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Evangelina’s face lit up but she didn’t make a fuss over his admittance that she might have had a point in what she was saying. But, her happiness shifted as she took on a rather knowing look as he spoke about not having the time. Maybe he didn’t believe he had the time, but he did… It did not say much about his leadership skills if he could not dictate how his time was spent. There would always be important things to be taken care of, he needed to learn that there would never be a ‘right’ time or a ‘perfect’ time to do the things he wanted to do.
“There will always be important things to discuss, your majesty. You have to find the same balance in life that you’ll need with Aenaeus.” She slipped one foot off the railing and let it dangle at its own will as she teased him about the gelding having figured him out and having trained Achilleas faster than Achilleas was training him. The soft snort of laughter made her smile wistfully. He’d never know that her teasing of him had a purpose. He was learning to relax and flow with the horse rather than against him. It was a promising sign…
She also wasn’t about to admit that he looked as foolish as he felt. He had to find the rhythm of horsemanship and the relaxation before he could build upon his and Aenaeus’ connection. Those things had to happen before the learning started but once that doorway was open if he had the rhythm, relaxation, and connection the learning would go swiftly. And from learning something, there was practicing it until it became something artistic and full of finesse. When learning something new, you didn’t go from never having done something to sculpting a masterpiece. There had to be awkwardness in order for there to be growth.
Watching, she didn’t interrupt as the newly promoted king moved into baby steps. Moving back and forth and that if you placed your body in place ‘A’ the horse would by instinct move to place ‘B’. Tilting her head, she noted that there the connection was starting to form and the gelding was at least a little intrigued by this new and far more interesting Achilleas. What would the man do next? And how did he 'know' things? Evangelina could see the cogs and gears working in the gelding’s brain and it generated a snicker from her. It was always the same, the first time you completely took the horse by surprise. An intelligent confident horse would suddenly look awestruck and confused, not by the actions but by the change of what they’d learned was normal human behavior.
‘Like this?’ His muttered voice drew her from her thoughts and she stared at him for a couple of seconds, scoping out anything that might need her assistance.
“Yes, but don’t forget that just because you have gotten him to moving that you want to make sure you surprise him with the next cue you are going to ask. The moment he has your game figured out again, he’ll go stale on you and begin to sulk.” Shifting on the rail, her dangling foot came back up to rest on the railing and her hands clasped in her lap as she continued. “So, here is a bit of logic for that too reasonable mind of yours. His head is connected to his neck which connects to his back and has his legs attached too, correct? Well, it seems to slip people’s minds that little piece of information. If you can control the head, you can control the whole body because wherever his head goes, so shall his body. If you pull his nose to the left, then in order for his body to follow his head and straighten out… his hips will move away from you.”
She brushed a tendril of her chestnut hair out of her face and watched for a couple of seconds before she started lecturing again. “So, if you wished to mount him from the left. If you pulled his head to the right, you’d block him from being able to swing his hindquarters away from you.” She licked her lips and paused, “It will feel backward but just remember, he wants to straighten his body and that his body will follow his head. When you feel relaxed and comfortable, give it a try.”
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Evangelina’s face lit up but she didn’t make a fuss over his admittance that she might have had a point in what she was saying. But, her happiness shifted as she took on a rather knowing look as he spoke about not having the time. Maybe he didn’t believe he had the time, but he did… It did not say much about his leadership skills if he could not dictate how his time was spent. There would always be important things to be taken care of, he needed to learn that there would never be a ‘right’ time or a ‘perfect’ time to do the things he wanted to do.
“There will always be important things to discuss, your majesty. You have to find the same balance in life that you’ll need with Aenaeus.” She slipped one foot off the railing and let it dangle at its own will as she teased him about the gelding having figured him out and having trained Achilleas faster than Achilleas was training him. The soft snort of laughter made her smile wistfully. He’d never know that her teasing of him had a purpose. He was learning to relax and flow with the horse rather than against him. It was a promising sign…
She also wasn’t about to admit that he looked as foolish as he felt. He had to find the rhythm of horsemanship and the relaxation before he could build upon his and Aenaeus’ connection. Those things had to happen before the learning started but once that doorway was open if he had the rhythm, relaxation, and connection the learning would go swiftly. And from learning something, there was practicing it until it became something artistic and full of finesse. When learning something new, you didn’t go from never having done something to sculpting a masterpiece. There had to be awkwardness in order for there to be growth.
Watching, she didn’t interrupt as the newly promoted king moved into baby steps. Moving back and forth and that if you placed your body in place ‘A’ the horse would by instinct move to place ‘B’. Tilting her head, she noted that there the connection was starting to form and the gelding was at least a little intrigued by this new and far more interesting Achilleas. What would the man do next? And how did he 'know' things? Evangelina could see the cogs and gears working in the gelding’s brain and it generated a snicker from her. It was always the same, the first time you completely took the horse by surprise. An intelligent confident horse would suddenly look awestruck and confused, not by the actions but by the change of what they’d learned was normal human behavior.
‘Like this?’ His muttered voice drew her from her thoughts and she stared at him for a couple of seconds, scoping out anything that might need her assistance.
“Yes, but don’t forget that just because you have gotten him to moving that you want to make sure you surprise him with the next cue you are going to ask. The moment he has your game figured out again, he’ll go stale on you and begin to sulk.” Shifting on the rail, her dangling foot came back up to rest on the railing and her hands clasped in her lap as she continued. “So, here is a bit of logic for that too reasonable mind of yours. His head is connected to his neck which connects to his back and has his legs attached too, correct? Well, it seems to slip people’s minds that little piece of information. If you can control the head, you can control the whole body because wherever his head goes, so shall his body. If you pull his nose to the left, then in order for his body to follow his head and straighten out… his hips will move away from you.”
She brushed a tendril of her chestnut hair out of her face and watched for a couple of seconds before she started lecturing again. “So, if you wished to mount him from the left. If you pulled his head to the right, you’d block him from being able to swing his hindquarters away from you.” She licked her lips and paused, “It will feel backward but just remember, he wants to straighten his body and that his body will follow his head. When you feel relaxed and comfortable, give it a try.”
Evangelina’s face lit up but she didn’t make a fuss over his admittance that she might have had a point in what she was saying. But, her happiness shifted as she took on a rather knowing look as he spoke about not having the time. Maybe he didn’t believe he had the time, but he did… It did not say much about his leadership skills if he could not dictate how his time was spent. There would always be important things to be taken care of, he needed to learn that there would never be a ‘right’ time or a ‘perfect’ time to do the things he wanted to do.
“There will always be important things to discuss, your majesty. You have to find the same balance in life that you’ll need with Aenaeus.” She slipped one foot off the railing and let it dangle at its own will as she teased him about the gelding having figured him out and having trained Achilleas faster than Achilleas was training him. The soft snort of laughter made her smile wistfully. He’d never know that her teasing of him had a purpose. He was learning to relax and flow with the horse rather than against him. It was a promising sign…
She also wasn’t about to admit that he looked as foolish as he felt. He had to find the rhythm of horsemanship and the relaxation before he could build upon his and Aenaeus’ connection. Those things had to happen before the learning started but once that doorway was open if he had the rhythm, relaxation, and connection the learning would go swiftly. And from learning something, there was practicing it until it became something artistic and full of finesse. When learning something new, you didn’t go from never having done something to sculpting a masterpiece. There had to be awkwardness in order for there to be growth.
Watching, she didn’t interrupt as the newly promoted king moved into baby steps. Moving back and forth and that if you placed your body in place ‘A’ the horse would by instinct move to place ‘B’. Tilting her head, she noted that there the connection was starting to form and the gelding was at least a little intrigued by this new and far more interesting Achilleas. What would the man do next? And how did he 'know' things? Evangelina could see the cogs and gears working in the gelding’s brain and it generated a snicker from her. It was always the same, the first time you completely took the horse by surprise. An intelligent confident horse would suddenly look awestruck and confused, not by the actions but by the change of what they’d learned was normal human behavior.
‘Like this?’ His muttered voice drew her from her thoughts and she stared at him for a couple of seconds, scoping out anything that might need her assistance.
“Yes, but don’t forget that just because you have gotten him to moving that you want to make sure you surprise him with the next cue you are going to ask. The moment he has your game figured out again, he’ll go stale on you and begin to sulk.” Shifting on the rail, her dangling foot came back up to rest on the railing and her hands clasped in her lap as she continued. “So, here is a bit of logic for that too reasonable mind of yours. His head is connected to his neck which connects to his back and has his legs attached too, correct? Well, it seems to slip people’s minds that little piece of information. If you can control the head, you can control the whole body because wherever his head goes, so shall his body. If you pull his nose to the left, then in order for his body to follow his head and straighten out… his hips will move away from you.”
She brushed a tendril of her chestnut hair out of her face and watched for a couple of seconds before she started lecturing again. “So, if you wished to mount him from the left. If you pulled his head to the right, you’d block him from being able to swing his hindquarters away from you.” She licked her lips and paused, “It will feel backward but just remember, he wants to straighten his body and that his body will follow his head. When you feel relaxed and comfortable, give it a try.”
He was tempted, for a moment, to ask Lady Evangelina if she had ever tried to prepare for a war. If she understood everything that needed to be done to ready a fleet of ships to sail, and a bunch of soldiers to mobilise. Never mind the diplomatic exercise of assuring those within the senate that this was the right course of action, that a newly crowned King leaving Taengean shores for war almost as soon as the crown had been sat upon his head was not leaving them weak but was instead a show of strength. But he was well-schooled in biting his tongue, and so just leveled a look at her that suggested perhaps he did not appreciate the sentiment.
He blew out a breath, resigned himself to the fact that today at least, this was going to claim more of his time than he had anticipated and tried to follow Evangelina’s instructions. They were perplexing but threw quick results, and that was something that the new King could get on board with. But for his teacher It seemed that his small victory was to be considered exactly that, and Achilleas looked back at the grey horse doubtfully. This was...more invested than he had imagined it being and he did not know that he had the patience for it.
But much like she had a knack for reading horses, Lady Evangelina seemed to spot when the man was at risk of disengaging with her methods too and she addressed a side of him that was guaranteed to win out. Reason. And though the King’s brows drew together, it was not in any mark of disapproval or dissent, but rather as he followed the explanation through to completion and decided that it had some merit. Shooting his cousin-in-law a sideways glance, Achilleas gathered the reins again, and this time, shortened the right-hand length so that Aeneus head was turned away from him. And true enough, on this attempt, the man was easily able to swing up and into the saddle before the horse had really had time to figure out what was happening and stage any objection.
“...well I never.” Achilleas managed to look absurdly pleased with himself from atop the old gelding, a smile that had been seen rarely in recent days lighting up his face. It did not linger long though, because Aeneus seemed displeased to have been so outsmarted, and promptly began snatching at the bit and tossing his head around in a manner most unbefitting of the dignified old man he was. Achilleas rolled his eyes and slid from the horse’s back, this time waving over the stablehand who had stood on sentry since handing over the animal, before glancing at Evangelina.
“I really don’t have more time than this for him today,” he explained, wandering over towards the gate and offering her a hand down. “... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.”
He fell silent for a few moments as the stablehand came to take Aeneus back to the stalls, the gelding going a little more willingly now he knew he could go back to his grain. But Achilleas did not move quickly to follow, watching the animal be led away with an unreadable expression on his face.
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He was tempted, for a moment, to ask Lady Evangelina if she had ever tried to prepare for a war. If she understood everything that needed to be done to ready a fleet of ships to sail, and a bunch of soldiers to mobilise. Never mind the diplomatic exercise of assuring those within the senate that this was the right course of action, that a newly crowned King leaving Taengean shores for war almost as soon as the crown had been sat upon his head was not leaving them weak but was instead a show of strength. But he was well-schooled in biting his tongue, and so just leveled a look at her that suggested perhaps he did not appreciate the sentiment.
He blew out a breath, resigned himself to the fact that today at least, this was going to claim more of his time than he had anticipated and tried to follow Evangelina’s instructions. They were perplexing but threw quick results, and that was something that the new King could get on board with. But for his teacher It seemed that his small victory was to be considered exactly that, and Achilleas looked back at the grey horse doubtfully. This was...more invested than he had imagined it being and he did not know that he had the patience for it.
But much like she had a knack for reading horses, Lady Evangelina seemed to spot when the man was at risk of disengaging with her methods too and she addressed a side of him that was guaranteed to win out. Reason. And though the King’s brows drew together, it was not in any mark of disapproval or dissent, but rather as he followed the explanation through to completion and decided that it had some merit. Shooting his cousin-in-law a sideways glance, Achilleas gathered the reins again, and this time, shortened the right-hand length so that Aeneus head was turned away from him. And true enough, on this attempt, the man was easily able to swing up and into the saddle before the horse had really had time to figure out what was happening and stage any objection.
“...well I never.” Achilleas managed to look absurdly pleased with himself from atop the old gelding, a smile that had been seen rarely in recent days lighting up his face. It did not linger long though, because Aeneus seemed displeased to have been so outsmarted, and promptly began snatching at the bit and tossing his head around in a manner most unbefitting of the dignified old man he was. Achilleas rolled his eyes and slid from the horse’s back, this time waving over the stablehand who had stood on sentry since handing over the animal, before glancing at Evangelina.
“I really don’t have more time than this for him today,” he explained, wandering over towards the gate and offering her a hand down. “... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.”
He fell silent for a few moments as the stablehand came to take Aeneus back to the stalls, the gelding going a little more willingly now he knew he could go back to his grain. But Achilleas did not move quickly to follow, watching the animal be led away with an unreadable expression on his face.
He was tempted, for a moment, to ask Lady Evangelina if she had ever tried to prepare for a war. If she understood everything that needed to be done to ready a fleet of ships to sail, and a bunch of soldiers to mobilise. Never mind the diplomatic exercise of assuring those within the senate that this was the right course of action, that a newly crowned King leaving Taengean shores for war almost as soon as the crown had been sat upon his head was not leaving them weak but was instead a show of strength. But he was well-schooled in biting his tongue, and so just leveled a look at her that suggested perhaps he did not appreciate the sentiment.
He blew out a breath, resigned himself to the fact that today at least, this was going to claim more of his time than he had anticipated and tried to follow Evangelina’s instructions. They were perplexing but threw quick results, and that was something that the new King could get on board with. But for his teacher It seemed that his small victory was to be considered exactly that, and Achilleas looked back at the grey horse doubtfully. This was...more invested than he had imagined it being and he did not know that he had the patience for it.
But much like she had a knack for reading horses, Lady Evangelina seemed to spot when the man was at risk of disengaging with her methods too and she addressed a side of him that was guaranteed to win out. Reason. And though the King’s brows drew together, it was not in any mark of disapproval or dissent, but rather as he followed the explanation through to completion and decided that it had some merit. Shooting his cousin-in-law a sideways glance, Achilleas gathered the reins again, and this time, shortened the right-hand length so that Aeneus head was turned away from him. And true enough, on this attempt, the man was easily able to swing up and into the saddle before the horse had really had time to figure out what was happening and stage any objection.
“...well I never.” Achilleas managed to look absurdly pleased with himself from atop the old gelding, a smile that had been seen rarely in recent days lighting up his face. It did not linger long though, because Aeneus seemed displeased to have been so outsmarted, and promptly began snatching at the bit and tossing his head around in a manner most unbefitting of the dignified old man he was. Achilleas rolled his eyes and slid from the horse’s back, this time waving over the stablehand who had stood on sentry since handing over the animal, before glancing at Evangelina.
“I really don’t have more time than this for him today,” he explained, wandering over towards the gate and offering her a hand down. “... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.”
He fell silent for a few moments as the stablehand came to take Aeneus back to the stalls, the gelding going a little more willingly now he knew he could go back to his grain. But Achilleas did not move quickly to follow, watching the animal be led away with an unreadable expression on his face.
It was definitely in the new king’s best interest that he’d not asked the pint-sized Leventi if she’d ever prepared for a battle for she’d have answered with a simple, ‘You have met my uncle, correct?’ Every conversation with him was a battle. It was part of being a Leventi. King Achilleas was a man who had achieved greatness, maybe not through his own means but still… Being a daughter of the Leventi house, Evangelina had greatness thrust upon her at every single opportunity. And when you weren’t born great, it was an exceedingly tiring ordeal having that greatness thrust upon you and having to simply grin and bear it.
But he never asked.
