by Kyra Gregory
He forced a chuckle, hoping to make light of the situation. “I don’t know what’s come over me,” he said, retrieving his hands and tucking them under his arms as he crossed them against his chest.
Sybelle’s smile seemed to waver on her lips. She cocked her head to one side and her eyes took in the sight of the whole of him. He cleared his throat, turning to stand by her side so that he no longer stood in her path. “I’ve been thinking,” he started, rubbing his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
She gestured for them to walk together and he let her lead the way. She looked at him with interest, her hands clasped together against the skirt of her dress as she walked. “What about?”
“About what your friend said,” he started. He pursed his lips together. He hadn’t been thinking enough; at least, not about this. “She’s right in saying that your people suffer with the Azurians on your shores,” he said.
“I’ve never doubted the validity of her claims,” Sybelle replied, shrugging her shoulders. “They aren’t matters I haven’t considered, of course. I just don’t think them of as great an importance as she does.” She heaved a sigh and looked ahead of her with a thoughtful gaze as she walked. Her steps were light, so elegant, but her voice became cold and strict, “My father has always seen to it that the stores in Lionessa are full of provisions, holding enough grain and rice to feed all of Lionessa for a year. Though Caterina fears damage to business relations, what matters most to me is that the Lionessan people don’t starve. And I can assure you that they won’t, even with Azura on our shores for a little while longer.”
“And do you think businesses will suffer for long in the wake of this?”
Sybelle smiled, “I trust Caterina to be able to resolve matters with the buyers. I’m not too troubled by matters of business,” she said.
Deros smirked, lingering outside of her throne room where she’d stopped. He looked into the room, seeing her throne illuminated slightly by the candles and lanterns dotted around the expansive area. “I think many would argue that being a Queen is a matter of business,” he said.
“I would not argue to the contrary,” she said, sighing. Deros became intrigued. She looked troubled, her gaze becoming distant as she looked at her throne, her lips pursed together in a tight line. “But there is nothing I can do other than bide my time well,” she said.
She’d become an open book to him. She’d exposed so much in such a short amount of time. Even now, the manner in which she allowed her thoughts and fears to show through her gaze told him so much about the influence he’d suddenly gained upon her. And, yet, she still hadn’t discussed her plans. He’d learnt far too much about her to assume that she had none. No, she certainly had some thoughts in that scheming mind of hers. She just hadn’t revealed them yet.
He hung his head, shifting his weight on his feet, “If you require anything—”
“I require nothing for the moment,” she replied, confident but with a wide smile, touched by his thoughtfulness. “All I ask is that you stand at my side when the time comes to meet the Azurian King about this.”
He recoiled somewhat. He nodded curtly and his arms became rigid at his sides as he bowed his head, “Of course,” he said.
She laughed with an openness that had him captivated. She made her way into the throne room and the sound of her laughter seemed to bounce off the walls. “Don’t think too much of it,” she said. “I simply require you to ascertain that I’m not foolish enough to make an attempt on the man’s life myself.”
Deros chuckled, following her into the room. He tucked his hands behind his back, unable to help his smile. “You would lay judgement on the man as a traitor,” he said, “your dutiful right as Queen, of course,” he added. “But I get the impression you would swing the axe upon his neck yourself if you could.”
“I would if I were a man,” Sybelle agreed, retrieving an apple from the table. She cleared her throat, taking a sip of the steaming substance sent to her by the physician, “I would even as I am,” she said, dropping herself into her seat with exhausted abruptness.
Deros laughed, biting on his tongue on one side of his mouth. “I must make it a point not to give you ideas,” he said.
“No,” she said, louder than she’d spoken earlier. “Please,” she said, extending her hand to the seat beside her, inviting him to sit with her, “come, I would hear your thoughts some more,” she said.
