by Jude Marquez
“You fear war?” Alyx asked. He didn't understand. Evander was renowned for his superior fighting skills, his strategy, his leadership. His men lived and breathed by his command, they were so loyal to him. They loved him like a father, a brother, a son. Even his presence was made for war; his broad shoulders, the obvious scars and calluses on his hands, the way he moved easily on his warhorse, with armor on, as though he feared nothing, as though he had already won the battle and the war and had merely to inform the opponent at the other end of his sword. The thick muscle of his legs and shoulders and arms were hard won from his hours with his knights and soldiers, from running drills. Alyx had long since been under the impression that war was something Evander looked forward to.
“It's a new fear,” Evander murmured as Alyx knelt as his feet and worked the laces free. “I fear dying on a battlefield and not old and warm near you. A death away from you tears at me.”
“It will not come to that,” Alyx said and ran his hand up the tender side of Evander's arch. “Your fears are for naught.”
“I was born under the sun of war,” Evander murmured and his gaze was far away. “It is all I know, it is all my brothers know. We see it coming. Gael has worked himself into near exhaustion trying to negotiate a way out of it but there is nothing left for him to do. They will not negotiate.”
Alyx stood, worked his fingers into Evander's shoulders, looking to loosen the muscle there. Evander's eyes remained distant but his shoulders lost some of their tension underneath Alyx's touch.
“Your mother asks that we join her in her rooms after dinner,” Alyx said softly.
Evander bowed his head.
“Gael asked Lady Cordelia to marry him,” Evander said and it sounded like his heart was breaking.
“That's wonderful,” Alyx said.
“Were it not for the invading army, I would be inclined to agree. I have only just found you,” Evander whispered.
“And I am still here.”
“Where you will remain, while I go fight another war,” Evander pointed out and turned around to face him.
“A wise man once told me that a king's life was not his own,” Alyx said softly. “A king must lead, must show his people the way. He lives to serve the people.”
“Are you sure you aren't the king?” Evander asked and leaned into Alyx's neck.
“No. I only desire the king's affections,” Alyx murmured.
“Lucky bastard. I'll kill him,” Evander huffed.
“I think threatening the life of the king is treason.”
“Alyx-” Evander said into his neck. “I desire peace more than ever.”
“Then fight for it,” Alyx whispered fiercely. “Fight to come back to me because they are what keeps you from me.”
Evander pulled back and looked up at Alyx. “Will you wait for me?”
“Through a hundred lifetimes and a hundred more,” Alyx promised.
Dinner was a staid affair, with even the children quiet and soft. When Gia rose from her chair and left the room, all at the dais followed, with the knights just behind. They made a loose line in front of Gia's chamber and Aldous closed the door behind them. It took a moment for Alyx to realize that Lady Cordelia stood at Gael's side. She gave him a small smile. He returned it.
“Thomas's incursions into our lands will not go unpunished, nor will his theft of people and the arson of the border villages,” Gia said, without prompt. “He seeks the crown for his own. He was content to stay beyond our lands because Evander had no use of the crown himself. But now that word of the warrior prince is ready to take the crown, his threats grow by the day.”
“A week from today, we will ride out,” Evander said and directed everyone to the table that Gia and Alyx sat at, so long ago. On it was a map of their kingdom and beyond. “I will take Gael with me,” Evander said and let out a sigh before he raised his eyes to Cade. “I wish for you to stay, brother.”
Cade looked torn. To be left behind was an insult for one trained as Cade was.
“I wish to join you on the battlefield,” Cade murmured. His tone was that of someone who would do as his brother, general, his soon to be king asked, but he wanted to not look as though he were unprepared. Or worse yet, that he would not go to war. “I am older than you were during your first battle.”
“That father forced me to go to. I wish for you to never see the field. And if something were to happen- to both Gael and I- a male heir is less challenged,” Evander whispered.
Cade looked away. “Alyx is here-”
“He cannot protect mother and Auelina-”
“That's not true,” Cade said.
