14
"Why are the servants scared of you?"
The question wasdirect and shot like an arrow into Aaron's chest. He rolled his shoulders back as he kept focus on their game. In the back of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if she was using such direct questions as a distraction.
"And what makesye think they're scared of me?" he asked as he moved his rook to conquer her bishop. There was no reaction from her as he swiped her piece off the board. It was almost as if she wasn't fully into the game. A smirk stretched across his lips as he realized he didn't have to try so hard to win — the game was already his.
"Oh, I don't know,"Izzy said, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Maybe it had something to do with that woman on the dancefloor. I know you heard her. Why does she think you're going to kill me? Why did my servants ask if I wanted a way to escape?"
"Did they now?I think maybe I should have a talk with them."
"Please don't do that,"she said. "I didn't bring it up to get anyone in trouble. In fact, I just want to understand my new home. It seems everyone here is walking on eggshells, and it's strange to live under such conditions."
"Aye,well, that's the price of rumors," Aaron answered. "Some can be beneficial. Others can kill and destroy. In me case, the rumor has ruined me."
"You're not ruined."
Aaron's chesttightened as he drew his attention to her. There was no concern or malice lingering in the depths of her gray eyes. It was unnerving to see someone so fierce and brave face him head on. But it was her compassion that stirred the embers of his heart. How lovely she looked in the dim glow of the fire.
"Me family perishedin a fire that many of the clan think I started," Aaron confessed as he watched her shift her queen out of his attack. Izzy's eyes widened as her shoulders dropped. The expression on her face was more than shock.
"Why on earthwould anyone start such a horrid rumor?" Izzy asked. The pain in her voice was unexpected. Aaron's body tensed. When was the last time he had felt compassion? It hadbeen decades since he stepped into his father's role. And it was the last time any kindness had been bestowed to him. Yet, despite her stating how she wouldn't touch him, her words and character did just that.
"I have been askin'myself that question since I took the role," Aaron confessed as he moved his queen into position. "Check mate."
Izzy's attentionshifted to the board. Her shoulders dropped in defeat as she looked over all the players remaining. Slowly her eyes shifted back to him. There was a spark in them that hadn't been there before. And before he could even ask what she was plotting, her hand swooped over the board as she reached for a slice of apple from the tray, scattering the pieces every which way.
"Oh my,would you look at that? Now we will never know who really won," she said with a playful smirk pulling up the corners of her lips. Aaron couldn't help but chuckle at her childishness. She was like a breath of fresh air coming off the sea. And the smugness on her face as she nibbled on the slice made her nearly irresistible.
"That'show ye play is it?" Aaron said with a hearty chuckle that bounced off the chamber walls. "Well, remind me never to let ye into the war room. Ye'll bring down the whole clan with antics like that."
"Who ever heardof a woman bringing down an empire?" Izzy snickered.
"Oh now, what was her name?"Aaron tapped on his chin as he fought the smile on his face. "Helen of Troy. That's the name."
"A myth.I'm talking about someone that was real."
"Women arethe cause of many wars. History is filled with the proof. All ye got to do is ken where to look."
"You can't really believewomen cause wars," Izzy argued as she started picking up the pieces she had scattered.
"Aye,well, until I see otherwise, I'll believe what I will," he replied as he started for the meat on the tray. Staring at the food, he suddenly wished he had brought more up. The thought of having to go all the way to the kitchen for more seemed like too much of a chore.
"Doyou think your servants see you as a brute?" Izzy asked as she fiddled with the chess pieces on her side of the board.
"Maybe;daenae really care. There's nay changin' someone's mind once they've made it up on a matter."
"What if we could?"she asked. Her question befuddled him. He tilted his head as confusion tickled his brain. "What if we could change their minds?"
"Isnae there somethin'else ye could be doin' with yer time? Why waste it on me? The clan willnae change, and I cannae force them to do so. Besides, it works. There's peace. Why fixsomethin' that isnae broke? Seems to be creatin' more work than there needs to be."
"Don'tyou want the admiration of your people? Or to dispel the rumors flying around you?" Izzy asked with a heavy sigh. Aaron glanced at her, noticing the shift in her mood. It was as if the light in the room was muddled. Aaron could feel the tension shift a moment as he studied her.
"Everyone has rumors circlin'them," Aaron countered.
"Not everyone,"Izzy insisted.
"And you daenae thinkye've got rumors follow ye around? Surely there's a reason ye had nae married yet. Ye're how old? Older than twenty?" he said.
