TheRedKing (15 page)

For a moment Areus felt almost like a child again. That was
a memory he had locked away long ago, when his mother had been sent to the
convent with the hope that she might recover from her madness. Once she’d gone,
he’d never cried in anyone’s presence again, not even upon hearing of her
death. He had gone off alone, hidden in a corner of the stable and wept. He
heard people searching for him, but hadn’t revealed himself until his tears had
dried and he could present himself in a manner expected of a future king. That
was the last time he’d cried. Ever.

“Where is Alexa?” the woman ventured. “She’ll know me.”

Areus glanced at Etor who said, “Alexa has been gone about a
week, to visit her sister. The queen gave her permission to leave.”

“Areus,” the woman addressed. “You must listen to me. You
must find a way to talk to Hypatios instead of fight. The two of you can make
peace. I know you can. I know you both.”

“If you’re the queen, why didn’t you come back after the
fire?”

“The fire was my fault and I’ll carry that guilt to my
grave, just as I’ll carry the guilt of allowing you and your father to believe
me dead, but I had to return to Zaltana.”

“Why?”

“Because of Hypatios. Your father was a stern man, but I
know he loved you dearly. I know Alexa loved you as well and would care for you
as if you were her own. You were safe. You would learn to be a good man, but Hypatios…”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “He needed me. Hippolytos is an evil, vile man.
He would destroy Hypatios, if not in body then in spirit.”

Areus’s brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”

“Hypatios is your brother. Your twin brother.”

* * * * *

“Her story can’t be true,” Etor said as he and Areus strode
out of the dungeon.

Areus felt as if he’d just fought a battle. In a way he had—an
emotional one.

“Can it?” the captain pressed. “What she said about you as a
child, someone else could have known those things, right?”

“No,” Areus answered.

“What if she told someone at the convent? Possible?”

“I suppose anything is possible. She was mad, or so I’d been
told.”

If what the woman had told him was true, then her madness
had actually been guilt. Guilt about leaving one of her sons in the hands of a
tyrant.

According to her story, Hippolytos had raped Queen Cosma on
the night of her abduction and several times after. During her captivity, she had
given birth to twins—one with black hair, the other with red. The midwife who had
attended her was also a seer and had told Hippolytos that both boys were
strong, but the black-haired child possessed special powers.

The old King of Lortia, furious about the abduction of his
beloved queen, had unleashed a wrath that Hippolytos hadn’t expected. The only
way to stop a war that might destroy both kingdoms was for Hippolytos to return
the queen and her child, for the king of Lortia had gotten word that his wife
was pregnant. What no one except Hippolytos, Cosma and the midwife had known
was that there were two babes instead of one. Hippolytos had told the queen
that he would send her and the red-haired child back to Lortia, but the
black-haired boy was to remain with him, to be reared as his son. If she didn’t
accept his terms, all three would be slain. Reluctantly, Cosma had agreed. Hippolytos
had made it clear that should she ever breathe a word about the second child
being hers, he would kill the black-haired boy rather than surrender him to
Lortia.

Queen Cosma and Prince Areus had been returned to Lortia.
The old seer had been killed and a strange woman had been brought to the palace
to marry Hippolytos. The marriage lasted a short time, during which the new queen
of Zaltana was rarely seen. She died soon after the birth of her first child, a
black-haired boy rumored to have otherworldly powers.

Hippolytos had put the young prince in the care of the seer,
but as the boy had grown older, he had become wild, believed by many to be mad,
causing serious harm to himself and others. It was said that he had killed the
seer, but it actually had been Hippolytos who had her murdered. The prince had
been locked away.

Queen Cosma’s guilt about leaving her second son eventually had
driven her to madness. After the convent fire, she had wandered into the woods
and had been rescued by a peasant couple who had lived in an abandoned hut.
They had nursed her back to health. Now scarred beyond recognition, she had
traveled to Zaltana, back to the son she had felt needed her most. She somehow had
convinced the king to hire her as Hypatios’s nurse, claiming she understood his
powers and could temper them. The latter, at least, was true. Finally trainable
and indeed possessing otherworldly powers, Hypatios had recaptured the interest
of the king and had been trained by scholars and warriors alike.

