The minstrels played lively music. Young couples danced in the clearing while wives gossiped in the corner.
In an honored corner for only the most powerful men of the Eburean court, two old men sat next to each other. The mutual distaste was clear on their faces.
“Lord Landgard, I hear my son embarrassed Rufus greatly in the common market.” The head of the Vellward family raised his cup to his lips to hide the victorious smirk. “This father apologizes for Asinoro’s impudence.”
Lord Langard’s blazing stare burned into the other man’s. “You know, of all things this is what I hate the most about you.”
"I'm honored, truly," drawled the other lord.
The old general scowled, “You cover your words in riddles, prattling things that sound nice but are actually an insult!” The head general of Eburean’s forces huffed, “What’s the use of words? If it had been a proper battle, your boy wouldn’t have stood a chance against Rufus.”
“Oh?” Lord Vellward’s eyebrows rose. “But I heard your young son failed his last sword fighting class.”
Lord Landgard surged to his feet, looking ready to throttle the other man. “Only because the instructor was a fool! And the boy is young still!”
But the other lord was not cowed, he nodded politely in understanding. “Yes, of course.” He paused, taking a hearty gulp from his cup. “Talent comes in all forms.” The man nodded towards where the Landgard boy was attempting to flirt with a Wenge servant, only to scramble away when the Wolf himself turned his dead stare on him. Lord Vellward snorted as Lord Landgard rubbed a tired hand across his face. “At least he has enough sense not to take on impossible opponents.”
But to the other lord’s surprise, Lord Landgard did not raise to the bait. Instead, his eyes were following the newly wedded couple, walking hand in hand. “Tell me, Asynur, what are your thoughts of this marriage.”
So, they were using first names now. But Lord Vellward considered the question. “It is a politically viable move. When the queen first came to me, I agreed that it was a match that would be to the betterment of the people.”
“But the poor boy,” murmured the fierce general.
Lord Vellward coughed awkwardly. “Someone had to be sacrificed.” He didn’t bother to mention that the queen had been quite adamant about who said sacrificee would be. He shrugged helplessly. “At least the boy got a pretty wife out of it. A bit loud, but Fadye’s heir is not all that different from any other woman, I suppose.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” warned Lord Landgard. “None of you have encountered the Raven General in battle.”
Lord Vellward scoffed, “Neither have you.”
“True,” admitted the other man. “But we have captured prisoners who have. The stories are all the same. The golden masked General comes and the enemy hurries to sign their surrender. I have seen battle-hardened warriors cower at the mere mention of the Raven General.”
The old general turned to stare at the younger general. “What type of person inspires that type of fear?”
Lord Vellward turned to also stare at the woman in red, her voice was so loud they could make out some of her words from where they sat. Was this a habit stemmed from commanding legions of warriors?
“A pity for your daughter though,” commented Lord Landgard breezily. “I heard she was quite enamored with our ice prince. They would have made quite the pair-”
“I do not know what you insinuate but Asinara is perfectly content with her match!” Lord Vellward’s face snapped to face the other man. “We are loyal.”
Lord Landgard shrugged, “As are we. But if Asinara had married Nikolai, by the gods, there’s a chance we would have supported them.”
“Watch your words,” warned the other lord lowly. His eyes darted around. All knew that his daughter was engaged to Argan. The crown prince!
But the other lord merely shrugged. As a military man he wasn’t as invested in crafting politically accurate words as his counterpart, who was the political leader of the Court.
Lord Landgard raised an insinuating eyebrow. “However, should Asinara wish to wed Rufus, I would-”
“My daughter would never marry that idiot son of yours!” bellowed Lord Vellward, face purpling.
“Whose son are you calling an idiot?” squawked the other.
The two glared, their short truce over.
From the other end of their clearing, their wives looked up and sighed.
Lady Vellward shot Lady Landgard a look. “You get yours and I’ll get mine?”
