It’s been four days.
Her brown eyes flick up at me momentarily before they’re somewhere else. As the sunlight hits her hair, it warms it to a rich brown. Despite the flowing conversations around me, I can’t focus as I watch her follow her other comrades across the room to line against the far wall.
“King Cyrus?” Devin says loudly.
Shaking my fascination off, I turn to him. “Yes? Sorry, what was it?”
He motions to the Academy representative. “Calldwin from the Academy asked if in two weeks it would be possible to attend for the class of twenty-two. If so, we may need to reschedule the audit of Kilamber dragonblades.”
“I see no problem with it. I trust Kilamber can wait a week while I’m at the Academy. Will that be enough, Calldwin?” I respond.
Calldwin bows his head with a gracious smile. “That would be wonderful, my King.”
“Unless, Devin, you’d prefer to go to Kilamber in my stead?” I face him.
He lifts his eyes to me with a small nod. “If it’s what you wish, my King, it shall be done.”
A clashing of metal rings out, followed by muffledshouts of surprise. We all turn to find the soldiers lining the walls are in a scuffle, and I stand, shoving my chair back against the floor with a screech. Devin races there first, and within a few moments the other guards and Devin pull apart two soldiers. One of them is Marcella.
Her eyes are wild, teeth bared at the other guard. Devin snatches her arm and pulls her away. I nearly trip over my own feet as I toss an apology to those still at the dinner table to go after them. As I get to the top landing of the stairs and Devin and Marcella are out of sight, I turn down the hallway and shout, “Devin, wait.”
He pauses at the end of the hall, still holding Marcella.
Both of them turn, Devin’s expression pinching at my presence. “My King, she has broken the guard code. She must be reprimanded and released at once.”
I close the distance between us in rapid strides. “I’ll manage the reprimanding myself.” I take her arm from him.
“But…the council and the town representatives?”
I don’t often use my tone to my advantage, but for Devin, it seems I have to often. “This is a matter I’ll handle, Devin. Return to the dining room and take note of the conversations. You’ll fill me in later. Don’t agree nor disagree to anything until I’ve come back.”
He dips his head, and I don’t wait to watch him disappear as I lead her down the hallway. As soon as we are out of sight, I drop my hand on her arm.
“What are you doing?” she hisses.
Not slowing my pace, I keep my eyes on the path ahead, leading her to my office. “Walking, of course.”
“No, I mean why are you interfering in guard matters when you should be focused on much larger things?”
“Larger things? What makes you believe that guard matters are not in my focus?” I twist the doorknob to my office open and step in.
She’s right in after me, and I shut the door. The room is unlit. Only a half moon’s light spills in, with dim starlight from the distant heavens. The massive windowpane frames my desk wonderfully, calling up my memories of her there. I look away quickly.
“Well,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “Does that mean this is where you announce I shall be dishonorably discharged? I would have rather Devin done so, respectfully, my King.”
My eyebrows quirk at her brashness. She reminds me just of Devin. Perhaps that’s why the two are so against each other, because they’re so similar. Lifting my chin, I copy her by crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back against the wall near the door. “No, actually. Doing so would be foolish.”
“And why is that?”
“Because despite your…hardheadedness, you are quite the asset.”
Her eyes narrow as she flicks her hand out toward the window. “Are you saying this because I just let you fuck me on your desk several days ago?”
“N-no,” I scoff, shaking my head. Her blatant disregard for herself and her skills bubbles some sort of agitation in me. Agitation that she’d think I’m so simple as to be swayed by the warmth of a woman over the truth. “I don’t care what you would’ve let me done, when the truth is you’re far more skilled than the rest of our guards. And I don’t think you’re the kind of person to strike another guard without good reason. Insinuating that I’m only saving you for the selfish reasons of the flesh is disappointing. It almost makes me wish that I hadn’t touched you, if it meant you questioning my character and morals. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Her hardened demeanor drops, eyes flicking down to the floor before they’re over at the desk. For a moment, she’s quiet. Until, “You regret it then?”
“No, of course not. Do you?”
