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“Oh I know he won’t,” Achilleas remarked, looking fondly at the horse. And then he arched a brow up at Evangelina. “Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently” He’d known she would rise to the bait of having her horsemanship poked at, and she didn’t let him down. He could feel himself gradually thawing in her presence, remembering why he had enjoyed her company before. A dry snort was his only response to her reply, but Achilleas slanted a surprised look at her when instead of taking off with Amyntas as he had expected, the young woman instead plopped down on the grass beside him.
‘Speaking of being King..’
“Must we?” the thought slipped out without him quite intending it to, and Achilleas’ furrowed brow returned, only to deepen into a full-on scowl when Evie brought up the coronation ceremony and his Aunt. He didn’t look at the Leventi but toyed with the long grass they sat upon, ripping out a blade as he responded, answering her question even before he’d finished speaking.
He was angry.
“She may be, but such emotions have no place at court,” Achilleas said, glancing at Evie to gauge her expression. He had been furious at the ceremony and still was from all that lines of him said, and the sharp, jerky way in he was now winding the grass he’d ripped up between his fingers.
Part of it came from the obvious: the dowager queen had made a spectacle of herself and had shown cracks in the Mikaelidas clan when they desperately needed to be strong. All of Achilleas’ best efforts to make the transition seamless had been torn down by that woman’s outburst.
But more than that, and it was this that had his usual facade of calm crumble, he was hurt. Hurt by her accusations against him and the words levelled at his father in such a public setting. Achilleas had never been close to his Aunt, he wasn’t really close to more than a handful of people but he cared for her and he had done his best to be sympathetic in the way in which he managed the forced transition. That she seemed to forget he had abstained to vote in the senate, that he and Stephanos had been playmates and then soldiers and most of all friends. Add to it the hypocrisy that she had hardly been her son’s most vocal advocate and it stung. Combined with the letter he’d received from Stephanos and it had left Achilleas feeling even more out sorts. He didn’t know if he could fully trust Xene or Gianna...the whole thing had been a horrible mess.
“She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman,” he said, though he knew he would not have been able to allow anything different to happen. For a few beats, the king was quiet before he twisted to look at Evie. “What are people saying about it?” He’d at least measured his tone so it sounded like a command, but it was not so easy to disguise the vulnerability that shadowed the blue gaze that rested upon his companion. Achilleas was struggling immensely with the idea that other people might think him guilty in the way his Aunt had eluded.
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“Oh I know he won’t,” Achilleas remarked, looking fondly at the horse. And then he arched a brow up at Evangelina. “Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently” He’d known she would rise to the bait of having her horsemanship poked at, and she didn’t let him down. He could feel himself gradually thawing in her presence, remembering why he had enjoyed her company before. A dry snort was his only response to her reply, but Achilleas slanted a surprised look at her when instead of taking off with Amyntas as he had expected, the young woman instead plopped down on the grass beside him.
‘Speaking of being King..’
“Must we?” the thought slipped out without him quite intending it to, and Achilleas’ furrowed brow returned, only to deepen into a full-on scowl when Evie brought up the coronation ceremony and his Aunt. He didn’t look at the Leventi but toyed with the long grass they sat upon, ripping out a blade as he responded, answering her question even before he’d finished speaking.
He was angry.
“She may be, but such emotions have no place at court,” Achilleas said, glancing at Evie to gauge her expression. He had been furious at the ceremony and still was from all that lines of him said, and the sharp, jerky way in he was now winding the grass he’d ripped up between his fingers.
Part of it came from the obvious: the dowager queen had made a spectacle of herself and had shown cracks in the Mikaelidas clan when they desperately needed to be strong. All of Achilleas’ best efforts to make the transition seamless had been torn down by that woman’s outburst.
But more than that, and it was this that had his usual facade of calm crumble, he was hurt. Hurt by her accusations against him and the words levelled at his father in such a public setting. Achilleas had never been close to his Aunt, he wasn’t really close to more than a handful of people but he cared for her and he had done his best to be sympathetic in the way in which he managed the forced transition. That she seemed to forget he had abstained to vote in the senate, that he and Stephanos had been playmates and then soldiers and most of all friends. Add to it the hypocrisy that she had hardly been her son’s most vocal advocate and it stung. Combined with the letter he’d received from Stephanos and it had left Achilleas feeling even more out sorts. He didn’t know if he could fully trust Xene or Gianna...the whole thing had been a horrible mess.
“She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman,” he said, though he knew he would not have been able to allow anything different to happen. For a few beats, the king was quiet before he twisted to look at Evie. “What are people saying about it?” He’d at least measured his tone so it sounded like a command, but it was not so easy to disguise the vulnerability that shadowed the blue gaze that rested upon his companion. Achilleas was struggling immensely with the idea that other people might think him guilty in the way his Aunt had eluded.
“Oh I know he won’t,” Achilleas remarked, looking fondly at the horse. And then he arched a brow up at Evangelina. “Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently” He’d known she would rise to the bait of having her horsemanship poked at, and she didn’t let him down. He could feel himself gradually thawing in her presence, remembering why he had enjoyed her company before. A dry snort was his only response to her reply, but Achilleas slanted a surprised look at her when instead of taking off with Amyntas as he had expected, the young woman instead plopped down on the grass beside him.
‘Speaking of being King..’
“Must we?” the thought slipped out without him quite intending it to, and Achilleas’ furrowed brow returned, only to deepen into a full-on scowl when Evie brought up the coronation ceremony and his Aunt. He didn’t look at the Leventi but toyed with the long grass they sat upon, ripping out a blade as he responded, answering her question even before he’d finished speaking.
He was angry.
“She may be, but such emotions have no place at court,” Achilleas said, glancing at Evie to gauge her expression. He had been furious at the ceremony and still was from all that lines of him said, and the sharp, jerky way in he was now winding the grass he’d ripped up between his fingers.
Part of it came from the obvious: the dowager queen had made a spectacle of herself and had shown cracks in the Mikaelidas clan when they desperately needed to be strong. All of Achilleas’ best efforts to make the transition seamless had been torn down by that woman’s outburst.