The other woman let out an insufferable sigh but nodded. They headed over to drag their respective husbands away. And to think, these were the two most powerful men in the kingdom after the king. They sighed in unison.
---
Faye fiddled with the bright red ribbon that had been tied on her hand. The red silk fluttered beautifully in the wind but was itchy.
The young man next to her glared at the action. “Stop messing with it.”
But the young woman continued anyways.
Nikolai sighed.
Neither mentioned how they were still holding hands.
“Nikolai.”
The two turned and found themselves before the king and queen.
“Father,” greeted the second prince.
“Your Highnesses,” nodded the young woman.
Queen Rewanna smiled, but her eyes drifted down to their interlocked hands. Before she could comment, another voice interjected.
“General.”
The young woman whipped her head to the direction of the noise. She beamed at the Wolf. “Uncle!”
Behind the Wolf were several soldiers and all the Wenge delegates.
Faye pulled away and let go of Nikolai’s hand. She quickly placed them behind her back. The young man glanced down at the motion. His hands missed the warmth in the biting cold of the winds. But he tucked them back at his own sides. Why did the wedding have to be at midnight?
The Raven General and the Wolf conversed in another language, words flying between them in rapid fire. Those around them blinked, unsure whether it was appropriate to interject.
Nikolai took a step back.
Suddenly, the Wolf turned. His dark eyes landed on the Lord of Feldgrau. In a heavily accented common tongue, he grunted, “Before I take my leave, I would like to speak with the lord.” The words were not a request but a demand.
Feeling the eyes of the lords and ladies around him, Nikolai adopted a confused expression, “You wish to speak to me?”
The Wolf nodded sharply once. Turning, he headed for the edge of the clearing. The Lord of Feldgrau watched in amusement.
The king stepped forward. “You need not go, son. You are a prince, not someone to be commanded around-” The man broke into a fit of coughs.
“I must, Father,” replied Nikolai. “This is the fate you and the queen have sought for me.” His face held an aloof expression but the lord’s words were sharp as a blade. “That was the plan, was it not? To ensure I would not usurp Argan’s future ascension into kingship.”
The queen’s face paled as the nobles near them quieted. She opened her mouth to retort but it was the king that spoke. “Nikolai, you do not know what you speak. The queen only wished to secure-”
“You are no fool, Father,” snapped Nikolai, fists clenching.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The kings face reddened with fury. “Watch your tongue, boy.” He shook his head. “You may be my son but I am your king. The kingdom will always come first.”
But the Lord of Feldgrau merely laughed. “Is that what you said to my elder brother before sending him into exile?”
Gasps filled the clearing. Former crown prince Malakai was a subject of taboo... It felt ominous for the second prince to mention such a thing at his wedding.
The king surged forward, rage coloring his face. But his anger was overshadowed by the coughs racking his form.
“Arganus!” cries the queen. She shot a sharp glare to Nikolai. “Look what you’ve done!”
“How dare you!” croaked the king. “If you have no respect for me then get out!”
Faye watched the entire scene with rapt attention, her eyes drifted to Nikolai but the lord stood tall.
“Very well, then,” the lord beckoned his attendant over. “Tell the servants to move our belonging to the Prince’s Residance. My bride and I will reside there for the remainder of our stay before our return to Feldgrau.” He glanced at the Raven General. “I suggest you order your men to do the same.”
At his words, the queen paled even further.
The female General shrugged. It made no difference to them.
Queen Rewanna surged forward. “No!” she shrieked. Turning to the king, she begged. “Husband, Nikolai did not mean wha5 he said. It would be unseemly for your son to stay outside when-”
“Let him do as he pleases.” The king waved her off tiredly. “From this day on, the second prince shall reside in the Prince’s Residence until his return to Feldgrau.”
Nobles glanced at one another. Who knew the ice prince was a hot headed fool? He had only returned for a day but had been kicked out of his father’s house and favor. They shook their heads pityingly. There really wasn’t much behind that pretty face.
