by Auryn Hadley
"Rhians and Deitons, then?"
Leyli shrugged. "Yeah, or some of those northern tribesmen. A few times we've had the islanders of my mother's people." As the fear of discovery fled, her mind was struggling to play catch-up. "So why wasn't I told about any Rhian visitors?"
Tristan's head jerked up. "Who else could invite foreigners into the palace?"
"Dad, me, and any Domn currently in residence."
"So why doesn't Palino want you to know?"
He gestured for her to come closer, then cracked the door again. Finding the hall empty, they walked out, but the flirtatious mood from before had vanished. Her cousin had a way of doing that. Having Rhians around was bad enough. The country had been trying to invade Norihame for generations. They were the only country who had never fallen to the power of that empire, and hopefully never would. Sadly, that made them even more tempting, it seemed.
"Tristan?" Leyli asked. "Think the men can be ready to leave in the morning?"
"Yeah," he agreed. "And I think we're spending the rest of the day in your suite. Packing."
She turned her feet that way. It sounded like a brilliant idea. The sooner she was out of this political rats nest, the sooner she could stop worrying. The sooner she had a husband, the sooner she could get started on removing her cousin from the line of succession. One child. If she had a single child, he'd be so far out of contention that her father would finally be safe.
Evidently being the ruler wasn't that much different from being the wife. She was still spending all her time trying to take care of her men.
Chapter 21
When the staff came to collect the baggage, Tristan handled it, giving her one more excuse to just sit. By the time breakfast was over, her party was in the courtyard, preparing to leave. Alain's son, Dario, would be handling the blacks and had volunteered to train their new owner. The carriage was driven by Lucien, who both Gregori and Alain had recommended.
Then the Master of Horse led out the spare mounts. Leyli patted her favorite chestnut before turning the gelding over to Dario. She gestured for the groom holding the buckskin to wait, as she summoned Tristan over.
"I think the Lion of Lenlochlien needs a horse that fits his position. Something trained for combat, calm enough for a parade mount, and beautiful enough that the famed gladiator won't be ashamed to ride him." She gestured to the horse. "His name is Auric, and he's the best cavalry horse my stable has ever produced. Congratulations on your two hundred and fiftieth victory, Lion."
He smiled at her, then tilted his head. "And what do you think of his shoes, Highness?"
With a giggle, Leyli glanced at the horse. "I think he's unshod. I also think he'll make a statement in Lenlochlien." Then she caught his eye.
Stepping closer, Tristan grabbed her upper arm and dropped his voice. "Thanks, Ley. I'll learn to ride well enough to make good use of him."
"He's easier than the grey." She shrugged, trying to act innocent. "My gift serves two purposes. He makes you look good and spares your pride. Would be hard to explain why the best gladiator in the country is riding a woman's horse."
Tristan chuckled. "True, but I'm not riding today. My place is at your side."
She nodded. "It is, and I'm suffering from the stress of yesterday." Then she turned to her father and hugged him. "Be safe, Dad. I don't want to return to a crown."
"Wouldn't serve his purpose." Her father looked down at her, then flicked his eyes to Tristan. "I expect you to make your statements to the Lords into truth."
Her eyes widened. "Dad!"
The King smiled. "Don't take that tone with me, young lady. You have the papers. Find a suitable husband. I intend to announce the marriage when you return." Then he turned to Tristan. "Take care of my girl, and yourself as well. I lost Kale. You may not be a son of my lines, boy, but I'll take you."
Tristan's shoulders dropped and he ducked his head. "Thank you, Majesty. That means a lot to me. I'll take good care of her."
"I'm sure." Ilario slapped his arm then gestured to the carriage. "Safe travels, Leyli. Give the Lyone family my thanks for the use of their boy. Tristan, keep those men in line."
The carriage started to move as soon as Leyli was inside. The fodder cart followed, and the guards moved to flank the procession. It was a small entourage. They'd chosen vehicles that wouldn't draw too much attention. As far as Leyli was concerned, until they reached Lenlochlien, she would be happy to travel as a commoner.
