Sandorn sighed, “Is he not on the battlements?”

Grend shrugged, “Nope. I’ve looked alright, we all have. We have no idea where he is.”

Sarvth sniggered.

“Alisha?”

“Yeahhh,” Grend admitted laughing. “Averan thinks that he’s slick, it’s pretty obvious where he is. I just hope Lord Dranar doesn’t get wise to it. I doubt he’d enjoy hearing how Averan was-”

“Yes, yes I’m sure he wouldn’t. Which is why I need you three to go find him. Tell him the King desires his presence. That should be enough to rile him out of bed.”

“It should,” Lear said, “though then again, that Alisha Dronian, she is rather gorgeous isn’t she. Almost as beautiful as Lady Liniseh.”

“Almost,” Sarvth added, “though not quite, right Sandorn?”

Sandorn scrunched up his face, “One could say that. I don’t know if I would, but one could.”

“We saw how she looked at you,” Grend said, “I know I wouldn’t be here if I were King.”

“Good thing you aren’t then,” Sandorn smiled and put an arm around Grend to guide him towards the door, “and seeing as you aren’t would you kindly go find my Brother and get him out of bed. There’s things to discuss. Sarvth and Lear will surely be glad to accompany you.”

“I’d be more glad to accompany Lady-”

“YES Lear,” Sandorn raised a hand, stifling his laughter, “I think you have all made that quite clear. We’ll be sure to discuss this further at a later point. But until then, get the hell out.”

Laughing all three gave him elaborate bows before making their exit. Sandorn sat down heavily in his chair to wait. He didn’t like having to take Averan from his affairs but he had had more than enough time for fun, now was time for business.

Thankfully they trio did seem to know exactly where Averan was when pushed to, and his Brother did not take too long arriving. He burst in the doors with his usual flair, though Sandorn noticed it the smile plastered on his face was a little wider than usual.

“Hello Brother, a day well spent in the tunnels I take it? I imagine you have a great deal to tell me about.”

“From what I am hearing you might have even more?” Sandorn raised a brow.

“Aha, well you know how it is Brother.” Averan scratched the back of his neck, “One thing led to another and….” He pursed his lips before pulling up a chair.

“Yes, I’m sure it did.”

Sandorn regarded him carefully, “You had fun?”

Averan smiled, “Oh yeah. She’s nice Alisha. I like her.”

“Yes, I know you do. Just don’t get too close unless you really do plan to pursue things. We have enough history wit her Father already, don’t need to be complicating it anymore.”

“Relax, I said I like her. There’s something about her you know, something unique.”

“Didn’t Serene also have something unique?”

“I mean yes, in a way. But not the same no. It’s different.”

“Right.”

“It is, alright. And anyways who are you to be looking at me like that. What’s this I hear about Lady Liniseh?”

“Who was talking about Lady Liniseh?”

“Don’t mind that, what happened?”

Sandorn sighed, “Nothing happened, she asked me about what I had in mind for a Queen, no doubt seeking to put someone close to her at my side.”

Averan’s eyes narrowed, “And? What did you say?”

“I said she’d make a fine Queen, said she was very attractive.”

“Did ya?”

“Yeah, I did, and I don’t think she minded it either.”

Averan shook his head, smiling, “Ya put it back on her, that was nice. That was very nice. She wouldn't have expected that. I know I have Alisha now but Lady Liniseh is fairly stunning. Not many wouldn’t want her as Queen, despite the age thing of course.”

“You have Alisha now do you? That didn’t take long.”

“Ah you know what I mean. So you then, what are you going to do?”

“About what? Shut up Brother, you know well what, Lady bloody Liniseh that’s what.”

Sandorn puffed out his cheeks. “I mean, what can I do? Now is not the time Brother.”

Averan laughed and raised his head to the sky, “Brother, it is never the time. Before it was not time, now it is not time, in the future it will not be time. You dont get to pick. Lady Liniseh is not one for waiting. I say go for it.”

Sandorn gritted his teeth, “You reckon?”

“Yes, I do.” Averan stated it as if it was obvious.

“Well, as it happens the Lords and Ladies of the New Order have made their decision, they’ll launch a full out and decisive attack three days from now. They won’t just clear out the palace either, they mean to take the barracks too. All in one swoop. We’d have no where to retreat to.”

