Chapter 4

"I want to do something," Te’ijal whined, kicking her feet up on the sofa’s armrest. "We’re in Thais! Let’s see something other than the inside of the divorce clerk’s office."

"Such as?" Galahad eyed her on the couch and settled against joining her, choosing instead to stand awkwardly an arm's length away.

"Perhaps we could visit one of Stella and Edward’s descendants?"

The suggestion was unhelpful, if Galahad’s sour expression was any indication. "The Thais heir has been missing for quite some time," he said. "Besides, what would you have us do? Stroll into Thais castle and explain we knew his ancestors?"

"Yes!" she said cheerfully. "That’s always worked for me."

Galahad shook his head. "No."

Te’ijal clicked her teeth. She’d been avoiding mentioning this one, knowing it wouldn't end well, but she did have a sentimental streak. "We could go to Gray’s one last time."

"Absolutely not. Last I checked, it’d been closed for centuries. Good riddance, too."

She pouted. "You’re no fun, crumpet."

"I’m not trying to be 'fun', wife."

She yanked her body upright by her legs to stare straight at him. "Wife, hm?" she teased. "You know, Galahad, if you truly mean to end our marriage, you’ll have to stop calling me that."

His face did a funny thing where he frowned with altogether more surprise than the situation warranted, blinking at her for a moment before looking away. "I suppose I will."

"It's nice to have you realize I'm right."

"I would not go so far."

Te’ijal tapped her foot impatiently. It was frustratingly dampened by the padding of a deep red carpet. She had been at the clerk’s office with Galahad for over an hour now. First he had insisted they get there early, and then the previous appointment had gone on longer than expected. Her vampiric hearing treated her to the details of the couple currently within the office. Their divorce seemed far messier than her own. There were property disputes - some land near Candar, a small boat - and custody disagreements - one child, two goats, a cat.

It reminded Te’ijal that, technically, they hadn’t made any effort yet to divide their things. They didn’t really need to; Galahad had always made a point of doing it throughout their marriage, calling their home her house. But she’d been operating under the assumption that when this was done, nothing would really change. He would come and go, and sometimes when he was taking too long, she would make a point to pluck him out of the Overworld and deposit him back in Ghed’ahre with her.

She’d been trying not to think about the other option, that he might actually intend to be done with her once and for all. With all the effort he was going through, it was beginning to seem more and more likely.

Te’ijal glanced over at Galahad, half-asleep in the chair beside her, and twisted nervously at the wedding ring still on her finger. Eventually, the arguing from within the office ceased and the pair exited, quiet but palpably tense.

She was eager for the opportunity to do something and shook Galahad awake. "Dumpling," she said, "it is about to be our turn."

He startled and went to stand. "Is it?"

No longer content to wait for their names to be called, Te’ijal made her way to the office, Galahad trailing behind her. The door was open, and the same clerk from their last appointment sat at his desk, organizing papers. He glanced over at his office’s new intruders and frowned. "Excuse me, can I help you?"

"Yes! We’re here to get divorced," Te’ijal said.

He stifled a chuckle. "Yes, typically that’s what I’m here for. Unfortunately, I’m done for the day."

Te’ijal crossed her arms and tried to look more intimidating than pouting. "But our meeting was scheduled for five o’clock," she said. "The prior engagement went over."

The clerk shook his head. "No," he said, "they booked a two-hour appointment. Forgive me, I know I recognize you two, it’s… Thomas? Or-"

"Teomes," Galahad said, half a sigh.

"And Ravenfoot-Teomes," Te’ijal added.

"Yes, thank you." The clerk flipped through a planner at his desk. "Ah, yes! I see you. You’re marked down for next week, on the twenty fourth."

"The twenty…" Te’ijal trailed off.

Galahad grit his teeth and leveled a glare at her. "You said our appointment was today."

"I thought it was!"

"Did it not occur to you to double check?"

"Well," Te’ijal flustered, "perhaps it did not."