He stared at the place beside her and his hands that had finally ceased their shaking resumed once more. He swallowed thickly, approached with uneasy steps and took a seat. “Were you not meant to be resting?” She shrugged her shoulders. He looked at her and she smiled. It wasn’t a grin, not a boisterous smile of victory. Just a smile. It was a tender smile. “I’m sure you will grow used to my company,” she said.
He licked his lips as they twitched. “It’s not your company I must grow used to,” he said. “It’s this position of respect you’ve granted me.”
CHAPTER 4
SYBELLE SIGHED, SHIFTING in her position along the bed. She placed her cheek against Deros’s chest, running the tip of her index finger along his abdomen. His fingers sank into her hair, massaging her scalp as they relaxed in the silence they had been blessed with. These moments brought her pleasure above all else. Of course there was pleasure in lying within Deros’s arms, revelling in the throes of passion that love and lust brought with it, but it was always the quiet moments after that Sybelle seemed to cherish the most. It was then, with not a word passed between them, without heightened pleasure to cloud her senses, that she was able to do all her thinking. She was never short of anything to think about, however, so these moments before either one of them chose to say something were never quite long enough for her.
“I wonder what my father would think of me if he could see me now,” Sybelle whispered, shifting so that she could lay her cheek on the back of her hand.
She could hear Deros smirk, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest beneath her ear, “It’s the curse of Kings, never to know what sort of ruler their child will be,” he said.
She sighed, lifting her head from his chest and propping her chin in both her hands, “It’s the curse of his child to grow up in such a position without his guidance,” she retorted.
“I don’t doubt that,” he replied, running his fingers through her hair. “I find it quite curious how he did not leave you with appropriate counsel.”
She shrugged her shoulders, replying with a pout, “I suppose he thinks he did.” Even without looking at him, she could feel his glance of confusion on her. “He left me with Sir Freeman,” she said, “and I don’t doubt that he thought him to be excellent counsel; I just don’t think he was as such for me.”
Deros rolled over, propping himself up on his side. He licked his lips as he struggled not to smile while speaking, “Do you not think it would’ve been fruitless to choose an adviser on your behalf? After all, I’m sure your father knew the two of you would not see eye-to-eye on what makes good counsel.” He brushed the back of his index finger against her cheek, the feather-light touch sending shivers down her spine and causing her to smile, “I’m sure he knew his stubborn daughter wouldn’t accept whomever he placed in a position to assist her,” he said.
“I have no doubt,” she replied, bowing her head and raking her fingers through her hair. “Still, I cannot say the added assistance isn’t sorely missed,” she said. “I almost have the right mind to call Gyles back, though I know he’s of greater advantage in Evrad than he is here.”
“You don’t need Gyles to assist you,” Deros said. “You’re not lost as to what it is you would like to do. You know what you want and the path to its accomplishment will make itself clear to you in its own time.”
“I’m not struggling with faith in myself for the moment,” she argued, getting to her feet, reaching for her gown on the back of the couch. “But I have no doubt that that day will come, the day I falter, and I don’t wish for Azura to try to take advantage
of that.”
“Then don’t let them,” Deros said, his gaze following her across the room. “The longer you doubt yourself, the lower you will drive your confidence in your rule—you have no reason to do so.”
Sybelle poured out a chalice of wine, dropping herself down onto her chaise lounge as she took a sip. “I know,” she added, the sting tickling the back of her throat. “Although, however much my own methods have worked for me, I cannot help but wonder what my father would do were he in my situation,” she said.
Deros rolled onto his stomach, propping himself up on his arms. There was little for him to say and even less that she would allow herself to consider as she fell deeper into the depths of her own thoughts. “What was he like? Your father—what was he like?”
Sybelle shrugged her shoulders, “He was a good man, I suppose,” she said. “He left me to my own decisions, to make my own choices, but he wasn’t without his bouts of anger if I displeased him beyond what even he could tolerate.”