The rest of the story was known by all. Hypatios was one of
the most powerful and feared warriors in the Western Continent, and he was on
his way to conquer Lortia.

“Areus, do you believe her?”

Etor’s words jarred Areus from his thoughts.

“She claims that she paid for passage aboard the ship of a
SothSea pirate docked on the southern coast of Zaltana so that she could arrive
here to talk to you before Hypatios’s army reached our borders.”

“I know.”

“If you ask me, it’s all a ruse. Did they honestly think
that telling you Hypatios is your brother would keep you from meeting him in
battle? The thought of you trying to talk to him is preposterous. He would
sooner slit your throat than talk of peace.”

“I know that as well. Talk is out of the question. She clearly
cares about him, but that’s her problem, not mine.”

“Do you think she truly is Queen Cosma?”

“Again, that’s not my problem. It doesn’t affect the coming
battle. To satisfy our curiosity, send for Alexa. I was a child when my mother
left for the convent. Alexa knew her better. Perhaps she can help confirm or
deny this woman’s claim to be Queen Cosma.”

Etor nodded. “I’ll send someone for her right away.”

The two fell silent for a moment and Areus knew that one
question burned between them. The scarred woman had admitted that she
discovered her pregnancy after her abduction. That meant either the old King of
Lortia or the King of Zaltana could be his father.

Finally Etor said, “In the meantime, what should we do with
her? Keep her in the cell?”

Areus’s brow furrowed. While he wasn’t sure whether to believe
the woman, he wasn’t keen on keeping her locked in the dungeon either.

“Move her to the castle. Provide her with a room and a guard
round the clock until I decide what to do about her.”

* * * * *

Delia was astonished when later that afternoon a page
brought a message from Areus inviting her to dine with him that evening in his
chamber. She had expected that he would be too busy for dinner in the great
hall, so his invitation was a pleasant surprise.

She arrived at the allotted time to find a maid awaiting
her.

“The king will be a bit late, ma’am, but he has requested
that I serve you now.”

“Thank you, but I’ll wait for him. You may go.”

“Ma’am.” The girl curtsied and left.

When Areus arrived, they could serve themselves. After days
without seeing her husband, she longed for time alone with him.

About half an hour later, Delia was about to nibble some
bread to take the edge off her hunger when Areus entered. His expression
serious, he nodded to her. She rose and approached to embrace him.

He held her snugly for several moments. Delia was almost
surprised by how long the embrace lasted. It was as if he didn’t want to let
her go. She stood, her body pressed to his, and caressed his hair. She almost asked
if there was something wrong, but that would be a silly question. They were on
the brink of war with Zaltana.

Finally he released her, cupped her chin and kissed her.

“Are you well?” he asked.

“Yes. Are you?”

“Just…I have many things on my mind.”

“I imagine so. How can I help?”

He studied her carefully, then glanced at the table and
raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t eaten?”

“I waited for you.”

“You should have gone ahead. I’m not hungry.” He strode to the
window and gazed out.

Areus, not hungry?
“Are you ill?” she asked, touching
his arm.

“I’m fine,” he said, though he didn’t turn to her. He
continued staring out at the dark courtyard.

She studied his profile, the angles of his face and the
stern set of his jaw. His green gaze seemed far away. She knew he carried a
great weight right now. The entire kingdom depended on him.

Still, he was just a man, soon to be thrust into yet another
battle, fighting for his life as well as their lives. She wondered if he feared
for himself, if he might be tired of the pain. She wasn’t sure she would have
the courage to ride into battle again and again, knowing her blood would be
spilled.

“How can I help?” she asked again, softly.

He turned to her and shook his head. “I’m not sure you can,
but I think I’d hoped… You know about the woman from Zaltana.”

“The one in the dungeon? Yes. You met her this afternoon.
What came of it?”

