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ONCE THE SUN SET, WE rode into the nearest town to join in the festivities. We kept up with the ruse as a couple and we walked through the busy streets arm-in-arm.
We had spent a long time at the lake, talking and laughing and wandering around the area. We had even found an arrowhead. I gave it to her, told her to keep it as a reminder of our day spent at the lake, and that it would keep her safe.
As we walked through the town, having her beside me felt like the most natural thing in the world. It was as if she belonged there—as if we belonged with each other.
We watched the dancers and gazed at the fire-performers in awe. The crowd cheered and laughed and listened intently to the dramatic poetry readers—the main tradition for the festival. Every year the poetry writings were read and sung. The flute started, making a high chiming sound, and was soon joined by the low rumble of the drum pounding in the background, as some people began to dance.
Sevylia gazed at them wonderingly. I smiled at her and nodded in question toward the others all around us dancing.
She smiled and I led her further into the square. To our right, water trickled down a statue in the center of a fountain. The soft sound of water flowing was just a lull underneath the music. The moon was full and high overhead, making everything appear silver in color.
We danced into the night and stayed by each other’s sides. For once, we forgot the world around us, forgot who we were supposed to be, forgot everything except us.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, WE received a private letter from Lavious summoning us back home immediately. The rider rode all day and night to reach us. We packed and as soon as Sevylia said her goodbyes to Xious, we were off, walking toward the town. Once there, we managed to find a carriage, so we hired it to take us back to the capital.
We took our time, stopping in small towns and villages along the way. Deep inside, I was in no hurry to get back to the crowded life at the palace.
“Father will not be pleased by our delay,” Sevylia said as we shared a loaf of bread while sitting on a stone bridge.
“We can say we had carriage trouble. He cannot blame us for that.” As I responded, I watched the water wrinkle beneath us, a green-gray color. Fish jumped and twirled before landing back in the water, sending a parade of ripples down the stream.
“I would much rather stay in the quiet of the famlav lands,” Sevylia said.
I glanced at her. “I always prefer isolation to a crowd.”
“Complete isolation?” She made her voice sound deeply offended, although she smiled widely.
“Not including you, princess.” We both chuckled and gazed back at the water. “Given what I do, I’ve always stuck in the shadows—out of sight. It’s where I would rather be.”
Sevylia smiled, finishing the last of her bread.
We were in the town Leious—only a good afternoon’s ride from the capital called Rivos. We would arrive at the palace late that evening. Chances were, Lavious would want to see us in the morning.
Sure enough, we arrived when the sun had long since vanished from the sky. As we walked through the streets together, I realized that we were alone.
“I suppose this will be our last moment alone for quite a while...” Sevylia started hesitantly.
I looked down and nodded. I couldn’t change what either of us felt, whether it was good or bad, and I couldn’t change what we were.
However, I could do what we both desperately wanted right then, in that moment. With the stars overhead as our only witness, I took her face in my hands, lacing my fingers around her neck.
I leaned in and ended the torture of waiting any longer. Unlike before, this kiss was hot and desperate. It was as if I couldn’t get close enough to her. Her fingers found their way inside my loose shirt and rubbed against my bare back. I gasped and kissed her jawline, sliding my hands down her arms. She pushed herself against me and my back slammed into the post of a shop behind me. Our hands gripped each other tightly, knowing this was going to be our last chance to be alone for a long time.
“I don’t want this to end.” Her breath was hot on my neck as she spoke.
“If I could, I would forget everything and run away with you. I do not want you out of my arms,” I blurted before I could stop myself. I had not intended to say that.
As much as I wanted to leave with her, and forget our lives, forget everything... I couldn’t.
I was an assassin. I always would be. She and I were not living in the same world, nor would we ever.
I pulled away from her, taking my hands off her waist and neck as if I’d been shocked. “The king awaits us, princess,” I murmured quietly. I gestured for her to walk ahead of me, and then followed behind her at a respectable distance—a bodyguard’s distance from the princess he served.
I forced my hands not to clench at the thought. I cleared my face of emotions and my mind of thoughts about us and moved as was expected. There was a slave girl waiting for us as we crossed the courtyard and into the main hall.
“Princess Sevylia, and Aidan, if you would please come with me, King Lavious requested your presence as soon as you arrived.”
Sevylia and I exchanged a look. If the king was summoning us at this hour, it meant something urgent.
We followed the girl upstairs and down an endless maze of corridors until we reached the king’s private work quarters. The girl knocked and, on the king’s command, opened the doors. Lavious invited us in and dismissed the slave.
Once the doors were shut again, he scoffed. “It’s about time you arrived! I sent for you nearly a week ago!”
“Apologies, Father, there was—”
Lavious interrupted Sevylia. “Never mind that now. Tomorrow at dawn you will ride down to the city stables to meet a servant of King Aeveron.”
“King Aeveron, Father?”
I furrowed my eyebrows. King Aeveron was ruler of the Tyrix Realm, to the south. At age twenty-seven, he was the youngest ruler out of the four Realms, but he was widely known for his cruelty.
“Yes. Once he received word that I aided Maxiveren and won, now that we both have discussed the terms to divide up the Fixid Realm, he is wise to renew alliances with the change in power. Maxiveren’s lands are in poor state, his armies are divided and weak, which makes me the supreme ruler in power. Aeveron is no fool.”
“He comes to discuss terms of an alliance?” I asked.
Lavious nodded. “He is arrogant, especially in that he doesn’t even come personally. However, he will give in to the terms of an alliance.”
Part of me wanted to ask what the terms were, but I knew better than to overstep my place.
“Sevylia, you may retire to your chambers. Your servants can unpack your things in the morning. Get some rest; you have a long day tomorrow.”
Sevylia inclined her head. “Yes, Father.”
After the doors shut behind her, Lavious looked at me. “Now, tell me the events of your journey.”
I told him of the smooth trip to Xious’ house and told him all the details of Cexious’ assassination, and the battle afterward. I explained that I stayed for a few days of the celebrations, and then returned to Xious’ house. I told him we waited two days to ensure the attempts on her life stopped, before we started on our way back.
When I was finished, he stared at me for a minute or so without speaking. I stood still until he spoke. “The rest of Cexious’ army was defeated during that time. The remainder of his troops are either prisoners or have fled. As I mentioned before, Maxiveren and I already discussed the terms of diving up the Fixid Realm.” Lavious paused, still looking at me.
“What else?” I sensed there was more than he was letting on.
Lavious smiled cruelly before speaking. “Within the week, I have another assignment for you. Maxiveren’s Realm is in peril from the war. His people are starving and poor, his armies are weak. Now is the time to act!”
I couldn’t hide the smile on my face then, and I knew it mirrored his. “What do you have in mind?”
“The war has drained the Isvyesious Realm’s resources. His people are starving; therefore, he will need to import extra goods. He has had a long-term peace with the Outlying Lands across the Eious Sea. Ships will be coming in. The first step in gaining control is to stop their imports from coming in. That is where you come in. I’ll give you the details before you start off in one week’s time. For now, go and get sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
I nodded before walking out.
Lavious was a mad genius; stop the imports—with their ships getting attacked, even the Outlanders wouldn’t send in more. Starve the people out, cause possible revolts, spread his weak army even further, and then take out Maxiveren himself.
Meanwhile, as Isvyesious Realm’s only ally, Lavious, would gain complete control.
