like he had a bit too much to drink even though he'd been favoring the smallest of beers. His neck and shoulders twinged hard. His vision felt darker. His lungs wouldn't fill. He gasped and wheezed in short rattles. Before he knew it Ginter's stinging legs were giving out.

And then he was rolling back and off the ledge stones coming up to meet him.