Instead, Evangelina sat on her spot on the fence as her eyes followed the king and the man attempting to be the leader of the two of them. The morning sunlight was really starting to warm the day up and some of the earlier crispness was fading. Jutting her neck out just a little and tilting her head up, she closed her eyes for a moment letting the warmth spread over her face and seep into her bones. She’d probably end up with a couple of freckles but that’s what lemon juice was for wasn’t it?
Her eyes opened again, eyelashes sweeping up off her cheek as she let her gaze fall on Achilleas again as she lectured him. When she was done there was a moment there that she wondered if that was annoyance at her that flickered across his face, but when he didn’t object but instead did what he was told she relaxed a little. The instant he turned back around to the horse, she let the small, annoying smile form on her lips. The urge to giggle she’d managed to keep tucked deep, deep, deep down inside of her.
‘...Well I never.’
Evangelina tilted her head, a slow and assured smile taking the place of the former smile. The gelding was uneasy with this shift in the nature of his and Achilleas’ relationship but restless wasn’t always a bad thing in regards to horses. There was nothing more difficult to work with than a sulky horse that refused to move. Movement could be controlled and forged into something great, sulkiness wasn’t something that she would tolerate. From horse or man.
Shrugging in a confident reply to him, as if she’d known it would work the entire time. She met his glance with amusement as he slid off the horse’s back and started towards her. A small sigh escaped and she managed only the smallest roll of her eyes as he called forth the stable boy once again. The man took two steps forward with the horse and then one step backward. It would be slow for him but progress would be made.
‘I really don’t have more time than this for him today,’ Evangelina could hear the ‘but’ coming and simply raised an eyebrow at him waiting for it. ‘... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.’
Hopping gingerly off the fence, she put her hands on her lips and smiled up at him and nodded.
“Okay, not a problem. Leave him in the stables if you wish and I’ll speak to Prince Emilios about him and see if he’s got a little extra time to spend with the old fellow. You’ll be busy from now until you leave for Egypt, perhaps your brother has some attachment to him. Either way, we can both agree… the old man won’t be happy just loitering around in a pasture babysitting cocky young colts or something.” Her hand brushed back a windswept wild strand of hair. “In fact, if he’s not busy why don’t you have him join Theo and I for some tea.”
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It was definitely in the new king’s best interest that he’d not asked the pint-sized Leventi if she’d ever prepared for a battle for she’d have answered with a simple, ‘You have met my uncle, correct?’ Every conversation with him was a battle. It was part of being a Leventi. King Achilleas was a man who had achieved greatness, maybe not through his own means but still… Being a daughter of the Leventi house, Evangelina had greatness thrust upon her at every single opportunity. And when you weren’t born great, it was an exceedingly tiring ordeal having that greatness thrust upon you and having to simply grin and bear it.
But he never asked.
Instead, Evangelina sat on her spot on the fence as her eyes followed the king and the man attempting to be the leader of the two of them. The morning sunlight was really starting to warm the day up and some of the earlier crispness was fading. Jutting her neck out just a little and tilting her head up, she closed her eyes for a moment letting the warmth spread over her face and seep into her bones. She’d probably end up with a couple of freckles but that’s what lemon juice was for wasn’t it?
Her eyes opened again, eyelashes sweeping up off her cheek as she let her gaze fall on Achilleas again as she lectured him. When she was done there was a moment there that she wondered if that was annoyance at her that flickered across his face, but when he didn’t object but instead did what he was told she relaxed a little. The instant he turned back around to the horse, she let the small, annoying smile form on her lips. The urge to giggle she’d managed to keep tucked deep, deep, deep down inside of her.
‘...Well I never.’
Evangelina tilted her head, a slow and assured smile taking the place of the former smile. The gelding was uneasy with this shift in the nature of his and Achilleas’ relationship but restless wasn’t always a bad thing in regards to horses. There was nothing more difficult to work with than a sulky horse that refused to move. Movement could be controlled and forged into something great, sulkiness wasn’t something that she would tolerate. From horse or man.
Shrugging in a confident reply to him, as if she’d known it would work the entire time. She met his glance with amusement as he slid off the horse’s back and started towards her. A small sigh escaped and she managed only the smallest roll of her eyes as he called forth the stable boy once again. The man took two steps forward with the horse and then one step backward. It would be slow for him but progress would be made.
‘I really don’t have more time than this for him today,’ Evangelina could hear the ‘but’ coming and simply raised an eyebrow at him waiting for it. ‘... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.’
Hopping gingerly off the fence, she put her hands on her lips and smiled up at him and nodded.
“Okay, not a problem. Leave him in the stables if you wish and I’ll speak to Prince Emilios about him and see if he’s got a little extra time to spend with the old fellow. You’ll be busy from now until you leave for Egypt, perhaps your brother has some attachment to him. Either way, we can both agree… the old man won’t be happy just loitering around in a pasture babysitting cocky young colts or something.” Her hand brushed back a windswept wild strand of hair. “In fact, if he’s not busy why don’t you have him join Theo and I for some tea.”
It was definitely in the new king’s best interest that he’d not asked the pint-sized Leventi if she’d ever prepared for a battle for she’d have answered with a simple, ‘You have met my uncle, correct?’ Every conversation with him was a battle. It was part of being a Leventi. King Achilleas was a man who had achieved greatness, maybe not through his own means but still… Being a daughter of the Leventi house, Evangelina had greatness thrust upon her at every single opportunity. And when you weren’t born great, it was an exceedingly tiring ordeal having that greatness thrust upon you and having to simply grin and bear it.
But he never asked.
Instead, Evangelina sat on her spot on the fence as her eyes followed the king and the man attempting to be the leader of the two of them. The morning sunlight was really starting to warm the day up and some of the earlier crispness was fading. Jutting her neck out just a little and tilting her head up, she closed her eyes for a moment letting the warmth spread over her face and seep into her bones. She’d probably end up with a couple of freckles but that’s what lemon juice was for wasn’t it?
Her eyes opened again, eyelashes sweeping up off her cheek as she let her gaze fall on Achilleas again as she lectured him. When she was done there was a moment there that she wondered if that was annoyance at her that flickered across his face, but when he didn’t object but instead did what he was told she relaxed a little. The instant he turned back around to the horse, she let the small, annoying smile form on her lips. The urge to giggle she’d managed to keep tucked deep, deep, deep down inside of her.
‘...Well I never.’
Evangelina tilted her head, a slow and assured smile taking the place of the former smile. The gelding was uneasy with this shift in the nature of his and Achilleas’ relationship but restless wasn’t always a bad thing in regards to horses. There was nothing more difficult to work with than a sulky horse that refused to move. Movement could be controlled and forged into something great, sulkiness wasn’t something that she would tolerate. From horse or man.
Shrugging in a confident reply to him, as if she’d known it would work the entire time. She met his glance with amusement as he slid off the horse’s back and started towards her. A small sigh escaped and she managed only the smallest roll of her eyes as he called forth the stable boy once again. The man took two steps forward with the horse and then one step backward. It would be slow for him but progress would be made.
‘I really don’t have more time than this for him today,’ Evangelina could hear the ‘but’ coming and simply raised an eyebrow at him waiting for it. ‘... and I do not think he will be coming to Egypt with me.’
Hopping gingerly off the fence, she put her hands on her lips and smiled up at him and nodded.
“Okay, not a problem. Leave him in the stables if you wish and I’ll speak to Prince Emilios about him and see if he’s got a little extra time to spend with the old fellow. You’ll be busy from now until you leave for Egypt, perhaps your brother has some attachment to him. Either way, we can both agree… the old man won’t be happy just loitering around in a pasture babysitting cocky young colts or something.” Her hand brushed back a windswept wild strand of hair. “In fact, if he’s not busy why don’t you have him join Theo and I for some tea.”
“My brother?” Achilleas asked, raising his brows at the Leventi woman. He wasn’t entirely sure when he had become Emilios’ social secretary, and there was a slight frown as he considered what Evie had suggested. She was right, in that he didn't have the time to dedicate to Aenaeus if this was what it was going to take. But it felt somehow like failure to have his brother pick up where he left off.
Conceding that there was little other option though with him due to set sail in less than a week, he told himself it did not matter, and that he would still be doing right by his father’s memory as long as the old horse wasn’t being shipped off to the meat merchant or being fed to the palati hounds.
“You can ask him yourself if you so wish” he replied, reaching up to pull the gate toward them so they might return to the palati and the promised tea. But before he had moved it, Achilleas paused and turned to look down at the petite woman beside him. “Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
He lifted his gaze over the top of her head, checking that the stable hand was out of earshot, and for once not worrying over the fact that Lady Evangelina was without a chaperone, because he didn't want his words to go any further. His wife’s cousin had proven herself trustworthy before, and the king had been pondering a conversation they had shared before the wedding, before all of this. This was why he fixed his blue eyes upon her dark ones now, and spoke in a low voice that left no doubt as to his wanting to keep their words between them alone.
“I received word from my cousin” he stated, not thinking it necessary to clarify which. There was only one who Evangelina had asked after before, and one who it would be a matter worth remarking on. “They are safe and well in Colchis”
Indeed, the first of the letters he had received had been uplifting if anything, sheer relief at hearing that Stephanos and Pia were well. But that had obviously been sent before his cousin had heard the news, and the one that followed could have not been more different. It still set a frown upon his brow as he considered it, and he swallowed before he went on. “News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.”
Here being in the palati, and whereas it had once been Achilleas’ father who stood between Stephanos and reclaiming his throne, the fact that it was now Achilleas himself had not escaped either of the cousins. The new king had scarcely had time to think on it, his focus drawn, rightly so, by the imminent campaign in Egypt. But Stephanos’ scornful words had burned themselves into his mind, and it had been the day after the letter was delivered that the king had quietly but efficiently gone through everything he could lay his hands on his father’s study at the palati, finding nothing that would lend credence to the suspicion Stephanos heaped on the man. And yet Achilleas had sat in the man’s chair for too long, turning over the events that had led to this point and looking for some stress point that would explain everything. He had no luck. Just more questions.
Which was what had, at least partially led to his hastily scribbled missive to Lady Evangelina that morning.
“You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?”
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“My brother?” Achilleas asked, raising his brows at the Leventi woman. He wasn’t entirely sure when he had become Emilios’ social secretary, and there was a slight frown as he considered what Evie had suggested. She was right, in that he didn't have the time to dedicate to Aenaeus if this was what it was going to take. But it felt somehow like failure to have his brother pick up where he left off.
Conceding that there was little other option though with him due to set sail in less than a week, he told himself it did not matter, and that he would still be doing right by his father’s memory as long as the old horse wasn’t being shipped off to the meat merchant or being fed to the palati hounds.
“You can ask him yourself if you so wish” he replied, reaching up to pull the gate toward them so they might return to the palati and the promised tea. But before he had moved it, Achilleas paused and turned to look down at the petite woman beside him. “Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
He lifted his gaze over the top of her head, checking that the stable hand was out of earshot, and for once not worrying over the fact that Lady Evangelina was without a chaperone, because he didn't want his words to go any further. His wife’s cousin had proven herself trustworthy before, and the king had been pondering a conversation they had shared before the wedding, before all of this. This was why he fixed his blue eyes upon her dark ones now, and spoke in a low voice that left no doubt as to his wanting to keep their words between them alone.
“I received word from my cousin” he stated, not thinking it necessary to clarify which. There was only one who Evangelina had asked after before, and one who it would be a matter worth remarking on. “They are safe and well in Colchis”
Indeed, the first of the letters he had received had been uplifting if anything, sheer relief at hearing that Stephanos and Pia were well. But that had obviously been sent before his cousin had heard the news, and the one that followed could have not been more different. It still set a frown upon his brow as he considered it, and he swallowed before he went on. “News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.”
Here being in the palati, and whereas it had once been Achilleas’ father who stood between Stephanos and reclaiming his throne, the fact that it was now Achilleas himself had not escaped either of the cousins. The new king had scarcely had time to think on it, his focus drawn, rightly so, by the imminent campaign in Egypt. But Stephanos’ scornful words had burned themselves into his mind, and it had been the day after the letter was delivered that the king had quietly but efficiently gone through everything he could lay his hands on his father’s study at the palati, finding nothing that would lend credence to the suspicion Stephanos heaped on the man. And yet Achilleas had sat in the man’s chair for too long, turning over the events that had led to this point and looking for some stress point that would explain everything. He had no luck. Just more questions.
Which was what had, at least partially led to his hastily scribbled missive to Lady Evangelina that morning.
“You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?”
“My brother?” Achilleas asked, raising his brows at the Leventi woman. He wasn’t entirely sure when he had become Emilios’ social secretary, and there was a slight frown as he considered what Evie had suggested. She was right, in that he didn't have the time to dedicate to Aenaeus if this was what it was going to take. But it felt somehow like failure to have his brother pick up where he left off.
Conceding that there was little other option though with him due to set sail in less than a week, he told himself it did not matter, and that he would still be doing right by his father’s memory as long as the old horse wasn’t being shipped off to the meat merchant or being fed to the palati hounds.
“You can ask him yourself if you so wish” he replied, reaching up to pull the gate toward them so they might return to the palati and the promised tea. But before he had moved it, Achilleas paused and turned to look down at the petite woman beside him. “Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
He lifted his gaze over the top of her head, checking that the stable hand was out of earshot, and for once not worrying over the fact that Lady Evangelina was without a chaperone, because he didn't want his words to go any further. His wife’s cousin had proven herself trustworthy before, and the king had been pondering a conversation they had shared before the wedding, before all of this. This was why he fixed his blue eyes upon her dark ones now, and spoke in a low voice that left no doubt as to his wanting to keep their words between them alone.
“I received word from my cousin” he stated, not thinking it necessary to clarify which. There was only one who Evangelina had asked after before, and one who it would be a matter worth remarking on. “They are safe and well in Colchis”
Indeed, the first of the letters he had received had been uplifting if anything, sheer relief at hearing that Stephanos and Pia were well. But that had obviously been sent before his cousin had heard the news, and the one that followed could have not been more different. It still set a frown upon his brow as he considered it, and he swallowed before he went on. “News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.”
Here being in the palati, and whereas it had once been Achilleas’ father who stood between Stephanos and reclaiming his throne, the fact that it was now Achilleas himself had not escaped either of the cousins. The new king had scarcely had time to think on it, his focus drawn, rightly so, by the imminent campaign in Egypt. But Stephanos’ scornful words had burned themselves into his mind, and it had been the day after the letter was delivered that the king had quietly but efficiently gone through everything he could lay his hands on his father’s study at the palati, finding nothing that would lend credence to the suspicion Stephanos heaped on the man. And yet Achilleas had sat in the man’s chair for too long, turning over the events that had led to this point and looking for some stress point that would explain everything. He had no luck. Just more questions.
Which was what had, at least partially led to his hastily scribbled missive to Lady Evangelina that morning.
“You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?”
She wasn’t exactly what she’d said that had left her distinguished companion so perplexed. He had already expressed his thoughts that he wouldn’t have the time, and she suspected, the desire to continue to work with the older gelding. Was it not a better idea to approach his brother, Emilios, to see if the man had the time or the desire to give to the treasured gelding? If Emilios turned her down with working with the gelding too, then she’d look at other options but she really hoped that one of Irakles brood would step up and offer the gelding a place in their hearts. At his age, there was no guarantee that he’d make the transition well into a new household, but Evie would try.
Shifting uncomfortably, she hoped she’d not treaded on some sensitive ground by mentioning involving his brother. She was all too aware of familial rivalries.
‘You can ask him yourself if you so wish.’ He pulled the gate towards them and she stepped out of the way so that it could open fully and she could follow him out. Her hand reached up and lightly stroked the kink out of her neck as she wondered just how she was going to manage that conversation. Emilios had always intimidated her a little. She was pretty sure he might not even entirely know she existed. Achilleas had been the same way but at least she’d been able to hold onto her anger and bitterness at his childish prank on her that she’d managed to push past the fact she was unknown to him. Emilios had never done anything to leave her feeling wrathful or superior. He’d always just politely ignored her. She might as well of just been a potted fern next to the wall where he was concerned.
Flicking a quick glance at Achilleas, she let out a small sigh and looked forward towards the stables and the palati. She supposed she cross that bridge when she came to it. Lost in her own thoughts, his voice caused her to jump just a little as it broke through the reflective silence they’d been sharing.
‘Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.’ Her wide dark eyes blinked at him for a moment and she slowly turned her head and glanced around and then looked back at him and shrugged.
