The only complaints were from some of the more prominent ruling class who had grown dependent on the previous bribes they had received from the additional taxes.
Trade also increased. Export ships that had been half-full were now overflowing with a fresh variety of goods to sell in markets throughout the five kingdoms.
Strangely enough, there was more gold flowing into the royal coffers now, with fewer taxes, than there had been while the taxes were increased.
Ayrion walked alongside Tolin as they made their way down one of the northwest corridors. The silence between them had Ayrion on edge. He noticed the commander’s pensive demeanor. Tolin had been just as perplexed by the situation with Cylmar as he had been, but when faced with the testimonies from nearly every community running up and down the Pyruvian River, from the Black Hills to the Rhunarin Ocean, one could hardly deny the truth.
“Do you truly think this is about mining rights?” Tolin finally asked. “If so, then why all the raids on poor villages along the border?”
“Does it really matter?” As much as Ayrion enjoyed his position as Guardian Protector, he was beginning to wonder if his life would ever consist of anything other than violence. He found himself contemplating this enigma more often of late, especially within sight of a certain beautiful young woman. “If the king says we fight, then we fight.”
Tolin rubbed his chin with the back of his hand. “True, but I’d rather know what I was fighting for, wouldn’t you? It might better help determine the extent to which Cylmar will go into an all-out confrontation.”
“Can’t argue there,” Ayrion said. “It doesn’t make much sense to me, considering their size and lack of manpower. There must be something else we aren’t aware of, but I trust Rhydan to make the right decision.”
“Aye, there’s no one I’d be more willing to go to battle for or with.”
“In the meantime I’ll see what I can do to reach out to the clan heads.”
Tolin nodded. “Your background on the streets has proven a valuable commodity in your job. It’s hard to believe, had things been different, it might have been you leading the clans instead of taking on the role of Guardian Protector.”
Ayrion started to smile, but then his thoughts shifted to Kira and what she might have been required to do in order to get to where she was, and it soon faded. He didn’t care to think about it.
“You’ll need to come by the house for dinner sometime. Tirana was asking about you the other day, complaining how we never do any entertaining. You’ll have to invite Captain Barthol and his wife as well. I believe my wife formed an attachment the last we dined. Kensey was very kind to Tirana.”
“I’ll be happy to. Barthol mentioned how much his wife enjoyed the company.”
Tolin started to walk away but turned back. “Oh, and be sure to invite Amarysia.”
Ayrion flushed. “She would appreciate that.”
“Good. I look forward to making her acquaintance.” Tolin turned down the next corridor and disappeared around the corner, leaving Ayrion to his thoughts. He could hear Tolin whistling all the way down the hall.
Ayrion chuckled and shook his head. Tolin had been hinting to Ayrion for some time that he needed to move his relationship forward with Amarysia before someone else snatched her up. Ayrion wasn’t sure why he had been holding back. He cared for her, and she was more than open in her feelings for him, but he was afraid that because of his line of work, he would make her a soon-to-be widow.
As he rounded the next corner on his way to his office and the awaiting stacks of paper begging for his attention, Ayrion’s mind kept drifting to the problem in the Warrens and his rather abrasive reunion with his childhood friends. He needed to make contact with Kira to let her know about the king’s decision, but after their last meeting, he wasn’t sure how wise that would be—for his sake or hers. The strong emotions she had awakened during their short visit had troubled him. Worse yet, was the question as to whether he should let Amarysia know of his intentions to meet with the strong leather-clad chieftain or keep it to himself so as not to cause any unnecessary concern.
Chapter 53 | Dakaran
THE QUEEN’S GILDED chamber doors opened without a sound.
Dakaran watched as Amarysia stepped through and out into the corridor beyond. Careful to keep her footing, she fastened the door behind her while at the same time shuffling to balance a tray of empty cups, a few small plates, and a crystal decanter of what looked like his mother’s favorite apricot tea.
Quietly, he moved up behind her. Sure enough, she turned and hit him mid-stomach with the edge of the tray. “Oh, Your Highness. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
Dakaran grabbed hold of the salver to keep its contents from pouring across the front of his white lace tunic and vest. “Here,” he offered, “let me help you with that.” He couldn’t believe his luck. He had been trying for weeks to get her alone, and here she was, not only without escort but in need of his help. “Where are you going with such a heavy tray? You shouldn’t be doing this kind of work,” he scolded. “We have servants for that.”
“I don’t mind.”
“Nonsense. That’s what we pay them for.” Taking the tray from her hands he turned and handed it to one of the guards outside his mother’s door. “Here. Dispose of these.” The guard nearly dropped his halberd trying to steady the unexpected tray.
Amarysia looked as perplexed as the guard. “Uh . . . thank you, Your Highness.”
The guard obviously wanted to follow the prince’s instructions and get rid of the drinks, but at the same time, he couldn’t leave his post. Dakaran thought it all rather humorous.
“I’ll just be on my way,” Amarysia said as she bowed and started to leave.
Dakaran cast a longing eye over her figure. He wasn’t about to pass this opportunity up. “Actually, I find myself free at the moment.” His meeting with his mother would have to wait. It probably wasn’t all that important anyway. “I’ll walk with you, in case you have further need of my assistance.” He admired her beauty. Her chest rose and fell with increased breath.
