Some of the animals were in such high numbers they would starve come winter. Those were the prey he would choose. Humans were one of the predators that kept their numbers in check, but here so close to the battle line, only a group of soldiers would dare take the risk. He was distracted and watching Roxen thinking how lovely she was and hoping she would want to do something special for him when she reached up and caught an arrow in her hand. Never had he seen anything like it and it took him a second to realize that arrow would have pierced his skull had she not prevented it.
He called to his men and they gathered quickly. They were hunting now and their stalker was now their prey. Had the archer killed him, his men would have been confused. The enemy might have taken Roxen or even killed her. His men could have been taken out one by one. Later, he would ask her how she had done that, right now they had quarry to catch. They split into two groups and used hand signals to direct them. Now that they were aware of the danger, he knew they would be vigilant. Roxen followed after him, he liked the idea of her watching his back.
Their target was hiding in the bushes not far from them possibly hoping for another shot. His men encircled him and he was trapped. “Come out or we’ll be forced to shoot you. You are surrounded,” Jorge observed. There was no movement so one of his men cautiously moved up until he pushed back the bushes.
“He’s dead. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said just before he ran to the bushes to vomit.
Jorge walked up to where their enemy was. Pushing back the bushes he looked at a man whose face had melted off. Roxen looked over his shoulder. “It’s a witch’s spell. I can smell the magic. The spell killed him when he failed.”
“Would he have lived had he been successful?” Jorge wondered.
“Only if he was needed for more tasks,” Roxen explained.
“You can do this?”
“No, I don’t do this.”
Jorge noticed she’d not said she couldn’t only that she didn’t. He knew most witches wouldn’t cast a spell that would take a life. Clearly there was at least one that would. “We’d better get back to camp,” he said.
“What about the body?” a guard asked.
“If there’s any possessions you want take them and leave the body for the beasts to feast on,” Jorge said.
He noticed Roxen pursed her lips. She didn’t seem to like them raiding the dead body but it was the way of soldiers and had been for many years and leaving the spoils would be a waste. Maybe she just didn’t like leaving the body to the forest dwellers but that was also customary when dealing with an enemy. It was hopeful that she would adjust to their ways if she was going to be the wife of a warrior.
With over half the guard around him and two left behind to go over the body, they hurried to get back home. The two that searched the remains would bring the spoils back to camp where the men would divide them. If there wasn’t enough for each soldier to have an item, they would cast lots or draw straws for them. He would take Roxen to their room so she would not witness any of it. Her trip, which he’d intended for pleasure, had turned sour.
All of her items were gather and taken to their room. Jorge led her past the room to the bath stopping at the door to instruct a young boy to have water brought for the tub. Pulling Roxen into the room, they both sat on the bench.
“Why is there always a boy standing at that door?” she asked.
“They are cook’s helpers and must be available when needed. If they have nothing to do, they like to stand here because the kitchen can get stifling when the food is cooking,” he explained.
“They are so young,” she observed.
“It is a tradition that many start at the tender age of five working their way up into harder jobs until they get to be a cook or even a steward,” he explained.
“You have a steward?” she asked.
“No, but the experience may qualify them for jobs with lords,” he declared.
“Are you a lord?” she asked.
“Do you want me to be?” he asked.
“I don’t care one way or the other, I was just curious,” she explained.
“Do your people have lords?”
“No, we have leaders.”
“Are you a leader?”
“I was, but I’ve probably been replaces now.”
“He took much from you, can you get any of it back?”
“If I returned? Probably all of it.”
“Perhaps we can work out a compromise, Roxen.”
“What do you want from me, Jorge?”
“Everything and I want to give you that in return. I think you are my special one and I wish to claim you. Do you feel anything for me at all?”
“I feel something, but I’m not sure what. I don’t hate being around you.”
“Well that makes me feel so much better.”
“I don’t mean it that way. I care about you, but I’ve never thought about staying with a man much less keeping one.”
“We would be keeping each other.”
The young boy came in with hot water and one followed him with cold. Neither of them said a thing as they watched the boys dump the water into the tub.
Chapter Two
To be a King
King Hedron was a strong and thoughtful man. Loving his Queen Gretha as he did, the situation he found himself in did not sit well with him. It was true that the main reason he’d come to this part of the world was to meet with Jorge the general of the east. The fact that he had capitalized on the trip to make his wife feel that bringing her to her brother to mend fences was the main reason and meeting with Jorge a lucky opportunity he’d taken advantage of, just showed why he was considered a valuable diplomat.
The deception had worked well with Jorge too because it was never good to allow your opponent to feel you wanted to make a deal, in this case peace, more than he did. There had been no reason for Jorge to believe it had been anything more than lucky timing that had brought the king here at a time a meeting could be planned. It had been his hope that the rumors he’d heard about Knorris were just the words of jealous competitors and spiteful people who had nothing and hated him.
