by M. D. Laird
“Thank you, Prince,” she replied, opening the package to reveal oil paints, some small canvasses, brushes and a few books. “I’ve been looking forward to trying these paints; I’ll just go and get another palette.” She placed her things on the parlour table and left the room.
The attendant picked up one of the books and glared at the prince. “Don’t you ever evaluate anything she reads?”
“Excuse me?” asked Thomas, taking a seat.
“This book is not appropriate.”
“And why is that?”
“It is about females who deviate from the norms of their gender. It will give her ideas and make her awkward and disobedient. This is worse than the painting. I shall provide you with the king’s list of approved literature, and she can pick her reading materials from that.”
“That won’t be necessary. I have no issue with my wife having ideas, and I don’t give her orders, often, so I have no need for her to be obedient.”
The attendant did not answer as the princess entered the parlour. She moved the painting she had been working on to lean it against the wall and began preparing a new canvass to test her oil paints. Thomas noticed Victor putting her new books at his side, perhaps with the intention of withholding them from her.
“I shall retire to my room, Princess,” Thomas announced, picking up the books from beside Victor. “I shall drop your books in your room for you, so you have less to carry.”
“That’s kind of you. Thank you, Prince.”
He gave her a bow before winking at the attendant and leaving the room.
“I want to speak to the queen alone,” announced Prince Thomas to the Queen’s Guard. He had arrived at the Guild of the Crown to execute the next phase of his plan to drive a wedge between Queen Genevieve and her ridiculous fiancé.
“I am afraid the queen has requested you be turned away,” said the angel.
“Why?” asked Thomas. “I thought we were friends.”
“She is becoming annoyed with your visits, Prince Thomas. She has given her answer regarding the offer of marriage to the Crown Prince and she does not wish to be subject to your methods of persuasion any longer.”
“Is that a fact?” said Thomas, taking to the air and flying past the guards and to the queen’s office. The guards came after him. The demon was poised with his claws ready, and the angel had drawn his blade. Thomas opened the queen’s door. “I would like a private audience, Your Majesty.” The guards midspaced into the office and stood beside their queen.
The demon snarled at Thomas. “We’re going nowhere.”
“Raum,” said the queen. “It’s okay.”
“Yes, run along, doggy.” Thomas laughed. The demon growled ferociously and lunged at Thomas who dodged him.
“Raum!” shouted the queen and the demon stood down. “I said, it’s fine. Prince Thomas, if you want to speak to me, I suggest you learn some manners and remember who you’re talking to.”
“It was some human last time I checked,” said Thomas.
“You’re a little out of date.”
“Fine,” said Thomas. “Your Majesty, please may I request a private audience?” He gave her an exaggerated bow. The queen nodded to her guards to indicate they could leave.
“We can’t leave,” said the demon. “I don’t trust him.”
“I outrank you, lesser demon.” Thomas snarled. “I will whip you for your insubordination.”
“I’m here in the capacity of a member of the Queen’s Guard where you do not outrank me,” the demon said simply, raising his head and no doubt enjoying his minor superior role. This angered Thomas, he glowered at the demon.
“I will make you pay when you’re off duty.”
“You will do no such thing, Prince Thomas. I am the ruler of Arkazatinia, and I outrank you.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Thomas forced a grin, and smothered the annoyance from his tone. “Now, about our private talk.”
The queen indicated to the guards to leave, and the stubborn lesser demon replied, “We may put you at risk by leaving you with him, Your Majesty.”
“He can’t hurt me.”
“We don’t know what his motives are in coming here repeatedly.”
“You’re right. I don’t trust him either,” said the queen. “Shackle him in adamantine.”
Thomas laughed. “Adamantine? Is this how you treat all foreign dignitaries?”
“No. Just you.”
Thomas gave an arrogant grin to the demon who placed adamantine shackles on his wrists. He ignored the pain, rattled the shackles and smiled broadly at the queen. “Happy?” he asked.
The queen nodded to her guards, and they left. “What do you want?”
“I just came to inform you of a few revelations I’ve discovered.”
“Really?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Such as?”
“They’re all about you actually.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes,”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Is this going anywhere or are you here to waste yet more of my time? I’m growing tired of this, Prince Thomas.”
I have called upon her four times! Five at the most! And I’ve always been nice...mostly. “Don’t rush me.” Thomas chuckled. “I have a point.”
“Get on with it then.”
“Wow, you hate suspense, don’t you?” He smirked. “Remind me never to plan you a surprise.” Thomas picked at his talons and imitated boredom. “Oh…right, my revelations. Well, I was wondering why the all-powerful Queen Genevieve would be so interested in technology to enhance power when only three other thorian have magic. The power would really only benefit the newly allied fae and witches which seems bizarre. Unless the power of the all-powerful Queen Genevieve is not all-powerful at all, and she was trying to compensate for that.”
The queen’s expression revealed nothing. “This is your revelation?”
