Aydra was visibly holding in her laughter when Dorian slumped in his chair. She held the pipe out for him to light, then settled back herself.
“Sounds exhausting,” she teased with her exhale.
“It is. I don’t know what I can do,” Dorian said.
“Stop trying so hard,” Aydra replied. “Perhaps corner him in the library one night—You know, that is a fantasy I have yet to fulfill,” she added.
“Really? The library?” Dorian frowned. “Seems more like a Nyssa fantasy.”
Aydra smiled his way. “It does.”
“—Do you two plan on joining, or were you just going to sit on your pompous royal asses while Corbin and I defend the kingdom?”
Aydra and Dorian’s conversation was interrupted at the sound of Lex shouting up to them.
“Free entertainment,” Aydra called down, a grin on her lips. “Keep fighting.”
“That sounds like a command, Your Majesty,” Lex mocked.
“Perhaps it is,” Aydra said back. “I’ve not seen my Second battle in such scantily clad clothing in months. I should think it a time to take advantage of the display.”
Lex chuckled, hands resting on her narrow hips, hair falling over her eyes. “You should join us.”
“Dear Dorian will,” Aydra said with a nod to him. “He needs to work off some of his breakfast, so he has room for all the food tastings later.”
Dorian exhaled the smoke. “You’re not wrong,” he agreed in a grunt. He relaxed further in the chair as he met Corbin’s eyes, and the sweating Belwark was giving him a once over that almost made Dorian shift. But he played it off and leaned his head back against the throne, returning the leer with a dart of his tongue over his lips.
“Food tastings?” Lex repeated, twirling her sword. “And what of you, my Queen? What duties will I be accompanying you on this afternoon?”
“We are to meet Rhaif in the courtyard in—“ Aydra looked up at the sun “—an hour.”
Lex stopped twirling the sword, all thought of their previous banter forgotten. “What for?” she asked in a pained stretch.
“Picking out decorations for tomorrow’s banquet,” Aydra replied. “We’re hosting all of Haerland. I imagine he will want white roses on every table. Extravagant displays of gold.”
“Do you know what would look better?” Lex asked.
“Black roses and crystals and gold trim?” Aydra replied.
“Yes,” Lex agreed.
Aydra held up the pipe as though she were cheers’ing a glass. “Perhaps one day,” she said, though, by the tone, Dorian wasn’t sure he believed her. “I should go change and gather my day crown,” Aydra muttered, sliding to the edge of her chair. “Will you meet me out front?” she asked Lex.
A moment of silence rested between them, and Lex twirled her sword a few more times. “I’ll be there,” Lex finally stiffened out.
Lex turned back to Corbin and instructed him to set up, obvious that they were going to take a little longer in their sparring before heading inside. Dorian sat up in his seat and took a final draw of the herb.
“Do you want me to go to market too?” Dorian asked in a low voice.
Aydra hesitated, watching the Seconds battle for a long moment before responding with, “I’ll be okay, Dorian.”
“I don’t like—“
“Dorian,” and her tone was a warning.
Jaw tightening, he leaned over his elbows, resisting the urge of his frustrations.
“Hey—“ Aydra said, standing up and crossing her arms over her chest in front of him. “You don’t need to protect me,” she told him.
