27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
The witch rocks in her white chair as she knits a square with her thin red thread. “You broke my mirrors and expect new ones as though I have endless ones lying around somewhere.”
“If my destroying mirrors that were mine burdens you so greatly, tell me how to fix them.”
“The glass is enchanted, so you know. What did you do with it?”
“My servants took it to the artist’s wing, as they do with all broken glass.”
“Those realms still exist, but the way into them is distorted. With enough magic, your artists may accidentally restore them but be careful. Since they shattered, they could be pieced together wrong and not allow escape. Or they may fasten themselves to this world.”
I wave my hand around. “That’s not really a concern for me since Evelia won’t be near any of that.”
She knits faster and stares at me with her startling ancient eyes that currently glow yellow. They seem to change color any time she chooses them to. “I will give you new mirrors one last time, but if your temper destroys them a second time, my shop will not be open to you.”
“This is my kingdom, and any assets of this realm are mine, including your shop.”
Her mouth rises into a grin that sends something icy down my back. “It would be interesting to see you try to take it.” She waves her hand, and five mirrors sit on her counter.
I take them to the new room I created for Evelia.
It’s a room larger than my formal ballroom and has chandeliers that dim and brighten to various degrees.
There is an oversized blue couch with many pillows and a few blankets in the far corner.
Other than the exit, the bathroom door is the only one in the room, and there are windows that look out at the grassy hills.
Thick red curtains have golden ropes that hold them back when privacy isn’t wanted.
The mirrors fit nicely between the couch and the cedar cabinet that holds the biggest surprise for my wife.
I look around the room that I constructed myself as I didn’t want anyone else involved in the task.
Every minor detail is checked to be sure it’s perfect.
With the mirrors and the space to dance, I hope it gives her a world all her own, as she longs for.
There is also another surprise I’ve been working on that she will receive as soon as I can convince the fourth ruler of this world to help me. The Hermit King, as he’s called, has land I want, but I don’t want to anger Evelia by taking it, so I’m trying to buy it peacefully.
She’s been depressed since her last failed attempt on my life and mainly stays in bed. I hope this will bring her out of it. She is sleeping when I reach her even though it is midday, and I don’t want to disturb her. I tell her maids to get me when she awakens.
A messenger finds me down a hall on the way to my dining room. “Your Highness, a message from King Sarek.”
I’m tempted to burn the letter but accept it. “Thank you.”
Sarek wants to call a summit to discuss peace talks and wishes for me to come to a neutral location of my choice.
It’s most likely a trap of some sort, so I demand that it takes place in my castle or the offer is refused.
The messenger takes the reply from me, and I head to my throne room to conduct the daily business.
Only today is slightly different since it is the day my citizens deliver their offerings, known as taxes. What they bring varies, and if I do not accept their choices, they have one chance to return with something better.
The trees outside the archways of my throne room have turned orange and yellow as the leaves prepare to fall for winter.
It creates a pretty enough view that I call the royal painter to capture it.
The artist keeps glancing over his shoulder at my outbursts directed toward idiotic citizens and has to fix several out of hand brush strokes.
A wooden cart clanks against the grooves in the stone floor as two farmers enter with a black and white pig. “Your Majesty.” The tallest farmer removes his straw hat and bows.
The short, round one does the same, revealing his shiny bald head. “Your Highness, we have come to pay the tax, but it has been a very rough year for us both. We hope we can share our taxes with this generously large pig.”
“You have two farms to produce goods for the kingdom, but you bring me only one pig. A pig of mediocre size. Not generously large. Give me one reason I shouldn’t take you both to the bridge?”
Most of my kingdom knows that being taken to the bridge means death. Many believe I do it to make them suffer on the walk toward their end. When it’s only to keep my promise to Evelia of not killing in my throne room.
The stout farmer takes several steps back. “Please, my king, we have families, and if we give you anything else, we will not have enough for winter. Our families will starve. We have a dozen children between us, and his wife is pregnant with their seventh.”
“How is it my problem that you breed like rodents when you are poor?”
“There is not enough supply of the herbs needed to prevent pregnancy, my lord.”
