by Jude Marquez
“Are you looking for the words to tell me to not use Valentine?” Evander asked suddenly. The tension was still there, in his eyes and shoulders.
“No,” Alyx said. “I thought you wanted silence.”
Evander did not reply. Alyx continued washing him, using a small cloth to scrub at patches of dirt on his neck. “My mother and siblings wish I do not use him as I do,” Evander said quietly. He kept his eyes on the water in front of him. It was turning a murky gray from the dirt and soap.
“What are your thoughts on the matter?” Alyx asked and ran the soap through Evander’s hair and began to scrub.
“Valentine-” Evander sighed. “I do not wish to use his talents in this manner. But war was not made for gentle people. I was made to learn that and if there is a single lesson that my father taught me, it was that no one will take this kingdom from us.”
Alyx didn’t reply but his eyes couldn’t help but find a pattern on the scars of Evander’s back. How each scar corresponded to another, making some kind of design that Alyx could not understand.
“They told me of your time with the Morningstar army,” Alyx said. He wished for there to be no secrets between them. His life was filled with them and he couldn't stand anymore.
Evander stilled under his hands.
“Perhaps not everything, but they told me you captured. Tortured. That Gael found you and brought you back,” Alyx said.
“I have not spoken of that time to them or anyone,” Evander replied stiffly.
“Nor should you, should you not desire to,” Alyx said. He paused and poured water over Evander’s head, running his hand through his hair to rid the soap there. Alyx's hand drifted from Evander's shoulder to his neck and rested on his shoulder. “When you first met me, I was broken. Torn at the very core of who I was. I did not think that I deserved much of anything, if anything at all,” Alyx paused and Evander raised his hand to Alyx’s on his shoulder. “But you have taught me that all I knew was wrong and that to one man, I am worth so much that he would hide me away and fight for my life and his kingdom as though they were one and the same,” Alyx dropped to his knees on the other side of the tub and looked at Evander. He took his hand away and put it over Evander’s heart. “A man such as that, I will never think less of. Never. A man such as that carries my soul with him and protects it as its own.”
Evander finally looked at him. He looked younger than he ever had before. “They-” He started and swallowed. “They said that if I were to do to a fellow prisoner what had been done to me, that they would stop. That they would only hold me prisoner until an exchange or my death,” Evander shook his head. “Every day, York, general of the Morningstar army, would come to me with that offer,” He blinked and there were tears on his face. “Until one day-” His voice broke.
“Evander,” Alyx whispered.
“No, let me finish,” Evander whispered. “You should know, before we are wed,” he cleared his throat and looked away for a brief second. “Until one day they brought to me a man and a boy. They threw them at my feet and laughed. They laughed and they laughed,” Evander’s voice broke. “When I dream, I can still hear them,” he paused and curled his hand around the edge of the tub. “York came in and said that he would force my hand and that the golden boy of the Cerith kingdom would be tarnished. He gave me a choice. He said-” Evander clenched his jaw. “He said to torture the man or the boy.”
Alyx opened his mouth, but there were no words to say.
“But whoever I chose to live- whoever I chose not to kill-” Evander closed his eyes. “Would be given over to the soldiers to use.”
Alyx could feel the bile at the back of his mouth. Of all the things that had been done to his body, at least he had been spared this.
“But the other, the one who would be given to the soldiers, would remain untouched for as long as I tortured the one I chose,” Evander went on. “So I chose to torture the man, slowly, to keep him alive, to keep the boy safe for however long I could. I felt like if I could keep that boy alive and unharmed, maybe I could receive a miracle, some kind of divine grace, or a death before I could see what they did to him.”
Alyx closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the side of the tub.
“I kept that man alive for three weeks,” Evander whispered. “Before Gael-” Alyx couldn’t look up but he waited for Evander’s words. “Before Gael took me away, I killed the man, begged for forgiveness. Do you know what he said to me?” Evander asked.
Alyx finally looked at him.
“He asked that I take his son, to raise him in my household so that he might never know what life under York was like,” Evander was crying freely now. “I don’t know how Gabrien ever forgave me.”
Alyx had no words, nothing to soothe Evander with. He pulled him out of the tub, dried him, dressed him and sat next to him on the bed.
“There was no right choice,” Alyx said. “Even a boy could see that.”
Alyx made Evander lay down to rest before the army arrived, even if it was just for a short time.
But he slept through the night as did Alyx.
No army attacked, no spies were found in their midst.
Chapter Twenty
Alyx woke alone and dressed quickly. When he opened the door, Verna and Lisa pushed him back in the room and began to undress him and then redress him in the finest things he had so far worn.
“What are you doing?” Alyx huffed when Verna pulled a tunic over his head.
“Word was sent early this morning,” Lisa said. “A messenger from Thomas and York. They wish to speak to the Prince under a temporary white flag.”
Alyx raised his arms when they wrapped a belt around his waist and strapped a sword to him. “That’s useless,” he informed them. They looked to each other and it was the knowing look women get when they were barely tolerating a man in their midst. “What did the Prince say?” Alyx asked.
“We know it’s useless but you are not there to fight, you are there to look pretty,” Lisa huffed. “Which is our job.”