“There’s no need for Your Highness to accompany me. I’m sure there are other things you’d prefer to be doing.” She was always so caring of others. Dakaran knew in his heart she was the one he had been waiting for. All the others meant nothing to him. They were mild distractions at best. Amarysia rose head and shoulders above the other ladies at court. Just the thought of her as his future queen sent a rush of blood to his head.
“Accompanying you takes precedence over everything else.” He placed a sly hand on her lower back as he directed her down the hall. “Meeting like this must be fate.”
Amarysia cleared her throat and offered another smile. “Um, yes. I’m . . . I’m sure it was.”
“You’re the most beautiful woman in the palace, you know.”
Amarysia lowered her eyes. “The prince is too kind.”
He waved it off. “Not at all. In fact, I could be a whole lot kinder if you allowed me.” His grip tightened. He could feel her body flinching under his touch. He couldn’t help but admire the curvature of her form, how the cut of her dress hugged firmly across her breasts, her golden tresses teasingly hiding them from view. Those pouty lips, never before had seemed to be calling his name as they were right now, daring—no, begging— for him to partake.
His eagerness at finding an opportunity to seduce Amarysia pulled all focus away from where they were heading. It wasn’t until they had passed through the open atrium on the main floor and down the officer’s hallway that he snapped out of his fantasizing and turned his attention to their surroundings.
Unfortunately, by the time he realized where they were, she had already come to a halt in front of Ayrion’s office. Ayrion was standing outside the door, chatting with one of his High Guard. Drat! How did we get down here?
Dakaran could see the look of discomfort in Ayrion’s eyes at the sight of him with his arm around Amarysia. He found it ra
ther amusing. He enjoyed being able to tease Ayrion for once.
“Your Highness.” Ayrion bowed his head, slightly, before turning to look at Amarysia. He never would show proper deference to Dakaran’s station, which infuriated Dakaran to no end. “I was just coming to look for you, my lady,” Ayrion said. Dakaran could see the unease tightening across Ayrion’s brow. “Are we still on for dinner?” Ayrion’s eyes shifted questioningly back to Dakaran as if he wasn’t completely sure what her response would be.
Dakaran didn’t give Amarysia a chance to reply. “I’ve just asked the young lady to join me for a meal in the banquet hall,” he lied. He tightened his grip. He could hear her breath catch in her throat.
“I . . . uh . . .” She glanced at both men, not sure what to say. “I . . .”
“I understand,” Ayrion said. The guardian glanced sympathetically at Amarysia as if having dinner with Dakaran was something to be pitied, as if the very thought of sharing a meal with the High Prince of Aldor was somehow revolting. Dakaran had had enough of Ayrion’s pretentious self-confidence. It was time to put him in his place.
“And what is it exactly that you understand, Ayrion? That an offer from the High Prince holds more value than that of my father’s guard dog?” Dakaran pulled Amarysia even closer, making her wince.
Ayrion’s gray eyes dropped all pretenses and darkened. “You’re hurting her, Dakaran. Back off.”
“How dare you order me, and in my own house no less! Who do you think you are, street rat?” Ayrion’s shoulders tensed at the name. Dakaran shifted his gaze to Amarysia. “I bet you didn’t know that our guardian here was nothing more than a worthless street scamp when my father found him, a thieving little pickpocket.”
Dakaran turned his attention back to Ayrion. “You always were a phenomenal liar, Ayrion. Tricks of the trade, I take it? Ever since we were kids, you thought yourself better than me, always had your nose stuck in the air. Well, who’s the loser now?”
“Let her go, Dakaran. It’s me you’re angry with. Leave her out of it.” Ayrion stepped out to the center of the hall and angled himself.
“Yes, you would love that wouldn’t you? To have me face you in open combat so you can cut me down? That might work on the battlefield, but here in the palace, we do things a bit differently. For example, all I need to do is call the guard and have them put you under arrest for open defiance against the state, for threatening the royal family, for . . . well, anything I want, actually.” Dakaran’s smile was confident. “It would be the word of a guttersnipe against the Prince of Elondria. Who do you think they’ll believe?”
“They’d believe the guttersnipe,” an all-too-familiar voice rang out from somewhere down the hall behind Dakaran. He turned to see his father heading in their direction. He had the stride of a man marching into battle, and the look on his face was none too happy. “You might be the crown prince, but I’m the king, and as long as I am, a man’s word will be measured by his actions and any witness to those actions. Something I have obviously been unsuccessful in teaching you.”
Rhydan turned to Ayrion. “Guardian, would you be so kind as to take our young Amarysia here to the kitchens for a bite to eat? She looks nearly faint.”
Dakaran reluctantly released his hold on Amarysia. The warmth of her body dissipated as she stepped back and followed Ayrion down the hall. The look of affection on Ayrion’s face as he wrapped his arm protectively around her made Dakaran’s blood boil. He hated Ayrion with every fiber of his being.
