Chapter 33 Fools And Assumptions
Chapter Thirty-Three
Fools And Assumptions
Vivian
The doors to the throne room flew open, banging into the walls on either side.
The guards lining the room sprang into action, quick to defend their queen.
Luther had moved faster than her guards, his sword at the ready, placing himself between the intruders and her, only to lower it a moment later, when he realized that it was just her sons, returned from their mission.
“Stand down!” He barked at the guards, who immediately obeyed, falling back into their original positions. The two men striding towards them were disheveled, dirty, and downright pungent. Luther stepped aside.
Queen Vivian sat on her throne a few feet behind him, where she had been entertaining the tedious complaints of her citizens.
The man who had been kneeling before her, droning on and on about his lack of food or issue of some sort, had been pulled away the moment the doors banged open.
As if she would have helped him, or any of them, for that matter, anyway.
Yes, citizens had their place but their significance had no bearing if they didn’t serve her purpose.
She wasn’t responsible for their inability to provide for themselves.
The fools thought it was somehow her fault!
Ridiculous, but appearances must be upheld.
She only held audiences with her citizens because it was required of her in order to uphold the Peace Treaty.
So she sat, each week, listening to them prattle on about their trivial issues, a fake smile plastered on her face, a task that was getting harder to accomplish with each passing day.
She was still fuming over having to relinquish her hold of Varon back to that simpering, bleeding heart Sophiana.
The Tribunal had been a complete farce. Even though Vivian had seized control of Varon and was rightfully in charge of all council members, guards and soldiers, the damned fools had pushed back on every front.
Vivian had brought with her enough of her own support that she believed it wouldn’t be an issue.
She would not underestimate Varon’s loyalty to Sophiana and Rivka again.
Varon’s Ship Master, Bastian Ronan, had been the pivotal failing point for the Tribunal.
He had sent out multiple ships to “investigate”, in search of evidence of defection.
He had come up empty handed even though Vivian knew she’d planted evidence that should have been discovered.
She had only ruled for a short time, but it had proven that this was her destiny, to be queen of the realm of Diathan, to rule with the ultimate power, and she would be damned if anyone got in her way again.
“Luther, I am tired and wish to be finished with the day. Please see that the citizens are all removed from the palace.” Her tone dripped in disdain as she stood, her skirts swishing.
Dismissing the remaining citizens with a flick of her wrist, she turned her full attention to the two men walking towards her.
Shame flared in her cheeks. They knew how she felt about filth.
They were disgusting, looking more like the beggards that had been at her feet, than the crowned princes that they were.
They could have at least cleaned up before barging in here.
Surely this meant that they were successful in their mission and Alexandria was dead.
As her boys drew closer, it became evident that the filth she had taken for dirt was in fact darkened dried blood. Their clothes were hanging in shreds where their obvious injuries were, bruises mottling their faces.
The last of the citizens made their exit as Vivian’s anger rose, overtaking the initial shame at their interruption.
“There had better be a good reason why you thought it necessary to barge in here in front of my citizens, without a care to your disheveled and pathetic appearance. You’re dripping blood on my pristine floor for Kiel’s sake!
” Vivian’s lowered voice was full of menacing venom.
Both men came to a stop at her feet before kneeling down, bowing their heads, showing her the proper respect, before murmuring “Good day, Mother” in perfect unison.
“Get up.”
Erik helped Jackson to his feet before they gazed up at their mother. Her disappointment in them evident on her face. By now, the entire room had emptied except for the four of them, Luther having returned to stand next to his queen’s side.
“We have returned from our mission triumphant,” Erik said, a tentative smile spread across his face, as if he were waiting for her to praise him for his good deed.
Luther chuckled, the sound low and throaty.
The smile slowly drained from Erik’s face.
Vivian’s anger crackled like a storm cloud as she looked down upon them, her lips pulling back in a snarl.
“Here is not the place to be discussing such private matters. You will go clean yourselves up and see a healer. Report back to me over dinner in my private chambers. For now, not a word to anyone.”
Both men nodded their heads in acknowledgement.
