Inhuman Reflexes

I imagined my wedding day filled with flowers and smiling faces. I would be dressed in a beautiful white gown, as I said my vows standing across a man who looked at me affectionately.

Ginevra sat by herself at a table sumptuously laid out for ten guests. She stared at the variety of meats, mounds of rice, and vegetable dishes laid out on elegant silver platters. Her plate was overflowing with food that Manfredi had generously served on her plate but she had yet to taste any of it.

Taren's words replayed in her mind continuously. Do you think you could love me?

He was teasing. Like a devil, he charmed his prey. Am I a puppy, a play thing to him?

What kind of person did I marry?

The rumors about the Maldoni family…they weren't just rumors. That book I found earlier…as good as confirmed them.

"Your Grace –"

Ginevra jumped, dropping the cutlery on the floor, sending a loud metallic sound to resound through the room, emphasizing the silence that hung heavy around them.

Ginevra turned to face Manfredi. The older gentleman looked at her sympathetically.

"Is there anything I may bring for you?"

Ginevra shook her head. He bowed out. She almost called him back and asked him to sit with her.

Ginevra's eyes wandered across the paintings hanging on the walls and landed on the window looking out at the garden. Two birds washed themselves in a water basin, ruffling their feathers and nuzzling their beaks against each other. I need some air…

Wandering out of the dining room, she found a side door which led into the hedge garden. A warm spring sun met her and a light breeze was blowing. Before she knew it, she was running towards the tall hedges, soaking in one of the last of the Summer days.

Ginevra spun around at the sound of crunching gravel. She thought she was alone in the garden. Just over the hedge, with her back to her, she spotted someone leaning over the bush.

Ginevra guessed it was one of the servants and thought to ask her for the way back in as the door she had come through had locked.

"Miss!? Excuse me!" she called after her. She turned around, except he wasn't a girl.

Ginevra jolted to a stop.

A young man with a smooth face and golden hair that reached just below his shoulders was intently looking at her. He had a lean built, and there was a pleasing elegance in the way he held himself, drawing attention to him without any intentional effort on his part. Ginevra had never seen a more beautiful person.

"I'm so sorry! Your hair… the sun's so bright today –" but she felt her face becoming hotter the more excuses she made.

He smiled and blushed, lowering his gaze as he did so.

"It happens more frequently than I'd like to admit," he said. His voice was round and warm. His eyes widened in recognition.

"You are the new Lady di Maldoni," he bowed his head. "I'm honored."

He knew me? Of me?

"Ginevra! Please call me Ginevra," she rushed in.

"I am the resident doctor for the family, Bonifazio Giacamo," he said, smiling. His eyes were a sea green, and the corners crinkled when he smiled.

"What? Taren keeps a doctor around just in case he changes his mind about killing someone?" Ginevra asked.

For a moment, Bonifazio looked at Ginevra, with an unchanged expression. Just as she thought she may have gone too far he burst out into laughter.

"Seasonal flus keep me busy enough," he explained.

"Did you come to see the garden by yourself?" he asked.

"I…needed some air," she explained. She didn't want to exactly admit that Taren had left within minutes of entering into a marriage contract with her.

"In any case, we were bound to meet. I will be accompanying you to the Maldoni estate,"

Boni explained, as he lead Ginevra around to the entrance of the house. They were walking up the stairs when she suddenly started to trip forward. Boni's arm caught hers in time. He smiled and stepped back, letting go of her hand. His eyes were kind and clear.

"It is my pleasure. From now on, I am always at your service," he told her.

Ginevra smiled and walked into the house.

Would someone like him really choose to decide to live with Taren?

Bonifazio looked on at Ginevra as she entered the house.Ginevra, how did you end up with Taren?

Ginevra looked out through the window of the carriage. "I can't believe I'm letting myself get knowingly abducted like this," she said, speaking to herself. So, three days…

She had ended up writing a letter to her father, leaving out the parts that could potentially create any suspicion or cause undue worry, blaming the weather conditions for their sudden leave.

Boni, who was sitting across from her, crossed his legs in front of him. "I hope I won't make too bad of a traveling companion," he said, with his characteristic soft smile.

Ginevra turned away from the window."But wouldn't it make more sense to start our journey early in the morning so we could travel with as much daylight as possible? It would be safer…"

Boni nodded. "True. But you must also remember that you're in a carriage bearing the Maldoni crest," he said, pointing to the golden crest which was engraved into the sides of the carriage, and outside it as well.

Ginevra stared at the golden engraving. Even without knowing the House it belonged to, it emanated power and authority. No one would dare attack the carriage of a powerful family like the Maldoni. It was not worth the risk and danger to oneself.

"Do you always accompany Taren?" she asked.

"When the circumstances require it," Boni replied. Then, noticing Ginevra's thoughtful expression, he added, "Besides, you don't have to worry when I'm with you."

Ginevra raised an eyebrow in a questioning look.

"I am, afterall, a doctor."

"In training," Ginevra added, causing Boni to laugh. She liked the way he laughed. It was open and genuine, lighting up his whole face. She realized she liked making him laugh. She wanted to do it more.

