TheRedKing (31 page)

He turned to Cosma. “You as well.”

The old queen nodded and stepped closer to Areus. He
embraced her.

“Please be careful,” Cosma said.

“I will. And I won’t forget my promise. I will do everything
in my power to spare his life.”

Cosma stepped back and held his gaze for a moment. The
turmoil in her eyes cut Areus like a dagger. He had asked much of her,
insisting that she tell him Hypatios’s weakness, but he had no choice. Zaltana
could not gain control of the north. It would mean death and suffering to the
people of the free kingdoms and Areus could not allow that.

Finally he turned to Delia. Cupping her face, he covered her
mouth in a long, tender kiss. He closed his eyes and focused only on her—her
scent, her softness and the taste of her mouth.

Delia’s arms slid around him. When the kiss broke, she clung
tightly to him.

“I’ll miss you,” he whispered again.

“Part of me will always be with you. No matter what,” she
said softly, squeezing him even tighter. When she stepped back, the pattern of
his mail shirt was imprinted on her cheek. He caressed her soft flesh with his
thumb.

“Win, Areus,” she said, holding his gaze.

“I will.”

He strode out of the hall, pausing for a moment when he
reached the door to glance back at the three people he loved most. His gaze
locked with Delia’s before he stepped outside.

* * * * *

Delia watched as the soldiers, led by Areus, rode out of the
castle grounds.

She hadn’t lied when she’d told him part of her would always
be with him. Delia had never imagined loving anyone as much as she loved Areus.
In his way, she believed he probably loved her too, but that didn’t change the
fact that they were wrong for each other.

She would never be his ideal queen and he would never be her
ideal husband. Perhaps if he had told her he loved her, even once, she might
have believed they still had a chance together.

Delia couldn’t stay with a man who thought her inferior, who
didn’t believe she deserved to be queen. If he had spoken in anger, she might
have considered remaining in Lortia, but even last night, when he had made love
to her so tenderly, he hadn’t taken back a single insult that he had flung at
her earlier in the week. He hadn’t even mentioned their argument.

Neither had she.

Apparently there was nothing for them to discuss. Not
anymore.

That day, Delia went quietly about her work. Even Etor asked
if she felt well to which she replied she was in perfect health.

Two days later, she ordered horses saddled and told Echo to
pack her belongings. They were returning to the convent.

“You can’t be serious,” Alexa said when she told her and
Cosma about her plans to leave Areus.

“My dear, you’re the Queen of Lortia. The king is at war.
You can’t leave,” Cosma told her. “It simply can’t be done.”

“It can and it is. Areus made it clear that I am not fit to
be queen. He said it without room for interpretation.”

Alexa and Cosma exchanged glances.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean it,” Alexa pressed. “Were you
having a lovers’ spat perhaps?”

“Oh he meant it,” Delia told her. “And with him off to war,
there’s no way I’ll deliver an heir within a year of our marriage, so I’m
saving him the trouble of casting me off.”

Cosma shook her head. “He would never cast you off. Delia,
it’s obvious he’s in love with you.”

“Obvious? He’s never said it.”

“He’s like his father in that regard. I never questioned
Damon’s love for me, but he never actually said the words.”

“Then you’re a stronger or more trusting woman than I am.”

“A leader of men must uphold a certain image or else—”

“Cosma, don’t tell me about the image Areus must uphold. I’m
well aware of it, but when he’s alone with me he doesn’t have to be anyone
except himself. When we’re alone, we’re just a man and a woman, not a king and
queen.”

“I understand, Delia. Truly I do,” Cosma said. “But he
doesn’t see it that way. Believe me when I tell you that if you leave, you’ll
not only be disappointing the people of Lortia, but you’ll break his heart.”

Delia smiled wryly. “You think there’s still a heart there
to break?”

“Yes I do,” Cosma said.

“Then it’s well hidden and if he wants me as his wife, not
just his queen, he’d better find a way to uncover it. Etor and Simon are here
and can keep order in Lortia far better than I can. I’m going home.”

“To the convent.”