“What is on your mind, your highness?” She said quietly. Was this about the boy? Had there been some new developments regarding him? Evangelina was fairly certain that had been handled but perhaps… She stopped the direction of her thoughts. Motioning softly towards the railing of breaking pen, leaning her back against the railing, she tilted her head up to study him as he spoke.
After a moment, ‘I received word from my cousin.’ That brought her to attention and she straightened from her almost lazy stance against the railing and crossed her arms over her chest. True to his thoughts, he didn’t need to spell things out for her and she knew exactly what he was talking about. She let him continue. ‘They are safe and well in Colchis.’ She felt some of the tension she’d been holding onto for the past few weeks slip away and her body sagged a little. At least they were safe and well.
She’d think about that later right now she had to focus on what he was saying. ‘News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.’ The words came out quietly from him and she could almost feel the tension. It was bound to happen. There were no secrets, at least not in Greece if you had the right connections. She nodded her head in understanding. So, Stephanos knew of his uncle’s death and moreso knew of his best friend and cousin taking reign over the country that should have been his. She swallowed and glanced at the ground. Pia had to be having fit over that. Of the Leventi girls, Pia had always been the ambitious ones. If she wanted something done, she’d see it got done. Perhaps, that was what endeared her so much to Evangelina’s heart.
Silenced passed for a moment as she took the opportunity to soak in this information, but it was only a moment she was given before her dark gaze was drawn back upwards to Achilleas' voice.
‘You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?’
She held his gaze for a long moment and then let out a soft sigh as she broke the contact and glanced about again at anyone who might have been watching them. This conversation was treading on some very delicate ground. Clearing her throat softly, she answered.
“I don’t suppose it’s a great surprise that they are in Colchis. My own suspicions only increased after Aunt Evelli and Nana decided to high tail it to Colchis to visit some relatives I’ve never even heard of on the wake of Theodora’s wedding.” She frowned a little, Aunt Evelli was so focused on seeing her daughters married to Princes that one would think she would have stayed around a little to bask in her handiwork of matchmaking. Her hand came up to brush her lips and she nodded some more, “Yes, I don’t suppose our cousins offered any congratulations on ascending the throne, did they? Hmmm.” She was fairly certain Pia would have been spitting brass nails at Stephanos for getting them into this mess whether it was his fault or not.
“I do believe his innocence, as I have said. As to my uncle’s thoughts,” Clarification didn’t seem necessary here either. They were not talking about Georgios’ thoughts on this matter. “It truly is hard to say what his thoughts or plans are.” She dipped her head down a little and eyed the ground as she thought about things.
“And even if he was going to share them with our family, I would be one of the last ones he’d share his true intentions with.” Her fingers absently rubbed her lips and she looked back up at the King. “He moves people around like a general might move his foot soldiers."
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She wasn’t exactly what she’d said that had left her distinguished companion so perplexed. He had already expressed his thoughts that he wouldn’t have the time, and she suspected, the desire to continue to work with the older gelding. Was it not a better idea to approach his brother, Emilios, to see if the man had the time or the desire to give to the treasured gelding? If Emilios turned her down with working with the gelding too, then she’d look at other options but she really hoped that one of Irakles brood would step up and offer the gelding a place in their hearts. At his age, there was no guarantee that he’d make the transition well into a new household, but Evie would try.
Shifting uncomfortably, she hoped she’d not treaded on some sensitive ground by mentioning involving his brother. She was all too aware of familial rivalries.
‘You can ask him yourself if you so wish.’ He pulled the gate towards them and she stepped out of the way so that it could open fully and she could follow him out. Her hand reached up and lightly stroked the kink out of her neck as she wondered just how she was going to manage that conversation. Emilios had always intimidated her a little. She was pretty sure he might not even entirely know she existed. Achilleas had been the same way but at least she’d been able to hold onto her anger and bitterness at his childish prank on her that she’d managed to push past the fact she was unknown to him. Emilios had never done anything to leave her feeling wrathful or superior. He’d always just politely ignored her. She might as well of just been a potted fern next to the wall where he was concerned.
Flicking a quick glance at Achilleas, she let out a small sigh and looked forward towards the stables and the palati. She supposed she cross that bridge when she came to it. Lost in her own thoughts, his voice caused her to jump just a little as it broke through the reflective silence they’d been sharing.
‘Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.’ Her wide dark eyes blinked at him for a moment and she slowly turned her head and glanced around and then looked back at him and shrugged.
“What is on your mind, your highness?” She said quietly. Was this about the boy? Had there been some new developments regarding him? Evangelina was fairly certain that had been handled but perhaps… She stopped the direction of her thoughts. Motioning softly towards the railing of breaking pen, leaning her back against the railing, she tilted her head up to study him as he spoke.
After a moment, ‘I received word from my cousin.’ That brought her to attention and she straightened from her almost lazy stance against the railing and crossed her arms over her chest. True to his thoughts, he didn’t need to spell things out for her and she knew exactly what he was talking about. She let him continue. ‘They are safe and well in Colchis.’ She felt some of the tension she’d been holding onto for the past few weeks slip away and her body sagged a little. At least they were safe and well.
She’d think about that later right now she had to focus on what he was saying. ‘News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.’ The words came out quietly from him and she could almost feel the tension. It was bound to happen. There were no secrets, at least not in Greece if you had the right connections. She nodded her head in understanding. So, Stephanos knew of his uncle’s death and moreso knew of his best friend and cousin taking reign over the country that should have been his. She swallowed and glanced at the ground. Pia had to be having fit over that. Of the Leventi girls, Pia had always been the ambitious ones. If she wanted something done, she’d see it got done. Perhaps, that was what endeared her so much to Evangelina’s heart.
Silenced passed for a moment as she took the opportunity to soak in this information, but it was only a moment she was given before her dark gaze was drawn back upwards to Achilleas' voice.
‘You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?’
She held his gaze for a long moment and then let out a soft sigh as she broke the contact and glanced about again at anyone who might have been watching them. This conversation was treading on some very delicate ground. Clearing her throat softly, she answered.
“I don’t suppose it’s a great surprise that they are in Colchis. My own suspicions only increased after Aunt Evelli and Nana decided to high tail it to Colchis to visit some relatives I’ve never even heard of on the wake of Theodora’s wedding.” She frowned a little, Aunt Evelli was so focused on seeing her daughters married to Princes that one would think she would have stayed around a little to bask in her handiwork of matchmaking. Her hand came up to brush her lips and she nodded some more, “Yes, I don’t suppose our cousins offered any congratulations on ascending the throne, did they? Hmmm.” She was fairly certain Pia would have been spitting brass nails at Stephanos for getting them into this mess whether it was his fault or not.
“I do believe his innocence, as I have said. As to my uncle’s thoughts,” Clarification didn’t seem necessary here either. They were not talking about Georgios’ thoughts on this matter. “It truly is hard to say what his thoughts or plans are.” She dipped her head down a little and eyed the ground as she thought about things.
“And even if he was going to share them with our family, I would be one of the last ones he’d share his true intentions with.” Her fingers absently rubbed her lips and she looked back up at the King. “He moves people around like a general might move his foot soldiers."
She wasn’t exactly what she’d said that had left her distinguished companion so perplexed. He had already expressed his thoughts that he wouldn’t have the time, and she suspected, the desire to continue to work with the older gelding. Was it not a better idea to approach his brother, Emilios, to see if the man had the time or the desire to give to the treasured gelding? If Emilios turned her down with working with the gelding too, then she’d look at other options but she really hoped that one of Irakles brood would step up and offer the gelding a place in their hearts. At his age, there was no guarantee that he’d make the transition well into a new household, but Evie would try.
Shifting uncomfortably, she hoped she’d not treaded on some sensitive ground by mentioning involving his brother. She was all too aware of familial rivalries.
‘You can ask him yourself if you so wish.’ He pulled the gate towards them and she stepped out of the way so that it could open fully and she could follow him out. Her hand reached up and lightly stroked the kink out of her neck as she wondered just how she was going to manage that conversation. Emilios had always intimidated her a little. She was pretty sure he might not even entirely know she existed. Achilleas had been the same way but at least she’d been able to hold onto her anger and bitterness at his childish prank on her that she’d managed to push past the fact she was unknown to him. Emilios had never done anything to leave her feeling wrathful or superior. He’d always just politely ignored her. She might as well of just been a potted fern next to the wall where he was concerned.
Flicking a quick glance at Achilleas, she let out a small sigh and looked forward towards the stables and the palati. She supposed she cross that bridge when she came to it. Lost in her own thoughts, his voice caused her to jump just a little as it broke through the reflective silence they’d been sharing.
‘Actually, if you have a moment..there was something else I wanted to discuss with you.’ Her wide dark eyes blinked at him for a moment and she slowly turned her head and glanced around and then looked back at him and shrugged.
“What is on your mind, your highness?” She said quietly. Was this about the boy? Had there been some new developments regarding him? Evangelina was fairly certain that had been handled but perhaps… She stopped the direction of her thoughts. Motioning softly towards the railing of breaking pen, leaning her back against the railing, she tilted her head up to study him as he spoke.
After a moment, ‘I received word from my cousin.’ That brought her to attention and she straightened from her almost lazy stance against the railing and crossed her arms over her chest. True to his thoughts, he didn’t need to spell things out for her and she knew exactly what he was talking about. She let him continue. ‘They are safe and well in Colchis.’ She felt some of the tension she’d been holding onto for the past few weeks slip away and her body sagged a little. At least they were safe and well.
She’d think about that later right now she had to focus on what he was saying. ‘News of my father’s passing has reached them, and as I am sure you can imagine, my cousin finds himself rather...alarmed by how things have shifted here.’ The words came out quietly from him and she could almost feel the tension. It was bound to happen. There were no secrets, at least not in Greece if you had the right connections. She nodded her head in understanding. So, Stephanos knew of his uncle’s death and moreso knew of his best friend and cousin taking reign over the country that should have been his. She swallowed and glanced at the ground. Pia had to be having fit over that. Of the Leventi girls, Pia had always been the ambitious ones. If she wanted something done, she’d see it got done. Perhaps, that was what endeared her so much to Evangelina’s heart.
Silenced passed for a moment as she took the opportunity to soak in this information, but it was only a moment she was given before her dark gaze was drawn back upwards to Achilleas' voice.
‘You said once that you believed in his innocence, as I do. What about your Uncle? Do you know where his thoughts lie, regarding him?’
She held his gaze for a long moment and then let out a soft sigh as she broke the contact and glanced about again at anyone who might have been watching them. This conversation was treading on some very delicate ground. Clearing her throat softly, she answered.
“I don’t suppose it’s a great surprise that they are in Colchis. My own suspicions only increased after Aunt Evelli and Nana decided to high tail it to Colchis to visit some relatives I’ve never even heard of on the wake of Theodora’s wedding.” She frowned a little, Aunt Evelli was so focused on seeing her daughters married to Princes that one would think she would have stayed around a little to bask in her handiwork of matchmaking. Her hand came up to brush her lips and she nodded some more, “Yes, I don’t suppose our cousins offered any congratulations on ascending the throne, did they? Hmmm.” She was fairly certain Pia would have been spitting brass nails at Stephanos for getting them into this mess whether it was his fault or not.
“I do believe his innocence, as I have said. As to my uncle’s thoughts,” Clarification didn’t seem necessary here either. They were not talking about Georgios’ thoughts on this matter. “It truly is hard to say what his thoughts or plans are.” She dipped her head down a little and eyed the ground as she thought about things.
“And even if he was going to share them with our family, I would be one of the last ones he’d share his true intentions with.” Her fingers absently rubbed her lips and she looked back up at the King. “He moves people around like a general might move his foot soldiers."
The manner in which her posture changed as she caught the gist of his words was enough to have Achilleas wonder if he had been silly in choosing to have this conversation here. He cast a quick glance around them, judged that those in sight were not close enough to discern the content of their chatter and then returned his focus to Evangelina.
In truth, he had thought news from Colchis might have reached her already, but her reaction suggested not, and the King was glad it was news so well received. What relief he had in learning his cousin safe and well had already had to be tempered and kept to himself, it was too risky when he did not know who had been truly in favour of Stephanos’ treatment, how convinced they had been of the man’s supposed guilt. But in the Leventi girls face he could read nothing but genuine relief, and that gave him all the motivation he needed to continue. He kept his voice as measured and impassive as he was able, though as he voiced his question, Achilleas could not help himself from watching her closely for her response.
On some level, the man had found a level of faith in Lady Evangelina that he did not place in many. She had more than proven herself in that little farce with the boy, and even though it had been revealed to be nothing, he had been impressed with her conduct throughout. That and the fact that she had been one of the only people to express their support for his cousin made it seem not too illogical a thing to ask her for her view on.
When Emilios had come to him about their father’s will, it had been Achilleas’ leaning to find some fault with the Lord Fotios for his part in it all. Did his cooperation with such a scheme not imply his tacit agreement with it? It was difficult not to imagine the scathing conversations that must have passed between the Leventi Lord and the brothers’ late father. But then the king had witnessed only a polite usefulness from Lord Fotios when he had met the man since, and it made him wonder if he was not being foolish to discount the man’s undeniable ability to glean information over what might be some imagined slight. And he would not have it that clearing Stephanos’ name was hindered because of his own wounded pride.
Lady Evangelina’s words only confirmed her in possession of the wits he had decided she held, and he merely gave a quick flick of an arched brow at her assumption that there was not good feeling from Colchis about Achilleas taking the throne. When she moved to respond to his question pertaining to her Uncle, the King’s gaze was steady, searching where it rested upon her face.
She did not tell him anything that really helped one way or another though, and that was enough to have the man press his lips together, a frown etching its way across his brow as he considered whether or not to say more. He was a little hesitant in his next words, as if speaking a thought that had not quite fully formed.
“I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason” he said, lifting blue eyes to find hers once again. “I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time”.
But that Achilleas even voiced the idea in such a forum suggested he had his own doubts. And he was not speaking to the host of advisors that swarmed the palace, ready to lend their opinions on almost anything or everything. He did not, because Achilleas had yet to decide which amongst them he trusted, and the woman before him had earned that at least.
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The manner in which her posture changed as she caught the gist of his words was enough to have Achilleas wonder if he had been silly in choosing to have this conversation here. He cast a quick glance around them, judged that those in sight were not close enough to discern the content of their chatter and then returned his focus to Evangelina.
In truth, he had thought news from Colchis might have reached her already, but her reaction suggested not, and the King was glad it was news so well received. What relief he had in learning his cousin safe and well had already had to be tempered and kept to himself, it was too risky when he did not know who had been truly in favour of Stephanos’ treatment, how convinced they had been of the man’s supposed guilt. But in the Leventi girls face he could read nothing but genuine relief, and that gave him all the motivation he needed to continue. He kept his voice as measured and impassive as he was able, though as he voiced his question, Achilleas could not help himself from watching her closely for her response.
On some level, the man had found a level of faith in Lady Evangelina that he did not place in many. She had more than proven herself in that little farce with the boy, and even though it had been revealed to be nothing, he had been impressed with her conduct throughout. That and the fact that she had been one of the only people to express their support for his cousin made it seem not too illogical a thing to ask her for her view on.
When Emilios had come to him about their father’s will, it had been Achilleas’ leaning to find some fault with the Lord Fotios for his part in it all. Did his cooperation with such a scheme not imply his tacit agreement with it? It was difficult not to imagine the scathing conversations that must have passed between the Leventi Lord and the brothers’ late father. But then the king had witnessed only a polite usefulness from Lord Fotios when he had met the man since, and it made him wonder if he was not being foolish to discount the man’s undeniable ability to glean information over what might be some imagined slight. And he would not have it that clearing Stephanos’ name was hindered because of his own wounded pride.
Lady Evangelina’s words only confirmed her in possession of the wits he had decided she held, and he merely gave a quick flick of an arched brow at her assumption that there was not good feeling from Colchis about Achilleas taking the throne. When she moved to respond to his question pertaining to her Uncle, the King’s gaze was steady, searching where it rested upon her face.
She did not tell him anything that really helped one way or another though, and that was enough to have the man press his lips together, a frown etching its way across his brow as he considered whether or not to say more. He was a little hesitant in his next words, as if speaking a thought that had not quite fully formed.
“I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason” he said, lifting blue eyes to find hers once again. “I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time”.
