by Talis Jones
* * *
Eisen eyed Nox while his mind churned in thought. “She’s sure?” he asked carefully. Two weeks had passed since he visited his sister and pride bloomed in his chest that despite her misgivings she maintained her loyalty towards him.
The boy shrugged. “Seemed to be. I haven’t found anything to suggest otherwise either. I believe the prince means what he said.”
“Interesting,” he murmured to himself. Leaning back in his chair he crossed his boots atop his desk letting his brain hum with ideas. The Llyrian army was unmatched in Oneiroi but their Rajah maintained a firmly neutral stance. The prince may have sway, but enough to overrule his father? Again? Eisen doubted it. The offer was very tempting and funnily enough, quite convenient. The decision wasn’t difficult when he already knew the outcome. The prince would have his palace and Eisen would have an army matching the Crown’s.
“Tell him it’s been taken care of,” he answered.
Nox’s face looked utterly lost. “Um…what?”
“Tell the Llyrian Prince that the deal has been struck. In fact I’ve already set my side of the bargain into motion.”
“But I only just told you about his offer…?”
Eisen shrugged. “Two birds with one stone. I was only aiming for one but you come and tell me I’ve struck two. What pleasant timing.” He smiled at the boy watching him shift uneasily from foot to foot causing the sunlight to ripple around him.
“I don’t understand,” spoke Nox at last.
“Nor do you need to.” Eisen stood up initiating the Weepy’s dismissal. “Tell him that an opportunity will reach his ears soon and if he plays his cards right the Crown will allow his departure.” The kid nodded quietly accepting his orders. “Nox? I expect him to keep his word or it will be to him that I pay my next visit and it will not be a friendly one.”
Quailing a bit under the Whisper’s steel gaze Nox nodded once more and left swiftly. He had no idea what Eisen had done but he hoped for the prince’s sake that he could wrangle up some troops to spare.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“Feeling better?” Christophe asked huskily. He watched the Crown close her eyes and drift away.
When morning came Crown Morrigan paced her room wrapped in a silk robe, agitation clear upon her face. Aquamarine eyes followed her movement to and fro, to and fro, to and fro. “You’re wearing a hole through the floor, mi suverenya.”
She ignored him for a few more turns still deep in conversation with herself. At last she collapsed upon a small couch by the hearth. The blond stretched lazily but made no move to cross the space between them. “It seems I cared more than I thought,” she admitted quietly.
“The prince?” His voice was skeptical.
“No. He’d already come to me confessing his wavering intentions. Don’t you remember?” The man smirked knowingly. “No, I’m referring to Adrianna. I had not realized that I cared quite so much.”
“Surely she couldn’t have shocked you?” he inquired dubiously. Turning onto his side and propping his head upon his hand he looked the Crown over. “You declared her brother and her mate traitors to the Crown. You would gladly cut them down with a smile upon your face. The girl has very few friends in this world and yet you seek to destroy the few she has? Come now, it is no surprise she turned. No wolf can be friends with a rabbit.”
The Crown scowled at this. “I had feared as much at first as well but she confessed to me how her brother’s actions made her uneasy. She came to me crying when the Whisper abandoned her. I have been her constant throughout her entire life in Oneiroi. We shared truths. She comforted me at every turn. Even when hesitant she stood by my side. I tried not to care, to see her simply as an end to a means, but I couldn’t stop myself from waiting for her next joke, her next smile. I gave her everything. She needed me and I was hers. I was hers and she tossed me aside. I’d thought our bond stronger. In the end it was not of diamond, but pretty glass.”
“You don’t need her, mi suverenya. You came far without her before, you can do so again.” He watched every little crack spread throughout the Crown’s porcelain face. One little kick and it would shatter upon the floor. But now was not the time.
“I did not expect this,” she gasped bewildered by the mounting pressure inside her chest. Her mind raced furiously to decipher these old feelings she had kept frozen inside her for ages past. Holding herself tightly as if to contain her splitting chest she bit her lip and blinked her eyes. She rocked once…twice…thrice.
