Read Online King by R. J. Larson - Free Book Online Page B

pretender just now. Particularly with most of his council members and courtiers showing hostile frowns, or—at best—bleak acceptance for this marriage.
    Akabe nodded to Thaenfall, then led Cyan, Caitria, and Cyril into a meeting chamber. There a clerk waited, his worktable organized with vials, cords, parchments, pens, and a wavering lamp flame positioned beneath a warming stand, which held a small pan of melted crimson wax.
    Seeing Akabe, the clerk produced two copies of the marriage agreement—so sniffily that Akabe nearly growled. He spoke to Thaenfall instead. “Here’s the new contract, my lord. It’s obvious I’ve fulfilled my obligation. Therefore, let’s read and sign.”
    Akabe stood beside the haughty lord, reading his own copy of the agreement. Every clause seemed proper and concise. Akabe of Siphra agreed to marry Caitria Thaenfall, with the permission of Cyan Thaenfall, Lord of the Plidian Estates. Furthermore, having paid the negotiated sum, Akabe would bestow upon Caitria all the rights, lands, revenues, and marks of rank due to the queen of Siphra—never to be revoked without justifiable cause, noted in clauses, as long as they both lived.
    Evidently finished reading, Thaenfall snatched a gilded stylus, jabbed it into an ink vial, and scrawled his name at the bottom of each parchment. Out of turn, yet Akabe wasn’t about to rebuke the man.
    Akabe signed both documents less hastily. The fussy clerk applied the royal seals, and Thaenfall grabbed his copy of the document. Flat-voiced, he told Caitria, “In nine months, I expect to hear that you’ve borne an heir for Siphra.”
    Thaenfall bowed to Akabe and departed, snapping his fingers at Cyril as if the young man were a dog commanded to follow at his heels.
    Neither man looked back. Stunned, Akabe listened as their footsteps faded and the door closed with a muffled thud. Was Thaenfall always so rude and unfeeling toward his children?
    Akabe looked down at Caitria, who still stared at the doorway as if unable to believe what had just happened. Sympathetic despite his own frustrations, Akabe wrapped his hands around Caitria’s. She stared up at him now, dazed as a wounded creature.
    Beyond them, gathering his pens, wax, and cords, the clerk said, “The queen should have signed the document, Majesty. Yet I suppose it’s no matter. The marriage contract will stand.”
    Caitria’s chin quivered.
    Still furious with Thaenfall, Akabe held Caitria as she cried. Over her head, he gave the clerk a meaningful glance and sternly nodded everyone toward the hall. When all the witnesses had departed and closed the door, Akabe smoothed Caitria’s hair, marveling at its sheen and delicious scent. “This whole matter was handled badly—you deserved better. I’m sorry.”
    She stiffened in his arms and pulled back, gazing at him in evident confusion. And hurt. “Sir, why should you care more about my feelings than my own family has?”
    Akabe lifted a strand of Caitria’s hair plastered to her cheek by tears. “Lady, I am now your family.”
    Caitria sobbed, covering her face with her hands.
    Apparently not the answer she’d wanted.

    Akabe opened his eyes the merest fraction, aware first of Caitria asleep beside him, then of the door creaking open. A servant lit the hearth, then departed, softly closing the door. The first sounds of Akabe’s day, as usual, made him hate being a king. Servants appearing and disappearing like shadows always raised Akabe’s instincts to hide or to defend himself.
    Which explained the dagger he hid beneath his pillow each night.
    Any of these servants could be an assassin, the way they slipped through the palace. He must remind his guards to be vigilant. They’d failed him before. If they failed him again, Caitria’s life would be equally endangered—a risk Akabe could not allow.She was now, by all of Siphra’s