But that Achilleas even voiced the idea in such a forum suggested he had his own doubts. And he was not speaking to the host of advisors that swarmed the palace, ready to lend their opinions on almost anything or everything. He did not, because Achilleas had yet to decide which amongst them he trusted, and the woman before him had earned that at least.
The manner in which her posture changed as she caught the gist of his words was enough to have Achilleas wonder if he had been silly in choosing to have this conversation here. He cast a quick glance around them, judged that those in sight were not close enough to discern the content of their chatter and then returned his focus to Evangelina.
In truth, he had thought news from Colchis might have reached her already, but her reaction suggested not, and the King was glad it was news so well received. What relief he had in learning his cousin safe and well had already had to be tempered and kept to himself, it was too risky when he did not know who had been truly in favour of Stephanos’ treatment, how convinced they had been of the man’s supposed guilt. But in the Leventi girls face he could read nothing but genuine relief, and that gave him all the motivation he needed to continue. He kept his voice as measured and impassive as he was able, though as he voiced his question, Achilleas could not help himself from watching her closely for her response.
On some level, the man had found a level of faith in Lady Evangelina that he did not place in many. She had more than proven herself in that little farce with the boy, and even though it had been revealed to be nothing, he had been impressed with her conduct throughout. That and the fact that she had been one of the only people to express their support for his cousin made it seem not too illogical a thing to ask her for her view on.
When Emilios had come to him about their father’s will, it had been Achilleas’ leaning to find some fault with the Lord Fotios for his part in it all. Did his cooperation with such a scheme not imply his tacit agreement with it? It was difficult not to imagine the scathing conversations that must have passed between the Leventi Lord and the brothers’ late father. But then the king had witnessed only a polite usefulness from Lord Fotios when he had met the man since, and it made him wonder if he was not being foolish to discount the man’s undeniable ability to glean information over what might be some imagined slight. And he would not have it that clearing Stephanos’ name was hindered because of his own wounded pride.
Lady Evangelina’s words only confirmed her in possession of the wits he had decided she held, and he merely gave a quick flick of an arched brow at her assumption that there was not good feeling from Colchis about Achilleas taking the throne. When she moved to respond to his question pertaining to her Uncle, the King’s gaze was steady, searching where it rested upon her face.
She did not tell him anything that really helped one way or another though, and that was enough to have the man press his lips together, a frown etching its way across his brow as he considered whether or not to say more. He was a little hesitant in his next words, as if speaking a thought that had not quite fully formed.
“I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason” he said, lifting blue eyes to find hers once again. “I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time”.
But that Achilleas even voiced the idea in such a forum suggested he had his own doubts. And he was not speaking to the host of advisors that swarmed the palace, ready to lend their opinions on almost anything or everything. He did not, because Achilleas had yet to decide which amongst them he trusted, and the woman before him had earned that at least.
It wasn’t a huge surprise that the topic of this conversation left Evangelina feeling on edge. Anything that had to do with her uncle left her feeling tense and when you combined it was a possibly treasonous king and conspiracy it was like walking across a bed of nails. She was of course very biased on her uncle, but she knew all too well that he was motivated by what was best for him… mostly under the guise of what was best for the family. Evangelina bit the inside of her cheek and let her eyes wander to the distance. It wasn’t that she was above underhandedness… but why use it if there was a better, smarter way to achieve something?
‘I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason.’ Her dark eyes quickly darted sideways to the new King of Taengea. Was he serious? Her lips pulled thin as she stared at him for a long moment. Did he really want to arm a man like her uncle with his plans? Evangelina’s delicate eyebrow had risen almost to her hairline before she had the courtesy to look away as King Achilleas continued speaking. ‘I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time.’ She swallowed, her hand coming up to scratch behind her ear a bit awkwardly as she looked down at the ground.
Evangelina didn’t say anything for a long moment, she needed the opportunity to organize to her thoughts on what to say. Maybe she also needed to let him think about what he’d just said too. There were certain things one simply did not do and one of those things was, do not announce your next move to the wrong people. A former Master of Secrets would always be the wrong people. It was too much information for one man to hold alone. Information was power. That wasn’t even taking her own personal feelings of her Uncle’s lack of morals into this equation.
Shifting her weight a little, she turned her head and looked back up at her friend. They’d not been friends for long, it was true, but she’d promised him that she’d help where she could. Clearing her throat softly, “That is a lot of information you’d be giving him privy too. Are you certain that is something you want to do?” She held his too-blue of gaze for a moment longer than she probably should have before she looked over his shoulder and sighed, “This isn’t just you that you are gambling with by pulling him into your circle of trust. It’s everyone who’d decided to help you and everyone you are trying to help. I won’t tell you ‘No’ about involving him but make sure he’s a man willing to lay his life down for yours since you do not wish to employ some rather questionable methods to ensure loyalty.”
Her hand reached out and gently touched his forearm, “Make sure that you come back, everything else the Gods have a time and a place for.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and dropped her hand and looked at the ground as her mouth pursed in thought. “What are your thoughts on Lord Gavriil?”
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It wasn’t a huge surprise that the topic of this conversation left Evangelina feeling on edge. Anything that had to do with her uncle left her feeling tense and when you combined it was a possibly treasonous king and conspiracy it was like walking across a bed of nails. She was of course very biased on her uncle, but she knew all too well that he was motivated by what was best for him… mostly under the guise of what was best for the family. Evangelina bit the inside of her cheek and let her eyes wander to the distance. It wasn’t that she was above underhandedness… but why use it if there was a better, smarter way to achieve something?
‘I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason.’ Her dark eyes quickly darted sideways to the new King of Taengea. Was he serious? Her lips pulled thin as she stared at him for a long moment. Did he really want to arm a man like her uncle with his plans? Evangelina’s delicate eyebrow had risen almost to her hairline before she had the courtesy to look away as King Achilleas continued speaking. ‘I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time.’ She swallowed, her hand coming up to scratch behind her ear a bit awkwardly as she looked down at the ground.
Evangelina didn’t say anything for a long moment, she needed the opportunity to organize to her thoughts on what to say. Maybe she also needed to let him think about what he’d just said too. There were certain things one simply did not do and one of those things was, do not announce your next move to the wrong people. A former Master of Secrets would always be the wrong people. It was too much information for one man to hold alone. Information was power. That wasn’t even taking her own personal feelings of her Uncle’s lack of morals into this equation.
Shifting her weight a little, she turned her head and looked back up at her friend. They’d not been friends for long, it was true, but she’d promised him that she’d help where she could. Clearing her throat softly, “That is a lot of information you’d be giving him privy too. Are you certain that is something you want to do?” She held his too-blue of gaze for a moment longer than she probably should have before she looked over his shoulder and sighed, “This isn’t just you that you are gambling with by pulling him into your circle of trust. It’s everyone who’d decided to help you and everyone you are trying to help. I won’t tell you ‘No’ about involving him but make sure he’s a man willing to lay his life down for yours since you do not wish to employ some rather questionable methods to ensure loyalty.”
Her hand reached out and gently touched his forearm, “Make sure that you come back, everything else the Gods have a time and a place for.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and dropped her hand and looked at the ground as her mouth pursed in thought. “What are your thoughts on Lord Gavriil?”
It wasn’t a huge surprise that the topic of this conversation left Evangelina feeling on edge. Anything that had to do with her uncle left her feeling tense and when you combined it was a possibly treasonous king and conspiracy it was like walking across a bed of nails. She was of course very biased on her uncle, but she knew all too well that he was motivated by what was best for him… mostly under the guise of what was best for the family. Evangelina bit the inside of her cheek and let her eyes wander to the distance. It wasn’t that she was above underhandedness… but why use it if there was a better, smarter way to achieve something?
‘I had considered tasking him with trying to answer some of the questions I have about the charges of treason.’ Her dark eyes quickly darted sideways to the new King of Taengea. Was he serious? Her lips pulled thin as she stared at him for a long moment. Did he really want to arm a man like her uncle with his plans? Evangelina’s delicate eyebrow had risen almost to her hairline before she had the courtesy to look away as King Achilleas continued speaking. ‘I am to be gone at least a month, likely more..there is much that could be done in such time.’ She swallowed, her hand coming up to scratch behind her ear a bit awkwardly as she looked down at the ground.
Evangelina didn’t say anything for a long moment, she needed the opportunity to organize to her thoughts on what to say. Maybe she also needed to let him think about what he’d just said too. There were certain things one simply did not do and one of those things was, do not announce your next move to the wrong people. A former Master of Secrets would always be the wrong people. It was too much information for one man to hold alone. Information was power. That wasn’t even taking her own personal feelings of her Uncle’s lack of morals into this equation.
Shifting her weight a little, she turned her head and looked back up at her friend. They’d not been friends for long, it was true, but she’d promised him that she’d help where she could. Clearing her throat softly, “That is a lot of information you’d be giving him privy too. Are you certain that is something you want to do?” She held his too-blue of gaze for a moment longer than she probably should have before she looked over his shoulder and sighed, “This isn’t just you that you are gambling with by pulling him into your circle of trust. It’s everyone who’d decided to help you and everyone you are trying to help. I won’t tell you ‘No’ about involving him but make sure he’s a man willing to lay his life down for yours since you do not wish to employ some rather questionable methods to ensure loyalty.”
Her hand reached out and gently touched his forearm, “Make sure that you come back, everything else the Gods have a time and a place for.” She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and dropped her hand and looked at the ground as her mouth pursed in thought. “What are your thoughts on Lord Gavriil?”
The long level look that his declaration of intent earned him was telling, and it meant his justification came quickly upon its heels. How he would be gone and surely in his absence it would be better than things were progressing rather than remaining stagnant? But he didn’t feel confident in it, not with how quiet she was, and how she fixed him again with a dark, serious gaze.
The King’s expression tightened a little when Evangelina finally spoke: No he was not certain. That was why he had raised it. But Achilleas turned her words over, let them permeate before he looked to respond. It was no secret that he was close to his cousin, and the very fact that he had gone against his father by not supporting his motion in the senate meeting was surely enough to make his position on the charges brought against Stephanos clear. What would he be revealing in asking Lord Fotios to look into matters then? But Achilleas already had his answer, had turned it over in his mind the night before. He would, perhaps, be revealing his intent to do something about the ruling, and that was a statement.
“I don’t want to gamble with anyone,” he said, sounding unhappy even at the idea of it. “I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.” As he spoke, he realised that he was still smarting from that letter and that despite him having set it aside, he was less over it than he had thought. It would not do to let his actions be driven by that. The new King drew a frustrated breath: he was tired of feeling so unanchored and ..rash. It was as far from his usual mode of operation as anything could be, and yet he kept almost tripping himself up with these knee jerk reactions. A clear head seemed something hard to come by at the moment, and he disliked it intensely.
The soft weight of Lady Evangelina’s hand settling upon his forearm had Achilleas pause in his self-remonstration, and he tilted his gaze down to find hers, the barest flicker of a smile on his face thanks for the kind wishes. He was well-practiced in the art of war, and in that at least could find some confidence. Answering the threat of the Egyptians was the simplest part of everything that had landed on his lap in the past days. Perhaps there was a different feeling in leaving behind a wife, and indeed a Kingdom that he now bore responsibility for. But even on his first campaign, Achilleas had felt that same responsibility though it was not his to own then.
What troubled him more was the rest of it, everything he was less finessed in. And he was beginning to think that helping his cousin might fall under that title. “You are right” he agreed, a curt nod the secondary confirmation that he would set aside plans to talk to his father’s old friend, for now at least. “I doubt a month will change anything.”
And he might have said more were it not for the question that the Leventi girl posed to him. Achilleas looked at her quizzically, wondering what relevance it had, but answered anyway. “We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?”
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The long level look that his declaration of intent earned him was telling, and it meant his justification came quickly upon its heels. How he would be gone and surely in his absence it would be better than things were progressing rather than remaining stagnant? But he didn’t feel confident in it, not with how quiet she was, and how she fixed him again with a dark, serious gaze.
The King’s expression tightened a little when Evangelina finally spoke: No he was not certain. That was why he had raised it. But Achilleas turned her words over, let them permeate before he looked to respond. It was no secret that he was close to his cousin, and the very fact that he had gone against his father by not supporting his motion in the senate meeting was surely enough to make his position on the charges brought against Stephanos clear. What would he be revealing in asking Lord Fotios to look into matters then? But Achilleas already had his answer, had turned it over in his mind the night before. He would, perhaps, be revealing his intent to do something about the ruling, and that was a statement.
“I don’t want to gamble with anyone,” he said, sounding unhappy even at the idea of it. “I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.” As he spoke, he realised that he was still smarting from that letter and that despite him having set it aside, he was less over it than he had thought. It would not do to let his actions be driven by that. The new King drew a frustrated breath: he was tired of feeling so unanchored and ..rash. It was as far from his usual mode of operation as anything could be, and yet he kept almost tripping himself up with these knee jerk reactions. A clear head seemed something hard to come by at the moment, and he disliked it intensely.
The soft weight of Lady Evangelina’s hand settling upon his forearm had Achilleas pause in his self-remonstration, and he tilted his gaze down to find hers, the barest flicker of a smile on his face thanks for the kind wishes. He was well-practiced in the art of war, and in that at least could find some confidence. Answering the threat of the Egyptians was the simplest part of everything that had landed on his lap in the past days. Perhaps there was a different feeling in leaving behind a wife, and indeed a Kingdom that he now bore responsibility for. But even on his first campaign, Achilleas had felt that same responsibility though it was not his to own then.
What troubled him more was the rest of it, everything he was less finessed in. And he was beginning to think that helping his cousin might fall under that title. “You are right” he agreed, a curt nod the secondary confirmation that he would set aside plans to talk to his father’s old friend, for now at least. “I doubt a month will change anything.”
And he might have said more were it not for the question that the Leventi girl posed to him. Achilleas looked at her quizzically, wondering what relevance it had, but answered anyway. “We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?”
The long level look that his declaration of intent earned him was telling, and it meant his justification came quickly upon its heels. How he would be gone and surely in his absence it would be better than things were progressing rather than remaining stagnant? But he didn’t feel confident in it, not with how quiet she was, and how she fixed him again with a dark, serious gaze.
The King’s expression tightened a little when Evangelina finally spoke: No he was not certain. That was why he had raised it. But Achilleas turned her words over, let them permeate before he looked to respond. It was no secret that he was close to his cousin, and the very fact that he had gone against his father by not supporting his motion in the senate meeting was surely enough to make his position on the charges brought against Stephanos clear. What would he be revealing in asking Lord Fotios to look into matters then? But Achilleas already had his answer, had turned it over in his mind the night before. He would, perhaps, be revealing his intent to do something about the ruling, and that was a statement.
“I don’t want to gamble with anyone,” he said, sounding unhappy even at the idea of it. “I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.” As he spoke, he realised that he was still smarting from that letter and that despite him having set it aside, he was less over it than he had thought. It would not do to let his actions be driven by that. The new King drew a frustrated breath: he was tired of feeling so unanchored and ..rash. It was as far from his usual mode of operation as anything could be, and yet he kept almost tripping himself up with these knee jerk reactions. A clear head seemed something hard to come by at the moment, and he disliked it intensely.
The soft weight of Lady Evangelina’s hand settling upon his forearm had Achilleas pause in his self-remonstration, and he tilted his gaze down to find hers, the barest flicker of a smile on his face thanks for the kind wishes. He was well-practiced in the art of war, and in that at least could find some confidence. Answering the threat of the Egyptians was the simplest part of everything that had landed on his lap in the past days. Perhaps there was a different feeling in leaving behind a wife, and indeed a Kingdom that he now bore responsibility for. But even on his first campaign, Achilleas had felt that same responsibility though it was not his to own then.
What troubled him more was the rest of it, everything he was less finessed in. And he was beginning to think that helping his cousin might fall under that title. “You are right” he agreed, a curt nod the secondary confirmation that he would set aside plans to talk to his father’s old friend, for now at least. “I doubt a month will change anything.”
And he might have said more were it not for the question that the Leventi girl posed to him. Achilleas looked at her quizzically, wondering what relevance it had, but answered anyway. “We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?”
There wasn’t much that Evangelina hadn’t already told the newly appointed King of Taengea. So she remained quiet, letting him silently ruminate on her words and her actions and actions were louder than words, weren’t they? His expression had tightened the lines on his face making him appear older than he was. Not that age was a bad thing for men. She’d thought about age a great deal lately. It seemed like wine, as men got older they became more stately looking… while women… Inwardly, she sighed. She wasn’t beyond a reasonable age yet but there were already lines appearing and she wanted to think of them as laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and near her mouth.