“I’m surprised, I must confess,” Deros remarked, hanging his head and staring at his clasped hands. “My father was strict and cruel, even while certain that I would have no position of worth in life. It’s surprising to hear that your father, knowing that you would have a prestigious position as Queen, was not firmer with you in your upbringing.”
Sybelle smirked, lifting herself from the couch once again. There was something about the man that she loved that had her just itching to be near him. She sat herself beside him, assuming the same position he had before resting her head against his shoulder. “I suppose my father knew that if he pushed me too hard, he would also push me too far. Surely he knew that if he did that, nothing he ever told me would be of any use because I would choose not to listen to any of it.”
Deros hummed in agreement, amusement on his features, “Yes,” he said, “there’s not a doubt in my mind that he always knew just how stubborn you were.”
“I don’t think he knew of the extent though,” she said, holding the chalice to her lips. “If he was smart, if he knew to what extent I would hold resentment towards those that counselled me as though I were him, he wouldn’t have left men he’d deemed dear friends in my wake.”
Deros’s brows furrowed together and he cocked his head to one side, recoiling slightly as he attempt to discern the meaning behind her words.
She swallowed her wine until she reached the bottom of her chalice and withdrew from his side to place the empty cup on the nightstand. “Willeon Freeman did his utmost to advise me as though he would have my father when he was a boy. It was a mistake he paid for with his life.”
“You really did have him executed then,” Deros said, his brows raised in surprise. “I thought that to be a rumour, spread by the people the moment the man disappeared from your side to be replaced with a man that many considered just a boy.”
Sybelle laughed, “A lot of mistakes were made the moment I became Queen,” she said. “Mine was not having a coronation, not asserting myself in my position and giving the people the impression that impending war didn’t trouble me,” she said. “Willeon’s mistake was taking me for a fool and the mistake of the people was in thinking me a fool that would appoint someone as advisor even if he wasn’t fit.” She laid herself down beside him, staring up at him, “And it would seem that the people mistakenly assume I’ve made such an error again in you,” she said.
Deros smirked, bowing his head before meeting her gaze from beneath his lashes, “You won’t hurt my feelings if you agree that it’s been a mistake,” he said.
“That’s a lie,” she said, skimming the back of her fingers against his cheek. “Of course it would hurt your feelings.”
Deros snatched her hand from beside his face, taking it in his and drawing the back of her fingers to his lips, “You must go forward as you’ve always intended; you must do things your own way and you mustn’t let anything stand in your way. Not the legacy of your father, not the people he’s left behind and not their expectations either.” His hand squeezed tighter around hers, his lips brushing against her knuckles as he bestowed them with light kisses, “In the meantime, I’ll stand by your side, giving counsel only if you ask for it. And, if you decide you don’t want my counsel, I’ll retrieve whomever it is you deem fit for the position.”
Sybelle drew the back of his hand to her lips, kissing it while he caressed the fingers he still held between his own. She opened her mouth to speak but she soon decided no words would be enough. She leaned into him, brushing the side of her nose against his before letting their lips meet.
***
Sybelle held her breath as she stood at the East Gate of Lionessa, watching as guards pulled the large wooden doors open and then raised the gate. On the other side, a fair distance from their gate, King Alessio stood, smiling cockily at her with a group of his men. Atop the walls, Sybelle’s men steadied themselves and drew tightly on the strings of their bows, waiting for a single movement from one of their enemies. They’d made themselves comfortable, that much was clear from a simple glance around the beach. Bulky square tents had been erected across their shores and fire pits were set up in the sand, roasting luxury provisions, such as whole pigs and ducks. They had helped themselves to fishing boat storage bays, infantry belongings scattered about inside, including crates undoubtedly filled with food for a long siege if she felt so inclined as to humour them.
She felt Deros’s gaze on her and she looked to him as he nodded confidently, bracing his hand on his sword before they advanced into enemy territory with a flock of their own men. She was filled with an uncanny amount of courage despite being faced with a King who would not be shy about slaying her, or her people, on the spot. She wouldn’t allow herself to be intimidated by him, regardless of his advantages on her. It didn’t matter to her. She’d sooner stand within their territory than ever let them through her gates.