But more than that, and it was this that had his usual facade of calm crumble, he was hurt. Hurt by her accusations against him and the words levelled at his father in such a public setting. Achilleas had never been close to his Aunt, he wasn’t really close to more than a handful of people but he cared for her and he had done his best to be sympathetic in the way in which he managed the forced transition. That she seemed to forget he had abstained to vote in the senate, that he and Stephanos had been playmates and then soldiers and most of all friends. Add to it the hypocrisy that she had hardly been her son’s most vocal advocate and it stung. Combined with the letter he’d received from Stephanos and it had left Achilleas feeling even more out sorts. He didn’t know if he could fully trust Xene or Gianna...the whole thing had been a horrible mess.
“She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman,” he said, though he knew he would not have been able to allow anything different to happen. For a few beats, the king was quiet before he twisted to look at Evie. “What are people saying about it?” He’d at least measured his tone so it sounded like a command, but it was not so easy to disguise the vulnerability that shadowed the blue gaze that rested upon his companion. Achilleas was struggling immensely with the idea that other people might think him guilty in the way his Aunt had eluded.
While he was looking at his horse, she was studying him and the fondness that had settled on his features. You could tell a lot about someone by the way they looked at their animals or the way their hands grazed the sensitive flesh of their mount, or the soft unheard desires they whispered almost secretively to them. ‘Oh, I know he won’t,’ He arched his brow and met her dark eyes as he continued, ‘Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently.’ Her eyes crinkled and her head dipped with a poorly concealed smile at his jest. He was anything but a big, ungainly, lump upon his stallion’s back. Had he been such, he’d have never caught her… no matter how good the big bay was.
Letting the horses rest and take advantage of the grass and moment of freedom, she plunk down next to him in a relaxed manner that was a direct contrast to the topic of conversation. His reply, catching her off guard that was quickly cloaked with an interest in plucking her own strand of grass despite her every sense being focused on the man sitting next to her. Afraid that she might spook him into withdrawing back into himself she continued to pluck at the piece of grass.
‘She may be, but such emotions have no place at court.’
Exasperation and anger reeked off of him, tilting her head, she looked sideways at him as he glanced at her. She wasn’t about to deny that. The dowager Queen was a well known force to be reckoned with among political circles. It wouldn’t have surprised Evangelina that there was not some political motive pushing her outburst, but it wasn’t the right moment to mention such thoughts to him. If she was going to gamble upon Elise’s motives, she’d have bet that the Queen had realized the same thing that had occurred to her several days ago herself. Feeling desperate, perhaps the Queen had reached out in any way that she could to dent Achilleas’ perfect appearance.
‘She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman.’
She slid another glance over to him, letting her dark eyes study the lines of tension on his face. Letting the quiet settle between them, before she went back to slowly peeling back each blade of grass slowly dissecting it. Even in the weeks since the two of them had last spoken, things had drastically changed. War had become something less than just a vague notion among Taengeans.
He twisted, looking at her too closely. Evangelina pressed her lips together a little tighter as he spoke, ‘What are people saying about it?’ She was slow to act but after a few seconds she dropped the blade of grass and stared off in front of her as she answered him, “What you would expect them to say.” She wasn’t going to gild the lily to him. “There are a few that feel you should have dealt more firmly with her. Some who wonder if she had a point in her arguments. Some who realize that was the most diplomatic way to handle her.”
A brown tendril curled around her check as her head dipped again to stare at her lap, “I think it was an act of desperation on her part.” Pressing her lips together, she wasn’t going to be a coward with this revelation to him. Tilting her head, her dark eyes bore into him as she continued, “You are something she fears. A stellar reputation both as a man and as a soldier. You’re logical, fair-minded, diplomatic. You are…” Evangelina paused, seemingly searching for the best way to express herself. “You are a threat to her line.” She held his gaze in silence for a moment letting that sink into his mind before she looked back in front of her and continued with the second part of what she had to say.
“With the war growing more imminent there is no telling how that will set things back for bringing Stephanos back for a fair trial.” Surprising herself, she found she couldn’t not look at him for this. “The longer this sits on the shelf the harder conducting an investigation into it is going to be.” She didn’t have to put words to it about how time could dull the memory or allow for corruption to infiltrate the witnesses. Swallowing, she searched his face for recognition of what she was saying. The trail was going to grow cold the longer this was put off.
It was time to make a decision. One she’d hoped she’d never have to make.
“Even if you manage to find some leads after the war, and bring Stephanos back for a trial to be held… so much time will have passed... It will leave a permanent mark of doubt upon his character. Every decision he makes will cause a few to entertain doubts about him and his character.” Letting that sink in too before she posed her question, “How long do you think it would be before he was challenged for the throne again?” And how long before Taengea wilted from the constant instability?
Pressing her lips together, she held his gaze for a long moment then looked away. She hadn’t changed her opinion that Stephanos was too hot-tempered to have meticulously planned the murder of his father and brother. Had he wanted them dead he’d have simply barged in like he’d done with Creed, foolishly placing himself right in the front line of the fight. Stephanos wouldn’t have hid behind masked men.
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Check out their information page here.
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While he was looking at his horse, she was studying him and the fondness that had settled on his features. You could tell a lot about someone by the way they looked at their animals or the way their hands grazed the sensitive flesh of their mount, or the soft unheard desires they whispered almost secretively to them. ‘Oh, I know he won’t,’ He arched his brow and met her dark eyes as he continued, ‘Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently.’ Her eyes crinkled and her head dipped with a poorly concealed smile at his jest. He was anything but a big, ungainly, lump upon his stallion’s back. Had he been such, he’d have never caught her… no matter how good the big bay was.
Letting the horses rest and take advantage of the grass and moment of freedom, she plunk down next to him in a relaxed manner that was a direct contrast to the topic of conversation. His reply, catching her off guard that was quickly cloaked with an interest in plucking her own strand of grass despite her every sense being focused on the man sitting next to her. Afraid that she might spook him into withdrawing back into himself she continued to pluck at the piece of grass.
‘She may be, but such emotions have no place at court.’
Exasperation and anger reeked off of him, tilting her head, she looked sideways at him as he glanced at her. She wasn’t about to deny that. The dowager Queen was a well known force to be reckoned with among political circles. It wouldn’t have surprised Evangelina that there was not some political motive pushing her outburst, but it wasn’t the right moment to mention such thoughts to him. If she was going to gamble upon Elise’s motives, she’d have bet that the Queen had realized the same thing that had occurred to her several days ago herself. Feeling desperate, perhaps the Queen had reached out in any way that she could to dent Achilleas’ perfect appearance.
‘She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman.’