“Good thing we won’t be retreating then, or allowing them clear out our palace. Let them make their plans, we have the support of the twenty three yes? We have our own plan?”

“We do, the New Order intend to gather all of their forces at the Inner Fountain. When they do that’s when our allies make their move and announce their unwillingness to follow orders. When we get the all clear we head out of the palace and deal with the traitors there and then.”

“Deal with them, kill them you mean?” Averan pressed.

“Well, let’s see, we’ll have to execute the ringleaders sure, that’s without question. That means Lord Asral Atlantian, Lord Laer of House Larren, and Lady Mirinda of House Fortan. There can be no question of mercy there.” Sandorn bobbed his head side to side, “ The rest…well let’s gauge the feeling. We don’t want to be too hasty either. We dismantle the big three and their families and that will be the end of the New Order’s interferences.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Averan wrapped his hands around his head and leaned back in his chair, “So, three days huh? You know what that means?”

Sandorn squinted, “Yes, it means we have three days to prepare.”

“Yes. And perhaps preparation might involve a meeting, a late meeting with Lady Liniseh?”

Sandorn smiled shaking his head.

Averan saw the conflict within his brother, it had been so long since Sandorn had done anything not connected with gaining influence, power or strength that he didn’t seem to know what it meant anymore.

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Every since he’d lost Miana he’d been like that. Averan knew he still blamed himself though there was nothing he could have done. Nothing. She’d left him, chosen status and prestige instead of love. Sandorn didn’t blame her. He did though. If she would have been upfront then everything would have been smoother, her delaying the inevitable drew the entire out its painful conclusion. Sandorn still didn’t like to talk about it. Even with him.

“How would I even go about it.”

Averan hid his smile, the question was enough to confirm Sandorn wanted to do it.

“Let me worry about that. You just get yourself fixed up, you look a mess. Go wash and I’ll sort everything else.”

“And how exactly do you-”

“I’ll sort everything else,” Averan repeated, raising his hands to dissuade any protests.

He wasn’t sure how, or if the Lady would agree to his plan. But he saw how she’d looked at him the first time they’d met, and he knew just how girls and Ladies looked at Sandorn in general. He might not have noticed it but Averan did. Somehow the mysterious, anguished look always worked better than the drunken, boisterous one. Perhaps I should consider a change? Nahh, I am what I am.

“You sure about this Averan? This is all going off a conversation, I mean, it’s a bit risky to-”

“Sandorn, go and get washed up. Go on, move, there’s no time for thinking in situations like this. None at all alright. Just act. Now go.”

Sandorn nodded slowly but did make his way out.

Averan waited until he’d gone before exiting himself. Outside the door he paused, he wasn’t sure what exactly he was going to do. But he knew he had to get the message through. Sandorn was meeting Liniseh, tonight.

But how?.............Grolo, yes Grolo. The old fool could get a message anywhere in the city it seemed. Averan nodded his head as he moved out.

Though he had to be made repeat the words half a hundred times he was confident Grolo could somehow get a message to the Lady. If what Sarvth, Grend, and Lear said was half true then that would be all it would take to get her to agree on a meeting. The rest would be up to Sandorn.

Averan rubbed his hands together, and with Sandorn gone.

He knew exactly how he would spend his night.

This is ridiculous. I have become my Brother. We’re all doomed.

Sandorn had allowed himself to get caught up in Averan’s excitement. After making sure Averan kept things secretive, he had given in quite readily to his Brother sending out Grolo with a message. A message for the Lady Liniseh’s ears only he’d assured him. Still, the potential for disaster seemed absurdly high. For one there was no guarantee Grolo wouldn’t misinterpret the message, or forget it entirely and spend the night roaming around the city instead. Then even if it was delivered who was to say the Lady would even bother meeting him. He might singlehandedly be creating a prospective explosion of awkwardness for the next time they met.

He sighed, he’d been waiting under the ladder for what seemed an age.

Light had been fading when he’d first met Liniseh earlier in the night, which meant it was likely an hour or so past midnight by now.

There was no way she’d agree to it. He smiled to himself, amused by his own excitement. All it took was a simple kiss on the cheek.

Sandorn could already see the faces of Grend, Sarvth, Lear and Averan himself when he had to face them again. The trio were waiting for him in the adjoining tunnel, Averan was back at the palace, busy with Alisha no doubt.