His wife had been crushed when she’d discovered all the choices Knorris had made for family members had resulted in the best possible outcome. The king was smart enough to know that Knorris hadn’t planned out any of the deals. He’d been young, foolish and untrained for the position he’d been thrust into so he could understand making mistakes under those circumstances and he wouldn’t blame the boy he’d been.
The problem was Knorris was a man now and the king suspected he was lying to him. Before he’d made a plan to contact the general, he’d investigated the man. Even most of his enemies respected him, Knorris seemingly the only exception. The king had to acknowledge based on the information collected that Knorris was not the loyal subject he pretended to be and that King Hedron might have to take drastic measures like removing him or having his wings clipped, so to speak, to remove his power. One thing the king fully intended to do was to get rid of the whore that hung around Knorris as if she was his wife.
He didn’t plan to kill her because that wasn’t necessary. His wife would unknowingly help him with his plan and Knorris would have a spy, one unaware what their purpose was, among his household that he couldn’t get rid of and that wouldn’t allow him to keep that nasty female around. It was time to set the plan in motion and see if it would be enough to ground his brother-in-law so he wouldn’t have to kill him. Walking into the room he shared with his wife, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
“My darling Gretha,” he whispered.
“I am happy to see you husband,” she replied.
“As I am to see you. I must admit I’ve been concerned about that dear brother of yours,” he sighed deeply.
“What’s happened to Knorris?” she asked concerned.
“It’s not what’s happened so much as what might happen.”
“You’re worrying me, Hedron
. Please tell me what’s wrong.”
“There is talk about that woman and that she’s up to no good. Others are saying he has no heir and it is causing unrest. I wish I had the answer so that the emperor will not worry about him.”
“Oh, Hedron, is that all? I have the perfect solution, let us find a bride for him,” she turned a smile on him that made his breath catch in his chest.
“Oh my brilliant woman, you have found the perfect solution. Will you now find him the perfect wife?” he asked. His wife was reliable and a bit predictable but he loved her all the more for it.
“Give me a little time and I’ll find a bride he can’t refuse. I have a least two possibilities and one lives near here. I will check on her first to be sure she’s still available. Her father is a rich merchant and will pay a huge dowry. Their children will never want for anything.”
Hedron was sure that a potential wife that came with a fat dowry would be perfect since Knorris was greedy for land and money. He could smell his greed a mile away, he was rotten with it. Things would work out and his lovely wife would handle all the details and enjoy the feeling that she was saving her brother. It was a beautiful thing when a plan came together. Hedron was used to be being underestimated, he encouraged it even. They never saw it coming until it was too late. Knorris might not be worth saving, but Gretha meant the world to him so he would safeguard her brother rather than removing him as he was inclined to do.
He escorted his wife and children to the midday meal. By no action did Hedron acknowledge that he saw children annoyed Knorris. Hedron thought Knorris was an arrogant fool.
Knorris breezed in with his whore on his heels. “My king and queen, I hope we aren’t late?”
“Not at all, Knorris, you’re perfectly on time,” Hedron said generously.
The food was brought and small talk exchanged and the whore stared at the king’s oldest son. The boy was at the age where sexual interest began and Hedron was no prude, but that sick female deviant would not get her hands on his son. The king had already talked to the boy and they’d come to an understanding. The boy flushed and tried to look everywhere but at the blatantly sexual female. That woman would be gone by the end of the week.
Hedron felt confident in his plans knowing that Knorris wouldn’t dare go against them. “After we eat, Knorris, I would like to speak to you privately,” Hedron said.
Gretha beamed happily and Jezbel scowled, good, that woman sensed her days were numbered. She didn’t even bother with the boy now that she sensed something bigger was going on and she spent her time kissing up to Hedron not realizing it was too late. The plan was in motion and this was just Knorris’ notice that soon he would be married and that woman would be gone. Everyone ate quietly, but the mood at the table had shifted. Hedron and his family were happier, Jezbel and Knorris were nervous. The meal was finished and the kids took their leave one at a time after asking to be excused. They weren’t perfect, but they were all good children.
“Come, Brother, let us retire to my study and have this discussion you desire,” Knorris said formally except for calling him his brother. A reminder of the protection being family usually invokes? Probably and it would help him live a bit longer provided he did as he was told.
Knorris’ study was nice, it was a man’s room, comfortable but sturdy. The chairs were covered with an unusual hide that felt like butter to the touch. Tables were spread around generously and Knorris pulled one over for Hedron to rest his feet. It felt good to raise them off the ground and he would remember to have some tables added to his own study.
“What would you like to drink?” Knorris asked.