“Again I’m not sure. This has not only to do with war. It’s
more personal than that. Her words or her identity won’t affect what I must do
in battle, but for myself, to be sure…”

“Sure of what? Areus, who is she and what does she want?”

“She claims to be my mother.”

Delia was stunned. It took her a moment to respond.

Finally she said, “Your mother is dead.”

“I know. This woman must be lying.”

“But you’re not sure, are you?”

“She knew things about me. Things that only my mother and I knew.
Unless my mother spoke of those incidents to someone else, maybe someone at the
convent— I don’t know.”

Delia’s brow furrowed. Areus never suffered from self-doubt,
at least not from what she’d seen. His face remained serious, collected, yet
deep in his eyes she saw a flicker of emotion that concerned her. Somehow this
strange woman had touched him and that frightened Delia. Why had she come, a woman
of Zaltana, right before the start of the war?

“What does she want?”

“She wants me to find a way to talk to Hypatios. To find
peace.
Talk
to Hypatios, a known madman and the most powerful warrior in
Zaltana.”

Delia would have laughed at such a ridiculous suggestion if
the situation hadn’t been so serious. “Why would she think you’d even attempt
that? Hippolytos is the king and he is sending Hypatios to conquer us.”

“Not that this matters to me at all, but she tells me he’s
my twin brother.”

This time Delia did laugh, though it was a humorless sound
brought forth from anxiety.

“Areus, that’s madness.”

“I know.” He held her gaze, a quirky smile on his lips.

Her laughter subsided, replaced by fear. “You don’t believe
her?”

“It doesn’t matter what I believe. Mother or not, brother or
not, my duty is to Lortia.”

She didn’t doubt him, but clearly the strange woman’s story
had affected him, regardless of whether he wanted to admit it. It struck her
that was the reason he’d asked to dine with her tonight. He had chosen to
include her in this, possibly because he valued her opinion and because he
trusted her.

“Areus, don’t let her cause you any uncertainty.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he scoffed.

“It’s not. You said yourself your mother was very kind. You
were just a boy when she died. It’s natural that part of you might hope her
story is true—”

“Delia, I was a child then, not now.”

“Don’t you see that it could be a scheme used by your
enemies to strike at your heart without a physical blow?”

“Yes I’ve thought of that.”

“But you’re here talking to me because you do have doubts,
not about the battle, but about this woman.”

“No. As you said, she stirred old memories. That’s all.” He approached
the table and sat. “Let’s eat.”

She cast him a knowing look and sat across from him. “Glad
to know your appetite has returned. Shall I serve?”

He nodded, still looking distracted.

Delia filled their plates, then started eating. She was
famished, but she noticed he scarcely touched his food.

“I’ve sent for Alexa,” he said.

“That’s a good idea. May I speak to her, the prisoner I
mean?”

He sighed and sat back in his chair, gazing at her.

“Areus, you told me this because you want my opinion, am I
right?”

He nodded. “Perhaps.”

She could have laughed again. He wouldn’t even admit it. “How
can I tell you what I think if I don’t meet her?”

He waited a moment before he said, “Very well. She’s in a
chamber in the north tower, under guard.”

Delia raised an eyebrow. “She’s not in a cell?”

“She’s an older woman and possibly mad. Etor questioned her
and he agrees that other than her delusions, she seems to be harmless.”

“If she’s delusional, then why keep her here, under watch?
You think she might be telling the truth, don’t you?”

“The bodies in the convent were burned beyond recognition.
My mother wasn’t in the surrounding villages. This woman’s story might be true.”

“Will you tell me what she said?”

Over the next hour he told her a startling and almost
unbelievable story, yet it was possible that it had happened. As they talked,
she was glad to see Areus joined her in eating the meal.

Afterward, they went to the tower and Delia met the woman
who claimed to be the former Queen of Lortia.

That night Delia lay alone in Areus’s bed. After he had
brought her to meet the woman from Zaltana, he had gone to meetings with his
advisors while Delia had returned to his chamber.