Meanwhile, the queen clenched her teeth, trying to suppress her snarl. She glared at the young man. How could she keep an eye on him, now? Suspicion warred in her. As a boy Nikolai had always been clever. Was this really a decision fueled by anger?
The queen stepped forward. “Very well. But the residence is old and empty, at least let mother send a few servants to help.”
“Accept the offer while it lasts, son,” huffed the king.
Smiling hopefully, the queen added, “And perhaps a few guards-”
“Servants to help with the cooking and cleaning should be enough.” Nikolai tilted his head at her. “Unless you believe there is someone I require protection from?”
“Of course not,” gritted out the woman. “But extra protection-”
“Apologies,” cut in the lord. “But the Wolf requires my attention.”
He turned and walked away, towards where the Wolf was waiting.
Sneering, the queen snapped, ready to call the guards to drag the fool back.
“Let him go, Your Majesty,” imterjected the Raven General. The young woman, crossed her arms, watching the lord walk towards the wolf with an indescribable expression. “My uncle is not a patient man.”
Amber eyes flashed towards the fuming woman. “But perhaps we can talk.”
---
Hearing his approach, the Wolf turned to face him. With the moonlight and the wolf pelt, the man really lived up to his namesake.
Nikolai raised an eyebrow at the older man. “Is this a show of force?”
The General shrugged, unfazed. “No need for that.”
As he domstrated before, he could speak common tongue. But why hide it from the king earlier, Nikolai asked the man.
The Wolf shrugged, “What need? That will not change the treaty.” His heavy accent made his words even gruffer than usual.
“Then why call me aside?”
The Wolf lifted his eyes to stare at something in the distance. “To warn you.”
Nikolai paused. He had heard some fathers grew protective on wedding days. He had not expected that such a thing would be necessary for the Raven General.
“To warn me? ”The lord raised an incredulous eyebrow, “About hurting the general?”
The Wolf laughed cruelly. “You think you can hurt her?”
Nikolai shrugged carelessly. He was curious to see what the Wolf would say. It would not hurt to learn more about the enemy he was bringing home either. “Faye has married into my house and will the lady of my lands. But she is still a foreigner... and not one that is very well-regarded.”
“Give the woman a stick and she’ll take down ten grown men on her own.” Emboldened, the older general’s sharp canines glinted. “She has control over all of her father's troops. One call from the Raven General and all of Wenge will answer it.”
The general sneered, pride and anger all coiled up into his words. “Even your Queen was unable to control us.”
Nikolai’s eyes glinted. So it was the queen who had brokered the deal.
“The Raven General will continue to lead our greatest warriors and win victories over our enemies. This marriage merely ensures that none are able to claim that power from her.” The Wolf’s eyes drifted over to the young woman. “She will never give up her claim and this marriage has only gained her a strong ally from the Queen.”
His mouth pursed as he stared down at Nikolai. “If anything, you are the one who has nothing to gain from this. Faye will not raise her troops for you to attack the crown, your people now see you as an even bigger idiot with a barbarian wife. No one will support your claim.”
Nikolai’s stone face was expressionless.
“It’s almost admirable how much you’ve given up, only to gain nothing in return.” The general shook his head. “So you ask me why I have come to talk with you.”
Dark, emotionless eyes stared at him. “To warn you, boy.”
Glancing up, Nikolai asked, “Of what?”
The Wolf sighed, “I have watched Faye since she was a child. A snake was put in her cradle and she lived, her elder brothers were killed and she lived, greedy men sold her to mercenaries and she returned with an army.”
The older man shook his head. “Wenge fought a war that almost brought them to extinction and she became a living legend and her father’s heir over all of his sons and male relatives.” The braids in his hair jostled. “That is unheard of in our history.”
Nikolai stared at him curiously. “And your point?”
“As long as Faye is of Wenge,” the Wolf leaned back, “She will always be your enemy. Best not forget that lest you find a knife in your back.”
