“No!” Aighta pulled away and faced my wife. “You’re as much to blame.”
That shocked Bridgette. She raised her hand to her throat.
“What happened to the both of you?” She looked for answers in our faces. “You were in love. You respected each other. You were the perfect couple, married in perfect union.”
Silence.
“Why doesn’t he know how to fly?” Aighta looked at Bridgette and pointed at me.
My wife looked down. She’d been shamed. She knew what Aighta meant and that made me shake in anger. Something had been withheld from the one person I loved the most. It hurt. It shoved another frosted iceberg into my heart.
“I told you to never stop.” Aighta’s eyes flashed in anger. “Did you not continue with everything I taught you?”
That perked my ears. Bridgette looked up. “I’m not enough for him.”
Aighta closed her eyes and shook her head. “My methods are foolproof, Brie, foolproof.”
“He never listens to me!” Brie trembled.
I’d been betrayed. Slighted. Tricked. I knew it. “Everyone out!”
Darrin shot out of the room like a whipped horse. I would counsel him later, see if I could undo the damage of his mother’s harsh words. The filly was not far behind him, and Paul turned to go. Aighta stood, her face looking up at me with an authority she no longer had. Brie took Aighta’s hand and started to pull her friend away.
“Not Lady Aighta,” I roared.
Bridgette turned and stood in front of Aighta, ever ready to battle till our tongues were bloodied. “She goes with me.”
“Take Paul instead, he can show you to a big bed where he can fuck the insolence out of you.” The admittance of my secret suspicion came as a relief and I feared its truth. If she confirmed it, I feared I’d go mad.
Brie stepped up to me and slapped my face. “I’ve always been faithful.”
Elation at the truth allowed her the hit. But truth brought self-loathing for my own deceit. Thank all that she’d not sought revenge on me with another man as I had with another woman. Many women. Truth be told, they’d all confess that I’d screamed her name at my weakest point. “Nonetheless.” I stood straight. “Lady Aighta and I have much to discuss.”
Bridgette’s eyes widened and her nose flared. Her pale skin flushed, starting from her neck and traveling up. “No.”
She did not trust me with the woman. Bridgette thought me an animal to take Lady Aighta, and before I might have, but now anger pushed me to prove her wrong. In my heart, even I hadn’t forgiven myself for my weakness of the flesh. I was a man and a man needed his woman. But when she denied me, was I to be a eunuch forever? My jaw clenched. “I will not touch her. I will not breathe on her. By the gods-be-damned light I will stay ten feet away from her at all times. But I need to speak with her, in private.”
“Your word is no—”
“Stop!” I pointed at her. “Reconsider your words, my lady, because once you say that there is nothing left between us.”
Brie shut her open mouth in a grim line. “Don’t hurt her or there will be nothing for us.”
I swallowed. “I will sit on one side, she the other.” My wife examined the dining table. Its width was eight feet. She turned to Lady Aighta, searching her friend’s face for guidance.
“It’s obvious you two need an arbiter,” Aighta whispered. “Who better?” The air held its breath as each stared at the other, and the moment passed. Brie hugged her friend in a fierce embrace and whooshed out of the room with Paul running to keep up with her. I pulled up a chair and sat, gesturing for Aighta to do the same. The cool breeze lifted my hair and I breathed to regain my composure. I’d nearly raised a hand to my wife. I would hate myself more if I’d let that happen. We could not go on like this. I wanted desperately to turn time back to our courtship, our engagement, or the first years of our marriage. Those were the days. The man I was then would draw a sword on the man I was now and slit my throat for looking at Brie the wrong way.
Aighta and I were alone when I made light of my question. “So, what did you teach her?”
Aighta gave me a little smile. “She wanted you so badly.”
I leaned forward and repeated, “What did you teach her?”
“I now understand that your wife has frozen your heart and that you are closed to anything anyone has to offer you. But your patience is needed for understanding this.”
I pulled back. “Continue.”