‘I don’t want to gamble with anyone.’ His earnestly disapproving voice brought her back to their discussion again and she gave him an ‘I’m sorry you got stuck with this job’ smile which softened into something more amused as he continued on, ‘I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.’ He made her heart go out to him and was definitely feeling too much.
“Mmm… Yes, well… If I know my cousin she’s probably already planned at least a half of a dozen different ways to smother you in your sleep already.” She teased quietly, at least it was mostly teasing. Those sorts of thoughts were ingrained into the rather hot-blooded nature of the Leventi women. Staring up at him, she shrugged. “Patience, Your Highness. I know you want to help them, but it’s better to do nothing now than to do the wrong thing later..” A couple of stray dark hairs blew into her mouth and she instinctively reached up to brush them away before she continued, “If our cousins were truly set up, then it wasn’t done overnight… and that also means that overnight it can’t be undone.”
There had to be a certain amount of bitter feelings from Stephanos and Olympia. It’s not every day a King and a Queen are forced to flee their homeland in order to stay alive. But stay alive the did do, and if they could just wait a little longer until the time was right and things were in their favor… there was a distinct chance they would not only be able to return home but perhaps even to their exalted position.
The conversation drifted to plans of war and prayers to the gods for safety. He expected to be gone at least a month, perhaps longer. Evangelina doubted such a squirmish could be managed in less than a month’s time.
‘You’re right, I doubt a month will change anything.’ Her gaze had drifted but was brought back when he spoke again. Shifting she looked at him and nodded her head. In the grand scheme of things, a month was not so long of a time.
“Oh, how I do adore hearing you say that to me…” She teased, a wicked little smile forming on her lips, “I don’t suppose I could bribe you to say that first part again, could I?” Evangelina was deflecting the seriousness with teasing, hoping it wouldn’t mar Achilleas’ mood, he seemed to have a great many things on his plate and if she could offer him just a moment of respite from it than she’d gladly do it.
Her question about Lord Gavriil though seemed to catch him off guard. Of course, he didn’t see where she was going with it… Evangelina hardly could see where she was going with the question but suddenly she was very curious about his own estimations of the man.
‘We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?’
Evangelina pursed her lips and nodded her head softly in understanding. Yes, that was how he’d struck her too. Perhaps too straight sometimes but that was neither here nor there. What mattered was that he was an honest sort? Her gaze had settled on the ground and she nodded her head again that he hoped to know him better when he returned from Egypt. It was the question on the end that caused her to look sideways at Achilleas and bite her bottom lip.
He would be the first person she’d told of their plans and although nothing was official yet, there was a distinct chance that things might not be official before he’d left for the desert. They were already sharing secrets, why not lighten the load and share this one too with him.
“I agreed to marry him.” She shifted her weight and inhaled a deep breath and let it out, “It’s not official yet. He’s not spoken to Uncle Fotios but I wanted you to know in case I didn’t have a chance to make it official before you left. In fact, you’re the first person I’ve told so far.” Evangelina leaned her weight onto the fence railing they were standing near and studied the ground a bit more.
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There wasn’t much that Evangelina hadn’t already told the newly appointed King of Taengea. So she remained quiet, letting him silently ruminate on her words and her actions and actions were louder than words, weren’t they? His expression had tightened the lines on his face making him appear older than he was. Not that age was a bad thing for men. She’d thought about age a great deal lately. It seemed like wine, as men got older they became more stately looking… while women… Inwardly, she sighed. She wasn’t beyond a reasonable age yet but there were already lines appearing and she wanted to think of them as laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and near her mouth.
‘I don’t want to gamble with anyone.’ His earnestly disapproving voice brought her back to their discussion again and she gave him an ‘I’m sorry you got stuck with this job’ smile which softened into something more amused as he continued on, ‘I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.’ He made her heart go out to him and was definitely feeling too much.
“Mmm… Yes, well… If I know my cousin she’s probably already planned at least a half of a dozen different ways to smother you in your sleep already.” She teased quietly, at least it was mostly teasing. Those sorts of thoughts were ingrained into the rather hot-blooded nature of the Leventi women. Staring up at him, she shrugged. “Patience, Your Highness. I know you want to help them, but it’s better to do nothing now than to do the wrong thing later..” A couple of stray dark hairs blew into her mouth and she instinctively reached up to brush them away before she continued, “If our cousins were truly set up, then it wasn’t done overnight… and that also means that overnight it can’t be undone.”
There had to be a certain amount of bitter feelings from Stephanos and Olympia. It’s not every day a King and a Queen are forced to flee their homeland in order to stay alive. But stay alive the did do, and if they could just wait a little longer until the time was right and things were in their favor… there was a distinct chance they would not only be able to return home but perhaps even to their exalted position.
The conversation drifted to plans of war and prayers to the gods for safety. He expected to be gone at least a month, perhaps longer. Evangelina doubted such a squirmish could be managed in less than a month’s time.
‘You’re right, I doubt a month will change anything.’ Her gaze had drifted but was brought back when he spoke again. Shifting she looked at him and nodded her head. In the grand scheme of things, a month was not so long of a time.
“Oh, how I do adore hearing you say that to me…” She teased, a wicked little smile forming on her lips, “I don’t suppose I could bribe you to say that first part again, could I?” Evangelina was deflecting the seriousness with teasing, hoping it wouldn’t mar Achilleas’ mood, he seemed to have a great many things on his plate and if she could offer him just a moment of respite from it than she’d gladly do it.
Her question about Lord Gavriil though seemed to catch him off guard. Of course, he didn’t see where she was going with it… Evangelina hardly could see where she was going with the question but suddenly she was very curious about his own estimations of the man.
‘We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?’
Evangelina pursed her lips and nodded her head softly in understanding. Yes, that was how he’d struck her too. Perhaps too straight sometimes but that was neither here nor there. What mattered was that he was an honest sort? Her gaze had settled on the ground and she nodded her head again that he hoped to know him better when he returned from Egypt. It was the question on the end that caused her to look sideways at Achilleas and bite her bottom lip.
He would be the first person she’d told of their plans and although nothing was official yet, there was a distinct chance that things might not be official before he’d left for the desert. They were already sharing secrets, why not lighten the load and share this one too with him.
“I agreed to marry him.” She shifted her weight and inhaled a deep breath and let it out, “It’s not official yet. He’s not spoken to Uncle Fotios but I wanted you to know in case I didn’t have a chance to make it official before you left. In fact, you’re the first person I’ve told so far.” Evangelina leaned her weight onto the fence railing they were standing near and studied the ground a bit more.
There wasn’t much that Evangelina hadn’t already told the newly appointed King of Taengea. So she remained quiet, letting him silently ruminate on her words and her actions and actions were louder than words, weren’t they? His expression had tightened the lines on his face making him appear older than he was. Not that age was a bad thing for men. She’d thought about age a great deal lately. It seemed like wine, as men got older they became more stately looking… while women… Inwardly, she sighed. She wasn’t beyond a reasonable age yet but there were already lines appearing and she wanted to think of them as laugh lines at the corners of her eyes and near her mouth.
‘I don’t want to gamble with anyone.’ His earnestly disapproving voice brought her back to their discussion again and she gave him an ‘I’m sorry you got stuck with this job’ smile which softened into something more amused as he continued on, ‘I just feel as if I am doing nothing to help Stephanos and Olympia, and I can promise you they will be holding it against me.’ He made her heart go out to him and was definitely feeling too much.
“Mmm… Yes, well… If I know my cousin she’s probably already planned at least a half of a dozen different ways to smother you in your sleep already.” She teased quietly, at least it was mostly teasing. Those sorts of thoughts were ingrained into the rather hot-blooded nature of the Leventi women. Staring up at him, she shrugged. “Patience, Your Highness. I know you want to help them, but it’s better to do nothing now than to do the wrong thing later..” A couple of stray dark hairs blew into her mouth and she instinctively reached up to brush them away before she continued, “If our cousins were truly set up, then it wasn’t done overnight… and that also means that overnight it can’t be undone.”
There had to be a certain amount of bitter feelings from Stephanos and Olympia. It’s not every day a King and a Queen are forced to flee their homeland in order to stay alive. But stay alive the did do, and if they could just wait a little longer until the time was right and things were in their favor… there was a distinct chance they would not only be able to return home but perhaps even to their exalted position.
The conversation drifted to plans of war and prayers to the gods for safety. He expected to be gone at least a month, perhaps longer. Evangelina doubted such a squirmish could be managed in less than a month’s time.
‘You’re right, I doubt a month will change anything.’ Her gaze had drifted but was brought back when he spoke again. Shifting she looked at him and nodded her head. In the grand scheme of things, a month was not so long of a time.
“Oh, how I do adore hearing you say that to me…” She teased, a wicked little smile forming on her lips, “I don’t suppose I could bribe you to say that first part again, could I?” Evangelina was deflecting the seriousness with teasing, hoping it wouldn’t mar Achilleas’ mood, he seemed to have a great many things on his plate and if she could offer him just a moment of respite from it than she’d gladly do it.
Her question about Lord Gavriil though seemed to catch him off guard. Of course, he didn’t see where she was going with it… Evangelina hardly could see where she was going with the question but suddenly she was very curious about his own estimations of the man.
‘We have never been particularly close, but I had an audience with him before my..before the wedding, and he struck me as a very straight, honest man. I will be glad to know him better when I return from Egypt. Why do you ask?’
Evangelina pursed her lips and nodded her head softly in understanding. Yes, that was how he’d struck her too. Perhaps too straight sometimes but that was neither here nor there. What mattered was that he was an honest sort? Her gaze had settled on the ground and she nodded her head again that he hoped to know him better when he returned from Egypt. It was the question on the end that caused her to look sideways at Achilleas and bite her bottom lip.
He would be the first person she’d told of their plans and although nothing was official yet, there was a distinct chance that things might not be official before he’d left for the desert. They were already sharing secrets, why not lighten the load and share this one too with him.
“I agreed to marry him.” She shifted her weight and inhaled a deep breath and let it out, “It’s not official yet. He’s not spoken to Uncle Fotios but I wanted you to know in case I didn’t have a chance to make it official before you left. In fact, you’re the first person I’ve told so far.” Evangelina leaned her weight onto the fence railing they were standing near and studied the ground a bit more.
It didn’t take a great amount of imagination to believe what Evangelina said about Olympia. The tone in Stephanos’ letter had left the new King in no doubt as his frustrations, and of the former King and Queen, Achilleas would have named his cousin the more laid back of the two. He gave a huff, half amused, half not, but when Lady Evangeline bade him be patient, he gave a nod. He knew it already. Usually a man of logic and rationality, it should have been no surprise to the Mikaelidas man that the mess that had been made could not be unmade in a day. But he had found himself rather sideswiped by everything that had transpired of late, and perhaps finding his way did not feel as simple as usual.
Achilleas fiddled absently with a wrapping around his hand, a hangover from an uncharacteristic loss of temper a couple of days ago, and he gusted a sigh as he conceded that yes, perhaps he was being hasty. Lady Evangelina’s humorous response raised a small smile and he shook his head. “I do not think it would be responsible of me to indulge your ego in such a fashion, Lady Evangelina.” he replied, but it would appear the Leventi woman had achieved her aim in lightening the mood a little, for he looked less burdened than he had done in the moments gone before, slanting a sideways glance at her before adding “Anyway, do not get used to it. I find I rather prefer it when I am right.”
He turned so he was facing back towards the stables, folding his hands behind his back and looked surprised when she brought up the Lord Gavriil, and even further surprised when she gave her reason why. Almost glad that she had continued talking so he had a moment to formulate a response, the King kept a neutral expression in place as he considered it; both her announcement and her reasons for telling him.
In the most simplistic of terms, it was good news - he liked Lady Evangelina, he liked Lord Gavriil and if they had found some form of happiness in one another then that was good. But though Achilleas could not lay claim to being close to the Dimitrou Lord, he supposed he had always been of the opinion that the man’s..romantic entanglements had ended when he lost his wife. And whilst he could see why Evangelina would be obviously attractive to the older man, he found it harder to see why she would look to the man who already had a family…
He blinked at her when she revealed he was the first person she had told, and so then was extra careful in how he replied.
“I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?”
Achilleas did not pretend to be up to date on whatever rumours were flying around Vasiliadon, his tendency had always been to stay well clear, and as such he knew he was oft late to discover what others already knew. And he supposed he was probably even farther removed from it now than he had been before. Who would gossip with the King, after all?
He tried to recall if he had seen the pair together at any events, but then admitted to himself that he was not exactly one to pay attention even if they had been, so there was little point. He would ask Theodora later perhaps.
“Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.” he offered, because it seemed like he should say something else but wasn’t entirely sure what. Speaking of things pertaining to feelings was not exactly a strong point of his, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to invite a gushing, bride to be’s testimony. But then equally, he mused, Lady Evangelina had not struck him as such a woman. A thought struck him then. “Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?”
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It didn’t take a great amount of imagination to believe what Evangelina said about Olympia. The tone in Stephanos’ letter had left the new King in no doubt as his frustrations, and of the former King and Queen, Achilleas would have named his cousin the more laid back of the two. He gave a huff, half amused, half not, but when Lady Evangeline bade him be patient, he gave a nod. He knew it already. Usually a man of logic and rationality, it should have been no surprise to the Mikaelidas man that the mess that had been made could not be unmade in a day. But he had found himself rather sideswiped by everything that had transpired of late, and perhaps finding his way did not feel as simple as usual.
Achilleas fiddled absently with a wrapping around his hand, a hangover from an uncharacteristic loss of temper a couple of days ago, and he gusted a sigh as he conceded that yes, perhaps he was being hasty. Lady Evangelina’s humorous response raised a small smile and he shook his head. “I do not think it would be responsible of me to indulge your ego in such a fashion, Lady Evangelina.” he replied, but it would appear the Leventi woman had achieved her aim in lightening the mood a little, for he looked less burdened than he had done in the moments gone before, slanting a sideways glance at her before adding “Anyway, do not get used to it. I find I rather prefer it when I am right.”
He turned so he was facing back towards the stables, folding his hands behind his back and looked surprised when she brought up the Lord Gavriil, and even further surprised when she gave her reason why. Almost glad that she had continued talking so he had a moment to formulate a response, the King kept a neutral expression in place as he considered it; both her announcement and her reasons for telling him.
In the most simplistic of terms, it was good news - he liked Lady Evangelina, he liked Lord Gavriil and if they had found some form of happiness in one another then that was good. But though Achilleas could not lay claim to being close to the Dimitrou Lord, he supposed he had always been of the opinion that the man’s..romantic entanglements had ended when he lost his wife. And whilst he could see why Evangelina would be obviously attractive to the older man, he found it harder to see why she would look to the man who already had a family…
He blinked at her when she revealed he was the first person she had told, and so then was extra careful in how he replied.
“I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?”
Achilleas did not pretend to be up to date on whatever rumours were flying around Vasiliadon, his tendency had always been to stay well clear, and as such he knew he was oft late to discover what others already knew. And he supposed he was probably even farther removed from it now than he had been before. Who would gossip with the King, after all?
He tried to recall if he had seen the pair together at any events, but then admitted to himself that he was not exactly one to pay attention even if they had been, so there was little point. He would ask Theodora later perhaps.
“Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.” he offered, because it seemed like he should say something else but wasn’t entirely sure what. Speaking of things pertaining to feelings was not exactly a strong point of his, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to invite a gushing, bride to be’s testimony. But then equally, he mused, Lady Evangelina had not struck him as such a woman. A thought struck him then. “Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?”
It didn’t take a great amount of imagination to believe what Evangelina said about Olympia. The tone in Stephanos’ letter had left the new King in no doubt as his frustrations, and of the former King and Queen, Achilleas would have named his cousin the more laid back of the two. He gave a huff, half amused, half not, but when Lady Evangeline bade him be patient, he gave a nod. He knew it already. Usually a man of logic and rationality, it should have been no surprise to the Mikaelidas man that the mess that had been made could not be unmade in a day. But he had found himself rather sideswiped by everything that had transpired of late, and perhaps finding his way did not feel as simple as usual.