She slid another glance over to him, letting her dark eyes study the lines of tension on his face. Letting the quiet settle between them, before she went back to slowly peeling back each blade of grass slowly dissecting it. Even in the weeks since the two of them had last spoken, things had drastically changed. War had become something less than just a vague notion among Taengeans.
He twisted, looking at her too closely. Evangelina pressed her lips together a little tighter as he spoke, ‘What are people saying about it?’ She was slow to act but after a few seconds she dropped the blade of grass and stared off in front of her as she answered him, “What you would expect them to say.” She wasn’t going to gild the lily to him. “There are a few that feel you should have dealt more firmly with her. Some who wonder if she had a point in her arguments. Some who realize that was the most diplomatic way to handle her.”
A brown tendril curled around her check as her head dipped again to stare at her lap, “I think it was an act of desperation on her part.” Pressing her lips together, she wasn’t going to be a coward with this revelation to him. Tilting her head, her dark eyes bore into him as she continued, “You are something she fears. A stellar reputation both as a man and as a soldier. You’re logical, fair-minded, diplomatic. You are…” Evangelina paused, seemingly searching for the best way to express herself. “You are a threat to her line.” She held his gaze in silence for a moment letting that sink into his mind before she looked back in front of her and continued with the second part of what she had to say.
“With the war growing more imminent there is no telling how that will set things back for bringing Stephanos back for a fair trial.” Surprising herself, she found she couldn’t not look at him for this. “The longer this sits on the shelf the harder conducting an investigation into it is going to be.” She didn’t have to put words to it about how time could dull the memory or allow for corruption to infiltrate the witnesses. Swallowing, she searched his face for recognition of what she was saying. The trail was going to grow cold the longer this was put off.
It was time to make a decision. One she’d hoped she’d never have to make.
“Even if you manage to find some leads after the war, and bring Stephanos back for a trial to be held… so much time will have passed... It will leave a permanent mark of doubt upon his character. Every decision he makes will cause a few to entertain doubts about him and his character.” Letting that sink in too before she posed her question, “How long do you think it would be before he was challenged for the throne again?” And how long before Taengea wilted from the constant instability?
Pressing her lips together, she held his gaze for a long moment then looked away. She hadn’t changed her opinion that Stephanos was too hot-tempered to have meticulously planned the murder of his father and brother. Had he wanted them dead he’d have simply barged in like he’d done with Creed, foolishly placing himself right in the front line of the fight. Stephanos wouldn’t have hid behind masked men.
While he was looking at his horse, she was studying him and the fondness that had settled on his features. You could tell a lot about someone by the way they looked at their animals or the way their hands grazed the sensitive flesh of their mount, or the soft unheard desires they whispered almost secretively to them. ‘Oh, I know he won’t,’ He arched his brow and met her dark eyes as he continued, ‘Even though I am such a big ungainly lump upon his back apparently.’ Her eyes crinkled and her head dipped with a poorly concealed smile at his jest. He was anything but a big, ungainly, lump upon his stallion’s back. Had he been such, he’d have never caught her… no matter how good the big bay was.
Letting the horses rest and take advantage of the grass and moment of freedom, she plunk down next to him in a relaxed manner that was a direct contrast to the topic of conversation. His reply, catching her off guard that was quickly cloaked with an interest in plucking her own strand of grass despite her every sense being focused on the man sitting next to her. Afraid that she might spook him into withdrawing back into himself she continued to pluck at the piece of grass.
‘She may be, but such emotions have no place at court.’
Exasperation and anger reeked off of him, tilting her head, she looked sideways at him as he glanced at her. She wasn’t about to deny that. The dowager Queen was a well known force to be reckoned with among political circles. It wouldn’t have surprised Evangelina that there was not some political motive pushing her outburst, but it wasn’t the right moment to mention such thoughts to him. If she was going to gamble upon Elise’s motives, she’d have bet that the Queen had realized the same thing that had occurred to her several days ago herself. Feeling desperate, perhaps the Queen had reached out in any way that she could to dent Achilleas’ perfect appearance.
‘She is lucky I was able to diffuse her treason into the ramblings of a mad old woman.’
She slid another glance over to him, letting her dark eyes study the lines of tension on his face. Letting the quiet settle between them, before she went back to slowly peeling back each blade of grass slowly dissecting it. Even in the weeks since the two of them had last spoken, things had drastically changed. War had become something less than just a vague notion among Taengeans.
He twisted, looking at her too closely. Evangelina pressed her lips together a little tighter as he spoke, ‘What are people saying about it?’ She was slow to act but after a few seconds she dropped the blade of grass and stared off in front of her as she answered him, “What you would expect them to say.” She wasn’t going to gild the lily to him. “There are a few that feel you should have dealt more firmly with her. Some who wonder if she had a point in her arguments. Some who realize that was the most diplomatic way to handle her.”
A brown tendril curled around her check as her head dipped again to stare at her lap, “I think it was an act of desperation on her part.” Pressing her lips together, she wasn’t going to be a coward with this revelation to him. Tilting her head, her dark eyes bore into him as she continued, “You are something she fears. A stellar reputation both as a man and as a soldier. You’re logical, fair-minded, diplomatic. You are…” Evangelina paused, seemingly searching for the best way to express herself. “You are a threat to her line.” She held his gaze in silence for a moment letting that sink into his mind before she looked back in front of her and continued with the second part of what she had to say.
“With the war growing more imminent there is no telling how that will set things back for bringing Stephanos back for a fair trial.” Surprising herself, she found she couldn’t not look at him for this. “The longer this sits on the shelf the harder conducting an investigation into it is going to be.” She didn’t have to put words to it about how time could dull the memory or allow for corruption to infiltrate the witnesses. Swallowing, she searched his face for recognition of what she was saying. The trail was going to grow cold the longer this was put off.
It was time to make a decision. One she’d hoped she’d never have to make.
“Even if you manage to find some leads after the war, and bring Stephanos back for a trial to be held… so much time will have passed... It will leave a permanent mark of doubt upon his character. Every decision he makes will cause a few to entertain doubts about him and his character.” Letting that sink in too before she posed her question, “How long do you think it would be before he was challenged for the throne again?” And how long before Taengea wilted from the constant instability?