She had spent a few hours sewing by the fire, but her
thoughts had been on her husband and the woman who claimed to be his mother. Having
met her, Delia now understood why she had disturbed Areus. Though the woman was
probably lying, Delia found herself believing her story.

Most of all, Delia felt she understood Areus better than
before. At times he seemed so alone—intimidating and untouchable, but at one time
he had emotions. They had been tamed and repressed—all part of the harsh
lessons that made him a formidable warrior and a great king. Yet somewhere deep
inside him, that boy who feared admitting he’d spilled ink and who suffered the
loss of a young mother must still exist. Despite all his training and
self-control, Areus was still able to feel. He proved it every time he kissed
and touched her. An emotionless man could never make love to her as he did.

Why did she believe the strange woman, the one who said her
name was now Cassandra? Had she truly once been Queen Cosma? The expression in
her eyes had been sincere, her gaze unfaltering, but it was more than the look,
but the eyes themselves. Gazing out from that terribly scarred face were the
most beautiful green eyes—Areus’s eyes.

If Cassandra’s story was true, then Areus’s paternity was
uncertain—and so was that of Hypatios.

Areus had insisted her story, true or not, wouldn’t affect
his duty. He would kill Hypatios, should he have the chance. Delia believed
him, but she also knew that these questions about his family would plague him
for the rest of his life. Though she had been drawn to Cassandra, finding her
pleasant yet sad, she also hated the woman for what she had done to Areus. If
she was indeed the former Queen of Lortia, she had hurt him terribly by
abandoning him so cruelly, and by coming here now she had only made those old wounds
bleed again. Areus had suffered enough wounds in his life. He didn’t need more.

It was late when the door opened. In the moonlight shining
through the window, she saw Areus enter and bolt the door behind him. He moved
quietly and she knew he was trying not to disturb her.

“Areus?” she called softly.

“You’re still awake?” He approached the bed and sat to
remove his boots.

“I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking.”

“That makes two of us.” He pulled off his socks, then his
tunic and shirt.

Delia knelt behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck
and kissing his cheek.

He placed his hands over hers, then he kissed them and rose to
remove his trousers.

Delia pulled off her nightgown and shivered a bit, hugging
herself. The fire had died down and the room was quite chilly. Areus strode to
the hearth, prodded the embers and added a couple of logs. She couldn’t tear
her gaze from his tall, sinewy form. As the dry wood caught fire, it cast
flickering light on his bare flesh. Lines and grooves of scars covered his
gorgeous body and her stomach clenched when she wondered how many more wounds
he would sustain before Zaltana was driven off for good.

He returned to bed and Delia curled up against him. He
wrapped his arms around her and they snuggled beneath the covers.

“Areus, I’ve missed you so much,” she said, unable to resist
letting him know how happy she was he was back. “These past three weeks felt
like three years.”

“I’ve missed you too, Delia. I only wish I could stay
longer.”

Her heart sank, though she knew their parting was
inevitable. “When will you be leaving?”

“Within the week, most likely.”

She lifted her head so she could look into his eyes. “Areus,
I know you’ll always do what’s necessary for Lortia, but here in this room,
when it’s just us, you don’t have to be strong all the time. I know that woman
in the tower is still on your mind. I can’t imagine how you must feel.”

“Delia—”

“Don’t pretend it means nothing.”

“It means something to me, but I can’t think about it now.
It’s not important.”

“It is to you.”

“Right now the only thing that matters to me is the safety
of Lortia.”

She wished he had said two things mattered most to him, Lortia
and her, but she knew that she was included in Lortia. She couldn’t take to
heart that he didn’t separate her from the rest of the kingdom.

“I understand.” She kissed him. The only time he seemed to
let go was when they made love, especially in those final moments when,
overcome by his climax, he surrendered to her completely.

“Delia, I didn’t intend to add to your concerns.”

“I’m your wife. Your queen. If you can’t share your burdens
with me, then what good am I?”

A faint smile flickered across his lips. “On the night we
married, you said I’d ripped you from a home you loved.”

