"But- You- I heard the two of you last night-" Eamon sputtered.
"I can't let him go off alone without telling me where he was going," Issat said and stared at Eamon as though he had grown another head. "What kind of guard would I be?"
Eamon had nothing to say after that.
"So!" Lissandra said clapped her hands before she turned to Alik and Issat. "Let's plan a wedding, shall we?"
ONCE THE NEWS OF THE impending wedding was made known, all chaos broke loose.
By the end of the third day, and somehow the fourth feast, Eamon almost wished for the Vresal army. He crawled into his bed and when a servant stuck her head in and asked if he needed anything, he ordered a bath and two jugs of wine, no goblet necessary. A half hour later found him soaking in a large tub and a jug of wine on a nearby stool.
There was a knock at the door and Eamon groaned and let his head hit the back of the tub. "Go away!" He shouted.
"If only it were that easy," Alik said and walked in. He had scrolls in his hands and his fingers were ink stained. His formal wear that he had insisted on for the day was loosened at his throat and wrists. He did not look up as he dragged a chair over and sat down. "We need to discuss lands and titles."
Eamon groaned and sank lower into the water.
"Believe me, Your Grace, I would love to be in my own room, in my own bath, with my own jug of wine. Be that as it may, I have six days until we are wed and we need to figure out the fine details of where we will live, how we will both govern when we are away, and what holdings will be governed by which lord or lady," Alik said and put an inkwell on the ground. "Tell me your thoughts."
Eamon's thoughts were not on the wedding, or titles, or holdings at all. His thoughts were only of the men and how they improved daily, but Eamon was worried that the Grayhaven court was not up to the task of fighting and leading, even their own people. His thoughts went to his wolves that now daily led orphans to the castle walls and how sometimes Kane skipped the middleman entirely and took them directly to the priestesses. His thoughts were on the Vresal army, and how they approached with more open boldness than ever before.
"Isn't this improper? To see your husband in such a state of undress before the wedding?" Eamon asked, still trying to get out of making any more decisions having to do with the nuptials.
"I have seen you blood soaked, sweat stained, shirtless, swimming, asleep, awake, pretending to be happy, unaware that you were making a face of fearsome displeasure, bored, furious, and now underwater. That chiton of yours does not hide as much as you would like to think, either. Nothing surprises me anymore. Tell me what you think of Lissandra being given the University," Alik demanded.
"She would love it. Give it to her," Eamon said and waved his hand.
"Avelina has requested that she pick the music for the wedding."
"Excellent. Let her," Eamon said and leaned his head back against the lip of the tub. He felt around for the jug of wine and tipped it back against his lips. He put it back on the ground and did not miss the way that Alik nudged it out of his reach with his foot.
"Edmond would like you to be pulled in to the chapel on the backs of your wolves while they and you wear gowns of silk and tulle."
"Fine."
Alik sighed and looked at Eamon.
Eamon sank lower down into the water until it covered his mouth and glared up at Alik.
"I would have thought it beyond a man of your size and experience to be childish and yet here we are," Alik said and rubbed a hand over his face.
Over the past few days he had seen Alik in his element; meeting people, smiling, shaking hands, and making conversation. Alik had been taken aside by a few people to discuss the minutiae of very mundane things and Eamon was seeing how that was taking its own toll on him. Constant exercise with little rest and less food was not good for either the mind or body. That was when things began to fail. That's when mistakes were made.
"When did you last sleep?" Eamon asked.
"Last night," Alik said and dipped his pen in the inkwell as he began to scrawl on the paper on his lap.
"For how long?"
"Sir Malcolm and I spoke until after midnight last night about the islands near his home and the income they could provide. Then there was the dawn devotional, so I'll let you do the math on that one." Alik snapped. He rubbed his face and there was a smear of ink on his cheekbone when he pulled his hand away.
"And when was the last time you had a meal? A real one, not those little sandwiches that were at the dinner tonight."