Pressing her lips together, she held his gaze for a long moment then looked away. She hadn’t changed her opinion that Stephanos was too hot-tempered to have meticulously planned the murder of his father and brother. Had he wanted them dead he’d have simply barged in like he’d done with Creed, foolishly placing himself right in the front line of the fight. Stephanos wouldn’t have hid behind masked men.
It didn’t matter what he expected people to say. It mattered what they were saying, and Achilleas looked displeased at the vagueness of Evangelina’s answer. “That’s unhelpful,” he said shortly, considering pushing the girl to say where she fell in such opinions when Evie went on anyway.
Desperation? He turned that over for a moment and tried to find something to attach to the memory that was not sore feelings on his part but it was difficult. And when he looked over to the Leventi girl again it was to find her dark eyes settled upon him in a manner that made him think he wasn’t going to like what she had to say, and he was right.
“I’m not a threat” he protested with a frown. “We are the same blood”
His expression was a little fierce though thankfully directed away from Evangelina and toward the middle distance instead. He was listening though, as she continued, a vague unease that he had been trying to set aside in the face of everything else he had to focus on making itself known once more.
When he had let them, his thoughts had drifted in a similar direction; he was loathe to leave Stephanos’ reputation in such tatters as it was, but what he could he do? He still didn’t know who had been working against his cousin - gods, some people thought he had been, so how was he to try and address it in the few days he had left before they sailed for Egypt?
And it was Evangeline herself who had cautioned him not to rush into anything, had warned him not to trust her Uncle, and Achilleas didn’t know who he could count on to begin to unpick the tangle of lies and half-truths that had enabled his cousin to be deposed in that manner he was. Emilios would have enough to do, and as much as he loved his brother, the younger had hardly shown any particular skills at being subtle and cautious the way that would be needed to ask the questions they needed answering. His face was a study in concentration as he picked through the repercussions of Evie’s words.
“I don’t have time to do anything,” he said, drawing up one knee and resting his elbow atop it., sighing heavily.“ What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I’ve never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant”
There was a bitter huff of a breath. “I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust...I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.”
She was staring at him again in that disconcerting way she had, and Achilleas found himself setting his shoulders in readiness for whatever she was going to say next, and when she said it, his gaze narrowed.
“Challenged for the throne? By who?! Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?” Speaking more openly that he would anywhere else, the man shook his head. He didn’t want to entertain the idea because that would make him at least something of what Elise had made him out to be. He believed Stephanos was innocent, therefore his cousin deserved to be on the throne that had been falsely taken from him. Achilleas was caretaking until that could happen. It was telling himself that which allowed him to do it at all.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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It didn’t matter what he expected people to say. It mattered what they were saying, and Achilleas looked displeased at the vagueness of Evangelina’s answer. “That’s unhelpful,” he said shortly, considering pushing the girl to say where she fell in such opinions when Evie went on anyway.
Desperation? He turned that over for a moment and tried to find something to attach to the memory that was not sore feelings on his part but it was difficult. And when he looked over to the Leventi girl again it was to find her dark eyes settled upon him in a manner that made him think he wasn’t going to like what she had to say, and he was right.
“I’m not a threat” he protested with a frown. “We are the same blood”
His expression was a little fierce though thankfully directed away from Evangelina and toward the middle distance instead. He was listening though, as she continued, a vague unease that he had been trying to set aside in the face of everything else he had to focus on making itself known once more.
When he had let them, his thoughts had drifted in a similar direction; he was loathe to leave Stephanos’ reputation in such tatters as it was, but what he could he do? He still didn’t know who had been working against his cousin - gods, some people thought he had been, so how was he to try and address it in the few days he had left before they sailed for Egypt?
And it was Evangeline herself who had cautioned him not to rush into anything, had warned him not to trust her Uncle, and Achilleas didn’t know who he could count on to begin to unpick the tangle of lies and half-truths that had enabled his cousin to be deposed in that manner he was. Emilios would have enough to do, and as much as he loved his brother, the younger had hardly shown any particular skills at being subtle and cautious the way that would be needed to ask the questions they needed answering. His face was a study in concentration as he picked through the repercussions of Evie’s words.
“I don’t have time to do anything,” he said, drawing up one knee and resting his elbow atop it., sighing heavily.“ What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I’ve never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant”
There was a bitter huff of a breath. “I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust...I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.”
She was staring at him again in that disconcerting way she had, and Achilleas found himself setting his shoulders in readiness for whatever she was going to say next, and when she said it, his gaze narrowed.
“Challenged for the throne? By who?! Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?” Speaking more openly that he would anywhere else, the man shook his head. He didn’t want to entertain the idea because that would make him at least something of what Elise had made him out to be. He believed Stephanos was innocent, therefore his cousin deserved to be on the throne that had been falsely taken from him. Achilleas was caretaking until that could happen. It was telling himself that which allowed him to do it at all.
It didn’t matter what he expected people to say. It mattered what they were saying, and Achilleas looked displeased at the vagueness of Evangelina’s answer. “That’s unhelpful,” he said shortly, considering pushing the girl to say where she fell in such opinions when Evie went on anyway.
Desperation? He turned that over for a moment and tried to find something to attach to the memory that was not sore feelings on his part but it was difficult. And when he looked over to the Leventi girl again it was to find her dark eyes settled upon him in a manner that made him think he wasn’t going to like what she had to say, and he was right.
“I’m not a threat” he protested with a frown. “We are the same blood”
His expression was a little fierce though thankfully directed away from Evangelina and toward the middle distance instead. He was listening though, as she continued, a vague unease that he had been trying to set aside in the face of everything else he had to focus on making itself known once more.
When he had let them, his thoughts had drifted in a similar direction; he was loathe to leave Stephanos’ reputation in such tatters as it was, but what he could he do? He still didn’t know who had been working against his cousin - gods, some people thought he had been, so how was he to try and address it in the few days he had left before they sailed for Egypt?
And it was Evangeline herself who had cautioned him not to rush into anything, had warned him not to trust her Uncle, and Achilleas didn’t know who he could count on to begin to unpick the tangle of lies and half-truths that had enabled his cousin to be deposed in that manner he was. Emilios would have enough to do, and as much as he loved his brother, the younger had hardly shown any particular skills at being subtle and cautious the way that would be needed to ask the questions they needed answering. His face was a study in concentration as he picked through the repercussions of Evie’s words.
“I don’t have time to do anything,” he said, drawing up one knee and resting his elbow atop it., sighing heavily.“ What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I’ve never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant”
There was a bitter huff of a breath. “I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust...I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.”
