by Jeanne Hardt
Wanting to prove herself, she sat perfectly straight. “I have news.”
Callum stopped chewing and looked directly at her, widening his eyes in question.
“Last night,” she went on, “my cousin, Darius, arrived from Thanwine. I sent him there some time ago to bring my maid, Shireen, to Basilia, so she might serve me here.”
Leda leaned forward. “A good chambermaid is difficult to come by.”
“Yes. Especially one whom is trustworthy.” Angeline dabbed at the corner of her mouth with a cloth. “As it so happens, while traveling here, my cousin came upon Tesher and Carmela.”
Leda clutched her bosom. “Are they well?”
“Well?” Callum grumbled. “Why are they not here? Did your cousin not have the sense to return them to your care?”
God, how she despised the man and could not wait to be rid of him. “My sister is a grown woman and does as she pleases. As for your son, he is smitten with her, just as he was with me, and did not wish to leave her. Did you expect Darius to force his return?”
“They are unchaperoned!” Callum beat his fist on the table—an action he seemed to enjoy. If he continued, he could very well crack the wood.
Angeline forced herself to remain calm. Eventually, Callum would trouble her no more. “They exchanged their mode of travel and are now in a carriage. The driver, Perrin, is honorable and will see that they arrive safely in Thanwine. Actually, I am pleased as to how the exchange played out. Since Darius has returned the Basilian horses to the stable, I will not have to charge your son with thievery.”
“Thievery,” Callum hissed through his teeth. “I entrusted Tesher to your care. If any charges are brought forth, they should come from me.”
Angeline pursed her lips. “And who exactly do you believe would hear your claims? At present, I am the highest in power. Your pleas are ridiculous, so do yourself a kindness and waste no time laying them before me.”
Callum pushed his chair back and shot to his feet. “I have lost my appetite.” His head snapped to the side. “Leda, come with me before I say something I will later regret.”
His wife’s face contorted. “What of Tesher? Are we to allow him to stay in Thanwine?”
“Certainly not! Once Eural arrives, I will send him after his brother.”
Angeline stared at the beastly man and tipped her head to one side. “Then what? Will you return Tesher to Oros and lock him in his room until he reaches his eighteenth year? Or perhaps, spank him into submission?” She delighted in watching Callum’s face redden. “He is not a child, so why not leave him be? If you attempt to force him to do something against his will, he will surely defy you again and likely run away.”
Callum marched around the table and hovered over her. “I trusted you! I believed your sincerity when you came to my realm suggesting Tesher’s pairing with your sister. Surely, it was foolery. You may be in mourning, yet I cannot dismiss all you have done. Your seductive acts toward my son confused him and he may never be right-minded again. I will not have him living out his days in Thanwine with your sister, who I have no doubt has exceptionally poor judgment. After all, she eagerly bound herself to Tesher, knowing of his affections for you!”
His ranting did not faze her, and she displayed no emotion whatsoever. “Carmela and Tesher are bound by law. If I am not mistaken, it was you who insisted they go to the scribes to make their pairing legal.” She pushed out a victorious smile. “So, tell me…whose judgment is truly lacking?”
The man’s fists tightened, and he snarled, but said nothing. He eyed his wife, and she rapidly stood. He rushed her from the room.
The interchange sparked Angeline’s appetite and she readily ate. Though her ravenous action might be looked upon poorly, she would not allow herself to be challenged. Grieving or not. As a queen, she had to continuously display strength, or her people might question her ability to rule.
One day soon, she would set them free, and they would adore her more than ever before.
Encountering Darius on the road had been a blessing in many ways. Carmela had slept comfortably through the night, curled up on the carriage seat. Although Tesher had been restless, she had managed to push aside her worry over him and get some much-needed rest.
The weather remained warm, but light rain fell, adding to her appreciation of the carriage. Poor Perrin had to be out in the elements, yet the man never complained. She would be certain to thank him for his loyalty.
