Chapter 29

NATALEE

I walkedout of The Sweet Siren, leaving from the kitchen exit, so as to not be seen publicly at the tavern. Knot had granted my request to visit my friends, but I still wished to salvage what was left of both our reputations, if it were possible. I strolled toward the main street and headed for the mercantile, where Knot was checking on the status of some mining equipment he’d ordered.

A commotion near the bank caught my attention. People were gathered around someone sprawled on the ground. I hurried toward the crowd and spotted Knot kneeling near a middle-aged man who was clutching his chest and gasping for breath. The town healer, a young half-fae male, knelt on the other side of the man. I stood on my tiptoes and realized the unwell male was Mr. Meadows, the owner of the mill.

The healer motioned two burly human males out of the crowd. They helped Mr. Meadows to his feet and carried him in the direction of the clinic, with the healer leading the way. Meanwhile, Knot had moved to console a crying woman and child. I felt saddened when I realized they were Mr. Meadows’s wife and daughter.

I observed as Knot spoke gently to the woman and child, and though I couldn’t discern his words from this distance, I sensed he was comforting them and promising the gods would be watching over Mr. Meadows. When he knelt to peer into the frightened little girl’s face as he offered comfort, I put a hand on the slight swell of my stomach—our little gift from the gods that Knot already insisted must be a girl—and my heart went out to the woman and child. Eventually, an older lady approached from the crowd and led the child away by the hand, and Mrs. Meadows said something to Knot, before she hurried down the street after her ill husband.

Most of those who’d gathered around were staring at Knot, as if for guidance. He stood in the middle of the crowd for a moment, looking as if he wanted to say something, though he remained quiet for a while. When, finally, he seemed to summon his courage, he called out for anyone who wanted to join him in a prayer for Mr. Meadows and his family to close their eyes and bow their heads. Almost everyone in the crowd did.

I took a few more steps in my husband’s direction, and then I also closed my eyes and bowed my head. Part of me had always suspected this was coming. Though Knot had shut himself off from the gods for the last two years, he had admitted to me that he’d recently started speaking to the gods again. Why shouldn’t he offer spiritual guidance to the people of Faircross? If he felt called to serve the gods again, I would hold my head high and stand by his side. It wasn’t a secret that Knot had met me at The Sweet Siren, and if the townspeople could look to him for guidance despite his past, then maybe this was meant to be.

“Yurombis, God of Healing, we ask that you look over our brother, Gregory Meadows, and help him during his crisis of health. We ask that you guide the healer’s hands as he tends to Gregory, and we ask that you bring comfort and peace to his wife and daughter. Blessings and peace.”

A chorus of blessings and peace floated from those who’d joined Knot in prayer. After a few seconds, the crowd started to disperse, and finally I was left standing in front of my husband. He moved toward me slowly, his expression wary.

“I know I promised you I wouldn’t become the priest in Faircross.”

I smiled. “Yes, but perhaps it’s a promise that you aren’t meant to keep. Perhaps the gods are calling upon you again.”

“I-I have often wondered it myself, but I would never wish to cause you to feel uncomfortable. I can’t guarantee that all of Faircross will accept both of us, but there’s a big part of me that believes we should at least try.” He stared down the street at the temple steeple.

I realized it might not go smoothly at first, but I didn’t want to hold him back from his calling. Besides, I wasn’t weak. I could endure the ugly looks and the snickers that might come from some of the townspeople. If it became too much and it didn’t appear to be working out for either of us, I trusted Knot to realize it and make the best decision for our marriage.

As if reading my thoughts, he said, “You come first, Natalee. Don’t you ever forget that. You’re my wife. I promise you, if we try and the gossip is too much for you, we can pack up and head back to the cabin, or somewhere far from Faircross altogether.”

“I’m willing to try.” I squeezed his hand. “I want to try. And you know, tomorrow is Saturday. Why don’t you tell a few people in town you plan to hold a ceremony tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens. I’ve considered what it might be like to live in town, and to be honest, I rather like the idea. I can’t explain why, but I have a good feeling about this.”

“I bet if I only tell one person, the whole town will find out and show up.” He chuckled and then gave my hand an affectionate squeeze in return. “Thank you for understanding, Natalee. I’m a lucky male to have found a wife as sweet and understanding as you.”

I flushed. Even after all we had been through together, his compliments could still make me blush hard. “Of course. Would you like me to arrange for us to stay at The Bluebird Inn tonight? Then, depending on how tomorrow goes, perhaps we will start staying in the rectory?”

“You really won’t mind living in town?”

“I promise I’ll tell you if it becomes a problem.”

He looked to the sky for a moment and gave a deep sigh. When he gazed back at me, there was moisture in his eyes. “Praise be to the gods,” he said. “All right. You go to the inn, and I’ll go visit the mayor first and tell him the news. After how many times he’s badgered me about becoming the town priest, I’ve a feeling he will be most pleased that I’m at least going to give it a try.”

He kissed my hand before releasing me to walk down the street. With a smile, I hurried to the inn, where Mrs. Bluebird was overjoyed to hear that we’d be spending the night, and even happier to learn that Knot was contemplating becoming the town priest.

“I’ve been praying for the right holy male to come guide the residents of this town, though I’ve long believed that man to be Knot Thazurok. I’m glad to hear he’s finally realized it too. You can count on me to be at temple tomorrow morning, sitting in the front row with Mr. Bluebird.”

“Wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Bluebird. You have been most kind to me, despite… well, you know.”

“Child, it doesn’t matter to me where you came from. You might have been a siren once, but that doesn’t mean you won’t make an outstanding priest’s wife. I believe in you, and I believe in Priest Thazurok.”

We moved to the front porch with glasses of lemonade while awaiting Knot’s return. All the muscles in my body ached from sitting on the wagon during our six-hour trip to town, and I was thankful for the chance to rest, especially in the company of a woman as broadminded as Mrs. Bluebird.

Knot returned just before suppertime, bearing news that several of the townspeople had taken it upon themselves to open the temple to air it out and make sure it was clean for the first Saturday service to ever be held in Faircross. After supper, Mrs. Bluebird knocked on our door and gave me a dress to wear the next day.

“It fit me once upon a time,” the kind woman said with a smile. “I hope it will do. Consider it a belated wedding gift.”

“It’s beautiful, Mrs. Bluebird. Thank you so much.” I kissed her cheek. “Thank you for everything.”

“Think nothing of it, child.” Mrs. Bluebird glanced at Knot, who was seated by the window, scrawling furiously on a piece of paper. “Is he working on his oration?”

I nodded.

“Well, I’ll leave you both alone to prepare for tomorrow.”