She was staring at him again in that disconcerting way she had, and Achilleas found himself setting his shoulders in readiness for whatever she was going to say next, and when she said it, his gaze narrowed.
“Challenged for the throne? By who?! Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?” Speaking more openly that he would anywhere else, the man shook his head. He didn’t want to entertain the idea because that would make him at least something of what Elise had made him out to be. He believed Stephanos was innocent, therefore his cousin deserved to be on the throne that had been falsely taken from him. Achilleas was caretaking until that could happen. It was telling himself that which allowed him to do it at all.
Lifting her chin up, she met his gaze at his sardonic observation of her helpfulness and offered a raised eyebrow as if asking ‘So?’. Continuing upwards with her face, she tilted it towards the sun and closed her eyes briefly letting her companion deliberate on her offering to the conversation. The sunshine was nice but what would be nicer is to let her hair down for a few moments and work a tangle or two out of it.
‘I’m not a threat.’ She undid her high ponytail and shook her hair, glancing over at him as he continued down the same path of protest. ‘We are the same blood.’ A sharp laugh erupted from her and she smiled despite the way his face was growing tighter.
That was a big joke. Blood and family were two very different things. Hadn’t he learned that by now? She’d have thought being a soldier and a Mikaelidas he’d have figured that little life principle out by now. Blood entitled you to absolutely nothing in this world in the ways of love and loyalty and everything in between. Family, while they could be blood, were the people there during life’s hard moments. They were the people who fought beside you, fought for the same things as you.
She ran her fingers through her hair, slowly deconstructing the tangles in her rebellious chestnut hair. If she’d thought for a moment that he didn’t know deep, deep down the truth of sharing blood and the regards to loyalty, the pint-sized Leventi probably would have stood up and walked back to Altair and left him sitting on his butt right there. She didn’t waste her time trying to sort the lives out for empty-headed fools.
He knew, even if he wanted to believe differently, even if he told himself lies. If not with his own family, then he'd have been amidst the shark infested waters of the Senate and the Nobles to know how easy it was to forget how thick blood was. Finding another tangle, she weaved her fingers through it and gave him more time to process things.
After a moment, he drew up one of his knees and assumed a more relaxed position of resting his elbow atop it. Turning her chin, she studied his face as he spoke. ‘I don’t have time to do anything.’ The tension around her own mouth softened as he sighed, ‘What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant.’
Idly, she gathered her hair over her shoulder between them. Her heart went out to him. It really did. She’d never had any false beliefs about how her life would turn out. Leventi women were just broodmares to be sold to the highest bidders and make the most out of their advantageous names. They all grew up knowing the truths of the world and their places in it. It had to be like one of Zeus’ thunderbolts zapping you to find out that the place you thought you held in this world was an entirely different one then the one you’d settled yourself to having.
‘I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust… I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.’
She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d have told his aunt that. Would she have believed him? Probably not. Would it have changed her reaction? Evangelina dropped her gaze to her lap knowing that answer and knowing it wasn’t something she should put into words for him. With a small huff, she reminded herself that coddling him wasn’t going to help him. Lifting careful dark eyes to him, “You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone.” It was a gruffly simple answer meant to cut through his demoralized state of mind.
When she asked about what would happen if Stephanos was placed back upon the throne and his gaze narrowed, ‘Challenged for the throne? By who? Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?’ She pressed her lips together and looked forward, reaching up to scratch the top of her nose as she took painstakingly searching for the correct thing to say giving him time to process the different possibilities.
“That does seem to be the million drachmae question, doesn’t it?” She murmured as she settled her gaze back on him again. Her hands reached up as she started running them through her loose hair again looking for tangles. “What I am saying is this… If he has a trial and is found to not be guilty of those crimes then someone else is.” Her eyebrows lifted a little at him, “If you went through all the trouble to set him up for the murder of his father and brother and force him into exile, would you be welcoming him back to the throne with open arms. I’m not suggesting he couldn’t rule again or that he’d ever be challenged for the throne. Not even the Gods know those answers. I’m just saying things are as black and white on this as you’d like them to be.”
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Lifting her chin up, she met his gaze at his sardonic observation of her helpfulness and offered a raised eyebrow as if asking ‘So?’. Continuing upwards with her face, she tilted it towards the sun and closed her eyes briefly letting her companion deliberate on her offering to the conversation. The sunshine was nice but what would be nicer is to let her hair down for a few moments and work a tangle or two out of it.
‘I’m not a threat.’ She undid her high ponytail and shook her hair, glancing over at him as he continued down the same path of protest. ‘We are the same blood.’ A sharp laugh erupted from her and she smiled despite the way his face was growing tighter.
That was a big joke. Blood and family were two very different things. Hadn’t he learned that by now? She’d have thought being a soldier and a Mikaelidas he’d have figured that little life principle out by now. Blood entitled you to absolutely nothing in this world in the ways of love and loyalty and everything in between. Family, while they could be blood, were the people there during life’s hard moments. They were the people who fought beside you, fought for the same things as you.
She ran her fingers through her hair, slowly deconstructing the tangles in her rebellious chestnut hair. If she’d thought for a moment that he didn’t know deep, deep down the truth of sharing blood and the regards to loyalty, the pint-sized Leventi probably would have stood up and walked back to Altair and left him sitting on his butt right there. She didn’t waste her time trying to sort the lives out for empty-headed fools.
He knew, even if he wanted to believe differently, even if he told himself lies. If not with his own family, then he'd have been amidst the shark infested waters of the Senate and the Nobles to know how easy it was to forget how thick blood was. Finding another tangle, she weaved her fingers through it and gave him more time to process things.
After a moment, he drew up one of his knees and assumed a more relaxed position of resting his elbow atop it. Turning her chin, she studied his face as he spoke. ‘I don’t have time to do anything.’ The tension around her own mouth softened as he sighed, ‘What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant.’
Idly, she gathered her hair over her shoulder between them. Her heart went out to him. It really did. She’d never had any false beliefs about how her life would turn out. Leventi women were just broodmares to be sold to the highest bidders and make the most out of their advantageous names. They all grew up knowing the truths of the world and their places in it. It had to be like one of Zeus’ thunderbolts zapping you to find out that the place you thought you held in this world was an entirely different one then the one you’d settled yourself to having.
