hope I’m not mistaken in that?” He raised an eyebrow at
the page, whose eyes darted back to Efren.
“Let us discuss business first,” Efren replied.
“My servant shall inquire of the ladies at court who might like to make your
acquaintance.”
“Splendid,” he said. “Boy, make sure my ship is
adequately supplied with wine. I’d like to take some of your vintage home for
my friends to sample.”
Efren nodded to his servant. If it cost him every
drop of wine in the kingdom, it would still be worth it to stop the mages from
attacking. He hoped Uhnar’s help would prove worthy of such a trade.
Chapter 13
S unlight filled
Aubriana’s chambers as she sat up in her bed. The window was open, and a soft
breeze made its way lazily through the room. The fresh ocean breeze smelled far
different from the mountain air she had loved as a girl. Though Na’zora had
been her home for many years, she could not stop her mind from wandering back
to better times spent in Ra’jhou.
Shala pushed aside
the sheer bed curtains. “Good morning, my lady.” Her voice was cheerful as
usual.
Aubriana managed a
half-smile. “Good morning,” she echoed.
“I trust you slept
well,” she said, reaching for the princess’s hand.
Aubriana sighed. Of
course she had slept well. There was little else to do in her bed. Since the
birth of her son, Prince Ivor had not visited her chambers even once. With the
production of an heir complete, he considered his duties in her bedchamber to
be over. He found pleasure in the arms of others, rather than in his wife’s.
Restrictions had been placed upon her, giving her little freedom to wander the
palace grounds. She seldom left her chambers. On rare occasions she was allowed
to attend court events, but those were infrequent since the kingdom was at war.
The highlight of
her day was a visit from Rayne, her son. He brought much joy into her miserable
existence. She would listen to him recount his playtime adventures, and her
worries would be lessened. Her mind was ever plagued by thoughts of Ra’jhou,
and the family she had left behind. If only she could visit, and take her son
as well. Perhaps she would not return to Na’zora. With Gannon on the throne and
her father dead, there was no one to force her back. If only there was a means
of escape.
Shala readied a
light blue gown for the princess to wear. “You’ll look lovely in this,” she
said, stroking the satin.
Without warning,
the prince burst into the room, the door clanging loudly behind him. Aubriana
startled and raised her arms to cover herself. Though the man was her husband,
she did not feel comfortable being observed in a state of undress. His presence
felt no more familiar than any other man.
“The king demands you
see him at once,” the prince said coldly. “I suggest you don’t keep him
waiting.”
“I wasn’t aware he
had returned from his latest campaign,” she replied. “I shall be with him
shortly.”
Without another
word, Ivor turned on a heel and exited the room, the door slamming shut behind
him.
“What do you think the
king wants?” Shala asked nervously. She lifted the dress over Aubriana’s head
and tugged at the laces on the back.
“I don’t know,” the
princess replied. “I’m sure it is to scold me for one thing or another.” The
king was rarely in residence, as he was far too busy making battle arrangements
to hold court. No doubt he wanted information about Ra’jhou. “He probably wants
to threaten me with torture if I don’t reveal my brother’s secrets.”
Shala gasped. “You
shouldn’t think such things, my lady. The king must know you haven’t had any
word from your brother.”
Aubriana smiled,
placing a hand on Shala’s arm. “Don’t worry. There’s little else he could do to
me that he hasn’t already. I’m his prisoner, and I exist only because he has
found no reason to dispose of me.” Though her words and posture suggested
bravery, in truth she was terrified.
the page, whose eyes darted back to Efren.
“Let us discuss business first,” Efren replied.
“My servant shall inquire of the ladies at court who might like to make your
acquaintance.”
“Splendid,” he said. “Boy, make sure my ship is
adequately supplied with wine. I’d like to take some of your vintage home for
my friends to sample.”
Efren nodded to his servant. If it cost him every
drop of wine in the kingdom, it would still be worth it to stop the mages from
attacking. He hoped Uhnar’s help would prove worthy of such a trade.
Chapter 13
S unlight filled
Aubriana’s chambers as she sat up in her bed. The window was open, and a soft
breeze made its way lazily through the room. The fresh ocean breeze smelled far
different from the mountain air she had loved as a girl. Though Na’zora had
been her home for many years, she could not stop her mind from wandering back
to better times spent in Ra’jhou.
Shala pushed aside
the sheer bed curtains. “Good morning, my lady.” Her voice was cheerful as
usual.
Aubriana managed a
half-smile. “Good morning,” she echoed.
“I trust you slept
well,” she said, reaching for the princess’s hand.
Aubriana sighed. Of
course she had slept well. There was little else to do in her bed. Since the
birth of her son, Prince Ivor had not visited her chambers even once. With the
production of an heir complete, he considered his duties in her bedchamber to
be over. He found pleasure in the arms of others, rather than in his wife’s.
Restrictions had been placed upon her, giving her little freedom to wander the
palace grounds. She seldom left her chambers. On rare occasions she was allowed
to attend court events, but those were infrequent since the kingdom was at war.
The highlight of
her day was a visit from Rayne, her son. He brought much joy into her miserable
existence. She would listen to him recount his playtime adventures, and her
worries would be lessened. Her mind was ever plagued by thoughts of Ra’jhou,
and the family she had left behind. If only she could visit, and take her son
as well. Perhaps she would not return to Na’zora. With Gannon on the throne and
her father dead, there was no one to force her back. If only there was a means
of escape.
Shala readied a
light blue gown for the princess to wear. “You’ll look lovely in this,” she
said, stroking the satin.
Without warning,
the prince burst into the room, the door clanging loudly behind him. Aubriana
startled and raised her arms to cover herself. Though the man was her husband,
she did not feel comfortable being observed in a state of undress. His presence
felt no more familiar than any other man.
“The king demands you
see him at once,” the prince said coldly. “I suggest you don’t keep him
waiting.”
“I wasn’t aware he
had returned from his latest campaign,” she replied. “I shall be with him
shortly.”
Without another
word, Ivor turned on a heel and exited the room, the door slamming shut behind
him.
“What do you think the
king wants?” Shala asked nervously. She lifted the dress over Aubriana’s head
and tugged at the laces on the back.
“I don’t know,” the
princess replied. “I’m sure it is to scold me for one thing or another.” The
king was rarely in residence, as he was far too busy making battle arrangements
to hold court. No doubt he wanted information about Ra’jhou. “He probably wants
to threaten me with torture if I don’t reveal my brother’s secrets.”
Shala gasped. “You
shouldn’t think such things, my lady. The king must know you haven’t had any
word from your brother.”
Aubriana smiled,
placing a hand on Shala’s arm. “Don’t worry. There’s little else he could do to
me that he hasn’t already. I’m his prisoner, and I exist only because he has
found no reason to dispose of me.” Though her words and posture suggested
bravery, in truth she was terrified.
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