“The Prince agreed to hear what they had to say but nothing further,” Verna informed him. “Where does the Prince keep his crowns?”
“In the armoire,” Alyx said and pointed to the corner. Evander had two of them in his reach; the one he wore into battle and the other that was his ceremonial one. Edward had carried the ceremonial crown with them. The crown Evander wore into battle was far simpler than his ceremonial crown and the battle crown was the one that Verna place on Alyx's head.
Alyx immediately snatched it off. “Are you mad?” He hissed.
“It’s the only spare crown the Prince has and these are his orders,” Lisa snapped and took the crown from Alyx’s head and placed it on his head. She slapped his hand away when he tried to take it off. “You will deal with Evander if you do not show up as he requested and I will tell you, I grew up with that man and I have never seen him in a mood such as this.”
Alyx finally relented. He took one last look at himself in the polished mirror in the corner and frowned at his reflection. He barely recognized himself. Lisa had given him black riding pants and matching boots, the tunic also black but accented with silver and blue thread at the chest and sleeves. His cloak was blue and black and long, streaming past him to the floor. He looked… regal, as though he knew what he was doing. Verna took the pillow that the ceremonial crown sat and when she opened the door, Aldous and Elyes were there to escort them all to great hall.
Aldous whistled when he saw Alyx. “The crown suits you,” he said.
“It’s strange,” Alyx admitted.
Elyes eyed it. “It’s strange to see it on you,” he added. Then he shrugged. “You’ll get your own when we return home.”
“I should suggest blue instead of green jewels,” Verna said, glancing at Alyx. It was gold and was not as large as the ceremonial one she held. The one that sat on Alyx’s head was far simpler, a circle adorned with green jewels but without the four rising points on Evander�
�s, each meant symbolize a De Loughrey heir. The gold shone in Alyx’s hair, but the larger crown looked like it was meant to always be worn by Evander.
When Alyx entered the hall, he was surprised to see the benches that were normally around the tables lined up against the wall. There was a dais in the middle of the room with six or seven people working on chairs that sat on the dais. Gia and Auelina were nowhere in sight but Evander, Gael, and Cade were in deep conversation with Langdon and Franco.
Alyx took the crown from Verna and made to the group. Cade looked up first and blinked when he saw Alyx. Gael stopped mid-sentence and Franco whacked Langdon in the chest with the back of his hand. Langdon looked up and his eyes widened and Evander finally turned.
Alyx thought he was imagining it, but silence fell throughout the hall.
Evander looked every bit the dashing warrior prince that he was. The black leather brigandine was clean and emphasized his broad shoulders. The green cloak that was fastened by a rearing lion fell over his back and to the floor like it was an art piece, not something functional a person would wear to keep warm. His sword was shining and hung off his hip and when Alyx approached him with his crown, his hands shook as he took it off the pillow and placed it on his head.
“You tempt me,” Evander muttered.
“As do you,” Alyx whispered.
Gael cleared his throat.
It was then Alyx noticed that they were all dressed in the same manner, if different colors. Gael wore his brigandine with accents of red and Cade’s in silver. When Gia and Auelina came through the doors, Gia wore a beautiful dress of red and gold and Auelina wore one of green and silver. Cordelia followed in a dress of pale purple.
“Well,” Evander said softly. “Now that we are all here, we can start.”
The personal escort along with Langdon and Franco gathered close. “York wishes to negotiate,” Evander’s eyes flicked to the doors. “I will hear what he has to say and if it is reasonable, than there will be no war. If it is not, if there are demands made, if Thomas or York demand anything from Auelina, we will still attack. Thomas is in a place of weakness because our forces could crush him without a second thought.”
“Then why even speak to them about it? We should attack and wipe them out,” Langdon said.
“Because His Highness would prefer not to risk a single life,” Cade replied.
“Soldiers were born for such things,” Langdon countered, his tone icy. He was spoiling for a fight, Alyx realized.
“Enough,” Evander ordered and both Langdon and Cade closed their mouths. He turned to Langdon. “My brother is right. I do not wish for another to die at the Morningstar’s hands. And although we are assured a victory through our numbers alone,” Evander pushed aside half of the forces that marked the De Loughrey army, “We would suffer great losses at their hands. If there is another way, we will choose that path,” Evander looked at the half of his army he knocked over and shook his head. “I will not send men to their deaths if I do not have to.”
“They know what a their job entails. They know that there might be a loss of life,” Langdon argued.
“You have lost men before, have you not, Langdon?” Evander asked in a low voice that had Gia pulling Cade back and Gael inching away from his side. Only Alyx didn’t move away.
“We all have,” Langdon said.
“Multiply that by thousands,” Evander said and leaned across the table. “Sons, husbands, brothers, fathers- gone. And for what?”
“Victory,” Langdon said.
“That’s not good enough,” Evander said. He slammed his open palm on the table and even Langdon startled back. “That’s not good enough,” he exploded. “When it’s all said and done, when we have won your way, it will not be you on the throne explaining to the orphan boy that his father died for victory and your sorrow will not fill his empty belly,” he picked up the wooden pieces from the map and threw them at Langdon. “There’s your lives to throw away,” Alyx put a hand on Evander’s shoulder and he drew a deep breath. “Get him from my sight,” Evander whispered.