Aighta cleared her throat. “She wanted you so badly. I knew you had designs on both of us, but she wanted you so much. I truly didn’t care if it was me or her so I helped her gain your eye.”
At least I’d chosen the one that gave a damn. “So everything she did to get me to choose her was really you?”
Aighta shook her head. “She gained you fairly in any contest.”
“But it was all a lie.”
“No.” Aighta reached for my hand, even though it was too far away to touch. “No. All of it was her doing. I just gave her the formula.”
“Her telling me that she wouldn’t respect me in the morning if she bedded me too soon,” I said. “That was brilliance. Had me taking her seriously.”
Aighta smiled. “That was Brie. Nothing to do with me.”
“Her feigning drowning to get me to save her?”
“I told her that might backfire, but it was her idea.”
I started thinking about all the little things Brie did to catch my eye. All those gestures of love. Tender touches. How I missed her touch. I opened my mouth to ask another question.
Aighta said, “Stop speaking while you’re ahead. Everything was Brie. I only gave her the confidence to help her in her goal.”
“What about the time my father died and she—”
“Her.” Aighta held a hand up. “I don’t know what she said or did then, but it was Brie. By then I wished her love and luck and she was married to you a month later.”
“But she never taught me to fly.”
She went solemn. “Apparently not.”
“What does that mean?”
“You would know if you experienced it.”
I thought about that. “Can I make Brie fly?”
“You did years ago.” Aighta gave me a sad smile. “I don’t know about now.”
That made me both happy and sad. Happy that I’d done something that seemed to be a good thing, and sad that I hadn’t been doing it any longer.
“Flying is a good thing, right?”
Aighta laughed. “Yes, Aiden, yes.”
It felt good for her to say my birth name. But I didn’t delude myself into believing we would be friends again. “Aighta, why…” I narrowed my eyes.
She finished my thought. “Why am I helping you? Why am I being agreeable?”
I gave a half-smile and nodded.
“My husband was a good man, but I have to think about my daughter now. Tell me, fighting you, would it be prudent? Or would mine and my people’s suffering end once the treaty was signed?”
“Ever-gracious Aighta.” I smirked. “How is it that you stand strong even alone?” Aighta would see the underlying question…is there penance for what I’ve done to you?
“Aiden, I loved my husband, but he refused my counsel on this matter and he paid the price for it. He was as stubborn and righteous as you.”
We stayed silent in our own thoughts for a while, until I had inspiration. “Aighta?”
“Hmmm?”
“Do you think you could teach me what you taught Brie?”
Aighta gave me a wicked smile. “I might have to if you’re to survive, I think.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Just don’t poison me yet.”
The humor in her smile faded. “I might have to prevent your wife from doing that.”
I laughed and then thought about it. Hell’s breath, had we come to that? There were ways to find out. “So, when do we start?”
5 - Alexia
“Nice family you have.”
I sneered at Darrin.
That display of King and Queen Goththor shocked me. The violence in that family made chills run down my spine. Darrin kept walking straight ahead, pretending he didn’t hear me, but I could see his eye twitch. “Is that the kind of excitement I can look forward to?” I bubbled with glee at his pain. Anything that made him miserable would be a boon.
“They weren’t always like that,” Darrin murmured.
“Well, if you’re wondering, I’m not going to care if you’re an adulterer; you can do whatever it is you want elsewhere.”
Darrin pulled me to a stop and the guards around us clattered to a halt. “First, I was not raised that way. Second, I’m not my father. Third, I’d rather work this out. Do you really want to be like them?”
I yanked my arm out from his grasp. “I don’t care how you were raised, I don’t care who you are, and we’re not going to be like them because I don’t plan on speaking to you much.”
“So you want no say in the treatment of your people?”
That caused me to pause. “I didn’t say that.”
“Then we’re going to have to work together.”
“Never.”
Darrin stared at me with pity in those soft brown eyes. “I comprehend. I really do. You need more time.” He started walking and the guards followed, pushing me along.
“You think time is going to change you from being a murdering son of a faithless, callous father?”