Gael pursed his lips and looked down. Auelina looked at the fire in the corner of the room. Cade looked like he regretted his words.
“What do you mean?” Evander asked the room at large. Gia surveyed the room as well, looking from face to face. She seemed to be the only other one who was so far unaware of his lessons.
“Alyx?” Evander asked.
“I asked Gael to train me. I found Edward to be a better teacher,” Alyx replied.
“Why?” Evander asked, looking around. “Were you worried that I would not be able to-?”
“No, nothing like that,” Alyx said, shaking his head. “Only that an instance like this would occur. You would not be there and as the king's consort, even I can see my own worth as a hostage or-” Alyx cleared his throat, “As something worse.”
“No one can breach this castle. You are under watch,” Evander sputtered.
“What happens when you are called away?” Alyx pressed. “Would you leave me without a way to defend myself?”
Evander shook his head. “So Edward taught you to fight with a sword? You told me once that you do not care for the feel of them.”
“No, I am unable to hold a sword.” Alyx said.
Evander blinked and looked to Gael and then to Cade. He turned to his mom and back to Alyx. “I don't understand.”
“Edward gave him blades and he is near deadly. He's brilliant, Evander. Every single soldier underestimates him and he has taken them all on,” Gael said gently.
Evander rubbed his forehead. “Why didn't you ask me?” He said to Alyx.
“Because you aren't the teacher I need,” Alyx said. “You would have been too gentle with me.”
“Edward is not gentle with anyone,” Gia agreed.
Evander let out a long sigh and scrubbed at his face. “Mother, what are your thoughts?” He asked, seemingly putting the subject of Alyx’s lessons out of his mind for the present time.
Gia looked down at the map and picked up a cube and another, placed them on the borders south of them so that three cubes guarded the kingdom at the borders. “These are where we know the majority of their forces are. Three separate places. One division flanked by two brigades. If I were in his position, I would understand that the crown has to keep at least one son back. Clearly not Evander since he is the General. Gael is his right hand man, second only to Evander in experience. Cade would stay back. But if Cade goes, it causes chaos. No one would put all three male heirs in harm's way. It leaves the throne too vulnerable, especially with an unwed Princess in the castle,” Gia huffed and tapped the areas between the three cubes. “Cut off their communications and slow their march to the city central. Each unit has a brigade of men. About four thousand. Thomas has two brigades and one division of about twelve thousand.” She paused, her long fingers spread out on the map. “Each son takes a division of men. We could overwhelm them with the sheer number that you command.”
“You are using yourself as bait,” Cordelia whispered, her eyes wide with fear as she looked to her Queen.
“You are tempting them in close by sending all three sons out, knowing that the castle houses a princess, a queen, and the king's betrothed,” Alyx said, following her line of thought.
Gia pressed her lips together but didn't deny it. “It will make them reckless. That we are so unprepared.”
“I cannot leave you
like this,” Evander said, stricken, looking from his mother to Alyx.
“Nor shall you,” Gia said and sat down with a sigh. “You will leave your best here. A squad of men that can stay out of sight. Your cruelest, most vile fighters. No more than twelve men. The castle should look like it’s populated by no one who can defend themselves.”
“Women, children, teachers, soldiers too old to fight. The thought is too much. He would try to march on the castle,” Cade said.
“No,” Gael said. “No, he would send in a small group, probably his own best. He favors assassins and kidnappers.”
“Destroy his supply line, his communications, and the war is yours,” Gia said.
“Mother-” Evander said.
“You know I am right,” Gia said.
“I will not,” Evander whispered.
“You will,” Gia replied calmly.
“I will force your abdication and this will not happen,” Evander said through clenched teeth.
“The crown has always been yours. All you have to do is ask for it.”
“I cannot. It is too much, what you ask of me,” Evander growled.