While they passed through the city, she pointed out sights of interest. Tristan took it all in, sitting across from her as was proper, but as soon as they reached the solace of the countryside, he pulled the curtains closed. With a smile, he patted the seat beside him.
"C'mere, pup, I'm exhausted." He leaned back into the corner.
Leyli shifted over, then giggled when he pulled her against his chest. Tristan's arms wrapped around her waist, and he shifted his legs so she could lay across the seat. They tangled themselves together like they had so often when returning from the games. Leyli turned, pressing her cheek into his chest, and wrapped her fingers in his shirt.
"Your father had a talk with me the other night," he said, brushing back her hair. "I figured I should let you know."
She looked up at him. "Oh? Did he tell you to fuck me?"
He chuckled once. "He told me he wouldn't be opposed. Leyli, did you know he had a mistress?"
"Yeah." She shrugged. "Ciara was like a mother to me in many ways. She was his best friend's wife, which I always found strange. Dad and Alain never seemed to quarrel about it."
"Mm." He nodded. "Yeah. Leyli, Alain married her because Ilario got her pregnant. She couldn't be a lady's maid, but your father wanted to keep her as close to him as he could."
Leyli sat up. "What?"
"The King's best friend took care of his mistress. He claimed the children. Two boys and a girl. I don't know if they know."
"I have brothers and a sister?"
Tristan nodded. "Yeah. Your older brother is driving the fodder cart." He pulled her back against him. "Might be a good chance to get to know him."
"What will I say? What if he doesn't know?" She looked up. "Wouldn't he resent me?"
"You'll have to ask him. I just figured I'd want to know, so I should tell you." Tristan bent to kiss her brow. "But you, my Princess, stayed up too late being a very bad girl."
"Mm. I was, wasn't I."
"Oh yeah."
"Maybe tonight I'll make you show me the thing with the tongue."
He groaned. "Maybe tonight I'll make you try the thing with the tongue." He dropped his voice. "The thought of having the Princess of Norihame on her knees sucking me?" Then he paused. "You will not do that with your husband."
She laughed, rolling so her back was against him. "Maybe I should try the one where I kneel away from him? Or do only common women do that?"
"Very low bred. No noble lady would know such a thing was possible," he assured her. "She also wouldn't wrap her legs around either his ass or his back."
"No?" Leyli hugged his arms closer. "Tell me, how exactly would a noblewoman fuck?"
He sighed. "She'd lay there like a corpse, if I had my say. Preferably with her eyes closed, thinking of the Lion of Lenlochlien."
"And the ones you had?"
"I'd rather not talk about them."
She groaned. "Tristan, you're the only resource I have. I'm well aware that you did what you had to, and all too often for me."
"They always seemed shocked," he admitted. "They'd pay for me, watch me undress like a starving man watching the King eat, but when I touched them, they had no idea what to do. So many pressed their hands against the bed, or wall - "
"The wall?" Leyli asked.
He chuckled softly. "What do you think I was planning to do yesterday? That nook was too small for anything else." He paused. "Ley, you know the men will figure it out, right?"
"And what will they say? That the Secor is overprotective? That you sleep in my room? The i
nns aren't secured by guards, and it wouldn't be safe to leave me alone. My father has already made it very clear that you're expected to protect me regardless of my state of dress."
"And how will you explain that girlish smile you've been wearing the last few days? What about the way I find myself wanting to hover over you and push all men away?" He kissed her neck as he slid deeper into the cushion. "They already torment me for ignoring the kitchen girls. When they suspect you're the reason why? I'll never hear the end of it."
She shrugged. "Let them wonder. Temotio thinks you've been in my bed since the games."
"I kinda was. I also spent many mornings watching you sleep, convincing myself that making a move would be a very bad idea and could get us both killed."
"I wouldn't have stopped you." She snuggled into him.