“Certainly not to Prem. My father is even colder than Areus.
I guess that’s what it takes after all to be king.”

If the women had been adamant about Delia staying in Lortia,
Etor and Simon were even more so. Still by midday she and Echo headed out, in
the company of two guards whom Etor insisted would escort them to the convent. Knowing
her maid’s love for Seth, Delia had offered to allow Echo to remain in Lortia.

“No, my lady, I’ll go with you,” Echo had said, though her
disappointment was obvious. “He’s away at battle too, so there’s no reason for
me to stay here, however if you would consider allowing me to return when it’s
over, Seth and I have been discussing marriage.”

“Of course, Echo. It’s clear Seth loves you and I would
never deny any woman true love. At least one of us will have it.”

“I know the king loves you.”

“Please, I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but
I’d rather not discuss Areus.”

“As you wish.”

“The sisters and Katerina will be surprised to see us.”

“I’m sure they will. I wonder what mischief Lady Katerina
has been up to?”

“I can hardly wait to find out.” Delia forced a smile. While
she looked forward to seeing her old friends, her heart was still with the King
of Lortia.

* * * * *

After days of travel, Areus and his men set up their tents
among the warriors already stationed on the border. Sir Rain and Sir Blaze were
there with more Knights who had recently arrived from Travelle. Sir Mahir had sent
every Knight he could spare to back Areus in this final battle against Zaltana.

His first night there, Areus composed a letter to Delia and
in the morning, he sent a messenger to deliver it. Though it would be days
before he heard back from her, he could scarcely wait for her reply. Just
seeing her handwriting and knowing she had touched the parchment would offer
comfort he had never imagined needing. This time when he returned to her,
Lortia would be secure. Those he loved, especially Delia, would be safe from
the violence of Zaltana.

Just over a week later, the messenger returned from the
castle. Looking grim, the young man handed Areus the slip of parchment. A pang
of concern shot through him when he saw that the seal wasn’t Delia’s. He
dismissed the messenger and stepped into his tent, his stomach tight and his
heart pounding. Why hadn’t she written herself?

He broke the seal and quickly opened the letter and scanned
it.

Then he read it again in disbelief.

Alexa had written that Delia had left him and Lortia. She
had returned to the convent.

Areus crushed the parchment in his fist.

How could she do this to him?

Why had she pretended nothing was wrong when he’d left?

His first impulse was to ride to the convent and demand an
explanation.

She hadn’t even bothered to write to him herself to let him know
she’d gone.

The woman filled his mind and haunted his dreams. She had
made him fall hopelessly in love with her, but she felt nothing—
nothing
—for
him in return.

But no. According to Alexa’s letter, Delia felt unworthy to
be Queen of Lortia because he had criticized her.

Somehow her abandoning him and their people was
his
fault.

What burned him was that it
was
his fault. He had
known he’d gone too far during their last argument, but he had refused to
apologize. She had expressed concern for him and he had thrown it in her face.
He’d treated her like one of his men instead of his wife.

If he could go to her right then, he would, but he couldn’t.

Hypatios and his men were moving closer. In the morning,
Areus and the united northern army would ride past the border to meet them.

“I have to do this, Delia,” he whispered. “But I’ll make it right
between us. I swear.”

If she would listen to him.

If this war ended with enough time for him to get her with child
before the end of the year, or else she would legally have the right to end the
marriage.

Yet if she truly didn’t want to be with him, if she chose the
convent over him, then child or not, he would have to set her free.

* * * * *

Delia, Echo and the two guards accompanying them to the
convent traveled hard and by nightfall had nearly reached the northern border
of Lortia.

They stopped at an inn called the Lucky Hen located in a
small riverside village.

When they entered inside the owner, a tall, buxom woman with
fiery-red hair and freckles stepped from behind the bar and bowed her head, a
smile on her lips. She wore a blue dress with a deep neckline that exposed the
tops of her full breasts. A cream-colored apron was fastened around her waist.