“And to leave us here while you go off to fight yet another war? That is not too much to ask of us?” Gia demanded, rising from her seat. “I have seen my oldest off to war more times than I can count, who has come back scarred and beaten and quiet and filled with rage but never once have I said to seek another way.”
“I never wanted those wars!” Evander bellowed. Everyone took a step back but Gia. She stood straighter, her eyes flashing.
“Nor have I. Nor do I want this one but I ask this of you because it is the surest way to grant your safety! Yours and your brothers! Those men out there that follow you onto that killing field and come back just as torn as you do, those men that I have seen raised from boys! You will do as I say because I am your Queen!”
Evander turned and threw the door open, pushed past the line of men there and left everyone speechless.
“I will go,” Alyx said after a silent moment.
He found Evander in their room, pacing. When Alyx leaned against the door to close it, Evander looked up at him.
“She asks too much,” Evander hissed.
Alyx didn't reply.
“Do you think she's right?” Evander asked, coming to a halt in front of their bed.
“Will it keep you safe?”
Evander shot him a look.
“Well, as much as you can be, considering,” Alyx amended.
“Yes,” Evander muttered.
“Then you must do it,” Alyx said easily. He walked over to Evander and put his hands on Evander's wrists, slid them down, and rested his fingers against Evander's. “Even if you don't think you can bear it, you must.”
“Alyx, you are my life.”
“And I would give my soul for this not to be your task,” Alyx chuckled and was alarmed when he felt a lump in his throat. “Why couldn't you have been a poor farmer?”
“Cows and chickens alike hate me. We would have starved to death,” Evander said. He kissed Alyx. “I only march to this war to ensure your life. No one else's.”
Alyx had no promise to offer him, only his body and his words. He slowly undressed Evander until they were both naked and Evander lay stretched out on the bed like a wicked offering to a god of debauchery. Alyx leaned over him, kissed his scars, his unmarked skin, worked his way down until he could take Evander in his mouth, worshiped him with his tongue and his hand.
“Alyx,” Evander whispered and tugged at Alyx until he let Evander's cock slide from his mouth.
“I was thoroughly enjoying myself,” Alyx huffed.
Evander pressed the familiar glass container into Alyx's hand.
“I want you. I want to feel you,” Evander murmured.
Oh.
Of all the ways that they had explored each other, this was one that they had yet to discover.
“Are you sure?” Alyx asked.
Evander nodded.
Alyx sat back and dipped his fingers in the thick oil. With one hand on Evander's cock and the other gently probing, Alyx began to catalog all the ways Evander could fall apart in his hands. In short order, Evander was clinging to him, pulling at him.
“Please, now,” Evander said, his eyes wild.
Alyx nodded and lined himself up with Evander's entrance. He pushed in, breached past the tight ring of muscle and held still for a moment before pushing in further. Evander reached up for him and kissed him messily, looking for every single point of contact.
Alyx could not describe what he was feeling. It was what heaven must have been like. It was what his dreams were made of and Evander only begged for me.
And what the king asks for, the king gets.
Evander nudged him over and when Alyx was on his back, Evander climbed on top of him, sank down, and set a punishing pace, searching Alyx's face like he was looking for the answer to his life.
“You, this, us, is all I have ever needed,” Evander whispered.
“Evander-” Alyx hissed, pushed up into the welcome heat of him and tried to pull himself back from the edge.
“No, give it to me. Give me what is mine,” he demanded.
An echo of their first night and Alyx did not argue. He belonged to Evander in every single manner, in every single way one person could belong to another. But to hear those words fall from his lips was like every good thing that should have happened to him, happening all at once.
Alyx grasped Evander's hips, pulled him down and pushed up with his hips. Evander stilled when he felt Alyx spill inside of him. Evander waited until Alyx slipped out of him before laying down next to Alyx.
When he was comfortable, Alyx sat up and settled between Evander's legs. He slid his lips around Evander's still hard cock and began to suck and hum around the hard flesh, in all the ways that he knew Evander liked. He did not pull away when Evander reached out a warning hand. Instead, he forced his throat to relax and swallowed every part of Evander down.