Achilleas fiddled absently with a wrapping around his hand, a hangover from an uncharacteristic loss of temper a couple of days ago, and he gusted a sigh as he conceded that yes, perhaps he was being hasty. Lady Evangelina’s humorous response raised a small smile and he shook his head. “I do not think it would be responsible of me to indulge your ego in such a fashion, Lady Evangelina.” he replied, but it would appear the Leventi woman had achieved her aim in lightening the mood a little, for he looked less burdened than he had done in the moments gone before, slanting a sideways glance at her before adding “Anyway, do not get used to it. I find I rather prefer it when I am right.”
He turned so he was facing back towards the stables, folding his hands behind his back and looked surprised when she brought up the Lord Gavriil, and even further surprised when she gave her reason why. Almost glad that she had continued talking so he had a moment to formulate a response, the King kept a neutral expression in place as he considered it; both her announcement and her reasons for telling him.
In the most simplistic of terms, it was good news - he liked Lady Evangelina, he liked Lord Gavriil and if they had found some form of happiness in one another then that was good. But though Achilleas could not lay claim to being close to the Dimitrou Lord, he supposed he had always been of the opinion that the man’s..romantic entanglements had ended when he lost his wife. And whilst he could see why Evangelina would be obviously attractive to the older man, he found it harder to see why she would look to the man who already had a family…
He blinked at her when she revealed he was the first person she had told, and so then was extra careful in how he replied.
“I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?”
Achilleas did not pretend to be up to date on whatever rumours were flying around Vasiliadon, his tendency had always been to stay well clear, and as such he knew he was oft late to discover what others already knew. And he supposed he was probably even farther removed from it now than he had been before. Who would gossip with the King, after all?
He tried to recall if he had seen the pair together at any events, but then admitted to himself that he was not exactly one to pay attention even if they had been, so there was little point. He would ask Theodora later perhaps.
“Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.” he offered, because it seemed like he should say something else but wasn’t entirely sure what. Speaking of things pertaining to feelings was not exactly a strong point of his, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to invite a gushing, bride to be’s testimony. But then equally, he mused, Lady Evangelina had not struck him as such a woman. A thought struck him then. “Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?”
The small smile and shake of the man’s head were almost as infectious as the teasing tone took as he spoke of her ego. The corner of her mouth lifted in mocking humor, “I thought it was quite fashionable to indulge the egos this season. It seems quite contagious…” Her words drew softly to a close and she gave him an almost smirk. Evangelina’s voice dropping into a throaty murmur, “Yes. I do imagine you do prefer it when you are right.”
Her head dipped a little but she kept an eye on him as she told him about her arrangement with the Dimitrou lord. She hadn’t missed that moment of surprise that flitted across his features although strangely it didn’t unsettle her any. Lord Gavriil and her were a rather odd couple if everyone was perfectly honest. Beyond the fact that neither of the two of them was particularly social, there were a host of other contradictory factors in their relationship varying from experience to family differences to his children. The fact that he’d been married previously and had children who were older than she and his age were perhaps the most glaringly obvious details in their relationship.
‘I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?’
A smile formed and the amusement was hidden in her gaze as her sweeping lashes came down and her gaze fell contemplatively to the ground. It was odd that she’d confided in him first. But, she was holding back from speaking of it with her family. Her uncle and father’s ambition were at times a strain she’d have rathered would evaporate a little bit, Lord Gavriil was a Baron and the head of an ancient family but it was still a far cry from a Prince or a King…
“Mmmm,” Evangelina murmured with a nod of her head, “Congratulations might be a bit preemptive, but thank you for the thoughts none the less.” When had all this come about? It was all rather sudden wasn’t it. Shifting a little so she could watch him better, she leaned her side onto the fence as her arm rested on one of the higher railings. “Shortly before your own wedding, we were hoping things would settle a bit before but I believe things only become a bit more tangled.” They had hadn’t they. Her cousin had married a prince and bedded a king, all in the span of a few hours.
She could tell he was still trying to process the information she’d given him and licked her lips before she smiled at him again. ‘Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.’ The words were polite but quite awkward. Reaching out she patted his forearm, “Yes. Yes, he’s a good one. I am exceedingly thankful he has thought well enough of me make the offer to me.” She sighed. There had been other options but none that she wanted to thank on for too long.
‘Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?’
Straightening, she tilted her head in thought. Was this a secret? Was she ready for people to know and for the bubble to she and Gavriil had been in to be popped? She looked away, that wasn’t the simplest of questions. Yes. She was ready to have this secret out but on the other hand, she wasn’t ready for that bubble between them to be popped. Gossip was already spinning around her regarding Gavriil and this was going to do nothing but to feed that fire.
Letting out a deep breath, she shook her head, “Perhaps let’s keep this between us for now. Just until it has become something official… It’d be quite embarrassing for something to change and none of us know how to keep that from being more awkward than it should be.” Pasting on a smile that didn’t quite meet her dark eyes she looked at him again, “I’ll tell Theodora after Lord Gavriil speaks to Uncle Fotios.” She shifted her weight, “I am not entirely sure why I shared that with you… but I am glad that I did. I am not sure my cousins will be as impressed with the match… but, Lord Gavriil somehow quiets some of my chaos…” Maybe it wasn’t love, but it was definitely something. Affection, perhaps.
She grew quiet for a long moment before she pulled her gaze up from the ground and focused on his face. “How are things for the newly married King Achilleas? Is it everything you’d hoped and more?”
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The small smile and shake of the man’s head were almost as infectious as the teasing tone took as he spoke of her ego. The corner of her mouth lifted in mocking humor, “I thought it was quite fashionable to indulge the egos this season. It seems quite contagious…” Her words drew softly to a close and she gave him an almost smirk. Evangelina’s voice dropping into a throaty murmur, “Yes. I do imagine you do prefer it when you are right.”
Her head dipped a little but she kept an eye on him as she told him about her arrangement with the Dimitrou lord. She hadn’t missed that moment of surprise that flitted across his features although strangely it didn’t unsettle her any. Lord Gavriil and her were a rather odd couple if everyone was perfectly honest. Beyond the fact that neither of the two of them was particularly social, there were a host of other contradictory factors in their relationship varying from experience to family differences to his children. The fact that he’d been married previously and had children who were older than she and his age were perhaps the most glaringly obvious details in their relationship.
‘I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?’
A smile formed and the amusement was hidden in her gaze as her sweeping lashes came down and her gaze fell contemplatively to the ground. It was odd that she’d confided in him first. But, she was holding back from speaking of it with her family. Her uncle and father’s ambition were at times a strain she’d have rathered would evaporate a little bit, Lord Gavriil was a Baron and the head of an ancient family but it was still a far cry from a Prince or a King…
“Mmmm,” Evangelina murmured with a nod of her head, “Congratulations might be a bit preemptive, but thank you for the thoughts none the less.” When had all this come about? It was all rather sudden wasn’t it. Shifting a little so she could watch him better, she leaned her side onto the fence as her arm rested on one of the higher railings. “Shortly before your own wedding, we were hoping things would settle a bit before but I believe things only become a bit more tangled.” They had hadn’t they. Her cousin had married a prince and bedded a king, all in the span of a few hours.
She could tell he was still trying to process the information she’d given him and licked her lips before she smiled at him again. ‘Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.’ The words were polite but quite awkward. Reaching out she patted his forearm, “Yes. Yes, he’s a good one. I am exceedingly thankful he has thought well enough of me make the offer to me.” She sighed. There had been other options but none that she wanted to thank on for too long.
‘Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?’
Straightening, she tilted her head in thought. Was this a secret? Was she ready for people to know and for the bubble to she and Gavriil had been in to be popped? She looked away, that wasn’t the simplest of questions. Yes. She was ready to have this secret out but on the other hand, she wasn’t ready for that bubble between them to be popped. Gossip was already spinning around her regarding Gavriil and this was going to do nothing but to feed that fire.
Letting out a deep breath, she shook her head, “Perhaps let’s keep this between us for now. Just until it has become something official… It’d be quite embarrassing for something to change and none of us know how to keep that from being more awkward than it should be.” Pasting on a smile that didn’t quite meet her dark eyes she looked at him again, “I’ll tell Theodora after Lord Gavriil speaks to Uncle Fotios.” She shifted her weight, “I am not entirely sure why I shared that with you… but I am glad that I did. I am not sure my cousins will be as impressed with the match… but, Lord Gavriil somehow quiets some of my chaos…” Maybe it wasn’t love, but it was definitely something. Affection, perhaps.
She grew quiet for a long moment before she pulled her gaze up from the ground and focused on his face. “How are things for the newly married King Achilleas? Is it everything you’d hoped and more?”
The small smile and shake of the man’s head were almost as infectious as the teasing tone took as he spoke of her ego. The corner of her mouth lifted in mocking humor, “I thought it was quite fashionable to indulge the egos this season. It seems quite contagious…” Her words drew softly to a close and she gave him an almost smirk. Evangelina’s voice dropping into a throaty murmur, “Yes. I do imagine you do prefer it when you are right.”
Her head dipped a little but she kept an eye on him as she told him about her arrangement with the Dimitrou lord. She hadn’t missed that moment of surprise that flitted across his features although strangely it didn’t unsettle her any. Lord Gavriil and her were a rather odd couple if everyone was perfectly honest. Beyond the fact that neither of the two of them was particularly social, there were a host of other contradictory factors in their relationship varying from experience to family differences to his children. The fact that he’d been married previously and had children who were older than she and his age were perhaps the most glaringly obvious details in their relationship.
‘I am honoured then, at your choice to confide in me, and suppose congratulations are in order? When did all this come about?’
A smile formed and the amusement was hidden in her gaze as her sweeping lashes came down and her gaze fell contemplatively to the ground. It was odd that she’d confided in him first. But, she was holding back from speaking of it with her family. Her uncle and father’s ambition were at times a strain she’d have rathered would evaporate a little bit, Lord Gavriil was a Baron and the head of an ancient family but it was still a far cry from a Prince or a King…
“Mmmm,” Evangelina murmured with a nod of her head, “Congratulations might be a bit preemptive, but thank you for the thoughts none the less.” When had all this come about? It was all rather sudden wasn’t it. Shifting a little so she could watch him better, she leaned her side onto the fence as her arm rested on one of the higher railings. “Shortly before your own wedding, we were hoping things would settle a bit before but I believe things only become a bit more tangled.” They had hadn’t they. Her cousin had married a prince and bedded a king, all in the span of a few hours.
She could tell he was still trying to process the information she’d given him and licked her lips before she smiled at him again. ‘Lord Gavriil is a well respected man, I am sure he will be a kind husband.’ The words were polite but quite awkward. Reaching out she patted his forearm, “Yes. Yes, he’s a good one. I am exceedingly thankful he has thought well enough of me make the offer to me.” She sighed. There had been other options but none that she wanted to thank on for too long.
‘Will you tell Theodora, or is this to remain a secret until your Uncle has been consulted?’
Straightening, she tilted her head in thought. Was this a secret? Was she ready for people to know and for the bubble to she and Gavriil had been in to be popped? She looked away, that wasn’t the simplest of questions. Yes. She was ready to have this secret out but on the other hand, she wasn’t ready for that bubble between them to be popped. Gossip was already spinning around her regarding Gavriil and this was going to do nothing but to feed that fire.
Letting out a deep breath, she shook her head, “Perhaps let’s keep this between us for now. Just until it has become something official… It’d be quite embarrassing for something to change and none of us know how to keep that from being more awkward than it should be.” Pasting on a smile that didn’t quite meet her dark eyes she looked at him again, “I’ll tell Theodora after Lord Gavriil speaks to Uncle Fotios.” She shifted her weight, “I am not entirely sure why I shared that with you… but I am glad that I did. I am not sure my cousins will be as impressed with the match… but, Lord Gavriil somehow quiets some of my chaos…” Maybe it wasn’t love, but it was definitely something. Affection, perhaps.
She grew quiet for a long moment before she pulled her gaze up from the ground and focused on his face. “How are things for the newly married King Achilleas? Is it everything you’d hoped and more?”
Achilleas let her gentle teasing sweep away any lingering tension regarding Stephanos and Olympia’s situation and how it might be addressed. He wasn’t sure what it was about the Leventi woman: whether it was that he’d been forced to take her into his confidence so rapidly, or some natural talent she had, but he tolerated her poking fun at him in a manner that was rare for him. It was almost some light relief amongst the very serious matters that filled all of his days of late.
A brief lift of his eyebrows was all the warning she got before he sniffed and slid a haughty set over his features, one that she had seen before but that had perhaps been more genuine then that it was now. “I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina”
As their conversation went on, he found he wasn’t enthralled at the idea of keeping things from Theodora, and it showed on his face a moment after Evangelina made her answer. Brows drawn together, it was not quite a pout, but Achilleas felt quite strongly that starting keeping secrets from one another so soon could not be a good thing. That this would hardly be the biggest secret was something he pushed from his mind
“If that is what you wish” he said after a pause because he would have to honour Evangelina’s wishes despite how he might not want to. And he could understand the reluctance to have it made known when things had not been formalised. Achilleas could recognise something in how the young woman spoke of Lord Dimitrou as well, there was something steadying about him, perhaps made more apparent by the fact that he was a man of so few words. The new King thought his distant cousin was a person who would be easy to trust at a time where he could not say that about many. “And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want”.
It was a statement rather than a question because really Achilleas had skirted close enough to his comfort levels in discussing Leventi marriage prospects - a subject he had never thought to entertain outside of his own interest in Theodora, and yet one that kept being pushed before him. Gods knows the reason why.
In the rather reaching silence that followed, he pressed his lips together, resolute that he wasn’t going to open his mouth and invite further discussion about the Lord Dimitrou’s merits or otherwise. He thought this the safer path, and yet was proved wrong when instead Lady Evangelina turned talk back towards him, and right then, Achilleas found that almost a more uncomfortable subject.
Everything he had hoped for? That was rather laughable, all things considered. He had hoped to steal away from Vasiliadon with his new bride and take a little time to get to know one another with some distance between them and the Capitol and all its burdens. He had hoped to find a way back into his father’s good graces and put to bed the doubts he had about how just the man had been in his handling of things with Stephanos. He had hoped to find a way to some stability for Taengea.
But the fates had other plans it would seem. Achilleas turned his gaze only briefly to his company before he looked away, back toward the palace, for it was easier to measure his expressions when people could not look directly into his eyes he found. And he was not a good liar.
“Theodora is a delight” He had barely seen her and would have to leave her in a matter of days. And now he kept himself away not just because he was busy, but because he felt guilty too, over that moment of madness that had overcome him with Briseis the other day. It was not the behaviour of the kind of man that Achilleas liked to consider himself. Theodora deserved better, and he was struggling with having failed her already, so early into their marriage. “She has been a great asset in organising things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it” But of course she was a Leventi, and they were bred to chase power, so it was said. Achilleas frowned as he remembered who stood beside him and went on, shifting his weight slightly, arms still folded behind him. “It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.”
Then he glanced at Evangelina, aware that his focus had remained rigidily elsewhere as he had spoken and he took a breath in through his nose,exhaled and let his shoulders drop a little. “These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?”
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Achilleas let her gentle teasing sweep away any lingering tension regarding Stephanos and Olympia’s situation and how it might be addressed. He wasn’t sure what it was about the Leventi woman: whether it was that he’d been forced to take her into his confidence so rapidly, or some natural talent she had, but he tolerated her poking fun at him in a manner that was rare for him. It was almost some light relief amongst the very serious matters that filled all of his days of late.
A brief lift of his eyebrows was all the warning she got before he sniffed and slid a haughty set over his features, one that she had seen before but that had perhaps been more genuine then that it was now. “I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina”
As their conversation went on, he found he wasn’t enthralled at the idea of keeping things from Theodora, and it showed on his face a moment after Evangelina made her answer. Brows drawn together, it was not quite a pout, but Achilleas felt quite strongly that starting keeping secrets from one another so soon could not be a good thing. That this would hardly be the biggest secret was something he pushed from his mind
“If that is what you wish” he said after a pause because he would have to honour Evangelina’s wishes despite how he might not want to. And he could understand the reluctance to have it made known when things had not been formalised. Achilleas could recognise something in how the young woman spoke of Lord Dimitrou as well, there was something steadying about him, perhaps made more apparent by the fact that he was a man of so few words. The new King thought his distant cousin was a person who would be easy to trust at a time where he could not say that about many. “And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want”.