“Your Majesty, it’s an honor to have you at my little inn. I
worked at the palace not too long ago. Melita is the name. I’m at your service.
Lucy!” Melita called in a shrill voice that nearly made Delia wince. “Watch the
bar. I’m escorting Queen Delia to her room.”

A lanky, chestnut-haired girl in a green dress cut as low as
Melita’s curtsied quickly and hurried to carry out her mistress’s orders.

“This way, ma’am,” Melita said, guiding Delia and Echo
upstairs.

Melita. Why did that name sound so familiar?

Then Delia remembered overhearing two of the servants
talking about the maid who used to warm Areus’s bed.

“Melita.” Delia smiled coolly. “I’ve heard about you.”

The woman looked surprised. Placing a hand to her plump
breasts, she said, “I’m sure it’s nothing you wanted to hear.”

“I have no feeling about it one way or another. Areus’s affairs,
past, present and future, are his business and no longer any concern of mine.”

“Affairs? Word about the kingdom is that he adores you.”

Delia’s brow furrowed. “Word about the kingdom?”

“I know our village is far from the castle, but we still get
news from travelers. Here we are, ma’am.” Melita paused outside a door and
unlocked it.

The room was small, but clean.

Melita went on, “Not to mention when King Areus and his men
passed through on their way to Drakesglenn last year, I overheard him speaking
highly of you. And I’m not saying that to please you.”

This woman talked too much for her own good as well as
Delia’s. Her stomach clenched and a rush of anger shot through her. “Areus
stopped here?”

Had he come to seek pleasure with this whore even after
their marriage? Delia thought she had pleased him in the bedroom. He had
pleased her, but maybe she had been a fool after all.

“Only for one night.”

“And what happened on that night?”

Melita’s eyes widened. “Nothing. They rested their horses
and slept. Nothing more. I know you probably heard rumors—”

“Such as you afforded this inn due to Areus’s generosity?”

The woman’s smile faded. “It’s true that he was generous
when I left the castle, but it’s taken a lot of hard work to keep this place.”

“I’m sure. Areus wanted to check on his investment and enjoy
himself with an old friend?” she asked with a curl of her lip.

Melita held her gaze. “I might be a whore, but a liar I’m
not. If someone, commoner or king, asks me a question, I tell the truth, just
like I told him that putting a limit on days to conceive will only ensure that
it won’t happen.” The woman clamped a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have
said that. I always talk too much.”

“I can see that,” Delia snapped.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty.” Melita bowed deeply.

“You needn’t apologize for speaking the truth. It turns out
you were correct.”

“What do you mean? If I may be so bold, where are you
going?”

“Home.”

“But you’re heading north and the palace is south.”

“I’m returning to the convent where I grew up. Feel free to
return to the castle, Melita. Areus will be in need of a new queen and since
you pleased him in the past you might as well do so again in the future.”

This time Melita’s face actually turned pink. “I doubt he’ll
have another woman after you, ma’am. That night he stopped here, he talked of
little else. If you’re leaving him, he’ll be coming for you once the war is
over, if he survives, the Spirit willing.”

Her words chilled Delia.

If he survives.

The thought of Areus dying was almost unbearable.

She hadn’t told him of her plans to leave because she didn’t
want him to focus on anything except defeating Hypatios. Once settled at the
convent, she planned to send him a letter, but right now she knew he had to focus
on Zaltana.

“I’m sorry again, ma’am. This is none of my business,” Melita
said.

“No it’s not.”

“Shall I bring you some food?”

“Please,” Delia said, eager to be rid of the woman. Though
she wasn’t very hungry, she knew Echo probably was.

Once Melita left, Echo said, “I know it’s not my business
either but—”

“Don’t say it.”

“My lady, I know he loves you.”

“I’ve heard that from everyone except him. Unless he finds
it in his heart to tell me himself, I’ll remain at the convent.”

* * * * *

Hypatios sat astride Notus, facing the field of enemy
warriors.

Areus was there among them.

They were surrounded by forest on the west and east and the
mountains to the south. The open field on which they faced each other was
covered in the fresh grass of spring that would soon be slick and red with
blood.