“Will you ever let me forget that? I admit that I had
expected the worst from our marriage, but I’m starting to see how wrong I was
about you. The people of Lortia have been welcoming to me. I have friends here.
In the short time I’ve been in Lortia, it’s been more of a home to me than Prem
ever was.”

He held her gaze and caressed her hair. “You never had a
chance to know Prem before you were sent to the convent. Do you still miss it
as much?”

“The convent? Yes, I miss the sisters very much, but that
doesn’t mean I’m not happy here.”

“I’m glad.” He trailed his thumb over her lips.

She noticed the lines around the corners of his eyes had
deepened since he’d left weeks ago. No doubt he had many sleepless nights and
would have many more to come.

“You must be tired, Areus. Get some rest.”

“Good advice, but I have too much on my mind.”

“I once said it was my duty to see that you get a good night’s
sleep.” She offered a faint smile. “Let me help you forget your troubles
tonight.”

Delia straddled him, her thighs pressing against his lean sides.
She caressed the hard planes of his chest and brushed her thumbs over his
nipples.

Sliding his long, calloused hands up her sides, he gazed at
her breasts. Then he cupped them, squeezing gently.

“You’re very beautiful,” he said in a husky whisper, as if
unaware that he was speaking aloud.

“And you’re handsome.” She leaned down to kiss his mouth. “So
handsome and virile.”

He smiled, a sparkle in his eyes that hadn’t been there a
moment ago. Men, even ones as wise as Areus, were susceptible to flattery—not
that she didn’t sincerely mean what she’d said. Areus was the most attractive man
she had ever known. In her wildest fantasies she had never imagined a man quite
like him.

She leaned down to kiss his mouth. She nuzzled his neck and
moved slowly down his body, covering him with kisses. Her lips roamed over his
strong chest and she licked and kissed his stomach, feeling the hard muscles
flex.

“Ah, Delia,” he murmured, weaving his fingers through her
hair.

She moaned softly, kissing a scar on his hip. Her hand
curled around his stiffening cock and stroked. He hardened even more in her
grasp. Moistening her lips, she edged lower. Her tongue swept over his bulbous
crown and he groaned.

Delia loved touching him. She loved tasting him, feeling the
texture of his skin and savoring the first droplets of his essence that formed
at the tip of his cock.

Moaning softly, she sucked, licked and stroked until his
breathing was ragged and his muscles tense.

“Delia,” he rasped, grasping her arms and pulling her up his
body so that she lay on top of him.

His beautiful eyes gleamed with passion. He lifted his head
and claimed her lips in a demanding kiss.

She wove her fingers through his hair, her tongue dancing
with his as he shifted their position, his mouth never leaving hers. He pressed
her onto her back and slid a hand between her legs. His fingers eased into her,
as she was already soaked and more than ready for him. Still he continued
exploring her. He withdrew his fingers from her pussy and rubbed her clit over
and over. She climaxed faster than she imagined possible.

Gasping into his mouth, she writhed and quivered as he
continued stroking her, then he filled her with his big, hard cock. It felt so
good. She loved being possessed by him.

His hands braced on either side of her head, he thrust into
her and Delia moaned, wrapping her arms and legs around him.

“Areus,” she panted, climbing toward another glorious
climax.

He groaned and murmured something incoherent. His tongue
flicked over her ear, then he kissed her, thrusting faster.

Delia came again and seconds later he joined her.

He eased himself off her, but still lay close, his head
touching her shoulder, his warm breath fanning her skin.

* * * * *

In the morning, after they shared breakfast and dressed, Areus
asked Delia to join him in a visit to the stables

“There’s something I want to show you,” he said. “With
everything that happened yesterday, I didn’t have a chance.”

“What is it?” she asked, quite curious.

“A surprise.”

When they reached the stable, Areus brought her to a stall
containing the loveliest golden mare.

“Oh Areus.” Delia stroked the horse’s face. “She’s
beautiful. Where did you get her?”