‘I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust… I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.’
She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d have told his aunt that. Would she have believed him? Probably not. Would it have changed her reaction? Evangelina dropped her gaze to her lap knowing that answer and knowing it wasn’t something she should put into words for him. With a small huff, she reminded herself that coddling him wasn’t going to help him. Lifting careful dark eyes to him, “You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone.” It was a gruffly simple answer meant to cut through his demoralized state of mind.
When she asked about what would happen if Stephanos was placed back upon the throne and his gaze narrowed, ‘Challenged for the throne? By who? Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?’ She pressed her lips together and looked forward, reaching up to scratch the top of her nose as she took painstakingly searching for the correct thing to say giving him time to process the different possibilities.
“That does seem to be the million drachmae question, doesn’t it?” She murmured as she settled her gaze back on him again. Her hands reached up as she started running them through her loose hair again looking for tangles. “What I am saying is this… If he has a trial and is found to not be guilty of those crimes then someone else is.” Her eyebrows lifted a little at him, “If you went through all the trouble to set him up for the murder of his father and brother and force him into exile, would you be welcoming him back to the throne with open arms. I’m not suggesting he couldn’t rule again or that he’d ever be challenged for the throne. Not even the Gods know those answers. I’m just saying things are as black and white on this as you’d like them to be.”
Lifting her chin up, she met his gaze at his sardonic observation of her helpfulness and offered a raised eyebrow as if asking ‘So?’. Continuing upwards with her face, she tilted it towards the sun and closed her eyes briefly letting her companion deliberate on her offering to the conversation. The sunshine was nice but what would be nicer is to let her hair down for a few moments and work a tangle or two out of it.
‘I’m not a threat.’ She undid her high ponytail and shook her hair, glancing over at him as he continued down the same path of protest. ‘We are the same blood.’ A sharp laugh erupted from her and she smiled despite the way his face was growing tighter.
That was a big joke. Blood and family were two very different things. Hadn’t he learned that by now? She’d have thought being a soldier and a Mikaelidas he’d have figured that little life principle out by now. Blood entitled you to absolutely nothing in this world in the ways of love and loyalty and everything in between. Family, while they could be blood, were the people there during life’s hard moments. They were the people who fought beside you, fought for the same things as you.
She ran her fingers through her hair, slowly deconstructing the tangles in her rebellious chestnut hair. If she’d thought for a moment that he didn’t know deep, deep down the truth of sharing blood and the regards to loyalty, the pint-sized Leventi probably would have stood up and walked back to Altair and left him sitting on his butt right there. She didn’t waste her time trying to sort the lives out for empty-headed fools.
He knew, even if he wanted to believe differently, even if he told himself lies. If not with his own family, then he'd have been amidst the shark infested waters of the Senate and the Nobles to know how easy it was to forget how thick blood was. Finding another tangle, she weaved her fingers through it and gave him more time to process things.
After a moment, he drew up one of his knees and assumed a more relaxed position of resting his elbow atop it. Turning her chin, she studied his face as he spoke. ‘I don’t have time to do anything.’ The tension around her own mouth softened as he sighed, ‘What you say is true but I am at a loss as to how to fix it. I didn’t want this. I never wanted it and believe me if I could find a way to sit Stephanos back on that throne I’d do it in an instant.’
Idly, she gathered her hair over her shoulder between them. Her heart went out to him. It really did. She’d never had any false beliefs about how her life would turn out. Leventi women were just broodmares to be sold to the highest bidders and make the most out of their advantageous names. They all grew up knowing the truths of the world and their places in it. It had to be like one of Zeus’ thunderbolts zapping you to find out that the place you thought you held in this world was an entirely different one then the one you’d settled yourself to having.
‘I would have told my Aunt as much had she bothered to ask. Now I don’t know who I can trust… I thought we were pulling in the same direction but its become clear that some would throw me under the chariot wheels to protect Stephanos. It makes it even harder to know where to begin.’
She didn’t doubt for a moment that he’d have told his aunt that. Would she have believed him? Probably not. Would it have changed her reaction? Evangelina dropped her gaze to her lap knowing that answer and knowing it wasn’t something she should put into words for him. With a small huff, she reminded herself that coddling him wasn’t going to help him. Lifting careful dark eyes to him, “You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone.” It was a gruffly simple answer meant to cut through his demoralized state of mind.
When she asked about what would happen if Stephanos was placed back upon the throne and his gaze narrowed, ‘Challenged for the throne? By who? Are you suggesting he couldn’t rule again?’ She pressed her lips together and looked forward, reaching up to scratch the top of her nose as she took painstakingly searching for the correct thing to say giving him time to process the different possibilities.
“That does seem to be the million drachmae question, doesn’t it?” She murmured as she settled her gaze back on him again. Her hands reached up as she started running them through her loose hair again looking for tangles. “What I am saying is this… If he has a trial and is found to not be guilty of those crimes then someone else is.” Her eyebrows lifted a little at him, “If you went through all the trouble to set him up for the murder of his father and brother and force him into exile, would you be welcoming him back to the throne with open arms. I’m not suggesting he couldn’t rule again or that he’d ever be challenged for the throne. Not even the Gods know those answers. I’m just saying things are as black and white on this as you’d like them to be.”
He didn’t appreciate the laugh. It should matter. They ought to be pulling together, presenting a united front. If his Aunt couldn’t understand that Achilleas would never work against his own fami…
The thought was interrupted by the reminder that perhaps not he, but that his father might have done exactly that. Stephanos was convinced of it. His eyes flickered briefly back to the Leventi woman as his thoughts caught up with one another and he frowned again. “ I haven't done anything to work against my own family” he reworded it, and though it had not been his intent, it rather underscored how personally he’d taken the dowager queen’s words.
And he wasn’t sure why but the words just kept on coming then, the thoughts that he’d kept him himself about the position he’d found himself in, how betrayed he felt that his Aunt had chosen to air her views where she had, when she had. How he couldn’t look at his cousins without wondering if thats what they thought too, underneath it all.
‘“You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone’
That had him look at her, the miserable truth of it and Achilleas held the dark gaze for a moment, wondered if he was supposed to include her in that warning too and he sighed as he looked away again. Pensive and wondering if he’d said too much already, his frustration bled through when talk turned to Stephanos.