“Yes, Mother.” They again answered, before turning to take their leave.
Bread crumbs and gravy dripped down Jackson’s chin as Luther stared at the boys in obvious disgust. The table was laden with soups, rolls, spiced meats, fruits, and cheeses.
Alexandria’s braid was splayed out next to Erik’s plate.
He waved it around from time to time as he animatedly reported an account of their mission.
Each twin took turns speaking between shoveling food into their mouths, each variation of the retelling growing more and more exaggerated.
Vivian lounged in her chaise listening, allowing them to ramble on.
“You mean to tell us that in just a few weeks, you successfully tracked down and killed Alexandria?” Luther demanded.
“Of course we did. We came straight here afterwards. We found her holed up with some man that she met in Kalmia before tracking her to Brynn.” Erik snarled back.
“You tracked her to Brynn and then what? You were just able to overtake her that easily? Was she injured already?” his tone was full of skepticism.
“She was just one girl.” Jackson bristled.
“One highly trained woman who is well known for her superior fighting skills and ability.”
“Well, we were better.” Erik shrugged.
Vivian, growing tired of their bickering, interceded.
“Tell us again exactly how you were able to kill her then. She obviously put up a fight.” She gestured at the stark white bandages covering their bodies.
Jackson looked to his left at Erik before tipping his chin to his chest, mumbling, “It would have been a lot faster if he hadn’t shown up again.”
Something dark flashed across Luther’s face. “He who?” he ground out. Erik glared at his brother, obviously realizing that he had just given Luther ammunition against them.
“It doesn’t matter, he’s a nobody and likely dead by now anyway.”
Vivian went still, her body rigid with rage. “You let yourself be seen, and you let him live!?”
The two men spluttered out feeble excuses on why he couldn’t possibly still be alive, but Vivian wasn’t having any of it.
“You let him live! You know to always secure any loose ends before you leave a scene!” Spinning towards Luther, her eyes blazing, “And you. You taught them to fight. Did you not bother to teach them proper disposal methods?”
“Oh no, my Queen, I taught them properly. However, I cannot control how well they listen or retain their teachings.” Luther spoke through clenched teeth.
A sharp clap came from the queen, and the twins quit their spluttering.
“Regardless, what is done is done. We can only hope that you are correct in your assumptions and they are both dead. You cannot afford to be wrong.” Vivian spat.
“We are done here. Take that trash and leave.” She gestured dismissively at Alexandria’s braid.
Bowing their heads, they rose from the table, Erik swiping Alex’s braid as he turned. Jackson followed his lead, shooting Luther a deadly glare, as they quietly blundered out of the room.
Vivan fell back onto her chaise, rubbing her temples vigorously. Luther moved over to sit at her feet, taking them into his lap, gently pulling off her shoes and placing them on the floor. He began massaging the arch of her right foot, allowing his fingers to trail suggestively up her calf.
“What do we do about this, Luther?” Vivian sighed as his hands worked their magic on her legs.
“We do nothing. There is no possible way to send someone to verify their deaths without drawing suspicion.” Luther murmured, his voice muffling as he placed a kiss on the top of her foot, dropping it as he reached for the other.
“What we really need to be concerned about is how to explain their appearances at court today. Too many citizens saw them. Rumors will abound.”
“That will actually work in our favor.” A wicked gleam filled her eyes.
“The province is under the impression that the twins were in Varon.” Luther didn’t interrupt, intent on his hands now massaging up the side of her calf.
“Clearly, they were ambushed in Varon and ruthlessly attacked, unprovoked.” She purred, looking down at Luther.
Lifting his head, his eyes met hers and his hands slowly pushed up her skirts. “I’ll spread the word immediately, my Queen. The province must be informed of the vile treachery Varon inflicted on their crown princes.”
Vivian watched Luther, where he was meticulously working his way up her legs, her wicked musings showing in her smile.
“Hold that thought, Luther dear. You have a more urgent need to attend to.” She let her legs fall open, grabbed his hair, and thrust his face exactly where she wanted it.
He would deny his queen nothing. He set to work, pleasing her exactly how she demanded. Everything else could wait.