She nibbled on some bread and fruit and simply watched Tesher sleep. At times, his body twitched, and he had even mumbled words, although nothing understandable. She found it odd he still slept, so long after the sun had risen, but she attributed his weariness to depression and feared he might never overcome his guilt.
Nearly an entire day had passed since they had entered the protective carriage, and they had scarcely spoken.
“What am I to do with you?” she whispered.
His eyes inched open. “What did you say?” He sat upright and stretched.
“Nothing of importance. I was thinking aloud.”
“Oh.” He peered out the window and let out a strange sound. Almost like a whimper. “We have a long way to go, do we not?”
“Yes.” She folded her hands on her lap. “Do you wish to reconsider going to Thanwine?”
“No.” Completely dour, he faced her. “As I told you before, I want to be as far from Basilia as possible.” He craned his neck and gazed outside once again. “Perhaps I should have chosen to return to Oros, so I could board a ship and venture out farther on the ocean than anyone has sailed. If I were to go far enough, I might see the world’s end. I heard tales that the ocean spills off the edge in a massive waterfall.”
“If that is so, how does the ocean remain full of water?”
He pointed skyward. “Rain refills it.”
“Oh. Of course. I see the sense in that.” She smiled at his matter-of-fact tone, enjoying their relaxed conversation. “I would not wish to fall off the earth’s edge. I imagine the drop would be endless.”
“Falling forever…” He frowned and lowered his head. “A wretched punishment for a curious mind, but one fitting for my particular deeds.” Slowly, he looked up again. “I believe I prefer Thanwine. It will take some doing to become accustomed to the cold, but at least your land offers a solid place to set my feet.”
“You are so conflicted, Tesher. One minute you seek punishment, then the next, you crave security.” She leaned toward him. “If we are to continue on together, will you not allow me to share your pain? You can tell me whatever is troubling you.”
The words that spilled from her mouth surprised her. Especially after becoming tired of his endless moping. But when she saw the small glimpse of the man she adored, her heart overflowed with love for him and brought forth the desire to give him aid.
His head drew back. “You call me conflicted, and yet you treat me with kindness as if I have done no wrong. You are the conflicted one, Carmela. I am not so foolish as to believe there was any truth in what you told Darius about me. You concocted quite the story. So, why treat me kindly? There is no one here to witness your actions and thus no need for falsehoods.”
“I may have woven a tale for Darius, yet much truth rested in my words. Though I do not believe Angeline will try to reclaim you, I do not wish for her to harm you further, and therefore want to keep you far from her. In addition, just as I told him, I am following my heart. That was not a lie in the slightest.”
Tesher sighed. “If you were wise, you would run from me.”
She splayed her arms wide and smiled. “One cannot run when enclosed in a carriage.”
Her action did not alter his sour expression. “Why do you want to share my pain? I care for you and do not wish to see you suffer.”
“It is because I care that I want to help.” It warmed her deep within to hear him say he cared, but she had to find some way to make him see his plight differently, or they would never be able to move forward togeth
er.
Her thoughts rapidly tumbled. “You killed Frederick because you were led to believe he had done harm to Angeline as well as your sister. You thought he killed Marni.”
“Yes. Angeline was quite convincing.”
Carmela cautiously laid a hand on his knee. “If what she told you were true, you had every right to end him.”
“Was it not all lies?”
“From what I know of my sister…” Carmela took a deep breath. “She oftentimes blends truth with falsehoods. Although she never spoke ill of Frederick to me, I have heard many terrible things about him. Not only did he lie with women other than his wives, the fact his lovers were terribly young and should have never been compromised by anyone is reason enough to look upon him with disfavor.”
“Disfavor, yes. However, are tendencies such as those justification to kill him?”
Without even realizing she was doing it, Carmela found herself caressing Tesher’s leg.
He stared at her hand, yet made no request that she stop. Even so, he breathed harder and harder as if struggling with what to do. “I do not deserve your affection.”