As he told her about the man in Drakesglenn, Delia’s
expression changed from angry to compassionate.

“You like her then?” he asked.

“I love her.”

“Good. She’s yours.”

Delia smiled, glancing at him. “Thank you.”

“My servant has ridden her and she’s quite well-mannered.”

“What shall we call her?”

“I’ll leave that to you.” He patted the horse’s neck. “Unfortunately
I have duties to attend to.”

“As do I.”

He kissed her and together they left the stable, then parted
ways, Areus heading for the training field and Delia for the great hall.

She looked forward to returning to the stable to spend more
time with her new equine companion. Now when she made her rounds in the village,
she would ride the little golden mare.

Delia was attending duties in the great hall when she was
summoned to the prisoner’s tower room. Cyril had come to accompany her.

Alexa had arrived from her sister’s in the company of the
guard Etor had sent to retrieve her. Her sister’s village wasn’t far from the
castle.

Delia had asked Areus if she could be present when the maid
and the prisoner met. He had agreed.

“It’s nice to see you, Cyril.” Delia smiled at the guard.
Most of his time was spent training and on duty at the gate, so she hadn’t
spoken to him much since the day he’d escorted her from Lortia. Both Areus and
Etor spoke highly of the young man and she knew a promotion was in his future.

“Thank you, ma’am.” He returned her smile.

When they arrived at the tower room, Alexa stood outside,
looking a bit nervous.

“What’s going on?” she asked Delia. “The guard wouldn’t tell
me anything, except that Areus wants me to meet a prisoner from Zaltana.”

Delia rested a comforting hand on Alexa’s arm. “Yes. He
needs your opinion.”

“The king should arrive soon,” Cyril told them. “He’s
training and the captain has gone to let him know that Alexa has arrived.”

For the next few moments, they waited in uncomfortable
silence.

Finally Areus appeared in the company of Etor. The guard was
dressed for duty in his usual leather armor. Areus also wore a leather chest
plate and trousers, dirty from the field. His sword hung at his hip and his
reddish hair clung to his head and neck in damp ringlets.

He glanced from Delia to Alexa, his expression as unreadable
as ever.

“Thank you for coming, Alexa,” he said.

“Will someone tell me what’s happening?” Alexa demanded,
unable to contain her exasperation.

“You’ve been told we’re holding a woman from Zaltana,” Areus
continued. “I warn you she’s badly scarred, but I want you to tell me if you
recognize her at all.”

Alexa’s brow furrowed. “Areus, this is very strange.”

He held her gaze. “Are you ready?”

Drawing a deep breath, Alexa nodded.

Areus motioned for the guard posted at the door to open it.
He stepped in followed by Delia, Alexa and Etor. Cyril remained outside with
the other guard who closed the door behind them.

No sooner had Alexa looked at the prisoner than her face
paled and she covered her mouth with her hand.

“You know, don’t you?” The prisoner smiled faintly.

“You have Cosma’s eyes,” Alexa murmured.

“My old friend.” The woman smiled sadly. “I have much more
than that.”

As she had done with Areus, she proceeded to talk of things
known only to Alexa and Queen Cosma.

By the time she finished, Alexa was on the verge of tears.
She knelt in front of the prisoner and took her hands. “My lady. My friend.”

The former queen also knelt and the women embraced.

Delia glanced at Areus. His expression hadn’t changed, nor
had she expected it to, though she knew this revelation must affect him deeply.

Still holding hands, the two women rose and Alexa said to Areus,
“I have no doubt, this woman is your mother.”

If Areus’s face had been unreadable a moment ago, it was
like marble now, inhuman in its calmness.

Cosma stepped toward him. “You believe me as well. I know
you do. For seven years you were my reason for existing. Surely you haven’t forgotten.”

“Forgotten the woman I knew? Never,” he said smoothly. “But
I don’t know
you
.”

“Areus, I know you’re angry—”

“I’m not angry and don’t address me so informally.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Cosma nodded. “I see I gave up
that right when I—”

“Pretended to die?” he interrupted.