“Such a beautiful lady debasing herself in the lowest form of witlessness. What would your mother think?”
I fumed but kept my mouth closed. I noticed servants working with brisk efficiency. Emvery passed by. I caught her eye and she nodded with a jerk of her head. Good, she’d gotten my message to Nanna. If my plans didn’t work, I’d have another way to get rid of Darrin.
“Alexia…” Prince Goththor said.
“Lady Tyilasuir to you, Prince Goththor.”
Darrin sighed. “Princess Tyilasuir, I didn’t expect a love match, but can we try to be civil to each other?”
“Were you civil to my father?” We walked the rest of the way in silence. Being nice to the bastard was going to be hell, but it would further my plan.
When we got to my wing I’d thought out everything I’d say. My retorts, my explanations, and everything in between.
“There is one point of contention I need to speak to you about.” I turned to him.
“Do tell.” Darrin quirked that sideways smile. He didn’t trick me—the devil was in that smile.
“Our arrangement.”
The smile faded and soulful eyes replaced the curious boy. “Yes, well, now that Mother is here I’m sure every thing’s been taken care of.”
“Does your mother control your life?” I quipped. “Will she be instructing you in our marriage bed as well?” I wanted to slap myself for that last bit. I shuddered for thinking it.
Darrin crossed his arms and scrutinized me. “You want something.”
“Yes. I want to discuss the details of this arrangement, and trust me, it will be the longest conversation we have. After we’ve come to an understanding, we won’t be seeing much of each other.” Because you’ll be dead.
“I don’t think you’re ready for marriage or speaking about it.”
“I don’t need to be ready. I’m not ready, but it seems we’ll be married soon.” Unless you’re a corpse.
“We have some time.”
I stomped my foot and groaned. “Prince Goththor, won’t you please come in for refreshment and a discussion?”
Darrin’s smirk returned. “Why, Princess Tyilasuir, I will if you prove to me you can actually have a discussion without it being a lesson on who can insult whom more.”
I pulled back. “Prove it? What manner of proof do you need? I said please.”
“Kiss me.”
I gaped at him. Reining back the urge to strike him, I stammered, “What?”
He turned his head and tapped his cheek. “Right there.”
Was he insane? Kiss him? I wanted nothing of the sort. But I needed to get him inside to complete my plan. “I’m scandalized you’d request such a thing.”
Darrin pulled back. “My lady, if you can kiss me it means you’re not completely disgusted by my presence. If you have an inkling of like for me it means I can have a reasonable conversation with you. If that’s possible, I’ll join you.”
As I listened, I realized Darrin was not the dumb brute I’d figured him to be. I crossed my arms. “Turn your head.”
He presented his cheek and kept wary eyes on me. At least he wasn’t asking me to kiss him on the lips. I stepped in and his eyes tracked me. He didn’t trust me. He shouldn’t but his wariness didn’t suit my plan. My lips brushed against his sun-blessed skin. He was warm. It was just a peck but he felt rough, male. A thrill twinged down my sternum.
Darrin didn’t recover right away. He blinked and his look was confused. But then he smiled. The beauty of him crashed through and I saw him as the dashing prince Mother warned me about. A bloody sword through a sparkling back plate filled my memory. I turned to the door and went in. Darrin closed the door behind him and leaned his back against the wall. I couldn’t tell if he was barring my way out or holding onto his only escape. I poured wine for two and offered him a glass. He took it and surprised me with intensity in those soft brown eyes. “You wanted to talk.”
“Yes. King Goththor mentioned you being the governing body of Allsveil.” I sipped my wine.
A knowing smile spread across Darrin’s face. “I’ll tell Father your spy network is faster than he thought.”
I frowned. Definitely not the dumb brute. Maybe this wouldn’t work. “For one who claims he doesn’t bury grievances, you sure do know how to hide secrets.”
“I’m a prince, not a scallywag.” He eyed me suspiciously and rolled the wine around in its glass.
Damn him. Drink already. “What are your plans for Allsveil?”
