Chapter Three
Simon hoped Vallica was in a better mood today. Her constant ranting and raging had become unbearable. Even during the few rare moments he found himself alone with her, she refused to set aside her anger for Cicilly, Queen Mother of Junacave.
Anger, which was sorely misplaced, since it was really Vallica’s late husband, King Silas, who she truly blamed. But since the king was dead—at Vallica’s hand, nonetheless—she couldn’t punish him further. So it was Cicilly who she aimed her fury at and Cicilly was nowhere to be found.
Sire’s soldiers had scoured the countryside in search of her after she escaped.
Simon had even sent spies into Junacave, to no avail.
No one seemed to know where the Queen Mother had disappeared to.
It certainly wasn’t back to her daughter’s kingdom, and without a wizard in the service of Sire, finding Cicilly would be difficult.
That too had been Vallica’s doing. After she stabbed her husband repeatedly with a dagger, their Royal Mage, Larkin, had magically disappeared with the king’s body. Larkin had been extremely loyal to his king, refusing to swear allegiance to Vallica, even over Silas’ corpse.
Whatever became of Larkin, however, wasn’t of any concern to Vallica. After two months on the throne, she’d finally found a new wizard to take his place. However, a sudden storm at sea had delayed his arrival, sending Vallica back into her sour mood and setting the castle’s occupants on edge.
“Garlic? Does this soup have garlic?” Vallica spat, dropping her spoon into the bowl with a clang.
This was the third time this month that she could taste garlic in her meal.
She had been forgiving the first time, and only gave minor punishment the second time, but this time would be different.
This time, she would make sure it never happened again.
A kitchenmaid rushed forward to remove the queen’s soup from the table. Vallica reached out and grabbed the young woman’s arm, holding it so tightly it caused the girl to wince.
“Leave the soup,” Vallica said, in her usual angry tone. “Go to the kitchens and tell the cooks, all three of them, that their presence is requested.” As soon as Vallica released her grasp on the girl’s arm, the kitchenmaid ran out of the room, sobbing.
“My queen, I understand your frustration,” Simon said, trying to diffuse the situation before it worsened. “Perhaps, I should handle the cooks this time. You really shouldn’t be bothered with such mundane tasks…”
“If I wanted you to handle it for me, Simon, I would have commanded as such.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I just hoped to lessen the strain of your responsibilities is all.”
Vallica looked over at Simon. His constant presence was beginning to irritate her.
When Silas had been alive, she and Simon had been forced to hide their relationship, sneaking around behind her husband’s back.
Now that the king was gone, there was nothing preventing them from being together, openly.
However, the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was much like her late husband, trying to control her, trying to change her. The more he showed his true self, the more she hated it. He was a reminder of the miserable life she’d lived under Silas’ rule.
She hadn’t always thought this way. There was a time when she’d dreamed of the day she would be free of the shackles that she had called “husband”. Able to make her own choices and decide her own fate. Freedom to love whomever she chose, however she chose, if she decided to love anyone at all.
Unfortunately, being the ruler of Sire now was much more tiresome than she’d ever imagined.
She spent more time directing these idiots than Silas ever did.
It was almost as if the kingdom forgot how to function the moment Silas died.
Of course, the only other option would have been to turn the kingdom over to Silas’ daughter, Dahlia.
Vallica would die before she’d ever let that happen.
“Has my new wizard arrived?” she asked and desperately hoped so. A distraction was well overdue.
“I believe he is scheduled to arrive later today,” Simon replied.
Movement caught Vallica’s attention as the cooks were led into the throne room.
“Good,” she said. “Until then, I will keep myself busy punishing my incompetent cooks. What do you think, Simon? Ten lashes, each? Twenty? I think twenty will suffice.”
~*~
Once outside of the castle, Simon could finally breathe with ease.
After Vallica ordered the cooks’ punishment, he couldn’t bring himself to stay and watch, so he excused himself to tend to matters in the village.
It was the one place these days where people didn’t hold their breath in anticipation of the queen’s foul mood.
He was no stranger to brutal beatings, having administered hundreds in his position in Sire’s military over the years.
He had even received a few severe thrashings, as well, including the loss of his finger by King Silas, himself.
However, the punishment Vallica had ordered for such an insignificant mistake made by the cooks was simply too much.
He wasn’t even sure they had put garlic in the soup.
She might have just disliked the taste and made the false claim anyway.
The person Vallica had become was terrifying him. Before Silas’ death, he knew Vallica had wanted nothing more than her freedom. Even after she’d smothered Silas’ mistress with a pillow, she had maintained her optimism, hoping for and looking forward to a future with Simon one day.
Unfortunately, the act of stabbing her husband had changed her.
Hardened her. And her new power as ruler of Sire had turned her into a monster.
A selfish, conniving bitch. But there was a part of Simon’s heart that still cared for her, still loved her.
He hoped, with time, she would come to her senses.
He just wondered how long he would have to wait…
When he returned to the castle courtyard a while later, he watched a black carriage pulling into view.
Simon tilted his head in confusion. There were no horses, no driver.
It appeared to be rolling along on its own.
