Chapter 2 #2
“But a guardian allowing a royal in their care to come to harm is, no matter if it is self-inflicted or otherwise. And as both a king and her husband, it is my duty and my right to punish those who would harm her.” He picked up the cuff and inspected it.
Blood and gore clung to the ancient artefact.
“So I would be remiss in my duties to allow such things in my wife’s presence. ”
His magic exploded out from him in a wave. In his hand, the artefact crumpled in on itself. It fell from his hand and onto the floor as the clerics gasped in horror. A priceless treasure—destroyed. Aurora’s only way to gather allies to her side—gone.
“Come along now. You’ve enjoyed Her Holiness’ hospitality long enough.” The king held out his hand for her, his gaze uncompromising.
“Not on your life,” Aurora hissed back.
She had no doubt he would hurt her.
“And what of your general’s? Would you do so if his life were on the line?” he asked, eyeing Stentor with malice.
“To avoid further bloodshed, perhaps Her Highness should placate her husband,” Orithyia replied, cutting Aurora an uncompromising look.
Everything inside her balked. This was not the deal she’d struck. Flora and Orithyia were supposed to protect and aid her, not throw her to the wolves.
“I am not some piece of property for him to do with as he pleases!”
Even in the ancient past, women were not treated as objects by their husbands. They had all the same rights and privileges as men. Didn’t they?
“I may do with you whatever I please. It’s up to your adopted mother to bring a suit against me if she doesn’t agree with it.”
Aurora looked to the high priestess with alarm. He must be twisting the laws to suit himself.
Orithyia sighed, aggrieved.
“Until you are officially crowned queen of Aureum, it is at Queen Flora’s sole discretion to punish a fellow noble or monarch on behalf of her daughters as the matriarch of your adopted family.
Just as it is within any elder’s discretion.
Only orphans or those who are granted emancipation from their matriarch or patriarch are exempted and allowed to bring suits for themselves.
King Theron is the eldest living relative of his bloodline.
He has the powers of a patriarch over you until you become queen. Geriarchy is the law of Trisia.”
Blood drained from Aurora’s face as her jaw went slack.
How could she have known that when she’d signed her name to Queen’s Flora’s family register?
She’d given away her ability to bring a suit against Theron herself the moment she’d become Flora’s pawn.
Was there no recourse, no protection, save for begging that heartless queen to act on her behalf? Was she truly at the mercy of the king?
“The army—” she began.
“Is not to be used against the King of Aureum unless you wish to begin a war without Queen Flora’s permission,” Orithyia cut her off.
Her vile husband advanced on her and offered her his arm.
“It’s time to leave.”
“I won’t,” she hissed, her nails biting into the arms of the chair.
If she left with him, he would hurt her. No one would stop him. She had no allies, and no escape.
“You can either leave on my arm, or over my shoulder,” he threatened.
“I’ll do neither, and if you touch me again, I’ll—”
“What? Use your magic against me? When you needed that torture device just to summon it? I think not.”
“Have a care, Your Majesty. If any harm comes to her while under your care, Queen Flora will hear about it,” Orithyia added.
Aurora dared to hope until Theron chuckled.
“Is that one of your ploys, Your Holiness? To subject my wife to abuse under your watch and then place the blame on me? If so, it’s a rather transparent bid to stir trouble.
And even more reason for me to ensure these private meetings of yours are severely curtailed.
” He turned his gaze on Aurora then. She felt like a mouse cornered by a vicious cat.
“So what will it be? Your hand on my arm, or your body over my shoulder?”
“I will dine and rest in the high priestess’ tent tonight,” Aurora ground out.
His eyes lit with satisfaction.
“The shoulder it is, then.”
He hauled her up and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of grain, knocking the wind out of her. She pounded on his back and twisted in his grasp, but she might as well have tried to move a mountain.
“Let me go, you bastard!”
“Make me. Use your fairy magic—if you can. Age me, escape my grasp. I’ll wait,” he taunted her. “Your Holiness.” He nodded to the high priestess.
“Your Majesty,” she sighed.
“As for you, Stentor, I’ll decide on your punishment tomorrow. If you don’t run back to Boreas before daybreak, that is.”
“Orithyia, please!” Aurora pleaded.
“Don’t make this more humiliating for yourself than it already is, Your Highness,” the high priestess replied.