“Father’s terms were clear. Trade, commerce, and travel.”
“Your plan is to follow his orders?” I challenged.
“Yes.” Darrin brought the glass to his lips. He watched me as he sipped.
I kept my face smooth as a calm lake, but inside I was the victor, cheering my enemy’s defeat. The poison of Allsveil worked quickly; I’d get to see him writhe in pain and then die. “You always do what your father says?”
He stepped up to the chess set and picked up the bishop. “Do you play?”
I gave a huff. “That would be the reason I have a set in my room.”
He examined the piece, turning it around in his hand. Any moment now the poison would take effect.
“We’ll have to have a match.” He shook the bishop next to his ear and set the piece down. Then he drained his entire wineglass. Good, no doubt, he’d be dead. We’d already had our match and he’d lost. The shine in his eyes and that smirk infuriated me, but I kept cool knowing I’d see that face contorting in pain.
“What do you like?” he said. “Besides swinging swords and mouthing off at kings.”
“Mouthing off?” I gripped my chalice, ready to throw it.
Darrin smiled and then his eyes turned cold. “You would have let Paul die.”
I stood waiting. He hadn’t exactly asked a question and my silence was enough of an answer. Yes, I would have watched Paul die after blowing the horn and being exposed to Allsveil’s poison; which should have affected Darrin by now.
“Just as you’d hoped to see me die.” He set the glass down on the chess set.
I froze. He knew. Worse, the poison wasn’t working. He should be lying on the ground by now.
“I was hoping we could settle our differences, or that I could mend your heart, or…” Darrin sighed and turned around. Wait, wait…
When he got to the door he placed a hand on the clasp and stopped. “Lady Alexia,” Darrin’s mood and manner changed to that of a prince addressing a lesser. A lesser that couldn’t even be addressed face-to-face.
“You disappoint me. I’d thought you to be intelligent, but if you do have a mind left, it’s buried in the haze of revenge.”
Nothing he said was untrue, but it burned all the more. In an act of vengeance for his words and disrespect, I threw my glass at the back of his head. In one smooth move Darrin turned, drew his dirk, and struck the glass. He seemed the only thing in the room immune to the shards spraying everywhere.
“Think, Lady Alexia. In case you weren’t paying attention, your mother and mine are the best of friends. The best of friends keep no secrets from each other. Not even a poison that can be overcome if given sparingly over long periods of time.”
My heart sunk. If what he was saying was true, he was immune like I was to the poison of Allsveil.
“Next time, don’t ruin a good bottle of Bordeaux. Allsveil poison isn’t that tasteless.”
He sheathed his dirk, opened the door, and closed it ever so gentleman-like. If I had more than chess pieces to throw behind him, I would have. When I heard the lock turn in the door, I went to the chess set and picked up the white knight. I removed the bottom, dug out the small parchment, and unrolled it. “It shall be done,” it read. Good. I wasn’t as stupid as he thought. In a few days, my vengeance would be wrought.
6 - Goththor
Yeger, my warhorse of choice this past decade, gleamed as much as a black stallion can. My heart warmed when astride him once again. But no war or battle occupied my mind.
Prancing within the circle of twenty-nine surrounding guards, Yeger seemed to think it was high time to be in the front. Either that or he was trying to impress the beautiful mare by his side. I couldn’t blame him. Calibre sparkled in the sunlight. Her coat shimmered hues of silver and blue. For my wife’s birthday fifteen years ago, Brie accepted, named, and rode beside me on Calibre. Now, both woman and mare in their prime turned the heads of beast and man.
Stiagwor wanted to double the number for our outing, but Brie pointed out that it would be difficult to ride in formation with the streets still littered with pieces of wall. However, according to Paul and Stiagwor, I needed a parade to go anywhere. Even with her disagreeable demeanor, I was armed with Aighta’s knowledge and a renewed sense of hope. Brie agreed to a ride this afternoon and we’d set off to see the countryside I now owned.
The Spoils of Allsveil: Dark Heart Heroes #2 Page 4