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“Are you absolutely certain that she’s not a Siren?” said Elder Elfaron. “We’ve been watching you both closely since her arrival. Your Majesty, please pull yourself together.”
“Don’t Sirens look gnarled and sickly?” his strategist Elder Lucius inquired.
Travus rolled his eyes. “How would I know? Have we ever even met a Siren? I could only wish Princess Mierna was one given how my death would’ve been guaranteed in some way.”
“I think they drown men first to kill them before they–”
“Enough!”
It was Elder Furtow, Travus’s advisor, who looked ready to cross over at any given moment. His loose skin clung to his skull that bore a few lucky remnants of stark white hair. Despite his appearance, his voice was strong, and his mind was sound.
“Travus, your majesty, we need your full attention on the plans at hand. Princess Mierna poses a risk to security at this rate. Are you sure she’s well confined within the walls of the castle?”
“She’s a Nymph, Furtow. She can’t fly out like a Fairy whenever she pleases.”
“What about any familiars?”
“She has no pets.”
“Have her belongings been searched?”
Travus sighed. He didn’t understand the paranoia. “Even if Princess Mierna had the ability to wield magic like a Fairy or Human would, what could she do with it? We have an army outside the walls and borders that are conquering the rest of the Orc territories in Vihnmen as we speak. We’ve brought their Council to their knees and are going to confiscate their Council Stone. Thenwhatis it that we’re worried about?”
“You,” Furtow said firmly. “Your mind. When we encouraged you to consider this union, we didn’t thinkyou would go ahead and impose your own terms without consulting us. Thirty days, Travus?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“No matter!” he snipped. “Had you approved this union immediately, our efforts would’ve been doubled in speed.You’rethe one who wants the Council Stone of each nation.You’rethe one we’re aiding in this conquest. Yetyouare the one who is hardly present with us.”
Travus sighed, but there was nothing to refute. Elder Furtow wasn’t wrong.
“What would it take to calm your concerns?” he asked quietly and crossed his arms. “Should I turn the Princess’s room upside down? Lock her doors and windows? Throw her in the dungeon perhaps?”
Elfaron rolled his eyes. “For goodness’s sake, your majesty. All this requires is sending in someone to ensure if who you have here istrulyPrincess Mierna and not a decoy.”
“The decoy is at the Nexis palace.”
“Oh?” Elfaron laughed. “And you believe them?”
“That’s the blood contract,” he pointed to the scroll on the table. “Should she break any of these terms, she will be immediately killed. In my case, I would be afflicted with eternal pain.”
Lucius was closest to the scroll, and he pulled it open to read through. He swore under his breath. “There’s a clause that states we cannot intrude or crusade into Nexis. We can’t send a spy.”
“Not intentionally,” Furtow offered, and Travus glared at him.
“Do you want to risk inflicting me with perpetual agony over a gamble?”
“There are always loopholes,” he explained. “Should the woman we have here not be the real Princess but a spy, Nexis is ours for the taking without expending resources. Why not make haste?”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Travus said sternly. “I have enough grievances to deal with as it is. A little patience will kill no one. Focus on completing our mission over Vihnmen for now.”
The Elders let out dissatisfied sounds as Travus stepped out of the Council Hall, making his way through the gallery that led to the main part of the castle. Despite the fresh cold air of the gardens, his head hurt, his heart was heavy, and his body buzzed as if restless for something.
But for what?
A sound caught his ears, and he looked over to see a disgruntled Princess Mierna ordering his servants around, sending them up to the windows to clean them.
Now he knew why the castle felt so bright this morning.
