Chapter 17 #2
She needed a moment away from all the tension. A moment to just feel normal. A moment to, somehow, explain to Apollo without explaining.
To keep her future beyond this week with Argos from going up in flames.
“He’s quieter than your usual,” said Apollo in a low voice, just between the two of them, as they walked ahead.
Theora scoffed. “Not when you get to know him.” She looked up at him. “And do I have a ‘usual’?”
Apollo smirked. “Depends on which age we’re counting as official.”
“Oh, Sovereign, no. The suitors before I turned eighteen certainly don’t count.
” Theora grinned as Apollo took the hand that held his arm perhaps a bit too tight.
“Anyway, they were just boys to dance with, with a lot of charm and pedigree and not much else. We both know…I was never very good at romance.”
He looked at her, his expression tender. “You were never allowed to be. Chaperones wherever you went…expectations laid on you. Who could ever fall in love under those circumstances?”
They were both quiet for a moment, understanding exactly what he meant.
“My angel,” he said. “We both know that it was a bit of an…unspoken understanding that the two of us would marry.”
Guilt plagued Theora’s gut. “Yes. I know.”
“And, well, when Venita arranged for me to join you here, I was under the impression that…” He trailed off with the smallest of shrugs. “But I suppose you weren’t married then.”
Theora chewed on her lip. “When did she arrange it?”
“As soon as the peace talks were scheduled.” He watched her, as if to see her reaction, then shrugged again. “It’s more than obvious now that she didn’t tell you. But you know Venita. Meddling, whether we like it or not.”
“I’m sure she meant it as a nice surprise,” Theora said quickly. “And it is. I just…I never expected the roses.”
Apollo let out an awkward chuckle. “Do we have to talk about it? I thought perhaps you were going to let me die from embarrassment in peace.”
“Please don’t be embarrassed, it’s not your fault.”
“It’s no one’s fault really. Just…an unfortunate result of our circumstances.” He lowered his brows at the darkness ahead of them. “I feel as if I’m about to come across as a villain.”
“A villain? Apollo. Never.”
He took a breath. “Even if you weren’t dear to me, even if we didn’t know each other well, I think we can both agree that there was a…point in pairing us together.”
Theora’s gut twisted. “Did Venita send you to say this?”
“I’ve been in politics a long time, Theora,” Apollo said with a sigh.
“I don’t need my big sister to tell me that you marrying Argos was a risky step, for you and the validity of your reign.
If he can provide the same security I could, then I’m all for what makes you happy.
But most of parliament has similar views to Venita—they won’t accept a Warrior as a part of Docile society, as a suitable match for a queen. ”
“Then they can burn in hell.”
“This is serious, angel. I’m worried for you. If the novelty of a Warrior isn’t enough to distract from…” He didn’t say it. Didn’t have to. They both knew he was speaking of her lack of magic.
An issue Theora had hoped to shove aside until the peace talks were dealt with.
“I need you to trust,” said Theora, “that I know what I’m doing.”
“Tell me what you’re doing. Let me help you.”
“I-I—” She took his hands firmly in hers, as if that would transfer the message to him. “I can’t.”
He frowned at her. Studied her. “We’ve never kept secrets before.”
They stopped at the edge of the next cavern, and Apollo looked toward the rest of their party approaching to see how close they were. Theora looked, too, to make sure she had time…Time to make him understand that Argos would be gone in a week and life had to go on as before.
Apollo squeezed her hand. “It was…so hard.” He took a breath, as if holding back tears. “Losing my sister. And then I wasn’t even allowed to attend her funeral before I lost proximity to you.”
Theora’s gut twisted again. “Venita knew you would be safer abroad, and she was right.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to be where it’s safest. I want to be where my talents can be of use. Where I can be of service to my queen…” He gave her a slow look that was as poignant as it was determined. “Where I can protect you.”
Tears pricked the backs of Theora’s eyes.
“Aranea has never had a queen without magic. We don’t know what they’ll do to you, if—” Apollo leaned closer, and Theora thought for a moment that he might kiss her. Instead he halted, with a breath as desperate as hers. “I don’t want to lose you, too, Theora.”
She swallowed, far too many memories sweeping through her mind at his words.
He was right. Of course he was right. Still, Boada had told her to keep the plan secret…
But perhaps she could tell him indirectly.