“Forgive me, but I cannot help myself.” She crossed over to his seat and grasped onto his hands. “I care about you so deeply.”
“But—”
“Please. Say nothing, so I might put my thoughts in their proper place and say that which is most pressing.” Difficult to do when she craved his affections. Perhaps he was right and she was the conflicted one.
She inhaled deeply, attempting to calm her racing heart. “In times of war, men are killed.” To accentuate her point, she stared into his eyes. “Their deaths are not deemed murder. Put your mind in such a place and ease your guilt.”
He frowned. “If only it were that easy. There is no war, and therefore, no justification.”
“I disagree. King Boden of Padrida died at the hands of a Basilian. From what I was told, many Padridans and Basilians died during that conflict. King Frederick ordered his army to go to Padrida and do whatever they felt necessary to bring justice for your sister’s death. Were those actions not war?”
“Yes, but—”
“I know with every part of myself, the Padridans were innocent. Look at your action toward Frederick as one of retribution for his wrongdoing. Free yourself from guilt.” She searched his beautiful turquoise eyes, praying for understanding. “You did not murder him, you carried out an act of war.”
With every passing second, Tesher’s gaze bore deeper.
She blinked and his lips covered hers. The unexpected action took her breath.
She melted into his embrace, never wanting to remove herself from it. Perhaps she truly had reached him. Whatever had happened, she delighted in it.
He pulled back, yet kept his eyes locked with hers, all the while stroking her cheek. “Why was I so blind to you? All along, you were meant for me.” He kissed her again with much more intensity.
The carriage hit a rut in the road and jarred them, nearly sending them to the floor.
They both laughed, but instantly sobered. As much as Carmela wanted to make all their troubles vanish, they hovered heavily around them.
Tesher drew her close and clung to her as if she were his only source of security. “What are we to do?”
She rested her head on his chest. “We will face each day as it comes.” Slowly, she lifted her head and looked once more into his eyes. “Together.”
He nodded, placed a small kiss on her forehead, then tightly hugged her. “Together,” he repeated in a whisper.
What lay ahead could be painfully difficult, but finally, a ray of hope beamed through. The years of enduring Angeline’s disapproval had strengthened Carmela, and she would draw on that strength to move forward in her life with Tesher.
She nestled against him and closed her eyes, no longer caring about the length of their journey. A sense of peace blanketed her and she reveled in its warmth.
Chapter 6
The king of Issa had arrived in Basilia with little fanfare and surprisingly, only a few members of his family. No trumpets had sounded, and there had been no loud chatter from rambunctious children. Had Kendor not come to Angeline and made her aware of the king’s arrival, she would have been left completely in the dark. A place she did not care to be.
Thankfully, Callum and Leda had made themselves scarce, and Angeline was able to greet King Imran without Callum’s hateful eyes gazing down upon her.
Appropriately veiled, she hastened across the floor to the entryway of the main gate and extended her hands toward the fine-looking black-haired king. Small flecks of white that mixed with his dark hair showed his age, but he was no less handsome. His perfectly chiseled features and exceptionally muscular body would turn the head of any breathing female.
Imran grasped her hands and lightly squeezed. “My condolences, Queen Angeline. Such sadness has befallen you and it disturbs me deeply. I do not believe I have ever witnessed such a short-lived marriage. Tell me what I can do to ease your grief.”
He might be agreeable to what first came to mind, but she feared others would see it unfavorably. “Your being here is more than enough.” She nodded to his wives and sons. “I appreciate you have come as well.”
The two lovely queens smiled and dipped their heads; Zela, Imran’s second wife, and Udelle, his third and youngest bride, who carried their baby daughter in her arms.
Imran gazed at the child with pride, then turned again to Angeline. “Mesha begs your forgiveness for her absence. She is unwell.”
