The Kingdom of Secrets and Ruin

Ruairi

I can’t believe that I got her to agree to it.

The deal was something I’ve had to think up on the spot and she clearly doesn’t realise that the second her reasons were laid out, I’d have given her it all for nothing. But she’d never have taken it.

Dalliah doesn’t trust me, something I have the Leverer king to thank for off the back of the way he treated his people. So if I were to try and help her from the goodness of my heart, it’s fair to say she’d have run a mile. Even with my proposition she almost turned me down, it was too simple and I could see her trying to decide with her face getting easier to read the longer I’m around.

Thankfully my logic is sound, even if my reasoning was a little vague and I almost feel bad for using her fear of water against her. Almost.

Having her around means that I can check on her recovery, keep her safe and maybe even talk her out of it. I know what it’s like to live with the ghosts of people you’ve lost and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, but still the idea of her leaving, never to return, is like a dagger to the heart.

It’s pathetic, I didn’t even know I had one or at least not that way and if I didn’t know already better, I’d say it’s only because I’ve just saved her from certain death.

But that’s bullshit and we all know it.

All things considered though, the plan isn’t my worst bit of work, as a companion isn’t a servant and that’s the first reason squashed from the start. It feels good to get one out of the way quickly.

The second shouldn’t be a problem either. Hell, if someone were to so much as look at her wrong I’d have their heads, and it’s not like there’s much to mock anyway. Gretchen is stupid and jealous, while Dalliah is perfect in every sense of the word, even a blind man could attest for that.

The last reason though, that’s going to take soem time, as right now I have one little snag to take care of which relates to the tour that wasn’t meant to take place for another couple of months. The one that’s not even planned yet.

I take the stairs two at a time down to the reception rooms of the inn as the surgeon has taken over for now and my sister has offered to sit with Dalliah if I’m not back in time. Leaving her alone after all that just happened makes me nervous and Odelina’s not asked many questions about my new level of concern, which I appreciate but know won’t last forever.

The fact that she bathed Dalliah, clothed her and offered to sit with her means that she suspects something and I don’t blame her either, I just don’t know how to answer when the question eventually comes. That can be tomorrow’s problem.

I find Avery and Tedric having lunch by the fire in the main room and I call over to the owner to request some for myself. Is it fair to say that the cat is out of the bag when it comes to my identity, so I get to watch as he scurries to the kitchen before I can even finish, or should I say that the cat is out from under the bed now?

Where that thing came from before I have no idea, nor why Dalliah cares so much. I’ve always been more of a dog person myself, not that I’ve stayed anywhere long enough to justify a pet of my own.

“Are you sure you’re allowed down here?” Avery jokes when he sees me, while Tedric knows better and keeps his mouth shut.

I punch for former in the arm, hard, when I sit and know that he probably won’t regain feeling for at least the next 10 minutes or so. That is if I don’t do it again.

“I take back what I said, I don’t care if he gets over it or not,” Avery speaks to Tedric, ignoring me as he rubs his arm.

I roll my eyes in response while leaning back to stretch my back, it’s been a couple of rough nights when it comes to sleep and I’d kill for a pillow. Besides, he’s being dramatic just now and I know that when considering how he’s taken a cut down to the bone in his other arm before and barely noticed. That was a few years ago back in the southern kingdoms.

“Gets over what?” I ask in a low voice, daring him to continue.

“You compulsion to stay in that room,” Tedric answers for him.

“It’s not compulsion, it’s concern. Surely you feel the same after saving a civilian life?” I sound defensive but neither of them comment on it thankfully.

I know Tedric experienced something similar with a child back in the first kingdom we won, Khoba. His father was killed in self-defence as we fought on the beaches, he noticed the child unattended and took him back to the ships to stay safe. He still sends money back each month to pay for the boy’s care.

“Whatever, it must be over now that you’re down here.” Avery dismisses my words while Tedric takes a small sip from his mug, deep in thought.

He never talks about what happened and I pause for a second, wondering if it was a wise idea to mention it, even if it does relate to my situation just now.

Time to break the news and change the subject, “I want to plan the tour and I need it to start next week.”

Ale is spat over the table and Avery glares at me, no longer so glib, “You’re joking?”

This is more his problem than anyone elses. He’s my hand after all and everywhere I go, the security, logistics and planning will come from him. Even if we three have done all of the hard work in the background.

I fold my arms across my chest to let him know I mean what I say, a signal we’ve had longer than I can remember.

Glances are exchanged, they’re not even bothering to hide them, but I let it slide as my lunch is brought over to the table. Thankfully it’s something other than stew, I’m sick of the stuff, and the hot beef sandwich is just what I need after the past few hours I’ve had, and expect to have in the future.

This thing is going to be a nightmare to organise.

“Rhu, I get that Avery is being a dick but you can’t be serious?” Tedric turns to me, holding a hand out to stop the other from saying something stupid.

“I need it to start next week,” I repeat again, hoping I can get away without needing to explain the hows and whys.

They won’t care for the deal I made, won’t understand my need to make sure it happens, so I want to keep my words to a minimum where I can help it.

The longer we wait, the higher the chance that Dalliah will change her mind and I can’t have that. It’s embarrassing and frustrating the hold she has on me but there’s not a whole lot I can do to stop it now that it’s started.

If my father could see me now I’m sure he’d laugh. I mean, he chased my mother around our islands for years before she caved and married him, not that I’m trying to make Dalliah my queen or anything that serious. It’s just that our family has a habit of never giving up and I never thought I’d fall pray to it.

“I need a break,”

“I need a raise,”

“Done and done, just wait until after the tour and I’ll give you whatever you want.” They could have asked yesterday and got the same. They’re the reason I made it this far and I’m going to need them if I’m to get this plan in motion.

I really need this plan in motion.