It was a statement rather than a question because really Achilleas had skirted close enough to his comfort levels in discussing Leventi marriage prospects - a subject he had never thought to entertain outside of his own interest in Theodora, and yet one that kept being pushed before him. Gods knows the reason why.
In the rather reaching silence that followed, he pressed his lips together, resolute that he wasn’t going to open his mouth and invite further discussion about the Lord Dimitrou’s merits or otherwise. He thought this the safer path, and yet was proved wrong when instead Lady Evangelina turned talk back towards him, and right then, Achilleas found that almost a more uncomfortable subject.
Everything he had hoped for? That was rather laughable, all things considered. He had hoped to steal away from Vasiliadon with his new bride and take a little time to get to know one another with some distance between them and the Capitol and all its burdens. He had hoped to find a way back into his father’s good graces and put to bed the doubts he had about how just the man had been in his handling of things with Stephanos. He had hoped to find a way to some stability for Taengea.
But the fates had other plans it would seem. Achilleas turned his gaze only briefly to his company before he looked away, back toward the palace, for it was easier to measure his expressions when people could not look directly into his eyes he found. And he was not a good liar.
“Theodora is a delight” He had barely seen her and would have to leave her in a matter of days. And now he kept himself away not just because he was busy, but because he felt guilty too, over that moment of madness that had overcome him with Briseis the other day. It was not the behaviour of the kind of man that Achilleas liked to consider himself. Theodora deserved better, and he was struggling with having failed her already, so early into their marriage. “She has been a great asset in organising things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it” But of course she was a Leventi, and they were bred to chase power, so it was said. Achilleas frowned as he remembered who stood beside him and went on, shifting his weight slightly, arms still folded behind him. “It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.”
Then he glanced at Evangelina, aware that his focus had remained rigidily elsewhere as he had spoken and he took a breath in through his nose,exhaled and let his shoulders drop a little. “These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?”
Achilleas let her gentle teasing sweep away any lingering tension regarding Stephanos and Olympia’s situation and how it might be addressed. He wasn’t sure what it was about the Leventi woman: whether it was that he’d been forced to take her into his confidence so rapidly, or some natural talent she had, but he tolerated her poking fun at him in a manner that was rare for him. It was almost some light relief amongst the very serious matters that filled all of his days of late.
A brief lift of his eyebrows was all the warning she got before he sniffed and slid a haughty set over his features, one that she had seen before but that had perhaps been more genuine then that it was now. “I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina”
As their conversation went on, he found he wasn’t enthralled at the idea of keeping things from Theodora, and it showed on his face a moment after Evangelina made her answer. Brows drawn together, it was not quite a pout, but Achilleas felt quite strongly that starting keeping secrets from one another so soon could not be a good thing. That this would hardly be the biggest secret was something he pushed from his mind
“If that is what you wish” he said after a pause because he would have to honour Evangelina’s wishes despite how he might not want to. And he could understand the reluctance to have it made known when things had not been formalised. Achilleas could recognise something in how the young woman spoke of Lord Dimitrou as well, there was something steadying about him, perhaps made more apparent by the fact that he was a man of so few words. The new King thought his distant cousin was a person who would be easy to trust at a time where he could not say that about many. “And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want”.
It was a statement rather than a question because really Achilleas had skirted close enough to his comfort levels in discussing Leventi marriage prospects - a subject he had never thought to entertain outside of his own interest in Theodora, and yet one that kept being pushed before him. Gods knows the reason why.
In the rather reaching silence that followed, he pressed his lips together, resolute that he wasn’t going to open his mouth and invite further discussion about the Lord Dimitrou’s merits or otherwise. He thought this the safer path, and yet was proved wrong when instead Lady Evangelina turned talk back towards him, and right then, Achilleas found that almost a more uncomfortable subject.
Everything he had hoped for? That was rather laughable, all things considered. He had hoped to steal away from Vasiliadon with his new bride and take a little time to get to know one another with some distance between them and the Capitol and all its burdens. He had hoped to find a way back into his father’s good graces and put to bed the doubts he had about how just the man had been in his handling of things with Stephanos. He had hoped to find a way to some stability for Taengea.
But the fates had other plans it would seem. Achilleas turned his gaze only briefly to his company before he looked away, back toward the palace, for it was easier to measure his expressions when people could not look directly into his eyes he found. And he was not a good liar.
“Theodora is a delight” He had barely seen her and would have to leave her in a matter of days. And now he kept himself away not just because he was busy, but because he felt guilty too, over that moment of madness that had overcome him with Briseis the other day. It was not the behaviour of the kind of man that Achilleas liked to consider himself. Theodora deserved better, and he was struggling with having failed her already, so early into their marriage. “She has been a great asset in organising things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it” But of course she was a Leventi, and they were bred to chase power, so it was said. Achilleas frowned as he remembered who stood beside him and went on, shifting his weight slightly, arms still folded behind him. “It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.”
Then he glanced at Evangelina, aware that his focus had remained rigidily elsewhere as he had spoken and he took a breath in through his nose,exhaled and let his shoulders drop a little. “These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?”
It was evident in her ribbing that there wasn’t any real malice. Just as she knew that the shallow lift of his eyebrows and the haughty look down his nose at her was issued with mocking indignation. The curve of her lip turned up on the corner in delight at his comeback. King Achilleas was an impressive man but it was satisfying to know there was some backbone under all the perfectly formed flesh and bone.
‘I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina.’ The emphasis on his new title generated a chuckle from her. Her deep-nut brown eyes tilted upwards at him with sparked beguilement.
“Oh, you think so, do you?” She laughed in response, “I shall have to endeavor to remember that delegation in the future.” Evangelina extended her dimple smile but she tried to feign chagrin. “My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
Under normal circumstances, Evangelina would never have asked Achilleas to keep this from Theodora but seeing as he was to leave soon… she’d risked the embarrassment of telling him. Engagements were delicate threads, and should there be some disputes or complications and it all came tumbling down about her feet then… there were even fewer people that would know of how she’d failed. ‘If that is what you wish.’ His voice was quiet and she could hear the tinge of disapproval in his tone. Her lips pursed, “Just until things are rightfully arranged…” It was terribly awkward situation, and one that she was questioning if she should have even let the King in on but, she had now so it was time to make the best out of it.
‘And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want.’
She smiled but the brightness that had been there wavered as his last statement rang out almost questioningly in her mind. Hiding those questions in her mind, she dropped her eyes and turned her attention to the openness of the grounds. Shifting restlessly, “Thank you.” Her mind wandered briefly as a settled between them. One that had lasted longer than it should have, one that was just a touch too long to be comfortable or polite.
So, Evangelina did what she did best. She deflected the attention from her upcoming engagement to his recently obtained marriage. She didn’t pry any as he was slow to answer and looked away. It didn’t really a lot of insight to know things were not exactly as they’d been expected to play out among them. Circumstances hadn’t been ideal at all. The Gods had plucked on the strings of chaos that were connected to Achilleas and he’d had no choice but to go along with it. Or at least that’s how Evangelina saw it…
‘Theodora is a delight.’ Slanting an eyebrow up at him with a small smile. Uh-Huh. Dipping her head, she hid the fact that her smile generated by his words seemed to grow in amusement. ‘She has been a great asset in organizing things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it.’ That Evangelina could believe. Theodora wore the title and the sat on a pedestal as beautifully as just about any Leventi could. In that, Achilleas could not have chosen a better choice of wife. ‘It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.’ Her smile faded and she nodded her head.
“Mmm-hmm,” Evangelina mused in a murmur. He glanced at her, and she tilted her head meeting his glance and though his drifted elsewhere, hers remained steadily on him as he spoke, ‘These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?’
“They do not, but I do not imagine that you could handle these setbacks any better than you are.” She offered him a tentative smile and pulled her gaze away again as she tilted it upwards towards the sun and scrunched her eyes closed as she basked in the warmth as she added, “For what little bit it’s worth, I greatly admire how you are taking things in stride.” She opened her eyes and slanted him a look as she continued to bask in the sun, “You’ve had a pretty rotten hand dealt you recently…”
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It was evident in her ribbing that there wasn’t any real malice. Just as she knew that the shallow lift of his eyebrows and the haughty look down his nose at her was issued with mocking indignation. The curve of her lip turned up on the corner in delight at his comeback. King Achilleas was an impressive man but it was satisfying to know there was some backbone under all the perfectly formed flesh and bone.
‘I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina.’ The emphasis on his new title generated a chuckle from her. Her deep-nut brown eyes tilted upwards at him with sparked beguilement.
“Oh, you think so, do you?” She laughed in response, “I shall have to endeavor to remember that delegation in the future.” Evangelina extended her dimple smile but she tried to feign chagrin. “My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
Under normal circumstances, Evangelina would never have asked Achilleas to keep this from Theodora but seeing as he was to leave soon… she’d risked the embarrassment of telling him. Engagements were delicate threads, and should there be some disputes or complications and it all came tumbling down about her feet then… there were even fewer people that would know of how she’d failed. ‘If that is what you wish.’ His voice was quiet and she could hear the tinge of disapproval in his tone. Her lips pursed, “Just until things are rightfully arranged…” It was terribly awkward situation, and one that she was questioning if she should have even let the King in on but, she had now so it was time to make the best out of it.
‘And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want.’
She smiled but the brightness that had been there wavered as his last statement rang out almost questioningly in her mind. Hiding those questions in her mind, she dropped her eyes and turned her attention to the openness of the grounds. Shifting restlessly, “Thank you.” Her mind wandered briefly as a settled between them. One that had lasted longer than it should have, one that was just a touch too long to be comfortable or polite.
So, Evangelina did what she did best. She deflected the attention from her upcoming engagement to his recently obtained marriage. She didn’t pry any as he was slow to answer and looked away. It didn’t really a lot of insight to know things were not exactly as they’d been expected to play out among them. Circumstances hadn’t been ideal at all. The Gods had plucked on the strings of chaos that were connected to Achilleas and he’d had no choice but to go along with it. Or at least that’s how Evangelina saw it…
‘Theodora is a delight.’ Slanting an eyebrow up at him with a small smile. Uh-Huh. Dipping her head, she hid the fact that her smile generated by his words seemed to grow in amusement. ‘She has been a great asset in organizing things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it.’ That Evangelina could believe. Theodora wore the title and the sat on a pedestal as beautifully as just about any Leventi could. In that, Achilleas could not have chosen a better choice of wife. ‘It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.’ Her smile faded and she nodded her head.
“Mmm-hmm,” Evangelina mused in a murmur. He glanced at her, and she tilted her head meeting his glance and though his drifted elsewhere, hers remained steadily on him as he spoke, ‘These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?’
“They do not, but I do not imagine that you could handle these setbacks any better than you are.” She offered him a tentative smile and pulled her gaze away again as she tilted it upwards towards the sun and scrunched her eyes closed as she basked in the warmth as she added, “For what little bit it’s worth, I greatly admire how you are taking things in stride.” She opened her eyes and slanted him a look as she continued to bask in the sun, “You’ve had a pretty rotten hand dealt you recently…”
It was evident in her ribbing that there wasn’t any real malice. Just as she knew that the shallow lift of his eyebrows and the haughty look down his nose at her was issued with mocking indignation. The curve of her lip turned up on the corner in delight at his comeback. King Achilleas was an impressive man but it was satisfying to know there was some backbone under all the perfectly formed flesh and bone.
‘I believe, as King it is rather expected for you to indulge my ego, Lady Evangelina.’ The emphasis on his new title generated a chuckle from her. Her deep-nut brown eyes tilted upwards at him with sparked beguilement.
“Oh, you think so, do you?” She laughed in response, “I shall have to endeavor to remember that delegation in the future.” Evangelina extended her dimple smile but she tried to feign chagrin. “My deepest apologies, Your Highness.”
Under normal circumstances, Evangelina would never have asked Achilleas to keep this from Theodora but seeing as he was to leave soon… she’d risked the embarrassment of telling him. Engagements were delicate threads, and should there be some disputes or complications and it all came tumbling down about her feet then… there were even fewer people that would know of how she’d failed. ‘If that is what you wish.’ His voice was quiet and she could hear the tinge of disapproval in his tone. Her lips pursed, “Just until things are rightfully arranged…” It was terribly awkward situation, and one that she was questioning if she should have even let the King in on but, she had now so it was time to make the best out of it.
‘And early though it may be, I wish you well, Evangelina. If it is what you want.’
She smiled but the brightness that had been there wavered as his last statement rang out almost questioningly in her mind. Hiding those questions in her mind, she dropped her eyes and turned her attention to the openness of the grounds. Shifting restlessly, “Thank you.” Her mind wandered briefly as a settled between them. One that had lasted longer than it should have, one that was just a touch too long to be comfortable or polite.
So, Evangelina did what she did best. She deflected the attention from her upcoming engagement to his recently obtained marriage. She didn’t pry any as he was slow to answer and looked away. It didn’t really a lot of insight to know things were not exactly as they’d been expected to play out among them. Circumstances hadn’t been ideal at all. The Gods had plucked on the strings of chaos that were connected to Achilleas and he’d had no choice but to go along with it. Or at least that’s how Evangelina saw it…
‘Theodora is a delight.’ Slanting an eyebrow up at him with a small smile. Uh-Huh. Dipping her head, she hid the fact that her smile generated by his words seemed to grow in amusement. ‘She has been a great asset in organizing things here. Already she wears the title of Queen as if she were born to it.’ That Evangelina could believe. Theodora wore the title and the sat on a pedestal as beautifully as just about any Leventi could. In that, Achilleas could not have chosen a better choice of wife. ‘It is less than ideal of course, that I must leave so soon, but I have faith that Theodora will be as strong as she needs in my absence. Though I confess I had hoped the Lady Evelli might have returned.’ Her smile faded and she nodded her head.
“Mmm-hmm,” Evangelina mused in a murmur. He glanced at her, and she tilted her head meeting his glance and though his drifted elsewhere, hers remained steadily on him as he spoke, ‘These things so rarely fall out as we would intend them to, do they?’
“They do not, but I do not imagine that you could handle these setbacks any better than you are.” She offered him a tentative smile and pulled her gaze away again as she tilted it upwards towards the sun and scrunched her eyes closed as she basked in the warmth as she added, “For what little bit it’s worth, I greatly admire how you are taking things in stride.” She opened her eyes and slanted him a look as she continued to bask in the sun, “You’ve had a pretty rotten hand dealt you recently…”
“It’s your majesty, actually” Achilleas sniffed and then all at once wished he hadn’t. He’d been joking,just pulling Evangelina up to continue to their jest, but it reminded him so suddenly of the times his father had picked him up for similar errors, and it hurt. Actually hurt, in a physical way that he was not at all expecting, and he swallowed, wondered if that’s just what he should be ready to be hit with now. Unexpected jolts out of nowhere.
It left him rather distracted, so that he nodded absently, frowning faintly as he looked to subdue the emotion that had no place here. Or at all. He didn’t know what to do with it.
Talk turning to his marriage did not much help, and Achilleas was aware that he took too long to answer the Leventi woman’s question and that Lady Evangelina’s dark eyes missed nothing. His answers were vague enough though, skimming over the surface of what had been tumultuous beginnings to married life. Indeed it had made said marriage almost an afterthought when it should have been a time to enjoy it freely. There was little time to indulge such wants though, not with war declared upon them and the Taengean’s scrambling to form some kind of response to the threat of Egypt sailing for their shores. It had been the news that their spies had brought that their enemies were already preparing to do so that had motivated the rather unusual response that Achilleas had decided upon.
They simply did not have time to gather a large invasion force, so it would be a small contingent of Greeks that the new King would take with him when he set sail in a few days time. That, he could admit, had been demanding more of his time that he had been able to offer to Theodora.
He was grateful that his wife’s cousin did not press him, offering little but reflective murmurs of agreement which to be honest , suited him just fine.He did not think he could handle any further scrutiny into the fact that his conversation with Evangelina that morning had lasted longer than any he’d had with his wife in the past week.
Which was why, as he glanced sideways to see the Leventi woman tip her head back to bask in the sun like a cat, he was unprepared and almost a little unaccepting of her commendation as to how he had been dealing with things. His gaze dropped to his feet for a moment as he let those words settle, a muscle flickering in his jaw the only motion in his face which had otherwise gone very still.
He had little choice but to try and take things in stride did he? What was the alternative, to sit in self-pity and let their enemies prey upon a kingdom they saw as weak and vulnerable?
No.