“What are you doing, Dakaran? You have an entire court of women throwing themselves at you and you have to go after the one woman who is already taken.” His father stared at him a moment with his arms crossed in a disapproving manner. “This has nothing to do with Amarysia, does it? This is about you hurting Ayrion.
“I thought I taught you better than to try stealing another man’s woman. You can steal a man’s house, his wealth, and his job, but you try stealing his woman and you’re liable to end up with more than you bargained for.” His father lowered his arms. “Now I believe your mother was expecting you in her chambers some time ago. Better get a move on.” His father turned and continued on down the hall.
Dakaran was seething with torturous thoughts of what he would do when he got his hands on Ayrion, and at the moment, he wouldn’t have minded the same outcome for his father. How dare he side with that street trash against him!
“Snap out of it!”
Dakaran jumped at the unexpected presence behind him. Turning around to put a face to the voice, he found his rather annoyed chief counselor staring back. Valtor’s cheek bones were looking leaner than normal and his eyes appeared to have sunken another half-inch, if that was possible. He was still sporting that hideous looking wolf staff, though. Dakaran never did like the way the vicious animal seemed to be looking back.
“You need to get your mind off that scullery maid and on to more important matters,” his counselor scolded.
Dakaran raised a hand as if to strike him but then thought better of it. “Do not ever speak of her in that manner in front of me again! Do you understand?” His glare was hard for a moment or two, but like an unripe honey melon hanging from the vine in the middle of a summer’s drought, it quickly withered and died.
Valtor grinned.
It was a look Dakaran found most unsettling. The Arch Chancellor scanned the empty hall before leaning in a little closer. “With Cylmar answering our call by ramping up their strikes across the border, there is the possibility of a full-scale confrontation. I’ve received word that your father just met with Commander Tolin and the Guardian Protector about it. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Our chance to get them all out in the open at one time where there is a great likelihood of certain fatalities, the Guardian Protector being among the first.”
Dakaran felt a twinge of excitement. “You always know exactly what to say to cheer me up, Chancellor.”
Valtor bowed his head. “I would be a poor advisor if I did not.”
Chapter 54 | Ayrion
AYRION SAT ALONE in the dark.
The park bench was cold and stiff, much like his present mood. All during his meal with Amarysia, he had debated whether or not to mention his upcoming meeting with Kira. Her perception had been especially well-honed this evening. She asked him twice if there was something wrong before their food was even ordered. He assured her there wasn’t, but he could tell she didn’t believe him. To her credit she didn’t revisit the topic.
At one point before they had kissed goodnight, he almost broke down and admitted to the meeting, but by that point it would have made him look even guiltier for not having mentioned it earlier.
He hated giving harbor to such confused feelings.
He was a man who enjoyed order, routine, discipline. His life was simple and structured, and he wanted to keep it that way. If this was what it was like to be in a relationship, he wondered if maybe he had acted too hastily. All these feelings were clouding his judgment, and he knew a foggy mind in his line of work could get him killed, or worse, those under his protection.
“Why does it have to be so complicated?” he asked the star-filled sky above, watching his breath mist in front of his face as he wiggled around to find a more comfortable position on the bench’s wooden planks.
“Because life is complicated.”
Ayrion twisted in his seat. He recognized Kira’s dark, throaty voice. Across the street, a shape detached itself from the corner building and started in his direction. He hated her ability to keep him feeling on edge. He watched her red leather coat glisten in the light of the street lamps as she made her way across the lane and into the park. He couldn’t help but notice the extra bit of undulation coming from her hips as she sashayed up to his bench and took a seat.
“Talk to yourself much?” she asked with a humorous grin.
“After having been kidnapped and dragged underground, I find myself doing a number of strange things of late.”
“Oh?” s
he asked, batting her long eyelashes.
“Like checking every alleyway and side street for ruffians before crossing.” He smirked. “Like double checking the latch on my chamber windows at night, in case I found some overly presumptuous woman scaling the palace walls trying to break in. Like making sure to carry a few extra weapons on my person when I go into town to dine.”
“Well, I’m glad to see I’m having an effect.”
“Like a bad rash,” he mumbled.
Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. “Here.” She handed him back the clan ring he had sent to her as an invitation for their meeting. “As much as I enjoy sitting here admiring your beautiful face, Ayri, it’s getting chilly.” She ran her hands provocatively down the front of her breeches. “Cold weather and leather don’t mix well, you know.” She looked at his black leather coat and smiled. “So, what do you want?”
Blunt and to the point. Same old Kira. “I spoke with the king.” He watched as her expression changed.
“I’ll be honest,” she said. “I’m surprised. I didn’t actually think I’d hear from you again after what happened last time, let alone that you’d actually meet with the king on our behalf.”
“I told you I would. I keep my promises.”
She continued staring, her brown eyes boring a hole straight through his face. The silence was getting awkward. “Why would you think otherwise?”
She glanced down at the small pearl-handled dagger she had been spinning between her fingers. “I guess I’m not used to it. Honesty, that is. Not exactly in great supply in the Warrens, unless of course you’ve promised to do somebody harm, then you better act on it or you’ll look weak.” She rolled her shoulders. “And that can lead to all kinds of trouble.”
The White Tower (The Aldoran Chronicles: Book 1) Page 41