Alik furrowed his brow and shook his head. “I love those little sandwiches.”
"You need to eat."
"We need to get this done," Alik snarled.
Eamon wondered how much time Alik had been spending with Kane.
"Ok, that's enough," Eamon said and took the pen from Alik's hand and stood, purposely getting the documents wet as well. He reached for his robe and slapped Alik's hand away when he tried to take the documents back. He broke the pen and tossed it away. He opened the door and gestured to the servant that was standing there and ordered food from the kitchens. "Real food, bread, meat, cheeses, nothing left from the feast."
When he turned around, Alik was glaring at him. But there was no missing the paleness that wasn't his natural color or the dark smudges under his eyes. "That's not necessary. I'm fine."
Eamon snorted. "Hardly."
"I'm not fragile, I would have you know," Alik said and stood.
"Never said you were," Eamon said and belted his robe.
"You seem to think so," Alik said and crossed his arms over his chest.
"It is part of my job to know when people under my care are exhausted. And you most definitely are. You push yourself too hard. I want you to know that you aren't the only one to take care of everything. Lissandra and Avelina-"
"Are not the ones that people look to to make decisions," Alik said. "That is you and I and if you are otherwise preoccupied, as you have been with the upcoming war effort, then it falls to me."
"Lissandra and Avelina are just as schooled as either one of us are and they know this court. Let them help you when you need a moment's respite. There is no shame in it," Eamon didn't back down from Alik's attitude, despite this being the first time of being on the receiving end of it.
Alik bared his teeth for a second and Eamon had to make a note not to let Kane sleep in Alik's room anymore. Alik seemed to be picking up too many wolf mannerisms.
Then his shoulders drooped and just like that, the tension from the room was gone and the fight fled from Alik's figure.
"I am throwing a fit like a child who missed their nap," he muttered and rubbed his eyes.
"An apt description, Your Highness," Eamon said. "Even the charming and persuasive Crown Prince from the North needs his rest. If you need a moment all you need to do is find one of my sisters. If it is truly a moment of desperation, find Edmond. I will try to ease some of the pressure myself-"
"No, you have enough-" Alik started.
"Nonsense. In all honesty, I believe you have the harder job. People who try to smile and make nonsense claims to me in the arena know they will end up on their ass, probably with a bloody lip and none can say a word about it. But you- with your backhanded compliments and sly words-" Eamon shook his head, "I am not made for it."
Alik sat back down and looked down at his hands. "Truly, it is a task."
There was a knock at the door and a servant bustled in with a tray and set it down. She bowed once again but Eamon saw the delight in her eyes as she scurried out. A love match for their beloved warrior prince was more than his people could ask for.
It was more than what Eamon could ask for as well. So he settled for friendship.
"If you truly cannot get away, use me as an excuse. None will fault you for wanting a moment alone with such a dashing fiance-" Eamon said and puffed up his chest.
Alik snorted, but did let his gaze linger on Eamon’s naked chest. They were to be marrie
d. It should be something that he got to do.
"And thanks to your late night visit and my state of dress, the kitchens will be filled with all manner of inappropriate talk in the morning and the rumors will be flying fast," Eamon added.
Alik shrugged off his words. "What does it matter? In a few weeks, we will be sharing a bed and I have it on good authority that neither one of us are exactly blushing virgins."
Eamon's mouth dropped open and he searched for the words to properly reply but Alik didn't seem terribly worried as he fell upon the food at the table like a hungry dog.
"You- who told you?" Eamon said and Alik's eyes flickered up to him.
"It does not take a genius to learn of it. For one thing, look at you," Alik gestured to Eamon's near naked appearance and Eamon felt his cheeks heat in embarrassment but Alik went on, "At some point, you would have visited a brothel with your men. For another thing, we were both terribly young and curious and have come to find ourselves in this betrothal without protestation on either party's behalf. It is only logical."