Alyx crawled up and fell on Evander's chest. “I love you,” Alyx murmured.
“I love you,” Evander murmured.
Sleep claimed them easily.
Chapter Twelve
Alyx woke when he heard something in the room. He didn't open his eyes and the only thing that seemed to be tethering him to the conscious world was Evander's hand in his. He squeezed Evander's hand, hard, just once.
Evander returned it.
He was awake too.
Evander snorted, turned on his side and threw himself half on top of Alyx.
Immediately, Alyx grew angry. Evander chose him over his own life and-
He felt the cool steel of a small knife pressed into his hand and Alyx's anger dissipated. Evander was arming him. There was another soft step in the room and the unmistakable sound of a sword being pulled from its belt and Evander moved, finally. In his other hand, he had his sword, the one he kept close by, always. He swung with the marksmanship of a soldier born to war, aiming for the soft belly of whoever attacked him. He left his back and Alyx exposed to the second attacker, who was standing practically over Alyx.
But Alyx was faster than anyone gave him credit for and his strength was back. He took the knife that was in his hand and slammed it upwards into the soft palate of the man swinging for Evander's back.
Evander turned at the last second and saw the man fall. Evander looked from Alyx to the body now at their feet and jumped to his feet. He jerked his pants up and threw Alyx his own. He pulled the doors open and saw Elyes and Gabrien were crumpled at his feet.
“To arms!” Evander bellowed and the sound traveled, the cry echoed from voice to voice. Alyx could hear the stamping of feet even as he knelt by Gabrien. He was-
“Asleep?” Alyx asked. Gabrien was not one to shirk his duties like this.
Then he saw the pitcher of water between the two of them and upended it on the floor. He reached into it and scraped the bottom, his fingers coming away with a white res
idue.
“Poisoned,” he told Evander, just as Gael, Cordelia, Auelina, and Gia rounded the corner, with a small group of soldiers behind them. He rubbed his fingers together, watched the powder disappear. “A sleeping draught. They will wake,” he said and stood.
Gael and Cade peered into the mess that was their quarters and looked to Evander.
“How did they get in? Get the water to them?” Auelina demanded.
There was the call of the horn from the courtyard and Evander was off in a flash, Gael and Cade close behind them. Ricardus stayed with everyone else.
“Lady Cordelia’s chambers,” Alyx murmured and looked to Ricardus. Ricardus nodded. It was easily the most defensible, with only one entrance and exit unlike the royal family’s rooms. “A moment,” Alyx said and went back into their room, unburied his forearm holsters and the blades and pulled a plain tunic from their wardrobe. At the last possible second, he picked up his riding boots as well.
In the hall once more, Ricardus led the way, Gia just behind him. Alyx caught sight of a sword in her hand, one clearly meant for cutting and slicing, unlike the accolade sword Alyx had seen her with. Only Auelina and Cordelia remained unarmed. Alyx brought up the rear, glancing around dark corners, distrust clear on his face.
They made it to Lady Cordelia’s chambers unharmed and Alyx caught sight of Bianca, Verna, Lisa and Verna ushering the children into Verna’s room. Nicholas had Knight in his arms, the small black dog shaking in his arms.
“Barricade yourself,” Alyx said. “Unless it is someone of the royal family, do not let anyone in. And keep quiet.”
“Yes, sir,” Bianca called back.
Ricardus pulled him back into the room and shut the door. Alyx strapped the holster to one arm and then the other and saw that Cordelia, Gia, and Auelina were at the window. He pulled his boots on after the holsters were strapped tightly to his arms, pulled his sleeves over them to hide them.
“What’s going on?” Alyx asked.
“Someone was trying to escape on horseback,” Gia said.
Alyx slid the blades into the braces and flexed his wrists and forearms against the soft leather, settling them comfortably against his skin. He fixed the wide sleeves over them.