A Trilogy of Knights
Page 14
Comprehension flooded Victor's face. "And the South has a strong relationship with the North. Meaning that almost by default you would develop alliances with the North, effectively leaving the West outnumbered three to one."
Shahzad nodded. "So the West probably hoped to shatter any chance of an alliance between the North and East, effectively ruining any chance the East had of ever getting along with the South. In addition to that, tensions would run high between the North and South for the murder of someone they considered a special guest. Had you not saved Amir that night, it would have taken months, if not years, for things to be properly sorted out. Your attempted murder this morning was no doubt an effort to completely shatter any chance of reconciliation—which on the positive side means they believe we are not getting along."
Victor shook his head in amazement. "To think I only happened to be out there because I had nothing to wear to a dance."
Chuckling, Shahzad stood. "You will have to elaborate on that sometime. For now, you should eat. I will have food sent up. I would join you, but I am afraid there are duties to which I must attend."
"Wait. Whatever happened to the man who tried to kill me?"
"We found him," Shahzad said shortly, and in his voice it was perfectly clear what happened when they found him. "He had nothing useful to tell us." Shahzad paused at the door, expression unreadable. "Though we are still working out the details, I believe in a week's time matters will conclude and you will be able to return home. Despite this morning's events, I hope you have enjoyed your stay."
"I have," Victor said quietly. He looked up to say more, but Shahzad was gone.
*~*~*
"Oh, no." Victor stood up, almost tripping over the deep cushion that served as a seat, and held up his hands to ward off the women he swore were stalking toward him, giggling evilly behind their hands and the bundles in their arms. "Get away from me!"
But his words fell on deaf ears and he rapidly found himself under attack, stripped and redressed, twisted and tugged, hair pulled and yanked until at last they backed away looking extremely smug and pleased. Victor thought it best not to tell them they really were as crazy as Shahzad claimed. Giggling behind the fans they pulled from their belts, the women bowed low and departed.
Victor made faces at their backs and then sought out a mirror to see what they had done to him this time. He had the feeling sometimes that they regarded him as a foreign doll.
They definitely favored putting him in blues. This newest tunic was much lighter than the dark shades he was usually forced into. It was a soft color, a weird mix of ocean and sky. His hair had been trimmed a couple of days ago, so the unruly curls were as tamed as they would ever be, brighter than ever against the blue robe. High on his right ear they had put a small copper cuff. Matching bracelets, nothing more than linked square plates of copper, were at each wrist, and they had even managed to get several rings onto his fingers, a mixture of plain copper bands and fancier rings set with emeralds or sapphires.
At least they had left him boots to put on and not those ridiculous slippers to which he could not grow accustomed. Victor felt ridiculous, like a child playing dress up, but it would somehow feel stranger to don his old clothes. Not that he had seen a sign of them since his arrival. Near his boots they had left a sword belt and the sword he had been given the day he had first dueled with Jafar. For whatever reason, everyone seemed insistent that he keep it. Hopefully Amir wouldn't mind too much.
Victor sighed softly and closed his eyes, willing away unhappy thoughts and making himself remember all the things he had missed while being in the East. And there was much he had missed—his fathers, running through the fields with Luna high above, speaking with Topaz and Bran, his favorite foods…
But as much as he missed all those things and more besides, he did not miss them half so much as he would miss all he had seen and enjoyed during his stay. As much as he would miss Shazhad, whom he could never have, because princes like that didn't pick knights like him.
He opened his eyes and made himself move, pack those few things he had to take back, whatever kept him from thinking of the prince who in five days he would most likely never see again.
"Ready to go?" Shahzad said, appearing almost as if by thought.
Victor nodded. "Yes." He followed Shahzad from the room and along the halls toward the courtyard where the horses waited. Save for the soldiers who would be their escort, no others were around. Victor ignored the hurt he felt that none had come to bid him farewell. Perhaps he was the only one who would miss his presence here.
Shoving the thoughts aside, knowing he was overreacting to everything because of his foul mood, Victor followed Shahzad and the soldiers out and away.
The valley in which the three countries had arranged for their representatives to meet was small, secluded, and hard to reach. It was also much further from the West than any other country. All around them the trees were beginning to lose their leaves, a bite in the air that had not been present when Victor first left home.
"Trey!" Victor smiled and could not resist hailing his father, who waved back and strode forward to greet him as soon as they had all dismounted. "I have missed you."