“I’ll take a whiskey,” he replied. Why had his brother not shared the comforts of this room with him before?
Knorris set the drink down on the table next to him and then made himself comfortable with a similar drink in the chair across from his with a table for his legs too. Hedron lifted his glass in the air and toasted, “To wives and children, for family is the best thing a man can have.”
“To be sure if one has a family like yours, my king,” Knorris replied as they both drank their whiskey. Knorris coughed making Hedron assume whiskey wasn’t his drink of choice. He fought down the smile that threatened. Giving nothing away, he was ready to move this conversation forward.
“Why has a man like you not married yet, Knorris?”
“I’ve not found an acceptable female and the choices are limited around here. I would travel, but the war makes that dangerous especially in my position.”
Yes, his position as the most hated of the east’s enemies. If an assassin had the opportunity to strike his choice of enemies, most would pick Knorris over the emperor himself. Hedron had discovered much about his so called brother.
“It is time you married and the emperor himself will approve a wife for you. It is a great honor he is bestowing upon you. Of course you will need to honor the woman, regardless of who she is.” It was the same as saying get rid of that whore and make sure you keep no others under this roof. “I am very pleased for you. I hope your union will be very fruitful.” He almost laughed at how pale Knorris had become. He was terrified of a wife and children. The punishment might be more appropriate than even Hedron had originally suspected.
“You and the emperor do me a great honor.”
“No one deserves it more.”
Truer words were never spoken. Knorris was giving Hedron the most entertainment he had ever had. It would also please Gretha and that had the greatest value of all. She would feel she was giving Knorris a gift when in fact he would view it as a curse but would never be able to say so. Who said the gods didn’t have a sense of humor for such a marvelous plan was surely a gift from above or below depending on how you viewed it.
“I can’t describe how I feel about this.”
Hedron knew that was true. His opinion would get him killed. If he said anything negative about the emperor, Knorris would lose his head and Hedron would be powerless to help. This was the only chance he was giving Knorris to straighten up and toe the line. It was Hedron’s greatest hope that he would be here to see the marriage take place. It should be a hilarious event and his smile wouldn’t be fake. The marriage would give him a great sense of accomplishment as would the day Jezbel left the castle for good.
Knorris was a fool to believe he could get by with skimming from the emperor’s share of the spoils of war, interfering with peace talks, abusing prisoners, and lying boldly to the emperor. Now he would receive his punishment in the form of a reward he didn’t want. Gretha had already sent a messenger and by the end of the week they would know if Mena, daughter of Jorn a filthy rich merchant, was available to join with Knorris. Gretha would conduct the negotiations in the name of the emperor while Hedron tried to fix some of the things Knorris had been up to. One of those things was the selling of supplies that the king sent for soldiers assigned to the area that weren’t Knorris’ men.
Complaints about the poor food, terrible or nonexistent supplies, and poor lodging had even reached the emperor. Hedron would personally select the replacement for the supply chief at Knorris’ compound. Knorris had no idea how lucky he was that he was Gretha’s brother. Anyone else would have been arrested and executed on the spot. Hedron didn’t believe that Knorris truly loved or even cared about her at all but she had saved his worthless hide by extending family protection to him. If he stepped out of line again, he would not be so lucky.
Hedron stayed relaxing in his chair away from all his concerns except Knorris who he watched trying to hatch a plot to keep from marrying, he was now more amusing than ever. “There’s no need for the emperor to rush on my account. He has duties that are more urgent than contracting my marriage.”
“Worry not Knorris. The emperor has many helpers and he will but give the final approval. It will take scant moments for him to do his part. He will receive much pleasure from the knowledge that you are happy.”
“How will he make such a selection?”
“What is weighted?”
“They will assess a score based on her abilities versus the importance of the trait. All her points will be added up and the woman with the highest score will be approached first. A union will be negotiated and the successful woman will be brought to you for the wedding. I hope we will still be here for that.”
“I love having you here, Brother. But I’ll admit it surprises me that you have taken so much time away from your other duties for a family visit.”
“I suppose you will know the truth soon enough. This is a family visit also, but complaints have reached the emperors ears about the soldiers being shorted food and supplies. They have also been given below average lodgings. So sad when they are fighting for their king, don’t you agree?”
Knorris seemed to struggle to answer letting Hedron know without a doubt that he thought himself brilliant and all others fools. “Yes, so sad. What have you discovered caused this?”
“I believe you were negligent in trusting your chief of supplies and I will be appointing one who answers directly to the emperor. Your only responsibility will be to see nothing happens to him because he is a distant but well thought of cousin.”
“This is the most dangerous area since the war is actively fought here.”
“If something happens to the man, you will be explaining to the emperor in person.”
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 236