“I forgot to pick some for him,” Roselyn said quietly.
“He has many admirers, I’m sure he is never without flowers.” His words were probably meant to be comforting, but the use of present tense just made Roselyn cringe.
They stood together in silence for a few minutes, both lost in thought, and Roselyn noticed that it was actually more comfortable to stand there with him without speaking. She was sure he felt the same. After a while, she was starting to grow melancholy over her brother. It was hard to be lost in her thoughts at his grave, and the silence eventually became too loud to bear.
“How long are you in Pontos?” she suddenly asked.
“I was only here for the meeting with your father, I’m leaving very soon.”
Roselyn nodded and they fell silent again. She desperately wanted to keep the conversation flowing as a distraction, but she couldn’t think of what to say. Thankfully, she did not have to. It was clear he was trying to find the right way to word something on his mind.
“Why did you refuse to see me before I left my position here?” he asked.
She was startled by the topic. “We ended our relationship, Xander. I thought it would be best if we just left things as they were.”
“I only wanted to say goodbye, Rose.”
“I know, but I didn’t.”
Silence overcame them once again. She could tell he was hurt by what she said, but it was the truth. This topic was hard to navigate, for if she was not careful he might ask if she had a hand in his transfer to Triton. She didn’t want to blatantly lie, but the truth would be an unwise decision. It may prompt him to ask more questions. She decided to change the subject to one she knew he would not go out of his way to get details of.
“The wedding was quite nice… you would have enjoyed the reception. We had dozens of barrels of ale for free to the guests. Many of your former comrades made certain to take advantage of that.”
“Yes, I would have thrown a few back had I been there,” he replied dryly. “I’m glad you had a nice time.”
“Thank you.”
“Did I congratulate you on your happy news?” Xander asked, gesturing to her stomach.
“No, I do not believe so.” Her heart stopped.
“My apologies, Princess, that was rude of me to forget.” He smiled slightly, no intention of continuing with the well-wishing.
Roselyn laughed at this, genuinely impressed with his sarcasm. At least it was entertaining. “So, I hear you have good news as well. I heard some guards chattering about a woman you are seeing in Triton. Would she be the Gaian woman who helped you evade your attacker?”
Xander looked at her with interest, apparently trying to figure out what she was getting at. “Her name is Ana, if you want to have a title for your jealousy.”
Roselyn ignored his assumptions. “Are you sure you can trust her? She may have some kind of agenda…”
“I assure you, she has no agenda. Of all the women I’ve known in my life I would say she’s the least… toxic. She is the daughter of a transport captain. She would have nothing to gain from it.”
Roselyn nodded appreciatively. “The daughter of the transport captain, you say? You have quite expensive taste, dear guardsman.”
“I’m a watchman now, Highness,” Xander spat, his eyes burning into hers. “Your envy seems boundless today.”
With a gasp, Roselyn hit Xander hard on the shoulder. His armor hurt her hand, but she refused to show her discomfort. “That is a very unacceptable thing for you to say to your future queen.”
Xander nodded and took a step closer. His breath was ragged from anger and his face was only inches from hers. “With all due respect, Highness, your own actions are unacceptable for a future queen. Especially one with a new husband and a baby on the way. You have everything you ever wanted, and not with me. You should be delighted that I am moving on. You wanted nothing more, if I can recall correctly. Instead, you are jealous.”
Roselyn stared at Xander and matched his anger for her own. “Don’t be a fool, Xander. It’s not that I covet you. I am happy that you moved on. Perhaps now you can finally let go of your obsession for me.”
Xander only smirked. “Do you ever think about what you are saying before you unleash your tongue? You sound so incredibly vain. I wonder if you are even capable of real feelings.”
“You go too far, soldier,” Roselyn spat bitterly.