The general turned and began to walk away. What had needed to be said was said. The older man gestured towards his lieutenants. It was time to report back to Fadye. The young lord stood silently behind him, mulling over the words. The Wolf was unsure what Faye saw in him. She was not a woman who suffered fools. Nor was she one to be fooled by beauty and its charms.
Suddenly, the lord laughed. The Wolf paused.
“Is that what you tell yourself?” commented Nikolai nonchalantly. “Don’t worry, great Wolf. I think your people will find that my back is not so easily stabbed.”
He sighed loudly.
“But I cannot say the same for yours... the Raven General does not seem like she would take too well to others speaking for her... even if it is a beloved uncle.” He cocked his head. “Which makes me wonder your true purpose in conversing with me.”
The general froze for a moment. Sneering, he shot a dark glare at the lord over his shoulders and waked away to join his soldiers.
Watching his retreat, Nikolai sighed. It seemed the rumors of his idiocy really had spread.
If the old general was going to take so much of his time, he should have told the lord something he didn’t already know.
Watching the queen and Faye converse, Nikolai held back from rolling his eyes.
What a waste of time. He settled his mind to other matters. After the celebrations, it would finally be his turn to launch a counter attack.
---
A maid scurried over to the great chambers where the second prince was supposed to be residing in. She gestured for the others behind her to hurry. The younger maids nodded and were quick to follow. As they reached the doors, blushes filled their faces. What would the find in a prince’s room?
The lead maid didn’t bother to knock as she pushed open the door. A sense of purpose filled the girl. The queen herself had given her a mission. The reward would likely pay greatly. She rubbed her hands together eagerly. No matter how handsome the face, the second prince was harboring treacherous intentions. Now, the maid just had to find evidence of it.
All the nobles were at the celebrations. Not even bothering to knock, the maid brazenly pushed open the chamber doors.
“Who dares come into the prince’s chambers,” demanded a sharp voice.
The maid looked up. Her face paled. The Lord of Feldgrau’s attendant stood in the middle of an empty room. His arms were crossed.
“Apologies, sir, sir!” Stammered the maid.
No one was supposed to be here!
The attendant glared angrily at her. “If this is a joke, I shall make sure that you are punished appropriately. Speak,” he barked out. “Why are you here?”
Smiling, the maid tried to put on a brave front. “The queen ordered us to come and clean, sir.”
The attendant’s eyes narrowed. “In the midst of his wedding celebrations?”
This was it. The maid couldn’t give up the queen’s intentions, but she wasn’t ready to risk her own hide! She had seen a glimpse of the ice prince! The young man was terrifying. What if he turned that souless stare towards her? The maid shivered in fright.
“Ah!” She exclaimed, “This is the Lord of Feldgraus’ chambers?” Looking around the room with wide eyes, she turned and snapped at the junior servants behind her. “Why didn’t anyone of you tell me? You wanted me to look like a fool, didn’t you?” She jabbed a finger into one of the servant’s chests. “Florian, you sneaking jerk, you want me to be demoted, don’t you?”
The man gaped, he whispered, “But my name is James.”
Unfortunately for him, the maid was already turning back to face Cristin and apologizing profusely. “Apologies my lord, the queen instructed us to clean Prince Argan’s room. Sorry for the disturbance. We will be right out of your hair.” She turned, shoving the other servants out of the room and down the hallway.
“Hurry, you fools!” She whispered loudly. It didn’t even register in her mind to wonder why the room was completely empty or why the attendant was there in the first place. In life, you had to save yourself first. She would just make something up for the queen later.
The small army disappeared faster than they came.
Cristin blinked.
Well, that was easier than expected.
---
Nikolai stared dumbfounded at the Wolf's wedding gift: a shovel. How poetic. He lifted the tool and studied the smooth wood.
The Lord of Feldgrau shrugged. By all accounts, it was a very finely made shovel.