"And I you," Trey embraced him. "But you seem to be doing quite well for yourself. Dunstan will be pleased to hear you are taking after him rather than me and getting into scrapes."
Victor grinned. "I was hoping to see you, but I was not sure they could get you away from Bellewood long enough."
"Enough of that," Trey said gruffly, gray eyes flashing with amusement. He cast his eyes over the men standing beside and behind Victor. They settled on Shahzad. "You must be Prince Shahzad." He smiled. "If you will return our hostage," he motioned behind him, "we will attempt to return yours. But I think perhaps you might have a challenger."
Shahzad smirked as his brother approached, nodding politely to the woman who walked beside him. She was tall and stately, handsome and elegant. Her skin was pale, lips a dark pink, and eyes a smoky green. Her hair, dark auburn, was neatly plaited and wrapped around the back of her head. One pale hand was clasped in Amir's. "So you are the steward about whom I have heard so much. The Lady Caitlyn, yes?" Shahzad smiled. "You can have him."
"I missed you too, dear brother," Amir said dryly. He looked at Victor. "I see you managed to survive your stay. I hope Shahzad did not make life too difficult for you." Amir looked back at his brother. "I hear strange rumors of you actually behaving. Could they possibly be true?"
Shahzad muttered something only his brother and the Eastern soldiers could understand, though what little Victor caught made him think it was rather a colorful threat. "To attend to business, has anyone heard a reply from the West?"
Trey and Caitlyn shook their heads. Caitlyn seemed amused. "It would seem we have driven the West into isolation, at least for a time. Perhaps things will change when that bastard they call a king retires or is otherwise removed from the throne."
"Indeed. So far as relations with the South go—am I welcoming a new sister and future queen, or am I thanking you for taking Amir away and hoping it will take you a while to realize your mistake?"
Amir ignored him—and the way his betrothed laughed. "Despite appearances, you and I both know, little brother, that you are far more suited to the throne than I. Do not be so impertinent that I alter my decision to go South with Caitlyn."
"I am glad to see you have completely recovered from the poisoning you received," Shahzad replied. Around them the others laughed, especially the Eastern soldiers, who were long used to seeing the brothers banter.
All except Victor, who was finding it harder and harder to laugh about anything as the reality of his leaving began to set in. Trey frowned at him, gray eyes flickering silver in concern for the boy he had years ago adopted. Victor shook his head and looked at Shahzad, who was still bickering with his brother, relieved and sad all at once when Trey nodded in understanding.
Shahzad turned from his brother. "I was told your lov
er is fond of roses," he said to Trey, who nodded in surprise. Shahzad motioned a soldier forward and took from him several carefully prepared cuttings. "Then accept these, please. There are other gifts, but they have been packed for travel to your home, which I was told is quite some distance from here."
"Thank you. Dunstan will adore them. But why are you giving us gifts?"
"Attempting to behave," Shahzad said, sparing a scathing look for his brother, who had begun snickering. "I am under strict orders from my father to do so until all matters are conclusively settled. He has also sent along gifts for your king, for we owe the North a great debt."
Trey smiled, suddenly pleased. "Relations with the South remain strong, we have established a bond with the East—I would say the North considers all matter conclusively settled."
Caitlyn nodded. "The South too considers all matters dealt with to our full satisfaction. All who wish to attend are cordially invited to our wedding." She smiled at Amir, who lifted her hand to kiss the back of it.
"Finally," Shahzad said, and Victor watched in confusion as Shahzad approached him, took his left hand and all but ripped Amir's ring from it. Shahzad barely glanced at his brother as he threw the ring at him, and Victor wondered why Amir laughed.
But in the next moment Amir and everyone else were driven out of his head as Shahzad hauled Victor close and kissed him like a starving man presented with a royal feast. Distantly Victor heard others laughing and jesting, but the majority of his focus was on Shahzad, who tasted spicy and sweet, like everything Victor had fallen in love with during his stay. "What are you doing?" he asked when Shahzad finally let him breathe.
"Misbehaving," Shahzad said against his mouth, speaking so only Victor could hear. "Would it be presumptuous to ask that you stay? With me?" And though his face remained as composed as it ever was, Victor could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
"There's nothing I want more," Victor said.
Shahzad leaned in to kiss him again, chuckling at the cheers that surrounded them and flooded the valley.
Fin
About the Author
Megan is a long time resident of queer romance, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she's not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all over the internet.
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