His ears perked as those long forgotten tears welled up within his Crown and at last found their freedom in the light. Sobs spewed forth from her and her warrior frame shook.
He had never seen this woman cry. He strongly believed that no one had, at least not since a long forgotten time. Her tearful display surprised him. He had never seen her so vulnerable, so human, and yet it did not concern him as it might another. It reassured him for she was not as impervious as she’d have everyone believe.
“I am utterly alone. I am always abandoned and alone,” she whispered to herself. Her sobs had died down but tears still poured down her face as if after all those years of disuse they did not wish to stop finally set free.
Deftly Christophe stood and walked over to the hunched Crown. She sat upon the small couch with her arms wrapped tightly around herself and her head bowed low hiding her face. Kneeling before her he reached out gently and tipped up her chin forcing her to look at him. “Are you alone even now, mi suverenya?” he murmured.
Her gaze flickered between the ache of pain and the ache of want, both coiled in her chest circling one another, waiting to see which will strike strongest. “No,” she whispered. “No I am not.”
* * *
Night had returned when a knock came upon the Crown’s bedroom door. She strode towards it with sure steps and a clean face. Ice had returned to her imprisoned spring green eyes and her lips did not quaver any longer but instead held a smile so sharp it could slay any unfortunate fool who happened across it.
“What is it?” she asked calmly with only a hint of winter upon her tongue.
The boy to his credit did not shake but bowed silently and held out a small scroll. The Crown snatched it with a frown and shut her door without another word. Out of her sight the messenger rolled his eyes, stuffed his fists into his pockets, and left to finish his late dinner…unless Marietta had already wolfed it down in his absence. At the thought he broke into a fearsome run.
In her room Sarai unfurled the slip of paper. The stamp marked its writer as one of her soldiers sent undercover to keep an eye on things in the rest of Oneiroi. She truly could not wait until her central palace was finished. It would be far easier to hold the leash herself and she wouldn’t have to wait so damn long for reports. Reading the scrawled words quickly her jaw tightened leading her to pace in frenzied thought.
Rajah Mulazim Waseem was dead.
But how?
A heart attack most likely, unless he had undertaken a very serious diet and exercise regimen since she last saw him which she doubted.
With each turn her anger calmed, her fears receded. She had been planning to vacate the Llyrian throne so that Addar could claim it after their union. The fat imbecile departed much sooner than she’d anticipated but now there stained no blood on her hands. But she remembered the words Sam had told her. She knew of the prince’s promise to pledge his troops to her enemy in exchange for escape. As Rajah he could command every Llyrian soldier and not just those loyal to him as prince.
He could not be allowed to leave.
He could not be made to stay.
Without Addar riding immediately for his home and claiming the throne swiftly there would be no throne for him to claim. She knew he had many cousins with their greedy eyes just waiting in the wings to sink their claws and take what they could. They would tear the state apart. No, he had to leave at once. She couldn’t afford dismantling the Llyrian throne without her controlling the strings.
; Sarai would not fool herself again and neither would Addar. He would not hand over his troops to just anyone, he cared too much for his people. So perhaps he could be persuaded into keeping them at home… After all, he owed Eisen nothing if she simply set him free. And even without that tenuous technicality, her enemies were so disappointingly easy to manipulate. It was pathetic and it was beginning to become dull. Oh Adrianna…
* * *
Anxiously waiting until the sun crested the horizon the Crown summoned her prince to the throne room where she perched impassive. When he arrived she scrutinized his face but could not discern if it had shed tears over his father’s death or whether this passing had been expected or a shock.
“I heard about your father’s passing and I’m sorry for your loss,” she offered sweetly like a violin playing that steady note soaring into the heavens pulling your heart with it.
The prince bowed his head mournfully. There it was, a single tear slipping past red-rimmed eyes. The Crown sat back with a quiet sigh. “I’m afraid, mi suverenya, that I must leave for Adhan at once. My people will expect me to comfort them and if I know my family at all then a few of my cousins must already be wreaking havoc in the palace.”