Achilleas had always been a man of action; he was best fit for keeping going, for delivering what was expected of him above and beyond all else. That didn’t change just because someone died. Now more than ever, his house needed him to be strong, to show that the lion would not be cowed despite the losses that had plagued them. This was perhaps his biggest challenge to date, and Achilleas would be damned before he failed at it.
Nevertheless, the acknowledgement that so many others skirted around, ignoring it as it appeared the King was choosing to do, was enough to cut through some of the man’s well-built defences, and this time he did not respond immediately because he wasn’t confident that his voice would not betray him. He managed a curt nod to at least acknowledge the words, a gesture to tide him through until he was sure he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself when he opened his mouth.
“There is little else to be done in such circumstances” he said, almost smoothly. “The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.”
He could be glad that the one moment he had faltered had at least been safely behind the palati walls, and that, thus far at least, those that had borne witness to his loss of cool had not made it gossip fodder. He thought he owed Krysto for that probably. But Lady Evangelina could continue to believe in his success.
“Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….” The uncertainty was more evident then, because truly it was hard to find logic in all that befallen Taengea in recent months. Achilleas would not let himself dwell upon it, because unanswered questions helped no one. He turned back to Evangelina with a forced sort of brightness.
“How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least”.
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“It’s your majesty, actually” Achilleas sniffed and then all at once wished he hadn’t. He’d been joking,just pulling Evangelina up to continue to their jest, but it reminded him so suddenly of the times his father had picked him up for similar errors, and it hurt. Actually hurt, in a physical way that he was not at all expecting, and he swallowed, wondered if that’s just what he should be ready to be hit with now. Unexpected jolts out of nowhere.
It left him rather distracted, so that he nodded absently, frowning faintly as he looked to subdue the emotion that had no place here. Or at all. He didn’t know what to do with it.
Talk turning to his marriage did not much help, and Achilleas was aware that he took too long to answer the Leventi woman’s question and that Lady Evangelina’s dark eyes missed nothing. His answers were vague enough though, skimming over the surface of what had been tumultuous beginnings to married life. Indeed it had made said marriage almost an afterthought when it should have been a time to enjoy it freely. There was little time to indulge such wants though, not with war declared upon them and the Taengean’s scrambling to form some kind of response to the threat of Egypt sailing for their shores. It had been the news that their spies had brought that their enemies were already preparing to do so that had motivated the rather unusual response that Achilleas had decided upon.
They simply did not have time to gather a large invasion force, so it would be a small contingent of Greeks that the new King would take with him when he set sail in a few days time. That, he could admit, had been demanding more of his time that he had been able to offer to Theodora.
He was grateful that his wife’s cousin did not press him, offering little but reflective murmurs of agreement which to be honest , suited him just fine.He did not think he could handle any further scrutiny into the fact that his conversation with Evangelina that morning had lasted longer than any he’d had with his wife in the past week.
Which was why, as he glanced sideways to see the Leventi woman tip her head back to bask in the sun like a cat, he was unprepared and almost a little unaccepting of her commendation as to how he had been dealing with things. His gaze dropped to his feet for a moment as he let those words settle, a muscle flickering in his jaw the only motion in his face which had otherwise gone very still.
He had little choice but to try and take things in stride did he? What was the alternative, to sit in self-pity and let their enemies prey upon a kingdom they saw as weak and vulnerable?
No.
Achilleas had always been a man of action; he was best fit for keeping going, for delivering what was expected of him above and beyond all else. That didn’t change just because someone died. Now more than ever, his house needed him to be strong, to show that the lion would not be cowed despite the losses that had plagued them. This was perhaps his biggest challenge to date, and Achilleas would be damned before he failed at it.
Nevertheless, the acknowledgement that so many others skirted around, ignoring it as it appeared the King was choosing to do, was enough to cut through some of the man’s well-built defences, and this time he did not respond immediately because he wasn’t confident that his voice would not betray him. He managed a curt nod to at least acknowledge the words, a gesture to tide him through until he was sure he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself when he opened his mouth.
“There is little else to be done in such circumstances” he said, almost smoothly. “The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.”
He could be glad that the one moment he had faltered had at least been safely behind the palati walls, and that, thus far at least, those that had borne witness to his loss of cool had not made it gossip fodder. He thought he owed Krysto for that probably. But Lady Evangelina could continue to believe in his success.
“Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….” The uncertainty was more evident then, because truly it was hard to find logic in all that befallen Taengea in recent months. Achilleas would not let himself dwell upon it, because unanswered questions helped no one. He turned back to Evangelina with a forced sort of brightness.
“How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least”.
“It’s your majesty, actually” Achilleas sniffed and then all at once wished he hadn’t. He’d been joking,just pulling Evangelina up to continue to their jest, but it reminded him so suddenly of the times his father had picked him up for similar errors, and it hurt. Actually hurt, in a physical way that he was not at all expecting, and he swallowed, wondered if that’s just what he should be ready to be hit with now. Unexpected jolts out of nowhere.
It left him rather distracted, so that he nodded absently, frowning faintly as he looked to subdue the emotion that had no place here. Or at all. He didn’t know what to do with it.
Talk turning to his marriage did not much help, and Achilleas was aware that he took too long to answer the Leventi woman’s question and that Lady Evangelina’s dark eyes missed nothing. His answers were vague enough though, skimming over the surface of what had been tumultuous beginnings to married life. Indeed it had made said marriage almost an afterthought when it should have been a time to enjoy it freely. There was little time to indulge such wants though, not with war declared upon them and the Taengean’s scrambling to form some kind of response to the threat of Egypt sailing for their shores. It had been the news that their spies had brought that their enemies were already preparing to do so that had motivated the rather unusual response that Achilleas had decided upon.
They simply did not have time to gather a large invasion force, so it would be a small contingent of Greeks that the new King would take with him when he set sail in a few days time. That, he could admit, had been demanding more of his time that he had been able to offer to Theodora.
He was grateful that his wife’s cousin did not press him, offering little but reflective murmurs of agreement which to be honest , suited him just fine.He did not think he could handle any further scrutiny into the fact that his conversation with Evangelina that morning had lasted longer than any he’d had with his wife in the past week.
Which was why, as he glanced sideways to see the Leventi woman tip her head back to bask in the sun like a cat, he was unprepared and almost a little unaccepting of her commendation as to how he had been dealing with things. His gaze dropped to his feet for a moment as he let those words settle, a muscle flickering in his jaw the only motion in his face which had otherwise gone very still.
He had little choice but to try and take things in stride did he? What was the alternative, to sit in self-pity and let their enemies prey upon a kingdom they saw as weak and vulnerable?
No.
Achilleas had always been a man of action; he was best fit for keeping going, for delivering what was expected of him above and beyond all else. That didn’t change just because someone died. Now more than ever, his house needed him to be strong, to show that the lion would not be cowed despite the losses that had plagued them. This was perhaps his biggest challenge to date, and Achilleas would be damned before he failed at it.
Nevertheless, the acknowledgement that so many others skirted around, ignoring it as it appeared the King was choosing to do, was enough to cut through some of the man’s well-built defences, and this time he did not respond immediately because he wasn’t confident that his voice would not betray him. He managed a curt nod to at least acknowledge the words, a gesture to tide him through until he was sure he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself when he opened his mouth.
“There is little else to be done in such circumstances” he said, almost smoothly. “The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.”
He could be glad that the one moment he had faltered had at least been safely behind the palati walls, and that, thus far at least, those that had borne witness to his loss of cool had not made it gossip fodder. He thought he owed Krysto for that probably. But Lady Evangelina could continue to believe in his success.
“Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….” The uncertainty was more evident then, because truly it was hard to find logic in all that befallen Taengea in recent months. Achilleas would not let himself dwell upon it, because unanswered questions helped no one. He turned back to Evangelina with a forced sort of brightness.
“How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least”.
Caught off guard by her mistake, she blinked, and then the corners of her eyes crinkled and she laughed. He was quite right. He wasn’t a lord any longer, nor was he a prince. He was King, wasn’t he? It’d been a slip of the tongue. The last time they’d really had a chance to speak, he’d been a prince. He seemed to be changing titles as quickly as he was his clothes.
“Your Majesty,” She teased softly back, dropping in a flamboyant curtsy. “Happy?” Was it the amused spark in her dark eyes or the way her lip softly was creeping up on one side that gave it away that she’d taken the admonishment in stride.
The conversation took a more serious turn as they discussed her upcoming marriage and along with his new marriage. Sometimes it was the things that neither of them were saying that had said the most to the other. There was never any doubt in her mind that of him and her cousin that it was him that had cared the most. It wasn’t that she disliked her cousin, actually it was quite the opposite. Granted, a part of her had always envied Theodora… perhaps envy wasn’t the right word, Evangelina had greatly admired her older cousin’s poise and the elegant way she’d portrayed herself.
She shifted restlessly and found her eyes drifting about their surroundings. It was easy to want something that you weren’t and Evangelina didn’t have a tenth of the poise and elegance that Theodora had. But somewhere along the way, she’d come to terms with that. Maybe she’d never be the sort of face that would launch a thousand ships and bring men to war… not that she was sure that was something she even wanted, but Evangelina was tangible. She might not have been the idea of beauty. She’d never be beautiful like a garden but she could be beautiful like a wildfire. Queens shouldn’t be a wildfire. Even Olympia wasn’t a wildfire, but neither was she a garden. Pia was more of a mountain. To tear her down you’d have to take her down one rock at a time until she’d been destroyed. Then there was Selene, Evangelina was pretty sure Lene was a storm cleansing and refreshing. The point was no two Leventis were similar, not if you ever went deeper than skin deep with them.
Biting her bottom lip, she pulled her gaze back to him. They’d already discussed the differences though. She supposed that wasn’t something they needed to rehash.
‘There is little else to be done in such circumstances,’ Evangelina simply watched him curiously. She almost believed he believed that. ‘The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.’ That had been said with more affirmation, but he was right. She wasn’t able to interject before he continued again, ‘Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….’
Her eyes slid sideways to him and slid over him before a faded smile formed and she sighed softly with a nod of her head, “Yes, I suppose so. And for the record, there are a few who would have done the selfish thing rather than the right thing, and that is what I admire. You chose the right path of moving forward despite having easier paths being before you. It denotes a strength of character.” Wrinkling her nose and looked past him to the palace grounds and continued, “And that matters to those of us following you.”
After a few moments he turned back to her with a strained cheerfulness, ‘How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least.’ That Evangelina replied with a simple raised eyebrow and off her arm, “I suppose. Let’s find Theodora. You’ll have to share with me on the way though, did you get any good wedding presents, hmm?”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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Caught off guard by her mistake, she blinked, and then the corners of her eyes crinkled and she laughed. He was quite right. He wasn’t a lord any longer, nor was he a prince. He was King, wasn’t he? It’d been a slip of the tongue. The last time they’d really had a chance to speak, he’d been a prince. He seemed to be changing titles as quickly as he was his clothes.
“Your Majesty,” She teased softly back, dropping in a flamboyant curtsy. “Happy?” Was it the amused spark in her dark eyes or the way her lip softly was creeping up on one side that gave it away that she’d taken the admonishment in stride.
The conversation took a more serious turn as they discussed her upcoming marriage and along with his new marriage. Sometimes it was the things that neither of them were saying that had said the most to the other. There was never any doubt in her mind that of him and her cousin that it was him that had cared the most. It wasn’t that she disliked her cousin, actually it was quite the opposite. Granted, a part of her had always envied Theodora… perhaps envy wasn’t the right word, Evangelina had greatly admired her older cousin’s poise and the elegant way she’d portrayed herself.
She shifted restlessly and found her eyes drifting about their surroundings. It was easy to want something that you weren’t and Evangelina didn’t have a tenth of the poise and elegance that Theodora had. But somewhere along the way, she’d come to terms with that. Maybe she’d never be the sort of face that would launch a thousand ships and bring men to war… not that she was sure that was something she even wanted, but Evangelina was tangible. She might not have been the idea of beauty. She’d never be beautiful like a garden but she could be beautiful like a wildfire. Queens shouldn’t be a wildfire. Even Olympia wasn’t a wildfire, but neither was she a garden. Pia was more of a mountain. To tear her down you’d have to take her down one rock at a time until she’d been destroyed. Then there was Selene, Evangelina was pretty sure Lene was a storm cleansing and refreshing. The point was no two Leventis were similar, not if you ever went deeper than skin deep with them.
Biting her bottom lip, she pulled her gaze back to him. They’d already discussed the differences though. She supposed that wasn’t something they needed to rehash.
‘There is little else to be done in such circumstances,’ Evangelina simply watched him curiously. She almost believed he believed that. ‘The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.’ That had been said with more affirmation, but he was right. She wasn’t able to interject before he continued again, ‘Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….’
Her eyes slid sideways to him and slid over him before a faded smile formed and she sighed softly with a nod of her head, “Yes, I suppose so. And for the record, there are a few who would have done the selfish thing rather than the right thing, and that is what I admire. You chose the right path of moving forward despite having easier paths being before you. It denotes a strength of character.” Wrinkling her nose and looked past him to the palace grounds and continued, “And that matters to those of us following you.”
After a few moments he turned back to her with a strained cheerfulness, ‘How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least.’ That Evangelina replied with a simple raised eyebrow and off her arm, “I suppose. Let’s find Theodora. You’ll have to share with me on the way though, did you get any good wedding presents, hmm?”
Caught off guard by her mistake, she blinked, and then the corners of her eyes crinkled and she laughed. He was quite right. He wasn’t a lord any longer, nor was he a prince. He was King, wasn’t he? It’d been a slip of the tongue. The last time they’d really had a chance to speak, he’d been a prince. He seemed to be changing titles as quickly as he was his clothes.
“Your Majesty,” She teased softly back, dropping in a flamboyant curtsy. “Happy?” Was it the amused spark in her dark eyes or the way her lip softly was creeping up on one side that gave it away that she’d taken the admonishment in stride.
The conversation took a more serious turn as they discussed her upcoming marriage and along with his new marriage. Sometimes it was the things that neither of them were saying that had said the most to the other. There was never any doubt in her mind that of him and her cousin that it was him that had cared the most. It wasn’t that she disliked her cousin, actually it was quite the opposite. Granted, a part of her had always envied Theodora… perhaps envy wasn’t the right word, Evangelina had greatly admired her older cousin’s poise and the elegant way she’d portrayed herself.
She shifted restlessly and found her eyes drifting about their surroundings. It was easy to want something that you weren’t and Evangelina didn’t have a tenth of the poise and elegance that Theodora had. But somewhere along the way, she’d come to terms with that. Maybe she’d never be the sort of face that would launch a thousand ships and bring men to war… not that she was sure that was something she even wanted, but Evangelina was tangible. She might not have been the idea of beauty. She’d never be beautiful like a garden but she could be beautiful like a wildfire. Queens shouldn’t be a wildfire. Even Olympia wasn’t a wildfire, but neither was she a garden. Pia was more of a mountain. To tear her down you’d have to take her down one rock at a time until she’d been destroyed. Then there was Selene, Evangelina was pretty sure Lene was a storm cleansing and refreshing. The point was no two Leventis were similar, not if you ever went deeper than skin deep with them.
Biting her bottom lip, she pulled her gaze back to him. They’d already discussed the differences though. She supposed that wasn’t something they needed to rehash.
‘There is little else to be done in such circumstances,’ Evangelina simply watched him curiously. She almost believed he believed that. ‘The world does not stop because one person has left it, and Taengea more than ever needs a leader. It would be selfish on my part to do anything but what I have done.’ That had been said with more affirmation, but he was right. She wasn’t able to interject before he continued again, ‘Besides, I tell myself the Gods must have some wisdom in their plans. Somehow….’
Her eyes slid sideways to him and slid over him before a faded smile formed and she sighed softly with a nod of her head, “Yes, I suppose so. And for the record, there are a few who would have done the selfish thing rather than the right thing, and that is what I admire. You chose the right path of moving forward despite having easier paths being before you. It denotes a strength of character.” Wrinkling her nose and looked past him to the palace grounds and continued, “And that matters to those of us following you.”
After a few moments he turned back to her with a strained cheerfulness, ‘How about we go and seek Theodora out for that tea? I will most likely be waylaid by somebody chasing one of the many things I have not yet done today, but I can see you into her company at least.’ That Evangelina replied with a simple raised eyebrow and off her arm, “I suppose. Let’s find Theodora. You’ll have to share with me on the way though, did you get any good wedding presents, hmm?”