As the king turned to leave the tent, Orithyia had only a look of bitter disappointment etched into her face.
The soldiers who followed them out kept their eyes averted from hers.
The rain was coming down in earnest now, soldiers, clerics, and nobles’ attendants rushing to set up their tents.
It left fewer people as witnesses to the display Theron made of carrying her over his shoulder but left her soaked by the time they neared the awning of the gold tent.
“Put me down!” she shrieked.
“Have my bath and attire been laid out for the evening?” he asked one of the soldiers, ignoring her.
“Yes, Your Majesty, as well as your supper.”
“And my wife’s?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
Aurora continued fighting his grip, pounding her fists on his back. She grabbed his long red braid and pulled on it with a vicious yank.
He groaned.
“Damn you, I know you can hear me! Put. Me. Down.”
Theron smacked her bottom instead, the shocking loudness rather than pain making her yelp.
“I’ve tolerated your violence as far as I’m willing to in public. Pull my hair again, and I’ll punish you accordingly.”
“Says the man taking me to his tent so he can find new ways to hurt and kill me. Fuck you!” She wrapped his braid around her wrist and pulled harder. “Go ahead, hit me. I’ll become the new glass princess for Flora if it means you get what you deserve, agent of chaos,” Aurora hissed.
The soldiers guarding the tent’s awning held the flap aside.
Inside, attendants bustled about a structure made entirely of gold fabric.
Gold and deep blue rugs covered the ground.
Gold accented wooden trunks littered the cavernous space.
A bed big enough for two giants sat furthest inside, the sheets blue with gold embroidery.
Stylish wooden chairs with blue pillows and golden tassels perched on the seats sat tucked into a sturdy, elegantly carved wooden table laden with food and wine.
To the side, a large copper tub was being filled with steaming water.
All around the edges were thick painted pillars holding the structure aloft, while a central pillar, taller than the others, held the fabric up even higher.
Braziers kept the inside bright and warm, the flickering flames catching on the subtle patterns woven into the tent’s fabric.
Theron’s tent was more ostentatious than even Fae’s. There was no doubt in Aurora’s mind who it belonged to—and it wasn’t her.
“Everyone out,” he commanded.
A chorus of “Your Majesty” accompanied many bows before the attendants took their leave.
Aurora felt sick dread curling in her gut.
He tossed her from his shoulder. The wet silk of her gown tangled around her legs, upsetting her balance before she landed on her rear.
She got to her feet only to have the king crowd her against the central pillar.
“What did you call me?” he asked, his voice no less threatening for the soft whisper in which he’d said it.
She sank her nails into the wooden beam at her back for support.
“Agent. Of. Chaos,” she retorted.
“I had no intention of harming you this eve, but if you slander me with that accusation again, I will gag you.”
As if she would believe that.
“It’s only slander if it’s not true, Your Majesty.”
“Don’t test me, Aurora.”
Rage consumed her fear and good sense. What point was there in keeping her composure when he was determined to play the villain?
How dare he threaten her when he was the one who had created the very monster that would kill the people she loved.
Her magic surged from her, feeding on her emotions and seething without purpose.
“You created Drakon! And then you created dozens more just like him. You brought about the calamity that killed Fae! You killed her and millions more. And then you lied about it. You knew this whole time where Drakon was and you lied. You put the whole of Trisia in peril because you’re a bloodthirsty tyrant who delights in Lies, Vengeance, and Death!
What else would you be but an agent of chaos?
! Tell me, Your Majesty.” The more she spoke, the more furious he became, and yet she couldn’t stop.
“Or have your sinister goddesses prevented you from ever speaking truth? Is your thread dyed with all their colours, garnet for the death you bestow, onyx for the lies you spew, and quartz for the vengeance you seek against the Divine Triad?”
“Those beasts can’t even fly, never mind do any of the things you’ve shown your beast capable of! And you have never once been entitled to the military secrets of my kingdom!”
“Is that all you have to say in your defence?!”
“What about all your secrets, Aurora? I’m not the only one who’s told lies.
How did you know about the relics if you weren’t already one of Orithyia’s minions?
! How did you know the palace’s hidden places if you weren’t one of Flora’s creatures?
! Just admit you’ve been plotting against my kingdom this whole time. ”
Aurora laughed bitterly.
“I don’t need to plot against your kingdom! Whatever you fail to destroy, Drakon will finish!”