Chapter 14

 

The duchess knocked on the door of the king’s office, then let herself in. She sat down casually on the couch, ready to hatch one of the plans of her mind. “Since Rosa is no longer queen, I think we should rearrange our staff. I require a nurse for my son, as Remy is having a hard time looking after him. He isn’t really made for children, just doesn’t seem to have the fathering touch. However, I think that Alice would make a lovely nurse.”

“Yes, of course.” he said absentmindedly.

“As for Amelia, she and the new queen seem to get along well, she can be her new lady. Help her look more like a queen.”

The king said nothing, he kept looking out the window to the sea.

The duchess continued, a bit annoyed that he hadn’t been listening. “And I want a lady of my own. Remy has had to help dress me for long enough, I’m afraid that he’ll never see another woman if he has to continue to be my aid. I’ll give him some time away and I’ll take a new lady in waiting.”

“Whatever you think is right…” he said robotically.

“Galant, what is the matter with you? I’m trying to play our pawns correctly and you aren’t paying attention!” she cracked.

He didn’t speak for a moment, then he grimly replied: “The war to the north isn’t going how we planned. I hear that the troops are losing morale, they aren’t listening to the generals, and some are even deserting. I feel like I need to arrange a trip up to the front to get them in line.”

“Show them what the fate of a deserter is, eh? You just have to show them who’s boss-” she started, but the king cut her off with a hand wave.

“Violence doesn’t always win over the hearts of a crowd, Malena. I need to rile them up and tell them what we’re up against, show them that their lives are not being extinguished in vain.”

“That’s the Church’s job, not yours. You’re the king of blood, the terrifying, unstoppable force. If you cheapen what you stand for, if people think that you’ve gone soft, they’ll lose all faith in you. They won’t fear you anymore.”

“Perhaps you’re right.”

“Is the queen pregnant yet?” the duchess asked bluntly.

“No, at least, not from what can be seen.” he said, looking out at the water.

“You’ve been married for three months now, and you’ve been trying for more than four. You do know how to have children, right? With all the experience you have…”

“Yes, I know how to have children, Malene! I even have some illegitimate children. So I’ve really had enough of you asking me questions. Leave, I need to be alone. Do what you want with the staff, I don’t care.”

~*~

Romeo was looking at Anwyn during dinner, thinking about how out of all the people here who shouldn't have a woman, Sir Reed was the least likely, and yet here they were. It had been a while since Romeo had shared company with a woman, even less since a relationship was possible. The queen’s ladies had both denied him, apparently they weren’t as interested in a relationship as he was, and they were busier than he was as well with constant duties and not just standing around all day, making sure that no one stormed the island. The exciting days were when he actually got to leave the palace grounds and patrol the small island and see even more nothing.

How Liam had won over the heart of the only other available woman was astounding. She wasn’t even available, he stole her. They were sneaking around behind the king’s back. If they are caught, it would be a very hard end to their relationship and possibly their lives.

Of course Romeo hadn’t realized that he was still staring at Anwyn until she stood up from the table to leave. His attention was called forward, and he blinked. Her transformation was like the other side of a coin. She had her hair up, as was proper for a married woman, and wore a sheer veil over her hair. She wore relaxed but fine clothes, and she was quiet. When he had first met her, she was emotional, willful, but now she kept her eyes down. She was… docile. He scanned the table to see if anyone had noticed him lost in thought, and no one but the duchess seemed to have noticed. She regarded him skeptically.

That’s when she entered the door. She wore a gilded dress with her arms bare, regardless of the autumn weather. “May I announce Briella, the newest lady for Lady Melene.” Remmy introduced to the room. Anwyn passed her on her way out with a glance, but she didn’t introduce herself. She simply walked out.

“Briella, please, be seated.” the duchess offered. “Let me introduce you to the table. There’s…” and she continued to introduce the inhabitants present.

~*~

Sir Montoya knocked on Anwyn’s door. She recognized his knock. He knocked with two solid knocks, Romeo knocked with three evenly paced, official knocks, and Liam knocked with a quarter beat followed by two eight beats and a quarter. If it was Montoya, it was because the king wanted her audience, and the knights never let Liam tell her that. It was too hard for Liam, and they usually sent him on island patrol on nights like these.

Amelia looked up from her book, then stood to answer the door. His familiar figure stood there, and he didn’t even bother to say anything. He simply turned on his heel and walked away. He was a man of few words.

Amelia closed the door again and went to the get the robe ready. She removed the veil from Anwyn’s head, and Anwyn dressed for the occasion. With the coming cold, the plain cotton robe was becoming less and less temperature appropriate, but she wasn’t going to show that she was shivering. Show no fear, don’t let him know you’re afraid.

The king had a fire flickering in his room, and he was seated on his sofa made from an exotic animal. He had changed into more comfortable clothes, but he was still as dangerous even without his royal blues.

Anwyn wasn’t used to him not being ready for her. He usually stood at the foot of the bed, took her slowly by the wrist and laid her down. For the past four months it had been like this. What was she supposed to expect when he was simply sitting?

“Anwyn, I value your simplicity,” he said simply, looking into the fire. “You don’t worry about war, you don’t have to think about the kingdom and it’s finances, it’s people, how they see you, why they follow their leader. All you do is live in the moment, take things as the are, and listen to the people who have authority over you. If I could have a whole nation full of people like you, I’d be a very lucky man.” he turned to her. “Annie, we’re going to be going north to the front. The men need to see that the kingdom has a powerful leader, that weakness isn’t an option, and that we are thriving. And that means that it’s time for you to carry a child.” he said simply, but with an edge of an order to it. And with orders came threats of punishments.

Anwyn said nothing, she just continued to stare at the wall ahead of her.

“Annie, is there something you’re hiding from me? If there is, I will find out. The duchess suspects something, and I’m beginning to agree with her. You don’t talk to me, you hide in your room all day. I have to be the one to summon you, you never request time with me. You’re cold to me.” he said, and he seemed concerned.

“I was never warm,” she said, unable to keep all of the words she wanted to say in her mouth.

“What did you say?” the king asked. Anwyn just kept looking forward. The king stood from the sofa and stood in front of her. “What did you say?”

“I have never been warm with you.” she said, through gritted teeth, not meeting his eye.

“You are my wife, and I will not have my wife denying me! The last queen I had decided to go cold too, and the day she did her days on this world were numbered.” he started to circle her. “Do you want to live to see the world you love burn down around you, then live in isolation for the rest of your days while the guilt drives you mad? Don’t tempt me girl, for I crave to see a soul crushed, and every ounce of hope leave their gaze until they wish they were dead. I don’t need to lay a hand on you, I can push you to the brink with a simple command to find and destroy the darling family you love. First their house, then I will find your eldest brother and have him work in the mines, never to see the sky again for as long as he shall live. I hear he has a wife, how shall I deal with her? And you have a sister, it would be a pity if she were to have to live as a woman on the street, mentally infirm and passed around like a pitcher of water. You have a younger brother? Should I remove his hands so that he would have to beg for the rest of his life, never fulfilling his dream of being a scribe and instead always having to have someone feed him and clean him? Your youngest sister is next, Sophia, is it not? A name meaning wisdom? It would be a great sadness if after an accident she couldn’t learn anymore. Do you see the point I am making or do I need to go on.” he asked, riled up and on the balls of his feet.

“No, I understand.” Anwyn’s composer had gone soft, and she was trembling at the thought of her family being harmed in the ways described.

“Good, now bear me a daughter.” he said, and he pulled her to the bed.