Sarai nodded sadly, reluctantly, gazing at him as if it were the last time. “I understand,” she breathed tightly.
For a moment the prince met her gaze and a flicker of fonder memories surfaced within him. He wavered…tilted…then with a resounding crash he was reeling back after an ice-cold dousing at the Crown’s next words.
“I know you’ve betrayed me, sweet prince.” Her grin dripped of poison and all the warmth she had gifted him in her gaze before burned with hatred now. “But I cannot keep you here and risk one of your irksome relatives to command your soldiers. I do not need yet another thorn in my side. I will let you keep your birthright. It is my parting gift to you.”
Addar was at a loss for words. “Thank you, mi suverenya,” he managed at last although the words slipped out half-questioning and hesitant.
“Of course, sweet prince. Although…” The prince held his breath. “I know you wished to pledge your troops to Eisen if he managed to free you from my clutches. Was it foul play?” Her head tilted curiously, her eyes sharp.
His brows rose. “No,” he promised. “No I was told he died of a failed heart.”
The Crown nodded smelling no lie in his words. “Then you owe the devil nothing.” Addar opened his mouth to respond but she held up her hand bidding him to refrain from doing so. “I’d like to propose my own deal with you. Do not use your army against me. Do not ally them with any enemy of mine.” Leaning forwards she froze him with promise. “Raise a hand against me, sweet prince, and I will peel the girl’s skin from her body one slow layer at a time.”
“I don’t know who you mean,” sputtered Addar aghast.
The Crown rolled her eyes not amused at this man too full of softness. “Don’t play with me, sweet prince. You’ve been meeting with Adrianna several nights a week for quite some time now. I know you, Addar. No matter her intentions I know you care and more than you ought. It has always been your weakness. You follow your heart with its every whim.”
“She has done nothing,” he growled.
Crown Morrigan smiled icily. “Everyone has done something, sweet prince.” Motioning for two guards to escort him out she added, “You are free to leave. They will ensure you do not linger too long.”
After a stunned pause the prince bowed before the Crown. “I will leave before sundown.”
“I want you gone by the noon hour.”
Addar and the two Quidelish guards made for the exit. In an almost sing-song voice she called, “Don’t forget our deal, sweet prince.” He stumbled, his head still circling with empty solutions. Giving the Crown one last jerky nod he left the hall quickly.
The Crown’s soldiers followed the prince like a shadow as he gave servants orders to send his things down to the stables for a readied wagon. Hurrying through the halls he stopped a maid rushing by. “Have you an idea where Adrianna might be?”
She smiled, revealing sweet round cheeks and a gap between her front teeth. “She likes to explore the gardens in the morning, Prince.”
“Thank you,” he nodded before hurrying off to the castle’s central courtyard, a place turned into a maze of hedges and flora. With every step he sensed the sun climbing higher in the sky. After several dead ends he at last caught sight of silver hair turning around the next bend. “Adrianna!” he called. The girl stopped and whirled around surprised. With crisp command he convinced his unwelcome shadows to stay put and hurried forwards to catch up to her.
“Are you okay?” she asked noting his slightly disheveled appearance.
“My father has died and I’m leaving immediately for Llyr,” he explained quickly.
“I’m so sorry, Addar. Wait, Sarai, will she let you go?” She looked at him with worried eyes a beautiful shade of rosewood.
Addar hid his hands in his pockets and nodded slowly. “She knows I can’t remain here. My own family, not to mention plenty of rival families, will tear the palace apart. There is more than a handful of jealous ambitious leeches that desire to rule those halls and if they can’t have the throne they’ll take whatever their clawed hands can grasp. I’m no use to her without my throne.”
“She can’t be that blind, can she? I know you. You won’t be coming back.”
“No I won’t be.” Addar blew out a remorseful breath. “She wants me to keep Llyr out of her way. If she can’t have it then no one can, least of all her enemies.”