“I am sorry to hear it. I will pray for her rapid recovery.” Angeline patted the man’s hand and released him. His first wife, Mesha, was rumored to be his favorite, though older than the other two and quite frail.
“You are kind.” He lowered his head in a respectful bow. “We may pray to different gods, even so, prayers in any form are always welcomed.” He gestured to his sons. “Aside from the baby, I have brought only two of my children. Surely, you have seen my sons on many occasions, however, I understand how difficult it is to remember the names of my abundant offspring.”
Both of the boys grinned and stood tall.
Their father held himself just as erect, proud beyond measure. “This is my eldest son, Yakar, and the next in my long line of progeny, Flint. They are here on behalf of their mother. In these grave times, I chose to leave my remaining children in Issa. They are more youthful and have yet to grasp the serious nature of our being here.”
Angeline shifted her gaze to the handsome young princes, who looked a great deal like their father. The boys were merely a year apart, and both had recently come of age to marry. She had heard the eldest, Yakar, had set his eyes on Pasha of Oros, but King Callum would not permit the pairing. Angeline’s own brother, Varlan, was long overdue in his pursuit of her, and since the girl would be arriving soon, Angeline might see an uprising of some vigorous, competitive sparks. Truthfully, she counted on it. It could prove to be exceptional entertainment.
Even through her veil, somehow, Yakar’s deep brown eyes locked onto hers. An unexpected shiver ran along her spine.
“Queen Angeline,” he said in a buttery-rich bass. “I am sorry for your loss.”
“You are so gracious.” His mature tone was also unanticipated. She took his hand and squeezed. Pasha would be wise to align herself with him. He exuded sensuality.
Flint was just as handsome, but seemed disinterested—as if he did not wish to be there. Therefore, she chose to ignore him.
“I will have my maid escort you to your chambers.” Angeline motioned for Shireen, who dutifully came to her side. They had spoken in length at sunrise, when she had summoned Shireen to come and dress her. They easily fell into their old routine, and the naturalness of it made Angeline feel more like herself and fully in control.
After their conversation, she felt assured Shireen would soon feel at home in Basilia. The girl’s only request was to be kept far from Darius. Angeline needed to uncover the truth of their jo
urney together, yet she had not felt like delving into it during their morning conversation. It might require Angeline to render punishment to Darius, and she currently was not in the mood to do so.
The princes and queens readily followed Shireen.
Imran hesitated. “I appreciate your warm welcome, my queen.” He uttered the blessed words so easily, and they heated her skin in a delicious way. “My offer of aid still stands. No doubt, there are vast preparations to be made for the high king’s rite of passage into the afterlife. When do you expect the kings and representatives of the other three realms?”
“Three?” She cocked her head and stared at him. “Surely you mean two?”
“I refer to Oros, Padrida, and of course, your former kingdom, Thanwine.” His brows wove. “Since you said, two, shall I assume you have disavowed Padrida in its entirety because of Prince Sebastian?”
She folded her hands in front of herself. “Much has happened since my wedding day. I should have known Issa would be unaware of the goings on in every realm. Not when most people journey to your kingdom for pleasure and to purposefully escape the troubles of our vast world.” She stepped closer to the man. “Did you not know of King Boden’s death?”
Imran’s face turned ashen. “No news of that event was brought to me.” He swallowed hard. “Although we conversed briefly, he seemed like a good and just king, and it pains me to hear another of my royal brothers is deceased. Would it upset you to tell me all?”
“We should go to the great hall and make ourselves comfortable, and there I will gladly relay all I know. Our realms are in turmoil, and I would appreciate your counsel.”
He extended his arm.
She happily took it, then gestured to the corridor that led to the great hall. Being much closer to him, she breathed in a tantalizing spicy scent. Everything about the king stimulated her senses. There were endless things she wanted to learn about him, as well as the ways of Issa. She longed for more than stories, retelling adventures in the realm. The need to know exactly how everything worked together to create such a blissful existence consumed her.