Thomas laughed. “I thought you’d try to deny it, but I have been spying on you, so I know for certain that I am right.”
The queen glowered at him. “And what?”
“That depends on you,” said Thomas. “I haven’t really decided what I want to do with that information yet. I could pretend I’ve heard nothing and not mention it to anyone, especially the king of Axandria, or I could threaten to mention it to everyone unless you comply with my instructions.” The queen said nothing and her expression remained passive. Thomas smiled. “You know, you’re very pretty. The perfect thorian looks can get a little tedious. It would be nice to have something a little different.”
“You think you can flatter me with your insults?”
“That was a compliment.”
The queen sighed. “Do you actually have something you’d like to say, Prince Thomas?” she asked, sounding bored.
“I’m working up to it. Tell me, are you and Mr Hallward a thing? Because things seem on and off with you.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“No? Is he still in too much pain to give himself to you? Shame. Though if I were him, I’d probably make sure I had a period of remission occasionally so I could take you to bed, does he?”
“I will not discuss my relationship,” snapped the queen. “Get to your point.”
“I like a domineering woman,” Thomas purred. “Though you won’t be so domineering when I’ve finished with you, you will know exactly who is in charge. You would like me, Your Majesty, and I don’t cry myself to sleep afterwards.” The queen’s eyes flamed at him, and he laughed. “Yes, it’s cosy in the midspace. Sometimes I think about offering my services when Mr Hallward sends you away.”
He yelped as pain seared through him, and he felt like every nerve was on fire. He could not breathe as he fell to the floor. He panted and pulled himself to sit once the pain stopped. “Ouch. What did I do to deserve that?” He bit down a howl as pain coursed through him again. “Okay, okay.” He
said, forcing a laugh. “I get the point.” She stopped but continued to glare at him. He smirked at her. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
“Is that domineering enough for you?” she asked slyly.
“Perhaps a little more than I would prefer. I can help you find a more pleasurable outlet for your anger.”
“Fine,” she replied.
“What?” he asked, startled.
“I said fine, we can spend the night together if you agree to leave me alone.”
“Erm…” Thomas hesitated.
This is not going as planned!
“I…”
“You can’t, can you?” She sneered.
“Of course I can,” he snapped. “I am more than capable.”
“But you won’t,” she said, smiling slyly. “You won’t come anywhere near me. Do you know how I know that?” Thomas said nothing and tried to disguise his irritation with nonchalance. “I was curious why my demon guards are so loyal and risk their lives for me even though demons are generally selfish and then I learned of this.” She pulled a thick stack of paper from a shelf and placed it in front of him.
“What is that?”
“It is a translation of the Michælis.” Thomas gritted his teeth. “I have learned that once demons have agreed to rules and signed up to them, they find it exceedingly difficult to break them. It is why my guards are so loyal, why demons fiercely follow their decree, why I am having so much trouble from the demons in my quorum now I have given them more control, and why you, Prince Thomas, will not break your marriage vows even if you want to.” Thomas narrowed his eyes. “It also gives a list of protections for the rulers of the lands.
“You are not to kill them unless they are proven to be treasonous, you cannot enter their home without permission, and you cannot spy on them in their own home or enter the midspace of their home without prior approval. Now, you are not under my rule, but the rules apply to all thrones, so I know that you haven’t spied on me. Also, my guards or Calab would know if you were there. So, tell me, Prince, how do you know about my personal life and what are you playing at?”
Thomas groaned inwardly. He had hoped he could prey upon her ignorance of Anaxagoras by getting her alone. “I spied on your Procnatus friend when she was breaking Mr Hallward’s confidence to her husband,” said Thomas plainly. The queen’s expression gave nothing away, but he could sense a flicker of annoyance, hopefully it was aimed at Hallward. Sensing anything more from her was difficult. She was good at hiding her feelings. The prince continued. “I had to check that she had indeed left your project alone and I overheard that delicious tidbit as well. She had a few other things to say about you as well, but I won’t offend you by repeating them. Anyway, as I keep saying I am here on the orders of the king and he wants you to marry the Crown Prince.”
“No.”
“Then I will reveal what I know, and you can suffer the consequences.”
“Do what you like.”
Thomas was startled. He had expected the queen to be a pushover. He had expected to eventually bully her into marrying the prince or, at the very least, have her beg him and make him a lucrative counter offer. He had not expected her to be so bold. He had visited her many times now and was getting nowhere. “Take some time to consider your options.” He smirked to hide his frustration.
“I could order you to keep quiet, and you would have to obey me,” she said, unmoved by his threats.
Thomas growled. “I am not some toy for kings and queens to play with.” He strained hopelessly against the shackles, but he was weak and became breathless. “I’m a first order prince, and I won’t be ordered around.”
She smiled. “I’m not going to ‘order you around’, Prince Thomas. I am simply letting you know that I will not be pushed around either. You may leave now.”