"You know, I think a doctor in training may be more lethal than a bandit," she added, teasing.

Boni laughed more at that. "I think you are right," he told her when he had recovered his breath.

Once they left the walls of the capital, miles of farmland surrounded them. In the distance, Ginevra could see aqueducts carrying fresh water into the city and to the crops. She had always been awed by the beautiful stone arches of the aqueducts that continued to supply water to the city as they had for centuries. Deceris had been blessed with fertile land which enabled most of its land to be used for agriculture.

Ginevra learned that Boni was from Atheon. Having been raised by the seaside, he was knowledgeable about ship-building and trade arrangements, the political alliances among the neighboring kingdoms and the quirks of their rulers. Anyone who spent enough time by the port could learn quite a bit from the sailors and tradesmen that made up the bustling crowd in the early mornings. Differentiating myths from facts, however, required more effort.

As they traveled more north, Ginevra noticed the gradual change in the landscape – vegetation was more sparse and the distance between townships increased.

Boni pointed to a hill in the distance.

"Those are copper mines. You'll see a lot more of them as we get more North," he explained.

Ginevra stared out at the dark mouths of the mines.

"I can see why the region is sought-after, especially by the kingdoms bordering the sea. The copper sheathing for the ship's hull is invaluable."

"The Maldoni have always been special…their relationship with the kingdom is more like one between two kingdoms, rather than a dukedom."

"Then, why not break away entirely?" Ginevra asked.

"We receive food subsidies from the kingdom. This land is not suitable for farming. In return, the Maldoni keeps the kingdom secure along the Northern border."

Ginevra was looking out at the mines which dotted the green landscape when the carriage suddenly lurched, throwing her forward. A strong hand cushioned her fall right before she made impact. Ginevra looked back at Boni, who had grabbed her by the shoulder just in time.

His reflexes are inhuman… She would have surely hit her head against the glass if he hadn't caught her in time.

She quietly thanked him and slid down in her seat, away from the window in case they met another bump in the road.

Boni swiftly rose from his place and slid into the seat next to her.

"I'll stay here until the road becomes smoother," he explained. The sun's late rays were shining in through the glass behind him, creating a soft halo around his golden wavy hair which curled at the ends into delicate ringlets. And his eyes sparkled like emeralds. It was no wonder she had mistaken him for a woman when they had first met - he was beautiful.

Even though they had just met, Ginevra felt her body relax as she leaned back against the dark blue velvet cushioning of the seat. There was something about Boni that made her feel at ease. She had a strange feeling as if she'd known him all along. But that, she knew, was impossible. Perhaps he reminded her of a girl-mate from childhood whom she had not kept in touch with. Boni opened his pocketbook on herbs to his bookmarked page. Ginevra closed her eyes. The sound of the horse's hooves and the rocking of the carriage lulled her to sleep, and she fell into a deep slumber that had been denied her for the past several days.

***

Taren glared at the antique porcelain vase across the room from him. Anyone who happened to come into the room would have thought he had a personal vendetta against it. Any more and the vase seemed at risk of being obliterated into ash from Taren's blue fiery gaze. In contrast to his face, his posture was leisurely, leaning against the back of the sofa, with one arm slung over the back.

"Nothing's changed," he said in a low voice, continuing to glare ahead. He grasped the sofa with such visible force that the fabric started to change color. His eyes darkened, like a stormy sea. A failure. The marriage was entirely useless in breaking the curse. And yet…Ginevra was her only living descendent. It should have worked.

"That damned –

"Ah ah ah" Luca waved the silver teaspoon in his right hand chidingly at Taren. He was sitting in an armchair across from him. But unlike Taren, Luca was enjoying the array of sweets and savory foods laid out for them on the low table between the two men. Porcelain plates were filled with strawberry shortcake cake-bites, mousse truffles, and cucumber sandwiches. In his left hand, he was holding the saucer supporting his tea cup.

"That witch saved your life. It could take time for the union to take effect," Luca said, raising an eyebrow.

"Six years. It's been six years. I've waited long enough," Taren responded tersely. Looks like Francesca Victoria Scaraveggi is playing games with me from beyond the grave.

Manfredi, who was intentionally oblivious to any matters which were not of direct concern to him, came forward and replaced the teapot with a fresh one. Luca thanked him as he dropped another sugar cube into his tea cup.

Taren ignored them both. It was obvious to Luca he was in a world far removed from theirs. "Manfredi, make preparations for departure. We ride out at dawn."

Luca's head jerked up from the table. "Waitwaitwait. And let all this firewood go to waste!?" he motioned to the tiny flame burning in the fireplace. "We just got here! Besides, what about Ginevra? She's arriving tonight, isn't she?"

"If this union proves fruitless, I cannot afford to wait around to find out. Alternative solutions must be found to break…the contract."

It was a curse…why did Taren insist on calling it a contract? "Taren…it hasn't even been four hours since you married her."

Taren's eyes flickered over to Luca for the first time since the start of the conversation.

"We depart at dawn."

Luca looked down at the array of sweets before him, half-rolling his eyes. Agh. He's even more stubborn when he's in a bad mood. He knew it was impossible to convince Taren of anything when he had made up his mind.