AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ahhh, the herald does keep his secrets close! Will you really not tell me the latest news of the courtship? The whole city speaks of little else. A great heir, lost to sorrow, awakened by the care of a mysterious woman from afar? They say that a grand engagement must surely be imminent?”
He smiled through clenched teeth.
Teigra had barely returned to the embassy since the ball. Too busy being out and about, if the bar chatter was to be believed. Strolling through the agora, hand in hand with the prince. Him plucking flowers and laying them in her hair. Her stealing kisses when she thought no one was looking. Of the whirlwind of it all—from not knowing each other to everyone asking when the wedding would be, all in just a few short weeks.
His cheeks hurt from the strain of not screaming. “I really couldn’t say.”
He stayed for three more glasses before leaving Fabulosa behind—until the sun had set fully, the bronze moon turning the whole bay a ghostly gold.
Their conversation had been a delicate dance, but he’d gathered enough of Fabulosa’s intentions. It was just as he’d expected, though that hardly made it better.
She could find somewhere for him to reside during the war, with enough coin and wine to ensure he forgot all about the death he’d leave behind.
And in return?
She was smart enough to leave that unaddressed—for now. But it would surely be some humiliating betrayal. Stealing contracts, perhaps? Helping her polity find ways to profit from the coming conflict? Maybe even serving in the court of king Psari, like some house-trained curio?
Whatever her price, his name would be worthless back home. He would be a traitor. The herald who ran at the first clang of steel.
Just a few weeks ago, it would have been absurd to accept such a proposition. He had been on the up. Finally seeing fruit to all his harvests!
But now?
Now Calix was ignoring him entirely in favor of this ludicrous “relationship” with Teigra. And if he returned home, he would have to do the things Fabulosa mentioned—liaising with the enemy. Riding into harm’s way as some hapless messenger. All while Mestibes was sure to burn to the ground regardless.
And even if by some miracle the polity were to survive, Teigra would get the credit. News would already have reached home by now. Securia would have made sure of that. House Cosmin would be the talk of all Mestibes, not him!
Why the fuck wouldn’t I take Fabulosa’s deal?
Aurelius sighed. It was definitely time to go somewhere rowdy and make sure his half buzz didn’t fade any further.
He turned from the gentle bay, then stopped.
A figure stood in front of him, their face lit with the yellow-brown light of the full moon.
It was Calix.
He experienced a disgusting moment of joy, accompanied by an inexplicable desire to run past the coils of salt-crusted rope and embrace him.
He stamped down that urge. He wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“What are you doing here?” Aurelius grumbled.
“I... I thought you should hear it from me,” said Calix, his eyes averted. “I intend to ask Teigra to marry me.”
The words hit him like a punch to the throat.
The prince shuffled in the silence that followed. “Anyway. I just... I just thought you should know.”
“So that is that, is it? Throw that at me and now you’re off?”
His brow hung heavy. “Do you blame me, Aurelius? Once I learned what you wanted from me?”
“Oh, please. You knew I had an ulterior motive. A young, gay noble arrives in the city and immediately tries to bed you. Don’t tell me the strategos can’t see tactics when they’re at play. You knew something was up and you didn’t care. You entertained my advances. You wanted to see where it was going. You wanted me.”
Calix’s posture grew resolute. “Maybe I did. Maybe... part of me still does. But just because I was weak then doesn’t mean I have to remain so. I’m doing what is best for my polity. And that is all that matters.”
Calix departed.