Franco took Langdon from the hall.
There was a moment of silence and then Evander looked up. He sighed and shook his head. “Mother, you, Auelina, Cordelia, Cade, and Alyx will be seated here,” he pointed to the chairs just off the dais. “Since Alyx and I are not wed, Gael will sit with me,” he tipped his head and glanced to Alyx. Alyx nodded. He understood that until they were wed, these kinds of decisions would be made with Gael’s consultation.
In all honesty, even after the marriage, Alyx hoped that they would still be made with Gael since he knew nothing of ruling and governance.
A servant came in and whispered to Aldous.
“Sire,” he called out. Evander turned. “They approach.”
Evander nodded. “Gael,” he said and Gael kissed Cordelia before going to sit next to Evander. Cade sat and Gia next to him. Alyx sat next to her and Auelina next to him and Cordelia last. She leaned forward and whispered to Alyx, “Your crown suits you,” and winked.
Alyx shared her smile. “As does yours, my Lady,” he murmured. Her crown was a simple circlet but shone brightly on her head. He turned to Evander and Gael who were arranging their cloaks so that they might sit more comfortably and then turned to each other, whispering a conversation. The personal escort arranged themselves around the whole group and stood at attention, all their eyes on the closed doors. Their armor shone and their weapons looked bright. Alyx had to wonder how early they were up to look so neat after the previous day's journey.
Evander and Gael paid no attention to any of them, having a conversation between themselves like they were the only two in the room. Evander muttered something to Gael and Gael shook his head and chuckled.
Alyx leaned over to Gia. “You make beautiful children,” he whispered.
She sighed and patted his leg. “I do, don’t I?”
The wait seemed eternal until the doors opened and all eyes were on the men who entered. The man cloaked in deep purple was handsome, in a staid, average way. There seemed to be so little character there that had Alyx passed him in a hall or a village he would have forgotten him straightaway. His hair was dark, his eyes were dark, his lips were thin, and his nose was straight.
The Morningstar general was a different matter entirely. His blonde hair was a mess and his blue eyes twinkled as though the thought of war was a thrilling matter. His lips were full and it looked like his nose had been broken many times. Alyx watched in horror as he licked his bottom lip three times while looking at both him and Lady Cordelia. The man was grinning.
When his eyes landed on Alyx, Alyx had to fight the urge to squirm in his seat. Surely he wasn’t the only one who thought the man mad.
Gael was still speaking quietly to Evander and their words did not carry beyond the two of them. Evander smirked at something that Gael said and nodded.
The rest of the hall was silent.
Auelina and Alyx exchanged a look and the amusement was clear on her face even if she was able to suppress her smile.
The silence continued for a moment longer and Thomas looked to York.
York cleared his throat.
Evander held up a finger and Gael continued on.
It was another moment before Gael concluded whatever it was he was saying and Evander laughed and Gael smiled.
Finally, they turned to Thomas and York.
Alyx took a moment to admire the brothers. While Auelina and Cade and Gia kept themselves sitting up straight and looking attentive, Evander’s sprawl was lazy and arrogant. One leg was stretched out in front of him while the other was propped up. His arms were on the the armrests loose and easy, as though he were greeting old friends and companions instead of the man who tortured him for weeks on end and the other man that was threatening to to kidnap and rape his only sister.
Gael looked down at them from their raised position as though he were looking at particularly amusing, if slow, children. He had a small smirk
on his mouth but his eyes were narrowed at the two of them in front him and Evander. His posture was much the same as Evander’s: cocky, arrogant, because even if he was second to the throne, he was still the one looking down on the men from high. The look on his face was telling. Gael was smarter than both men and he knew it and he wanted the other two to know it as well.
“Your Highness,” Thomas said and bowed his head.
York murmured something similar and bowed his head as well.
“Hm,” Evander said, neither offering a greeting or addressing them by their titles. For Evander, a man known to be kind to those that were supposedly of a lower station than himself, this was the worst kind of insult. He cleared his throat. “What is it you want?”
“We desire a private audience with Your Highness,” Thomas said.
“No,” Gael said flatly.
York’s eyes flickered over to Gael before settling on Evander once more.
“I believe that I was addressing His Majesty,” Thomas said and there was an undercurrent of anger in his words. He was not used to being cut down so quickly.
Gael leaned back in his chair and smiled broadly. “I believe I don’t care.”
“If this is how guests are treated in your court, I will gladly take it from you,” Thomas said flatly.
The escort around Gael and Evander shifted but Evander raised a hand and the men stilled.
“Surely you know that your forces, both of them, will be ground beneath my heel,” Evander said.
“We also know of your particular weakness for your men, for your country,” York said and his eyes flickered over to Alyx.
“Is there a reason you keep looking to my family?” Gael demanded.
“I am looking for my own,” York said and turned back with a tragic sigh. “General Reimund took my only brother from me. You might know him. Langdon.”
No one moved but the tension in the hall fell over them like a suffocating blanket. Perhaps the spy they had been looking for was closer than they thought.