“There are other ways to be responsible!” A tentacle breaks free from my back and wraps around the pleading farmer’s throat. “How much harder will it be for your family to survive without you?” His shuddering annoys me, so I grip him tighter to stop his moving.
“Oh, what a beautiful cat! It’s so lovely.” Evelia steps toward the wagon, having entered without me noticing. “Lazzus, my husband.”
I quickly put my tendril away and grin at the title. “Yes, my love?”
She sticks out her lower lip. “What do we need with another pig?” She kisses the cat on the nose. “I’d much rather have this. It’s far more valuable than a pig and should easily count as taxes for two farms.”
“Bacon is rather delicious.”
“Yes, that’s true.” She sashays over to my lap and sits down. “Please, I want the kitty. Something to keep me company.”
“I want to keep you company if you will allow it.” I run my palm up her thigh and stare at her cleavage.
It makes me want to take her right here in my throne room for all to see me claiming her, but Evelia would not be comfortable with such things.
That and any man seeing her that way makes me want to murder them all.
For the sake of my wife and not having to murder everyone present, it will remain a fantasy.
“Please. Lazzus, she would bring me such joy. Look at her eyes. One is blue and the other green. She is worth far more than any pig.”
A sigh rumbles through my throat, and I look around her to the farmers. “Why would you bring a cat into my castle?”
“She must have snuck aboard when we were unaware. We beg your forgiveness, my king.” The tall one bows low as he grovels.
“Look at how lovely she is.” Evelia holds the kitten up again like that will make me love it as much as she does. “I want her so badly. Let them leave with their pig for such a wonderful present. I believe you should compensate them further for the great happiness this animal will give me.”
“Compensate them further? This would be their taxes.”
“They are overpaying.”
I scowl and then relax as I see the first bit of genuine happiness on her face since our wedding.
If she asked me to lay kingdoms at her feet, I would, so I agree to her wishes.
The farmers leave with their pig, and enough gold to feed their families for five winters.
The seduction and enchantment of Evelia are unmatched.
She has never joined me in our marriage bed and has me bowing to her smallest whim.
I kiss her temple and pull her closer. For the first time in a long while, she doesn’t squirm away from me. “Are you happy now?”
“Immensely.” She kisses my cheek and rises from my lap. “Thank you.”
“After the excitement of your new kitten lessens, find me, and I'll have another surprise for you.”
She snuggles the kitten to her, and I envy the small beast. “That may be some time.”
“Yes, of course.” I grab her as she walks away and kiss her hand before letting her leave the room.
The warmth she brought into the room puts me in a cheerful mood, and by the end of the day, I’ve gained the lowest revenue out of any tax day since I started. It’s not as though I even need the resources, but it keeps my citizens knowing who rules over them.
Evelia doesn’t visit me to find out about her surprise for several days, so I seek her out, unable to contain my excitement any longer.
Her new kitten is snuggled close to her, and a portion of me regrets giving her something she can gain affection from that is not me.
Eventually, maybe she’ll remember I’m the one who gave her the cat and love me for it.
Her room is no longer mostly empty, as strange, tiny towers and castles are scattered across the room.
Empty shelves are positioned at various heights as if she’s about to start a trinket collection.
“Did you forget I have a surprise for you?”
She opens her eyes and smiles at the cat before frowning at me. “I didn’t forget. You said I didn’t have to find you until I was over the excitement of my new pet.”
“Yes, that’s true, but I really think you will love what I have for you.”
She yawns and closes her eyes. “Maybe tomorrow.”
I want to toss the little creature out the window and make it an outdoor feline, but the slight chance it might suffer injury and cause her sadness calms the impulse. “Fine. Enjoy the pest.”
“I very much will. She has a name now. Do you want to hear it?”
“I wish to hear anything you have to tell me.”
“I have named her Lyric because she makes me as happy as a song.”
“It’s perfect.”
She gets up from the bed and brings the cat over to me. “Can you hold her for a minute?”
I stiffen and hold the cat away from me. “Can the creature not be placed on the ground?”
She shakes her head and smiles, removing my ability to tell her no. “Hold her close like a baby.”
Reluctantly, I bring the feline closer while she goes into the bathroom. “I do not care for you,” I whisper to the creature.