Averting his gaze from where her fingers carded through the lengths of her hair, Achilleas listened to Lady Evangelina’s assessment and found little to be liked in it. She was right ; even if they managed to prove his cousin’s innocence, that would still mean that whomever was responsible was out there. And thanks to his Aunt, there was already suspicion levelled at him. He found himself disagreeing with Evangelina. There was no black and white. Everything was shades of grey and he despised it.
“You’re wrong” he said quietly. “Things would be much simpler if it were black and white”
In someways, the immediacy of the Egypt situation had offered him a reprieve from thinking about the mess that was the Crown. Even Achilleas with all his good intentions could see that it would be no simple task to just bring his cousin back and sit him on the throne. The legality of it would need to be agreed with the Heads of Houses, the same Heads of Houses who had made the decree to change the line of succession. The senators that ha voted against his cousin would need to be convinced of his innocence. And if that happened - where did that leave Achilleas? Was he complicit in treason then in having taken the throne at all? Much as he wanted to have faith in his cousin, Stephanos’ last words to him had hardly seemed understanding of the predicament Achilleas had been faced with.
But, speaking about it now he realised perhaps he’d been foolish not to consider the urgency required to stop half- formed opinions becoming definite.
“I could only make protecting Taengea the priority” he justified, despite Evangelina not saying anything to the contrary. “Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.”
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He didn’t appreciate the laugh. It should matter. They ought to be pulling together, presenting a united front. If his Aunt couldn’t understand that Achilleas would never work against his own fami…
The thought was interrupted by the reminder that perhaps not he, but that his father might have done exactly that. Stephanos was convinced of it. His eyes flickered briefly back to the Leventi woman as his thoughts caught up with one another and he frowned again. “ I haven't done anything to work against my own family” he reworded it, and though it had not been his intent, it rather underscored how personally he’d taken the dowager queen’s words.
And he wasn’t sure why but the words just kept on coming then, the thoughts that he’d kept him himself about the position he’d found himself in, how betrayed he felt that his Aunt had chosen to air her views where she had, when she had. How he couldn’t look at his cousins without wondering if thats what they thought too, underneath it all.
‘“You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone’
That had him look at her, the miserable truth of it and Achilleas held the dark gaze for a moment, wondered if he was supposed to include her in that warning too and he sighed as he looked away again. Pensive and wondering if he’d said too much already, his frustration bled through when talk turned to Stephanos.
Averting his gaze from where her fingers carded through the lengths of her hair, Achilleas listened to Lady Evangelina’s assessment and found little to be liked in it. She was right ; even if they managed to prove his cousin’s innocence, that would still mean that whomever was responsible was out there. And thanks to his Aunt, there was already suspicion levelled at him. He found himself disagreeing with Evangelina. There was no black and white. Everything was shades of grey and he despised it.
“You’re wrong” he said quietly. “Things would be much simpler if it were black and white”
In someways, the immediacy of the Egypt situation had offered him a reprieve from thinking about the mess that was the Crown. Even Achilleas with all his good intentions could see that it would be no simple task to just bring his cousin back and sit him on the throne. The legality of it would need to be agreed with the Heads of Houses, the same Heads of Houses who had made the decree to change the line of succession. The senators that ha voted against his cousin would need to be convinced of his innocence. And if that happened - where did that leave Achilleas? Was he complicit in treason then in having taken the throne at all? Much as he wanted to have faith in his cousin, Stephanos’ last words to him had hardly seemed understanding of the predicament Achilleas had been faced with.
But, speaking about it now he realised perhaps he’d been foolish not to consider the urgency required to stop half- formed opinions becoming definite.
“I could only make protecting Taengea the priority” he justified, despite Evangelina not saying anything to the contrary. “Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.”
He didn’t appreciate the laugh. It should matter. They ought to be pulling together, presenting a united front. If his Aunt couldn’t understand that Achilleas would never work against his own fami…
The thought was interrupted by the reminder that perhaps not he, but that his father might have done exactly that. Stephanos was convinced of it. His eyes flickered briefly back to the Leventi woman as his thoughts caught up with one another and he frowned again. “ I haven't done anything to work against my own family” he reworded it, and though it had not been his intent, it rather underscored how personally he’d taken the dowager queen’s words.
And he wasn’t sure why but the words just kept on coming then, the thoughts that he’d kept him himself about the position he’d found himself in, how betrayed he felt that his Aunt had chosen to air her views where she had, when she had. How he couldn’t look at his cousins without wondering if thats what they thought too, underneath it all.
‘“You are playing the game of politics, and you are playing with masters. You don’t trust anyone’
That had him look at her, the miserable truth of it and Achilleas held the dark gaze for a moment, wondered if he was supposed to include her in that warning too and he sighed as he looked away again. Pensive and wondering if he’d said too much already, his frustration bled through when talk turned to Stephanos.
Averting his gaze from where her fingers carded through the lengths of her hair, Achilleas listened to Lady Evangelina’s assessment and found little to be liked in it. She was right ; even if they managed to prove his cousin’s innocence, that would still mean that whomever was responsible was out there. And thanks to his Aunt, there was already suspicion levelled at him. He found himself disagreeing with Evangelina. There was no black and white. Everything was shades of grey and he despised it.
“You’re wrong” he said quietly. “Things would be much simpler if it were black and white”
In someways, the immediacy of the Egypt situation had offered him a reprieve from thinking about the mess that was the Crown. Even Achilleas with all his good intentions could see that it would be no simple task to just bring his cousin back and sit him on the throne. The legality of it would need to be agreed with the Heads of Houses, the same Heads of Houses who had made the decree to change the line of succession. The senators that ha voted against his cousin would need to be convinced of his innocence. And if that happened - where did that leave Achilleas? Was he complicit in treason then in having taken the throne at all? Much as he wanted to have faith in his cousin, Stephanos’ last words to him had hardly seemed understanding of the predicament Achilleas had been faced with.
But, speaking about it now he realised perhaps he’d been foolish not to consider the urgency required to stop half- formed opinions becoming definite.
“I could only make protecting Taengea the priority” he justified, despite Evangelina not saying anything to the contrary. “Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.”
Silence was sometimes the best answer. The pint-sized Leventi swept her hair back up into a ponytail and tied it off only glancing at him when he spoke. ‘I have done anything to work against my own family.’ The hurt in his voice seemed to echo with each carefully chosen word he said. His defense to her only generated an eyebrow raised at him. Had she said differently? Giving him a small look, she shrugged and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on as she wrapped her arms around her legs and stared off, still not saying anything.