“Apologies, Highness,” Xander said with a snort. He took one last look at Daemyn’s grave. He stepped over to the headstone, kissed his hand, and placed it over his prince’s name. With a sigh, he walked briskly away from Roselyn and out the cemetery gates. He did not look back. Roselyn was panting from the stress of the situation and stood there silently trying to collect herself. I have feelings… they just weren’t for him… right?
Ana
Ana frowned as she approached the Phoros, watching everyone prepare to leave just like any other trip. After her last moments shared with Xander she knew there would be trouble in Triton. She wanted to find her father and warn him, but she knew there would not be a lot she could say that he did not already know. As she boarded the ship, Ana saw her father giving orders to some of his crewmen. She approached him with her head held high, hoping he would notice her serious demeanor.
“Ana,” her father greeted her with a nod.
Ana returned the nod, not sure what to say. She didn’t want to seem overly dramatic, but she feared for the worst. It had just become known that Thalassa and Gaia were on an uneven keel due to the death of the vassal kingdom’s prince. How could a transport ship bringing a Gaian ambassador be safe? If it weren’t for Xander being somewhat of a friend, she would be even more frightened. Would he be able to protect her if the Thalassan military decided to take the ship and the Gaian ambassador hostage?
Thomas put a hand on Ana’s shoulder. “What is it that has you troubled, young lady? I haven’t the time for any sort of guessing game.”
“I fear we may run into some trouble on Triton… what with everything that is going on between Thalassa and Gaia. Will we not be in some sort of danger?”
“No.” Thomas’ answer was firm. “We are not in any danger. We are only a transport vessel. You just find Katherine and focus on your studies. It is not your place to fret about things such as this.”
Ana nodded, not wanting to reveal her conversation with Xander. She kept her mind focused on only worrying about the vaguest possibilities of risk. She did not know how much her father knew of Daemyn’s death, and wondered whether or not he knew that it was Nicolette that had ordered it. Rumors fluttered around Tellus like butterflies, each one of them painting the Thalassans in an ugly light, but none would touch upon the Gaian diplomat. Ana rose to the tips of her toes to give her father a kiss on the cheek. Regardless of whether or not he accepted that there was some hazard in their journey, she knew something bad was waiting for them. “I love you.”
“Ana!” Katherine called her name excitedly as she boarded the ship. They had not spent very much time together since the last trip to Triton. Katherine had been ill with a stomach bout and by the look of her only recently recovered. Her face was a little more gaunt than usual but the color had returned to her cheeks.
“Katherine, are you feeling well?” Ana asked when her tutor reached the deck.
“Yes, much better than the last time you went to Triton. I don’t know what came over me. I just wasn’t able to get out of bed when you left. I must have lost ten pounds during that week. I couldn’t let you miss any more of your studies this time around though.” Katherine smiled warmly at Ana and her father. Ana rolled her eyes at the review of arithmetic and sciences she would probably never utilize in reality. Still, the woman’s company was appreciated.
“That’s good to hear, Katherine,” Thomas said, giving his daughter’s tutor a brief hug. He set off to tend to his duties for departure.
Ana and Katherine chatted about the past few weeks and Ana was very careful not to think o
f her conversation with Xander. She would confide in Katherine when they were safely tucked away in their cabin below deck. There were too many prying minds for an honest conversation while everyone made ready to leave for Triton. Ana was watching the crewmen do the work that was as familiar as the back of their own hands when a pale man she had never seen before boarded the ship.
He was of medium build with cropped brown hair and a confident tilt to his head when he surveyed the ship. His eyes were green and a circle of full, dark lashes surrounded them. She assumed that he was the new ambassador the Gaians had sent to collect the taxes, and when two guardsmen stepped up to flank his sides that was confirmed.
“Good morning,” the man said as he approached the two women. He passed by without waiting for a response, and Ana and Katherine stared after him blankly.
Katherine chuckled. “His thoughts are a jumble of nerves.”
“I noticed,” Ana replied dryly. “He hides it well. Appears confident enough, but he has a long journey ahead of him.”