Eamon blinked at Alik and then blurted out, "It wasn't a brothel."
Alik, his mouth full, only looked up at him and raised his eyebrows.
"I was with my men but-" Eamon shook his head. "He was among my men."
Alik chewed slowly and swallowed, giving Eamon a moment to go on but he didn't. This was certainly news to Alik, that Eamon preferred men. He knew that Eamon would sacrifice anything for his family and country and did not put it past him to sacrifice even this much for either one.
"It is love then, is it not?" Alik murmured and looked down at his bowl. There was always the chance that one of them might be involved with another. It was part of their lives, learning to live with their spouse loving another. The hope Alik had only seconds ago fell away quickly.
"Was. Might have been," Eamon said and looked away. Eamon’s words were turning tight and clipped and it was a memory that pained and humiliated him.
"Can I ask?" Alik said.
Eamon glared down at his hands. "He was a traitor. Used me for information. That was how the Vresal army almost won the Battle of the Sons. He seduced me, I fell in love with him, and he used that to take back information that only those among the highest ranked of my men and advisors would know. It was not hard to figure out who the betrayer was. Sir Willhelm killed him for me as I was unfit to do so."
Eamon waited for the platitudes that he had heard a dozen times over, a slightly different echo of what Alik had no doubt heard when his own family had been murdered.
"I wish he hadn't," Alik said slowly and Eamon looked up, startled when the words registered.
"You wish Willhelm hadn't... killed him?"
Alik shook his head and dipped his bread in the thick broth at the bottom of his plate. "No. I wish he hadn't. I would have like to have had my time with such a man."
"What-" Eamon said and closed his eyes. The man he was set to marry proposing such a thing was incomprehensible to him.
"The northerners have perfected a way of... carving the truth from someone." Alik murmured and his voice was silky, low, and dangerous. He didn't look up from where he was delicately cutting a large hunk of meat with his knife. He looked comfortable with it in his hand, more comfortable than Eamon realized. "It takes... time. It's often bloody. My father and brother taught me all the secret ways to break a man. I showed my cousin and while he would happily slice a man like that into pieces, I think someone like that would deserve my personal attention.”
Eamon regarded Alik in a new light. No longer the sweet, snappy prince from the north who Eamon was feeling more and more protective and possessive of day by day, Eamon was... impressed.
"You and I are more than an alliance," Alik said but the dangerous note was now replaced by something more thoughtful. "We are the foundation of this new kingdom that is thousands of miles and just as many people. As such, we need to be a unified front, fortified by our families. I want you to know that I will have your side on matters unequivocally, no matter what the issue."
"And I yours," Eamon said and he felt a weight ease off of him. He hadn't realized how much he still feared another betrayal. "Until, at least, I can get you in private and question you relentlessly."
"Fair enough," Alik said and grinned. They held each other's eyes for a moment and then Alik cleared his throat. "We have the land dispute tomorrow."
"I want real food tomorrow if I am to be stuck at a table for the better part of the day," Eamon said.
"Of course," Alik said and stood. He glanced at his scattered paperwork and bent to grab it.
"Leave it. I'll bring it to you tomorrow." Eamon said. "Otherwise you will continue to work on that tonight and forge my signature and not sleep."
"Noticed that, did you?" Alik said.
"Lissandra and I did, yes. Avelina did not, so it was most impressive." Eamon said and smiled.
"Well then, I'll wish you a good night, husband-to-be," Alik said and made for the doors.
"You as well," Eamon said and walked Alik to the door.
At the last second, Alik spun and Eamon looked down at him, though not far. Eamon probably was only two inches taller than Alik.
Eamon waited for Alik to say something and if his eyes drifted down to Alik's mouth, it was unavoidable.
"In the morning," Alik murmured and patted Eamon's chest affectionately before leaving swiftly.
"Indeed." Eamon murmured to Alik's retreating back. He watched Alik walk down the hall and close his door before he went back to his own room. "The morning," he muttered.