After a moment, he realized it must be controlled by magic. This had to be the wizard.
Simon knew little about this wizard. Vallica found him through a merchant who was unloading goods from his ship in Sire’s port.
The merchant had showered the queen with many gifts, earning himself a seat at her table for supper.
It was during that meal, in which the merchant told tales of a dark wizard from Kilharie, conjuring blue fire.
This blue fire could destroy anything, including stone.
Simon knew immediately that this wizard couldn’t be trusted.
Anyone who hailed from Kilharie was bad news.
Only pirates, traitors, and scum would frequent the town.
Unfortunately, though, most of the imports into Sire came from Kilharie.
It was how Silas had made his fortune, taxing pirated goods from Kilharie merchants which were distributed to the kingdoms in the southern half of the realm.
Even though they imported goods from honest merchants, it was the other-than-honest means that made Sire a very wealthy kingdom.
Now that Silas was dead and Vallica was the ruler, little had changed in regard to the port of Sire.
If anything, it had gotten worse. Vallica was easily bought with jewels and baubles, gladly lowering import tariffs for merchants that were able to bribe her.
Simon had tried to intervene, but the queen had refused to listen.
Vallica entered the courtyard just as the wizard appeared, wearing long, black robes. She was nervous but tried to appear calm as she approached him, wearing a snug, blood red gown which she’d chosen for this very occasion.
She brushed her long black hair behind her shoulders, revealing the tops of her breasts. If coin wouldn’t entice the mage, she would use her body. She would finally have her own wizard to do her bidding, by any means necessary.
Simon stepped forward to introduce the queen but Vallica stopped him. She knew that declaring loyalty to a kingdom was a wizard’s choice and she wanted to be certain to give the best possible first impression. If this wizard refused, she didn’t know how long it would take to find another.
“I am Queen Vallica, ruler of Sire,” she purred. “I am so pleased to finally meet you, Mage Mereck.”
“It is my pleasure, Your Majesty.” The wizard dipped into a low bow and his long, light blonde hair dangled from his head. When he straightened, he grinned at the queen, revealing a bright and flawless smile.
Vallica was taken by the wizard, immediately. From the tales she’d heard, she was expecting him to look rough and dangerous. Instead, he was quite handsome and charming, which was certainly another form of danger in itself.
“I am happy to be at your service,” he continued, taking her hand and kissing it. “I must say that your beauty is well-known throughout the realm, but the rumors hardly do it justice.”
Vallica smiled. It appears there is no need to woo the wizard, after all. She gestured to a servant and ordered him to unload Mereck’s carriage. “I was about to sit down for a meal. I would be delighted if you would join me.”
Mereck nodded and followed the queen inside. Little did Vallica know, this wasn’t Mereck’s first visit to Sire. He smiled as he passed a statue of the late King Silas. He’d rejoiced after hearing the man had been killed. Served him right, he thought.
If Silas hadn’t perished, Mereck wouldn’t have been allowed back into Sire, having been banished by his uncle, Larkin, some thirty years ago.
The wizard had been furious when he’d caught his then 18-year-old nephew taking the virginity of the daughter of one of Sire’s wealthiest noblemen.
The kingdom had been fairly new at the time.
King Silas and Larkin thought it best to quickly rid themselves of Mereck and avoid any confrontation with the noble families.
Now Mereck had returned and he was certain that no one would recognize him after all this time.
He’d spent many years in Kilharie, working for pirates.
Pursuing an overindulged queen, like Vallica, was nothing to him.
And paying off a merchant to boast about his accomplishments was well worth the investment.
Vallica had sent for Mereck before the merchant had stepped foot off the coast of Sire.
The queen led him to a large throne room, decorated with tapestries.
A long table in the middle of the room was already filled with ham, breads, fruits, and pastries.
A servant pulled out a chair for the queen at the end of the table and Mereck was seated to the right of her.
Mereck wasted no time filling his plate.
“It is known that wizards have a remarkable appetite,” Vallica said, lifting her wine goblet. “I hope I have prepared a fitting meal for you.”
“Yes, thank you,” he replied, after swallowing a mouth full of food.
“I’ve heard tales of your magic. I was hoping you would consider declaring loyalty to Sire. I’m sure you’ve heard that our previous wizard went mad with grief and abandoned his kingdom?”
Mereck was sure there was more to the story.
However, Larkin did refuse to declare loyalty to the queen, which could be considered as abandonment to some.
Either way, his uncle’s fleeing had opened up the position and Mereck was determined to take it—but he wasn’t going to seem too eager in doing so.
“As you know,” Mereck began, “I have lived a free life, traveling the realm with no ruler to tie me down or control me. I am accustomed to a certain level of privacy and discretion.”
“That is something I can afford you, here. As my Royal Mage, you would receive the utmost respect and privacy. That I can assure you. If my kingdom is known for anything, it is discretion.” A fact that was entirely true.
Mereck leaned back in his chair and pretended to consider her words. It sounded as if the queen would agree to anything. He wondered how many privileges he could demand of her…
“I think we may be able to come to some sort of agreement.” He grinned deceitfully.