Sandorn was about to head back when a faint knocking sound came from above. He stopped, waiting to make sure it was no imagination. It came again. Two knocks, a pause, then three knocks, a pause, then four.

Sandorn knew it for Grolo’s code. He was about to climb up when a figure tore open the door and leapt down among him. Sandorn had been on edge, instantly he’d drawn a knife and had it pressed to the man before he could get turned.

“Sandorn….it’s me, the Guardian. Ahhhhh blasted not again. King, King, King Sandorn, it’s me, the Guardian Grolo.”

Sandorn relaxed and lowered the knife. “Yes, I know who you are Grolo. Must you seek to surprise me every time?”

“Must no? Want to? Yes.” Grolo chuckled to himself.

“Now. Time you were heading up, she’s waiting.”

“She is?”

“Well yes of course she is. Oh, and one more thing. I told her it was all your idea to set it up like that. My way of helping you out hehe.”

“Set up like what?” Sandorn asked.

“You’ll see,” Grolo had a glint in his eye as he pushed Sandorn up.

“G’wan now, I’ll wait down here with them guards of yours. Might win some gold off them boys in cards too. G’wan now.”

Slightly disorientated Sandorn headed up, unsure what else to do. Cautiously he drew his head up. Above he found himself in an artistically lit room, one aesthetically illuminated by candlelight carefully placed around the room. It was mostly empty, apart from one side where a small table lay with a beaker of wine and a single cup. Behind the table was a divan. Sitting with her legs crossed and leaning back as if completely at ease was Lady Liniseh, a cup of wine held in one hand, the other twirling a chain about her neck.

Sandorn had to focus hard on not showing his surprise or delight at the scene and the Lady’s appearance. After all, Sandorn was the one who was supposed to have instructed the room to be as it was.

He climbed up as smoothly as he could. He stopped a moment to stare at Liniseh, she looked at him, neither smiled, both just looked.

Sandorn pursed his lips, nodded to himself, and walked slowly over to the beaker. Pouring himself a cup he sat down, taking a moment he sighed before raising his cup.

“To you Lady Liniseh, I’ll admit I was wondering if indeed you would show up.”

Liniseh smiled briefly before raising her cup to his.

“I did consider not. It is something of a risk. Not to mention how it might appear. You, my King, summoning me here.”

“A request is not a summon.”

“It is when that request is from a King.”

“I see.” Sandorn drank deeply. The wine was good, a rare wine of Tralor, he savored the taste.

“And if I wasn’t king, if I had requested you here tonight. Would you have come?”

Linised shrugged, “Perhaps, though that hardly matters. You are King.”

Sandorn nodded, “I am. And I am here with you. Whether you felt compelled or not I am glad of that fact.”

“Why did you ask me here, with this wine, these candles?”

Sandorn drank deeply once more before laying the cup down.

“Why? Well Lady Liniseh, I found myself thinking about you after we had departed from one another. That confused me, maybe even bothered me. I guess I figured the best way to solve that confusement was to meet with you, speak with you.”

“You think that will solve it?”

“I think it will help.”

“And the wine? The candles? You think they will help?”

“They can’t hurt.”

Lady Liniseh laughed and sat back smiling to herself.

“I imagine you think because I agreed to meet you that that’s it. That you have me.”

Sandorn edged closer to her, she stopped talking.

“How do we know that it’s not you that has me?” Sandorn spoke quietly.

“I suppose we don’t,” Liniseh replied.

“Perhaps this will help us decide.”

Sandorn leaned in slowly, Liniseh did not move closer, but nor did she move away.

Sandorn brushed back a loose strand of her hair. He kissed her softly, their kiss was a lasting one, but gentle.

Sandorn was the first to pull back. Liniseh bit her lip as he did so. The sight excited Sandorn more than he thought possible. Kissing her again he pushed down slightly on top of her as his kisses became firmer. Liniseh moaned softly as he pressed down on her.

Sandorn realised just how much he truly wanted her, more than he had even thought to himself. He knew such feelings, such desires were dangerous. Right now it did not seem to matter. Only Liniseh did. Her and he. Sandorn began kissing her once more. He didn’t need to think. For now focusing on Liniseh was thinking enough.