“King Alessio,” Sybelle greeted curtly, bowing her head.
The King of Azura, playful in his nature for a man with a savage’s reputation, bowed deeply from the waist with a hand on his heart, “Queen Sybelle,” he greeted in return.
Sybelle folded her arms over her chest expectantly, exhaling.
King Alessio didn’t seem to want to get straight to the point of his visit. Instead, he took his sweet time eyeing everyone in her entourage until his interested gaze fell on Deros. “Count,” King Alessio greeted, nodding uncertainly towards the man. “I’d heard whispers of an Evradian traitor having turned into an advisor for the Queen of Lionessa,” he said, shifting where he stood and crossing his arms, “but I never thought it would be a man who petitioned so strongly for assistance against her.”
“Circumstances changed,” Deros remarked, taking a similar stance as he shifted his weight. “My loyalties now lie with her.”
King Alessio glanced between the two of them, causing Sybelle to cock an eyebrow up in question of his observation. Alessio shrugged his broad shoulders, his gaze flickering elsewhere as he brushed his thumb against his nose, “I wonder if it’s your loyalties alone that lie with her,” he remarked.
Deros tensed and gripped his sword, his jaw taut in defence of her as he inched forward.
Sybelle threw out her arm at her side, hitting him in the stomach with an open hand. “Leave it alone,” she said, smiling. “I’m not so easily offended, nor is my honor so easily bruised.”
“A woman who stands at her own defence,” King Alessio noted with a smile. “I like that,” he added.
Sybelle smirked, nodding. “What brings you to my shores, King Alessio? I find it difficult to believe that with your picturesque landscapes in Azura you would retreat here of all places.”
He chuckled, nodding in somewhat agreement to her statement. “I’ve come to congratulate you,” he said. “You’ve fared well against them, enough to have kept them at bay,” he said.
“I not only fared well, and not only kept them at bay,” Sybelle started with a laugh. King Alessio’s features seemed to
fall, his posture shifting where he stood. “I’ve claimed Evrad as my own,” she said, replying to his intrigued gaze.
Blinking with undeniable confusion, King Alessio seemed thrown all of a sudden, clearly no news having been able to get to him while he was at sea. “What of King Nero and Prince Nicolas?”
“Both dead,” Sybelle said, sparing him the details. “With no other heirs to the throne and no one else strong enough to defend it, the Evradian kingdom fell into my hands, with no resistance from the people.”
“I see,” King Alessio said, withdrawing slightly as he succumbed to heavy thoughts. “And here I was, ready to provide you with assistance.”
Sybelle laughed openly, asking, “Did you have a change of heart? For what purpose?”
“Once it appeared you would be successful by yourself, I thought it would not be terrible if I were to assist you in finishing them off.”
Sybelle raised her eyebrows, another laugh threatening to escape her, “For a price, of course,” she finished for him.
“Of course,” he agreed. “I would, naturally, take half of the country for myself.”
“Naturally,” Sybelle reiterated with an indifferent shrug. She hung her head just long enough to hide her smile, “Well, you will find that, in light of this news, no assistance of yours will be necessary,” she said. She looked to Deros as indication to leave and she went to turn away, sinking into the sand with the next step, as though knowing that King Alessio would try to hold her back.
“Actually,” King Alessio started, “there’s a matter that is necessary to discuss.”
Sybelle turned around, willing herself to be patient, “And what matter is that?”
“The matter of a certain treaty,” King Alessio said, shifting where he stood. “No Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms is to attack one of the others in a bid to claim it as his own and grow more powerful than the others.” She raised her eyebrows, beckoning him to continue. “It’s true that Evrad was the first to attack you, and it cannot be helped that you’ve sacked the King and Prince from their own kingdom, but there is still the matter of you having gained more land.”