He hugged her tighter. "Why not, Ley? I never hid my common birth."
"You're anything but common. You're the Lion, and Lions are kings. To me, it doesn't matter if your birth is screamed from the rooftops like mine, or celebrated quietly like yours. We're all just people, and you happen to be the best one I know."
"I love you, Leylani Meridia Aravatti. I'm honored to be your king."
She tilted her head. "I don't know your middle name."
He smiled and looked away. "Ambrose. Tristan Ambrose Lyone. Named after my two grandfathers."
"Such a noble name. I may have to name my son after his father, I mean my Secor."
"I think that might raise eyebrows. What would your husband think?"
"Don't really care," she assured him. "Remember, I'm the one with all the power. Maybe we'll make a habit of this trip. Once a year we'll sneak away to Lenlochlien for some peace and quiet, and let ourselves be happy for a while."
He kissed the top of her head, letting his hands run down her back. For a moment, he was silent, just holding her against him. So many times they'd laid just like this, but never before had it felt the same. This time, he was all hers. Unfortunately, they both knew it wouldn't last.
His words, when they finally came, were soft and worried. "Does it make you that unhappy to be in the palace?"
"No." She took a deep breath. "I just like the idea of not caring who's watching me. As a gladiator, it was the best part. We'd dance for an hour and no one cared. We'd lay in the grass, and it wasn't even worth mentioning. You make me feel normal yet even more special than a princess."
"Know what the worst part is?" he asked softly. "I have to introduce you to my family as the Princess of Norihame."
"You've gotten pretty good at spitting out that island sounding name of mine."
"It's beautiful, just like you."
Grinning, she pressed into him. "You're going to spoil me."
"That's the plan, Ley."
It was what he was good at. Then another thought flickered through her mind. "The miller's daughter is the baker's wife?"
Tristan closed his eyes and groaned out all his air. "You will not buy bread."
"Maybe a cake?"
"No."
She chewed her lip. "I just want to meet my competition."
"No," he said again. "And she is not your competition."
She smiled deviously. "We'll see. Do you think your sister is still at home?"
"Not sure. She could be married. I've been gone three years, Ley. It's a long time at her age."
"How old?"
"Nineteen. She might even have her first kid by now. Second if she tried real hard." He turned his arm and tapped the bracer. "All the Lyone kids have a birthmark on their arm. Well, had. Mine burned off. Just a dark smudge, barely noticeable. Wonder if her kids will have it."
"Why?"
He tilted his head, looking at her pointedly. "Kinda wondering if mine will, too."
Leyli giggled, shifting the topic slightly. "She might be waiting to meet the right man." Then she gestured around them. "We brought a few nice ones."
"Armando is married - and very happy about it."
"The rest aren't."
"Gregori is not getting close to my sister." He chuckled. "Bastard would have her naked in minutes, like he does the kitchen girls."
"What about Horace?"
"Edwyn, maybe. He seems like a quiet and polite guy. Temotio is a bit above her station."
She looked at him slyly. "Tell me, does the Lyone beauty run in the girls as strongly as the men?"
"Yes. Astrid never lacked for attention. I will also make sure your guards know that I will kill them if they do anything improper."
"Hypocrite," she teased.
He laughed. "Yes. Get used to it. I protect what is mine, Leyli. I'm very good at it."
She snuggled back into his chest. "Me too, Tristan. I have an entire kingdom willing to do my bidding, and I'm not above using it."
"A tyrant?" he teased.
"No." He voice was amused. "A Wolf. One that happens to be a little bit in love, and there's nothing more dangerous than a pissed off bitch. Your family is mine, and I'm gonna make sure they never suffer again."
Chapter 22
The trip took just over five days. The sun was almost straight up in the sky when the carriage rolled into a small town. Tristan sat up, pulling aside the curtains. He'd done his best to ride most of the trip, but Leyli kept him up too late and the hours in the saddle were hard for both of them. The men teased him about it, but always with good cheer. They'd also been the ones to suggest arriving with both the Princess and the Lion hidden from sight, to make the surprise that much better.