AFTER THE LAND DISPUTE was settled, Eamon stood and announced his intents to be at the sparring arena until dinner. Alik couldn’t blame him, after all the tense talk of the morning and the fact that they had to remain seated at a table, stuck in a stuffy room. After the third hour, even Alik was getting antsy.
Before Eamon left for the sparring ring, he waited for Alik to leave the meeting room.
“I will come for you before dinner,” Eamon said and Alik was able to glimpse the man he saw the night of their proposal.
“I will be waiting for you,” Alik promised.
“What will you do with your time?” Eamon asked. He looked like he wanted to be out on the fields more than anything else and even Kane paced impatiently behind him. But he did not rush Alik, did not shift impatiently from foot to foot to hurry his answer.
“I have letters from my Chancellor that I need to read. Perhaps I will get a moment to myself,” Alik said.
“I will leave orders that you are to be left alone,” Eamon said and Alik almost jumped when he felt Eamon’s fingers drift over his knuckles. Then he was gone, Kane following him.
Alik stared at him as he left, trying not to memorize the shape of his shoulders or the play of muscles in his back. It was far too late for that, though. Alik imagined he could trace the valleys of his skin blind.
“You’re staring at my brother. Please stop, it’s very strange,” Edmond said.
Alik blinked a few times and turned to Edmond who was clearly mocking him with his sisters beside him. He felt an ache for his own siblings all of a sudden.
“Yes, but I will be marrying your brother soon and then we will have our wedding night. I believe I have earned the right to stare.”
It was Alik’s turn to leave, with all the royal siblings in his wake, with varying looks of respect and disgust on their faces.
EAMON’S ORDERS WERE clearly set and for once Alik, was left to his own devices. He was reading the letters from Chancellor Yvonne that were sent to both him and his father. The ones sent to King Alexios were less detailed than those sent to Alik. It seemed like Chancellor Yvonne saw his father’s retirement and was simply choosing to take fewer issues to him.
And, oh, the Grayhaven Court had their issues.
Alik chose to ignore those and read on about how his people fared. He was deep into a conflict over grain when there was a knock at the door and Alik could only guess that Issat wou
ld be bold enough to get past the guards positioned at his door.
“Come in!” He called. His desk was positioned so that he could look out on the ocean but not directly at his door. “Chancellor Yvonne informs me that the nobles are snapping at each other’s necks and she is tempted to leave them to it but she fears that Lady Sexton would come out on top, which I agree with. The good news is that the people fare well with only the smallest hint of conflict over grain. Shall I write her and tell her to do what she thinks best or do you think it’s a waste of time? I know she already has, perhaps even before the letter was written-” Alik turned to the door to see what Issat would have to say only to find himself staring at Queen Christenne.
Alik stood up so quickly, he nearly knocked his chair over and barely caught it. Behind her, he saw two gray and white wolves, prowling the hall.
“Your Majesty, I apologize, I thought you were Lady Issat. I wouldn’t have spoken to you so casually-”
Queen Christenne smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine, Prince Alik. I appreciate your candor and ease with your Lady. It gives me insight how you will treat my daughters when you are King of both our lands.”
Queen Christenne was clearly where her children had inherited their tall stature and startling blue eyes. Her hair was piled high atop her head and Alik was surprised to notice for the first time that she did not wear her crown. It was tradition for the royal family to wear their crowns at all times, at least in his own land.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but what do you mean?” Alik said and offered her a chair. She took it and Alik went to the guards outside.
Willhelm and Nicolin were outside his doors and looked at him as he glared at them. They only shrugged back at him.
“Can I get you anything?” Alik asked and sat at the same table with the Queen.
She shook her head and Alik sat, waiting for the reason of her appearance to be revealed.
“I worry,” she finally confessed.
“What might I do to help ease your worry?” Alik asked.
A Prince's Duty (The Royal Houses of Sea and Snow, #1) Page 12