“Surely no longer than the rest of us…” Katherine eyed her student suspiciously. It was apparent that her time in bed with illness had kept her from learning of recent news, let alone the information Ana was privy to.
“I suppose we need to speak privately,” Ana said wordlessly.
Katherine nodded and stooped to pick up the canvas tote that housed her belongings for the trip. She started walking towards the stairs with Ana on her heels, and when they reached Ana’s cabin Katherine quickly closed the wooden door behind her. Ana laughed at her tutor as she took a seat on the bed and folded her hands in her lap to show that she was ready and waiting for the news.
“Well,” Ana began. “It all starts with Daemyn, the prince of Thalassa.”
Katherine nodded solemnly. “He went by his own hand.”
“Yes, that is what everyone thought. However, Xander did not believe that this was true… so he started investigating.”
“Who is Xander?” Katherine asked, holding up a hand to pardon her interruption.
Ana looked down and blushed deeply, but she didn’t know exactly why. “He is a watchman in Triton. I first met him a couple months ago. He was very close with the prince, and understandably upset at his death. He was the one who found him that day.”
“How horrible,” Katherine thought, shaking her head. “What did he find when he investigated?”
“He discovered that it was that woman we brought there for the transactions, Nicolette. Once he found out, I was with him one night when a man tried to kill him! Before the man died he confessed that it was she who sent him.”
“So that is why Nicolette was replaced by this new fellow?” Katherine asked absently. She moved to Ana. “I cannot believe you witnessed such a thing. Death…”
“Neither can I,” Ana said. “It all happened so fast. We worked together to get the truth… the whole thing left me terrified afterwards but at the time I suppose my blood pumping kept me brave. I prodded Xander to explain everything while we walked to the embassy to tell his superiors.”
“What are we facing when we arrive in Triton? If the Thalassans believe a Gaian had their prince killed they shall not take kindly to our vessel.” Katherine had begun pacing the tiny room, wringing her hands with worry. “That must be why those three Thalassans visited the capital recently…”
“They came in an attempt to arrest Nicolette for trial,” Ana said. “They were turned down, but the plan was for their king to withhold taxes sent to Gaia until they released Nicolette over to him. Some of this new ambassador’s thoughts were not only a mess of worry, but they revealed glimpses of other things. He has seen Thalassans in person before, and I wonder if he was not at that meeting with the High Council. This ambassador seems very anxious about visiting Triton.”
“I would be if I were in his position.”
Ana nodded in agreement and took her tutor’s hand. “We will be fine.” She forced the words she did not feel and hoped her teacher would pry no further into her worries.
“Oh, my dear, I am far more worried about the future of our world than this one trip to Triton. Even if the king withholds taxes for a little while, I see no other choice but war. What else can be done? Their future king was murdered. And the High Council will tolerate no insolence from a vassal. If taxes are not paid in full then it will only take a short while before Gaia hammers Thalassa into submission.”
“By the gods, Katherine, that sounds harsh,” Ana said with a nervous smile.
“It is true, my dear,” Katherine replied. She shrugged. “When one knows the next move of your opponent, it is not very hard to win.”
“I know, I just hope it doesn’t come to that. However naïve that sounds.” Ana’s smile faded, knowing the words she spoke were unrealistic. There had always been tension between the two nations and for something this atrocious to happen is like finally giving them reason to fight. The Gaians would want to finally put the ‘lesser’ people in their place and the Thalassans would get a chance at the independence they had always wanted.
“Well, it seems that however horrifying this situation is, there is nothing we can do for now but wait to see how it all plays out,” Katherine concluded, and knowingly let her thoughts travel to back to Xander.
“Is there something you wish to know?” Ana asked mentally, the small smile of a child with a secret grew on her full lips.
“Do I need to ask what is between you and this watchman, or are you going to just tell me?”
Ana ran to Katherine and sat beside her on the bed. “He is absolutely… something.” She struggled to find the words, blushing again.
