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CALDORYN
The court is buzzing with energy,exhilarated by the events of the morrow. I note the clear disapproval of several members of my council, but rarely do they approve of any of my decisions that didn't involve them, believing I ought to check in with them before I take a single fart.
Iinherited the council from my grandfather. After he conquered every land on Nyxar, he pinned golden symbols on the chests of nine lords from the most powerful provinces. They're here to voice their concerns and vote on important matters, in order for the king to understand his lords' positions, but in actual fact, I don't needtheirapproval on anything at all. Their position holds no weight. It mostly exists to keep them in check by giving them the appearance of power and control.
Still, I'll have to manage them. I can't afford unhappy lords rebelling at home while I'm dealing with the threat of the south.
"The girl's settled," Silver tells me halfway through the morning.
I incline my head. I had Silver place one of her best guards with her, although Rhea's likely not under any threat. He'll handle her if she chooses to run, or whatever poor decisions she might make, such as opting to make use of the poison I let her keep.I can't wait to see what she'll do with it—and punish her for it.
She truly calls to my worst instincts.
"You're not questioning why I'm not having her killed?"
"Why would I?" The head of my guard shrugs. "You have a cock."
I chuckle."Vess is pissed about it."
Her eyes narrow slightly, but her voice remainsebullient as ever."He has a cock, too. I've given up trying to understand people with one of those appendages."
“Do you think he’s right?” I wonder. “That she poses a danger?”
Silver hesitates. “Vessorian, to my great frustration, is rarely mistaken. And I know someone out for blood when I see them. The girl hurt you.” Her shoulders rise and fall again. “But you can take it. And if she finds a way to hone her little claws, I’ll handle her.”
Silver is entirely confident in her skill, as she should be. She was right there last night, concealed by the shadows she blinds into, and would have severed Rhea’s pretty head if I hadn’t stopped her. A daughter of Khaos, she’s one of my strongest allies. The fact that she’s a half-pixie figures high among her long list of lethal skills. She’s almost always underestimated, overlooked. Even if she couldn’t disappear in the ether, she’d be the best possible guard any king could wish for.
“Don’t permanently damage her, please—even when she tries to murder me again.”
Silver sighs. “As I said. Cocks. There’s no making sense of you lot.”
“Like women are all rational,” I argue with an eye roll.
“I can’t speak for my entire gender, but I am fully capable of wanting to suck someone’s tits without letting them get away with literal murder.”
My mother approaches my dais, followed by her usual procession of priestesses.
"My king, my ladies came to your door last night only to be told you weren’t available,” she calls out loud, making a point of bringing as much attention as she can to her.
Of course they came. It is their prerogative to be fucked by the king. The social hierarchy places them above all the daughters of dukes and counts of the realm.
My smile disappears as it does every time I am forced to deal with Lucyan. “My excuses, High Priestess. As you may have wagered from the events of this morning, I was handling spies and murderers. No affront was meant to your lovely ladies.”
“You will see them tonight, then?” she insists.
Last time, she had one of them drink an antidote and cover herself in a poison that would have killed most men in an instant.I wonder which of them she bathed in poison. Likely, all of them.
I can’t blame the girls—they wouldn’t question their superior’s intentions if told to rub a certain ointment on their skins.
“How about now, Mother?” I counter.
She blanches, taken aback. She hasn’t made whatever preparations she wants to yet.
“Surely you have plans—”
“None as pleasing as satisfying your lovely disciples, I assure you.” I get to my feet and clap my hands twice to call for the general attention. “The priestesses of shade demand my favor, and I will offer it. We are in mixed company today—valued guests, if it offends your sensibilities, you are welcome to proceed to the dining hall where lunch will shortly be served.”
No one leaves, because Alleans are nothing if not hypocrites. They hide behind their rules and their shackling decency, but they’d love nothing more than to live as we do. Free.