And the only way she could think of was “Don’t do anything life-changing before you’ve spoken to me next week. ”
Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that. Perhaps he would give them away as false now. But she didn’t want to lose Apollo as a friend, just as much as she needed him to legitimize her rule. And she refused to marry a man who resented her.
Apollo leaned back enough to search her face.
Enough to understand, at the very least, that they would always be friends, that she would never abandon him, that she would take care of him as if he were still someone special to the queen.
That, if he could hold on for just a week, things would be different.
He glanced at Argos approaching, before kissing both of her hands. “Thank you, angel.”
And then he quickly held out his hand to Venita, who was looking self-satisfied as she closed the gap between them, as if she had single-handedly matched them. “Stay close, Nita. I would never forgive myself if my pregnant sister missed the gangway and fell off the ferry.”
“Oh, shut up, Apollo,” Venita said good-naturedly, squeezing her brother’s cheeks as he helped her onto the first step so she could continue up the ramp.
“I wouldn’t forgive myself,” he said, leaning close to Theora, “but I’d certainly laugh.”
Theora covered her mouth to hide a small chuckle, though it was cut off when she felt Argos pull her against him by the waist.
Right. It was time to get back to work.
The path to the famous lagoon was either a walking path through various caverns or a ferry ride on an underground river, enclosed by a sparkling tunnel.
Theora was thankful Apollo had chosen the ferry, although she was certain it was so that his sister wouldn’t have to walk so much.
She was also thankful that the conversations from lunch hadn’t carried over.
Since she’d spoken to Apollo, he seemed at ease, and even escorted Venita to a viewing balcony on top of the ferry so she could rest her feet.
With Venita gone, Argos led Theora through a door to the front. It was a small, intimate section with a bench, hidden from all other parts of the boat. Clearly for couples to view the cavern and lagoon in a romantic setting.
“Did you see how closely Venita was watching us before Apollo took over?” Argos said, removing his jacket and hanging it on a random knob on the wall that Theora wasn’t so sure was meant for coats. “I don’t think she wants to admit defeat.”
“Can you blame her?” Theora sat on the bench, smoothed her dress. “She made Apollo believe I would propose on this trip.”
“Poor guy never stood a chance.” Argos tilted his head slightly, looking askance as if listening, and let out a long whistle. “Hear those cave coyotes?”
Theora paused to listen to the melodic cries. “Beautiful.”
They were quiet for a moment, simply listening. The song echoed through the cave, over the water. It was strange how difficult it was to tell if their cries meant joy or longing. Perhaps a bit of both.
It was Lover’s Lagoon, after all.
“I haven’t heard one of those in a long time,” Argos said quietly. Reflectively. Barely breaking over the sound of the water and coyotes.
Theora looked up at him as he studied their route ahead. “When have you heard one before? We haven’t any caves in Aranea.”
“We don’t.” The reflection disappeared from his eyes as he glanced down at her. “But when I was young, when I was training to qualify for fieldwork, I got…lost.” He raised a brow. “And by lost, I mean I fell into the river and couldn’t get myself out for miles.”
Theora almost laughed. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Well, I wasn’t always good at my job. Anyway, it started raining, and back then I couldn’t catch scents through water. I ended up in a cave to wait it out.”
For a moment, Theora thought of the fact that she hadn’t had to check Argos’s magic—well, not since lunch, anyway. And it was…a nice feeling, to not be worried about that constantly. Equally nice was getting along with Argos. It was comforting, to feel secure in so many ways.
And it almost wasn’t odd to say that about him.
She grinned. “So you made some little coyote friends?”
“No, but they saw me. Those calls we’re hearing,” he said, a small flick of his finger to the air, “are to warn against danger.”
“Oh.” Theora gripped the bench beside her legs, looking back out to the cave before them. “That didn’t end how I thought it would…Perhaps they think the ferries are dangerous.”
He shrugged. “Or the people on them.”
They were silent again. It was odd how knowing the meaning of those calls had suddenly soured them to her ears.
“But I guess that’s why they call it Lover’s Lagoon,” said Argos. “You could have sex in here and blend right in.”
“Ugh. Dread Sovereign, Argos.” Theora slapped his stomach, then checked to make sure she hadn’t broken a nail. “As if this whole excursion weren’t awkward enough.”
“I didn’t mean we would. It was the general you.”