“I see.” Katherine smiled. “Need I remind you of the story I told you about your parents and their struggles due to differences?”
“Yes, madam, I have not forgotten. Nothing has even happened yet, it is just a small infatuation I think. In fact, we have become friends. Of course, I know that he too admires me, but we haven’t openly discussed it. We have never really had the opportunity.”
“So you only know his attraction to you due to your mind’s prying,” Katherine observed. She laughed aloud. “Naughty one.”
“I cannot help but look,” Ana protested. Her grin could not have been wider.
“With all that is happening in our world, dear child, I only ask that you keep your wits about you.” Katherine placed a hand to Ana’s cheek and smiled that warm and comforting smile. “I shall go upstairs now and see when we will be ready to leave.”
“Mind if I join you? I could use the fresh air at the moment.” Ana blushed again, flustered by her thoughts of Xander. She felt foolish, given that nothing had transpired between them. Katherine chuckled and began ascending the stairs with a slight shake of her head.
Ana followed her teacher out onto the deck admiring the way the setting sun cast a glow on Katherine’s shining blonde hair. It was pulled back in a bun and as tidy as usual. Her dress was well made and a deep burgundy color. Ana sent Katherine a mental plea. “Would you mind if I borrow that gown one day? It may be too long, but I will adjust to hiking it up if I must.”
“Of course, but I fear it will look so much better on you that I will eventually have it hemmed to suit you.” With a wink over her shoulder, Katherine turned towards the helm where Thomas was likely to be preparing their departure.
The ship jolted as they started forward and Ana nearly lost her balance. She swiveled the opposite direction without looking, and slammed into something hard. “Ouch! Why am I always doing this?” She thought, rubbing her cheekbone and looking up to see what she hit.
“I haven’t the slightest, maybe it would help if you paid more attention, Miss.” The tone to the young man’s thoughts was not harsh, more of a mocking amusement. He rubbed his chin and tested his lower jaw back and forth.
“Excuse me,” Ana said, tilting her head slightly, recognizing the ambassador. His thoughts were considerably calmer now, even though they were just now leaving port. He must have ma
de some friends on the ship to make him feel more at ease.
“Yes, I have, thank you for your concern,” he answered her thoughts about his demeanor, not even acknowledging her apology for the collision.
“Forgive me, I did not mean to pry.”
“Forgive me, but I do believe you did.” The ambassador pulled her over to the side rail so he could speak to her without the bustling sailors surrounding them on all sides. “It is clear to me that you are very aware of the reasons behind my apprehension, but I would appreciate it if you kept out of my thoughts.”
“Yes, my Lord, I will,” she replied with a bowed head. “I am Ana, daughter of the Captain.”
“Stefan,” he said brusquely.
Ana inhaled deeply. “Do you really expect a tax payment?”
Stefan stiffened noticeably, raising his eyes to look over her head at the commotion around them. “You are doing a very good job at concealing your thoughts from me, so I do not know how much information you are privy to… but I cannot figure out how or why a transport captain’s daughter would know anything about matters of the state.”
“It matters little how or why I found anything out. People talk and stories travel quickly on a ship. I just want to know if you really expect them to give you anything after all that has transpired.”
“Keep out of this, Miss. You are in over your head. These are serious times, and there is some part of you that sounds as if you favor the Thalassans over your homeland. If I were you, I’d tread lightly.” Without another thought or word in her direction, Stefan pushed himself off of the rail and disappeared into the crowd of men on the ship. She saw Katherine’s head descending down the stairs to her chambers, and decided she had had enough fresh air. She headed down the steps to her room and entered to find Katherine seated at the vanity.
“Well, I fear I may have spoken out of turn,” Ana said, as she closed the wooden door behind her. She traipsed over to her bed and plopped down with a sigh. “I cannot explain what came over me. Speaking to an ambassador as if I had the right to ask him questions… I hope I didn’t do any harm to the situation.”
Severance (The Sovereign Book 1) Page 20