“You can’t promise that,” worried Adrianna.
“Yes I can,” he disagreed.
“No, you can’t. You pledged your army to Eisen,” she reminded him.
“Only if he found a way for me to escape these walls,” he insisted.
“Which he did.”
“No. My father keeled over from his own gluttony and foolishness,” he said disgusted.
Adrianna blinked as Addar’s frustration simmered to an apologetic calm. “Don’t be so sure,” she cautioned. “Eisen is capable of much and has grown bolder still. If it was he who opened this door then be certain that he will come for his payment.”
Addar growled in despair. “I can’t,” he repeated. “If I make any move against her, Sarai promised to kill you. She will make it slow and painful, Adrianna.” He sighed as his heart chewed itself with conflicting loyalties. He longed to reach out but one thought of Jack's dangerous gaze kept his hands close to his sides. “Do you think she means it?”
She met his eyes with steady calm. “Yes, I do.”
He looked away, his expression torn. “Then I can’t.”
Adrianna swallowed slowly then shook her head. “I’m not worth all of Llyr, Addar. I’m definitely not worth the fate of Oneiroi. Get some sense, man. You can.”
“I won’t.”
“You can and you will,” she growled punching him on the arm a little harder than was friendly. “Don’t be an idiot, Prince. Restore your throne then go straight to Eisen and Jack. They can help you and you them. And don’t worry about me. I’m not alone in this place and I can hold my own.”
“I thought Jack abandoned you here?” Addar asked unhappily.
“Of course he didn’t,” she sniffed. “There are just bigger plans at play that required him elsewhere.”
“And he just left you here? With her?” he growled outraged.
“Why is everyone so concerned about that? I chose to stay. I can handle myself. I am two seconds away from kicking your ass.” Addar managed a weak laugh. “Your guards are getting antsy. You’d better go.”
Addar reached out and held her hands softly in his own. “Another time. Another place.” Adrianna shrugged stifling a smile at the jealous tug sent from Ailill. Bowing in farewell the prince left the garden. He left the castle. He left the city gates. But not until the long journey crossed him over the Llyrian border did he smile and breathe deep again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Evening came but Adrianna remained wrapped in her soft robe, hair still smelling fresh from her bath. Perched upon the window seat she read her book unaware of the Irish blue eyes frowning up at her from below. A knock came upon the door and she jumped up to open it blissfully unaware of the changes that had fallen with the sun.
A quartet of servants filed into her room. The eldest, a woman barely older than thirty, stepped forwards, the only one to speak. “Our Crown has given us orders to prepare you.”
Adrianna looked at the woman confused. “Is she throwing another party tonight? I was unaware…” Her voice drifted off as the servants maintained their stoic obedience, only the youngest let her eyes flit with guilt.
“With the Llyrian prince’s departure and the growing disturbance of the Iron Army, the Crown felt a need of surety must be met. She will hold a feast at the start of every week, open for those born high and low, a night of celebration and peace. A night to reassure her people that though her enemies grow, the Crown remains stronger,” explained the eldest.
“I see,” she answered, smiling hesitantly. “I suppose I’m expected to attend these parties?” The youngest servant shook her head minutely but Adrianna caught the motion and frowned.
“Yes,” the steely glint in the woman’s eye was both a warning and a challenge.
Still trying to puzzle together the servant’s strange disposition Adrianna allowed them to braid her hair and dress her with the finery. Upon seeing the garment she bit her tongue, withholding her protests remembering the woman’s unnerving stare. At last they finished and Adrianna assessed herself in the mirror upon her wall, the servants stood mutely behind her.
The fabric wrapped painfully tight around her chest and stomach forcing her breaths to come shallow and sharp. Layers of a thin gauzy material flowed from the bodice to the floor. The look danced the line between daring and distasteful causing her to clench her jaw. However what concerned her the most was her hair. It had been braided right along with the ribbons that laced down her back restraining her head from turning very far without pain blooming at her roots.
