The Letter, Part 4
By the time Gilbetron was back on his horse, Telematrice and her party had already ridden over the ridge and down the slope of the valley toward the city. He decided to take his time riding in. There was much about the woman he no longer seemed to understand, but her last piece of advice had at least been good; he really did need some time to get his emotions back in check.
Whatever calm, however, he may have adopted on the way into the city vanished completely when he saw the two people waiting for him at the palace steps. The man and woman eyed him warily, keeping enough distance to appear casual but approaching him as to leave no doubt who they were intending to see.
“Memorex,” Gilbetron growled, “and your trusty man whore.” Fire flashed in his eyes as he turned to the man, Leve, who was meeting his gaze full on. “What the hell are you two doing here? Does she know you’ve come?”
“Does she know?” Memorex asked with an irritating lilt. “Why, she invited us.”
“Somehow I doubt that.”
Memorex stepped closer. “Somehow I don’t care,” she retorted.
“We’re actually here to make sure you don’t go in angry,” Leve added. “The lady is a little worried you don’t have your head screwed on straight.”
Gilbetron was about to say something unfortunate, though he managed to stop himself at the last moment and rein himself back in. “I just want to see her. I just want to talk,” he said softly.
“Follow me,” the woman said, turning and making her way up the steps.
Gilbetron jumped down from the horse and began the long climb to the palace doors while the servants led his mount to the stables.