Dinner Guest #3
He strained his eyes to see anything moving in that smothering darkness.
Something moved. Sinuously. Then she appeared.
She wore black leather, but little of it as was the Kindreth way.
A leather bra-like top that barely contained her creamy, white breasts and a skirt that was slit all the way up to her hip that clung to her voluptuous curves and wasp-like waist. Boots that were more straps than actual boots were laced up to mid-calf and he could see her long, muscled legs as she strolled towards him.
One long-nailed hand running along the tops of the chairs.
Her shimmering white hair tumbled down her shoulders and nearly reached her waist. Her smiling lips were as crimson as her eyes.
“Lady Eliana Vex,” Vesslan said her name carefully as if it was poisoned. “How unexpected to see you.”
Her smile grew. “But a pleasant surprise, I’m sure.”
“Of course, it is.” It was not. But he had no choice but to say otherwise. Their deal had helped him immensely and she had yet to ask for what she wanted in return. And he still needed her. “Just coming to the Eryas Palace is perhaps not wise–”
“Oh? Why not? After all, other than yourself, the whole royal family is in Hope,” she tittered and pointed vaguely with one of those long fingers in the direction of the nearby Separatist settlement.
“What?!” He nearly leaped from his chair, but he stopped himself. His eyes went to the still and unseeing, unbreathing servants. They were still the same. Her power was incredible. She was said to be second only to her brother in power so… “What do you mean? Aquilan wouldn’t go to Hope–”
“He’s got barbeque sauce on his chin and is dancing with humans. Well, mostly humans,” she tittered as she reached the chair beside his.
He blinked rapidly. “I… I don’t…”
It couldn’t be true! Not even Aquilan was foolish enough to go to Hope and give the Separatists legitimacy!
He couldn’t believe it! And she was suggesting his children were there too.
Maybe Elasha he could believe as she was cozy–too cozy–with Rohannan’s daughter, but his son?
Darcassan would rather dig out his eyes with dull spoons than spend time with people, let alone humans! ”
“They are having a festival. Quite joyous and loud.” She pulled out the chair and gracefully slid into it.
She reached out and took his plate for her own, plucking the fork and knife from his numb fingers.
She began to cut the beef into small squares and moved it through the cooling sauce.
“And Aquilan is at the heart of it. As are your children.”
He made a sound. It was almost forced out of him. She patted his arm gently as she chewed a piece of beef.
“Ah, delicious! Such a world of plenty, you have found here,” she said, taking his wine and taking a large swallow from it. “You truly have my sympathy, Vesslan. I know exactly what it feels like to have wayward children. Maybe even unpardonable children. It’s so sad.”
He blinked and stared at her. She sounded as if her children, too, were somehow involved in this. But the thought of Vexes running around Hope with Aquilan and his children would be ridiculous! She likely was just speaking generally.
“You’re used to your family betraying you,” he found himself saying.
Her red eyes narrowed fractionally, but then she smiled and laughed. “Yes, yes, too true. One can’t be a true Vex unless you have a dagger hidden beyond your back! I could almost call you an honorary one, Vesslan! Do you still have that hidden dagger for your brother?”
His expression went neutral. “I have things under control here regardless of who sits on the throne.”
“Yes, but you intended to be the one sitting there. I suppose you hoped that Aquilan would be a useful idiot.” She tilted her head to the side. “He’s so pretty, but not as empty-headed as you thought.”
“He went to Hope. I think that takes intelligence right out of the picture,” Vesslan muttered and went to reach for his wine, but she still was drinking it.
He cast around for another wine glass, but there was only the decanter on the sideboard and drinking out of that would have been a little obvious that he was nervous at her presence.
“Oh, Vesslan, I’m so sorry! I’m depriving you of this delicious wine! We can share. I’m not like my brother! I don’t give my allies crumbs, but equal amounts.”
She pressed the glass against his lips. The exact spot where she had drunk.
Her lipstick could be poisoned. It likely was poisoned.
But he found himself opening his lips as she poured some of the wine into his mouth.
He held the liquid in his mouth for a moment, wondering if he was about to die, but then swallowed it.
She still needed him for something. She wouldn’t kill him.
Yet.
“I appreciate that. I wish I had known you were coming and we could have shared a whole meal,” he said.
She dragged another piece of beef through the sauce. “Next time, dear Vesslan. I can only stay a little while.”
He wondered why. But knew better than to ask.
“So what is it that brought you here if only for a short time?” he pressed again.
“Our plans, Vesslan,” she said.
“Our…”
“Yes, our plans. Yours to rule the Aravae,” she smiled, “and mine…”
“Yours?”
“To rule the Kindreth.”
His expression went flat. “You think to overthrow your brother?”
“Yes. I know that it sounds impossible. But it isn’t. You see,” here, she took another swallow of wine, “it can be done. And I have figured out how. But I require your help.”