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“You can’t,” Aria said as she gestured for the scroll, she gave him the last time. Opening it up, she began pointing around the map of Midges, the nation of Dwarves, drawing Arthur’s attention to their Silver-rock Reserves. The largest of the two were marked as areas of interest. “I’m suspecting these are the places they will try to infiltrate. They need silver rock for weapons, and they plan on cutting off theDwarves' access to it while creating their own line of supply to it. They neighbor Eldoria, after all. Shouldn’t be difficult.”
“The Elves shouldn’t risk it if they know what’s good for them,” Arthur said thoughtfully. “These might be the largest mines, but they’re also extremely unstable. The Dwarves are the only ones skilled enough to mine from them without it collapsing.”
“Assuming that Travus’s strategist is aware and intends to use that to their advantage, it means the Dwarves need reinforcements,” Aria offered as she reached into her satchel for parchment and ink. “I’ll write out a message for you to take to my second-in-command. Her name is Callie. She’ll know what to do, but your troops need to be involved. I can’t send my Sentinels to reason with them without evidence.”
“Ah…” his voice faltered. “This means I have no choice. I’llhaveto come clean to Princess Mierna.”
“Do you want power and respect?” she asked absently as she scribbled away on the parchment.
“Of course.”
“Do you want to be her equal?”
“Obviously.”
“Thus, you can marry her openly,” she reasoned while signing off the message. “Is that not what you want?”
Arthur didn’t reply, so she looked up from her scribbling to find him looking at her with a twinge of guilt and conflict in his eyes.
“Um…” Her eyes flitted around nervously. “Arthur, what’s wrong?”
Her heart was beating fast as he tore his gaze off her, his lips set in a thin line as he shook his head. “My apologies. It’s nothing.”
“Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts about this mission. We’ve come this far.”
“On the contrary,” he promised. “If anything, I’m more than willing to lay down my life for you in this endeavor should it ever come to that.”
Aria snorted behind her hand teasingly. “Princess Mierna wouldn’t be pleased if she heard this. Sounds like you’re reconsidering your loyalties, Sir Arthur.”
When Arthur’s cheeks turned a deep shade of red, she stopped laughing. Suddenly all mischief turned to feelings of betrayal.
Even anger.
“Arthur,” she almost growled under her breath, “your love and loyalty lies with Princess Mierna. She’s the reason this mission is even happening in the first place.”
“I understand,” he said. “This isn’t to say I wish to be unfaithful to her. She’s the Princess after all, and I could never do that to her.”
“Then?” Aria demanded. “What’s changed?”
“You and I are equals,” he said. “Not just in status, but in our efforts. If anything, you’re more powerful than Princess Mierna, given how you have the freedom to do as you please despite being the prospective candidate for the next Fairy Guardian.”
Aria couldn’t deny it, but she failed to see how it influenced his feelings for her. It was beginning to sound like his ego was rearing its ugly head out from the long-suppressed confines.
“Convenience,” she reasoned. “The convenience of my company is what’s causing you to sway, Arthur. Trust me, I’m unbearable.” She stood up from their table and began sealing the message for Callie with an uncomfortable weight in her chest. “Besides, I hold affection for no one. No lovers for me, remember?”
Arthur nodded solemnly. “I apologize for making you uncomfortable. I’m not taking myself seriously given the current circumstances and the stress of it all.”
“Exactly,” she replied encouragingly and stood up straight ready to leave. “Emotions can’t be trusted during these times. I wish you well.”
Tipping his hood in acknowledgment, Arthur pocketed the letter and gathered his things before exiting the tavern, leaving Aria feeling guilty and confused.
She also felt very worried, hoping that Arthur would find himself brave enough to reveal the situation to Princess Mierna immediately, or everything would be for nothing.
Chapter 9
As Arthur walked alongside the heir to Nexis’s throne, Princess Mierna, his lover of many years, he pondered the reasons for his love and affection toward her.
Was it only because she was the most beautiful of all women he’d ever known? It couldn’t be. Aria was beautiful to him in her own right, but he couldn’t bring himself to compare her to Mierna like he compared other women. Both of them were amazing women in different ways, and Arthur found himself drawn to Aria, in ways he never considered possible.