Temotio pulled his horse to the side of the carriage and leaned toward the window. "Little place called Matinglen, right?"
Tristan nodded at him. "Yeah. This is the closest town. Follow the road east, at the cross road go right, look for the rough plank barn and cottage. Last time I was here, the roof was thatch."
Temotio nudged his horse forward, then relayed that to the driver. In moments the cart was rolling again. The men had pulled out their formal uniforms, and not even the road dust made them look less impressive. People leaned out of the buildings and gathered on the streets to get a closer look, all of them talking excitedly.
"Should we tell them?" Leyli asked.
Tristan reached out the window and waved Edwyn closer. "Announce her. All hail Princess Aravatti, the Wolf of Oberhame, heir to the crown of Norihame. Let the people know who is riding through their town."
"Yes, sir," he agreed, nodding quickly before reining his horse away.
A moment later they heard him call out loudly, using the words Tristan had given him. The shout enticed more people out, and Leyli smiled to see women and children waving excitedly at the wagon. She leaned through the window and waved back. For the first time in her life, she actually felt like she mattered to her citizens.
"Your father has always been good to us," Tristan explained. "He came here when I was a boy. Then, like seven years ago, we had a crippling drought and he forgave all crown taxes and had grain hauled in. Lenlochlien loves the Aravatti name."
"I've never been out this far," she admitted. "The hills are beautiful, and..." She waved at another cluster of people. "There's definitely something in the water that we should take back to the palace."
"Oh?"
With a devious smile, she looked back at him. "The men are delicious."
"You," he growled, glaring at her, "are trying to make me jealous!"
"Is it working?"
"It's possible."
The town was small, and they passed through quickly. With each step forward, Tristan smiled more and began pointing out landmarks. He showed her the meadow he'd learned to shoot in as a boy, and the hill he'd climbed with his brother. Suddenly he fell quiet.
"I know that tree," he whispered.
Leyli, sitting across from him, nodded slowly. "I see a thatched cottage with a woman out front. Looks like she's in the herb garden?"
"A kerchief over her hair?" he asked hopefully. "Or is she blonde?"
"Grey, and yes, she has a kerchief. A
blue one."
He closed his eyes. "Ley, I'm nervous."
"This is why I came." She pointed a finger at him. "Let me have this."
Outside, Edwyn moved his horse toward the side of the road. "Estelle Lyone?" he asked.
The carriage slowed as the woman looked up. "Yes? Can I help you, sir?"
With a creak, it stopped. Leyli didn't wait for her men to get the door. She just looked at Tristan and turned the handle, stepping out proudly. Estelle's head snapped over to see who would show up in such a fine carriage.
Edwyn reined his horse back. "Princess Leylani Meridia Aravatti, called the Wolf of Oberhame, and heir to the throne of Norihame."
Tristan's mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "My Lady!" she muttered, bending her knee.
"Don't!" Leyli called, halting her. "Madam Lyone, please don't kneel to me. I'll accept a curtsey, crude or elegant, but do not kneel before me."
Estelle bowed her head and curtsied. "Your Majesty," she breathed.
Leyli walked over and caught her arm, lifting her. "Technically, it's Highness. I don't become a majesty until my father dies, may that take many decades. Madam Lyone, did you receive our message about your son?"
She bobbed her bead. "He won free of the games." She dared to look up at Leyli's face. "The man said that the King thanked him for service and offered him a position."
"He did." She heard the carriage shift behind her. "It's called the Secor. He's sworn to protect the heir to the crown just as he did when we were partners in the games. Your son is my friend, and I owe him my life many times over. The guards all call him sir, and my father calls him another son."
"Mama," Tristan breathed.
Leyli stepped back, gesturing for her men to dismount. Estelle looked at her son, then the Princess, then back to her son. Her fingers trembled and she stood frozen in place for a moment before rushing to hug him close.