Each cuff of the adamantine shackles broke open, and they fell to the table. Thomas stared at them in shock and said nothing.
“Why are you still here?” she asked. “Go.”
“How did you do that?” he asked, horrified.
“Do what?”
“Break the shackles.”
“With magic.”
“How?”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t be able to do that. No magic should work on them. Your Majesty, you must tell no one about this.”
“I’m not going to listen to you.”
“You don’t know what you have,” he said, his mind whirring with the turn of events. “Nor did the alchemists.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The magic, it is not what you think.”
“Will you stop speaking in riddles and get to the point.”
“I don’t know the details. I will have to do some research, but you must keep this to yourself.”
“Moments ago you were prepared to tell everyone that I was a fraud and now I’m to say nothing?”
“Trust me.”
“Prince Thomas, I wouldn’t trust you if my life depended on it.”
“It does.”
“I will tell Mr Hallward, I don’t want to trust only you with whatever this is.”
“Fine, but tell no one else,” he said. “I will do some research. You must fix the cuffs and place me in the shackles.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Just do the opposite of whatever you did to break them.”
The queen seemed to have no trouble fixing the shackles, and within seconds it was as though they had never been damaged. He held them up to examine them.
Incredible. I thought this was a myth.
“I’m not marrying the prince,” the queen said. “I don’t know what you and the king are playing at, Prince Thomas, but I will have no part of it. I have no intention of starting any conflict with Axandria, and I will draw up a treaty to assure him of that, but I shall not marry anyone to secure an allegiance.”
The information swarmed through Thomas’ mind, but his thoughts trailed off as he observed the blade sheathed at the queen’s side. He had noticed its casing before, though he had never paid much attention to it.
“Where did you get that?” he asked.
“What?”
“That blade.”
“It was an ascension gift from the Guild of Uriel.”
The angels just give out blades as gifts! Another bizarre Arkazatine custom.
“What are you plotting?” she asked suspiciously.
What do I do about this?
His thoughts buzzed around his head as he considered the possibilities.
“Prince Thomas,” she snapped. “I demand to know what is going on.”
I wish she’d shut up and let me think.
“You need to increase your guard,” he said finally.
“Why?”
“I just think it might be a good idea. I will read up on this and let you know what I find.”
“When?” she asked impatiently.
“I don’t know. When I find something.”
“Prince Thomas.” She snarled. “You are going to have to tell me something. You came here to blackmail me, and now you’re… I don’t even know what you’re doing.”
“I’m doing what I always do, Your Majesty. I’m looking after my own interests.” The queen looked puzzled. “Have your guards release me. And watch your back, you are a target.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Me?” He laughed. “No. Just be careful. And let me go.”
The queen had her demon release him, and he left. He needed a plan.
“The Arkazatines are having a party to celebrate the New Year,” said Prince Thomas to Eleanor over supper. “I suppose you will want to go?”
“Why do they celebrate the New Year?” asked Eleanor, puzzled.
“It’s a Lycean thing, the queen wants to celebrate it.”
“Oh. Well, I should like to go though I will need a new dress.”
“I’ve worn that to an Arkazatine party already, I can’t wear it again so soon. I’ll need another.”
The prince growled. “That is ridiculous. I am not going shopping again. If you knew one would not be enough why did you not buy more whilst we were there?”
“The shops in Tethys are more expensive than here—my allowance would not stretch to more than one.”
“Then you should have asked me for more money,” he snapped. “You can go with Ramiel. I am not going again.”
Eleanor said nothing for a moment before uttering, “I like the dresses in Tethys. They have nothing like them here.”
The prince glared at her and threw up his hands in exasperation. “Fine,” he growled. “But you pick something straight away. I’m not spending hours there like last time.”
“I will,” she said, “but I have one problem. I have spent the rest of my allowance for this month on the paints and books. Could I have an advance on next month? I won’t make a habit of it.”
“Princess, you asked for an agreed allowance,” he snapped. “I have never once told you that you could not have more money. In future, buy what you need, so I don’t have to waste my time. We will go tomorrow, and I will not go with you again for a year so you had better choose enough or win your damn revolution so you can go on your own.”
She smiled at him. He had an odd way of being kind even when he was horrible to her.
It must be a demon thing.
“Thank you, Prince.” She smiled softly. “You can be very sweet sometimes.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I am angry with you.”
“Your anger at me is so different from what I am used to,” she replied. “Perhaps this is twisted and unhealthy, but I see that you are making sure that I am provided for, and you are giving up your free time to do something for me that you don’t want to do. That is very sweet, Prince Thomas.”
The prince shook his head. “You are very odd sometimes, Princess.”
Calab sat beside the fireplace in his library. The roaring flames offered a little comfort to his sombre mood. He was tired of crying, tired of the churning ache in the pit of his stomach, tired of the rush of sorrow and anger that took hold of him without warning.