‘You’re wrong,’ She smiled faintly as he continued, ‘Things would be much simpler if it were black and white.’ Evangelina knew she wasn’t wrong just as she knew he was refusing to value her words for what they were. She’d never said that things wouldn’t have been simpler in black and white. She’d said that things weren’t black and white, and they weren’t.
Giving him time to process everything she said, she stared off into the quiet space far from the hustle and bustle of the city. She could exist here in this spot forever where the problems were less political and more based on just putting one foot in front of the other up. In the city, the way up and the way down were the same way. Tilting her chin a little she pressed it into her knees, it was both a curse and a blessing to be from a family like her own.
‘I could only make protecting Taengea the priority.’ Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head and just watched him. ‘Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.’ He was exactly right to a point, protecting Taengea was a priority, perhaps not the priority in her mind but it was definitely at the very top of them for her. Pressing her lips together, he was also right. His brother wasn’t in a position to investigate this, he lacked the political pull to navigate those shark infested waters.
It did amaze her though that the King had yet to realize one of the few perks of the position he held was that he held the power to make things happen in the shadows. If he wanted this investigated there were ways to have that done. By definition, power meant the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others. Knowledge was power. He had the resources but it seemed he’d yet learned how to use them.
“So…,” Evangelina paused, her eyebrows raising a little at him. Pulling plays from her uncle’s playbook, she continued. “You have an entire kingdom to do your bidding. Use the resources you have. Create a committee to look into it or hire someone to look into it for you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed and straightened her legs and let her back slowly lower to the grassy ground behind her. Her arms came up to rest under her head as she stared up at the sky. “You are the king. Whatever your actions are they are justified and legitimate. If you operate in the shadows, it’s no longer shadows and unsanctioned. It’s simply intelligence gathering. It’s no different than sending a scout out to report back to you what your enemies are doing, your majesty.” Crossing her ankles, she closed her eyes for the moment and exhaled, “Acting against you is a treasonous crime... not only against yourself but against the country. If you want answers… Get them.”
Opening her eyes, she turned her head to glance at him, “Money moves mountain. Find a mountain to get your answers.”
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Silence was sometimes the best answer. The pint-sized Leventi swept her hair back up into a ponytail and tied it off only glancing at him when he spoke. ‘I have done anything to work against my own family.’ The hurt in his voice seemed to echo with each carefully chosen word he said. His defense to her only generated an eyebrow raised at him. Had she said differently? Giving him a small look, she shrugged and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on as she wrapped her arms around her legs and stared off, still not saying anything.
‘You’re wrong,’ She smiled faintly as he continued, ‘Things would be much simpler if it were black and white.’ Evangelina knew she wasn’t wrong just as she knew he was refusing to value her words for what they were. She’d never said that things wouldn’t have been simpler in black and white. She’d said that things weren’t black and white, and they weren’t.
Giving him time to process everything she said, she stared off into the quiet space far from the hustle and bustle of the city. She could exist here in this spot forever where the problems were less political and more based on just putting one foot in front of the other up. In the city, the way up and the way down were the same way. Tilting her chin a little she pressed it into her knees, it was both a curse and a blessing to be from a family like her own.
‘I could only make protecting Taengea the priority.’ Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head and just watched him. ‘Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.’ He was exactly right to a point, protecting Taengea was a priority, perhaps not the priority in her mind but it was definitely at the very top of them for her. Pressing her lips together, he was also right. His brother wasn’t in a position to investigate this, he lacked the political pull to navigate those shark infested waters.
It did amaze her though that the King had yet to realize one of the few perks of the position he held was that he held the power to make things happen in the shadows. If he wanted this investigated there were ways to have that done. By definition, power meant the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others. Knowledge was power. He had the resources but it seemed he’d yet learned how to use them.
“So…,” Evangelina paused, her eyebrows raising a little at him. Pulling plays from her uncle’s playbook, she continued. “You have an entire kingdom to do your bidding. Use the resources you have. Create a committee to look into it or hire someone to look into it for you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed and straightened her legs and let her back slowly lower to the grassy ground behind her. Her arms came up to rest under her head as she stared up at the sky. “You are the king. Whatever your actions are they are justified and legitimate. If you operate in the shadows, it’s no longer shadows and unsanctioned. It’s simply intelligence gathering. It’s no different than sending a scout out to report back to you what your enemies are doing, your majesty.” Crossing her ankles, she closed her eyes for the moment and exhaled, “Acting against you is a treasonous crime... not only against yourself but against the country. If you want answers… Get them.”
Opening her eyes, she turned her head to glance at him, “Money moves mountain. Find a mountain to get your answers.”
Silence was sometimes the best answer. The pint-sized Leventi swept her hair back up into a ponytail and tied it off only glancing at him when he spoke. ‘I have done anything to work against my own family.’ The hurt in his voice seemed to echo with each carefully chosen word he said. His defense to her only generated an eyebrow raised at him. Had she said differently? Giving him a small look, she shrugged and pulled her knees up to rest her chin on as she wrapped her arms around her legs and stared off, still not saying anything.
‘You’re wrong,’ She smiled faintly as he continued, ‘Things would be much simpler if it were black and white.’ Evangelina knew she wasn’t wrong just as she knew he was refusing to value her words for what they were. She’d never said that things wouldn’t have been simpler in black and white. She’d said that things weren’t black and white, and they weren’t.
Giving him time to process everything she said, she stared off into the quiet space far from the hustle and bustle of the city. She could exist here in this spot forever where the problems were less political and more based on just putting one foot in front of the other up. In the city, the way up and the way down were the same way. Tilting her chin a little she pressed it into her knees, it was both a curse and a blessing to be from a family like her own.
‘I could only make protecting Taengea the priority.’ Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head and just watched him. ‘Who sits on the throne matters not if there is no Kingdom left to rule. Besides, I don’t know who I could entrust with something so delicate. Emilios hasn’t the relationship with the senate. His reputation is..not exactly grounded in politics.’ He was exactly right to a point, protecting Taengea was a priority, perhaps not the priority in her mind but it was definitely at the very top of them for her. Pressing her lips together, he was also right. His brother wasn’t in a position to investigate this, he lacked the political pull to navigate those shark infested waters.
It did amaze her though that the King had yet to realize one of the few perks of the position he held was that he held the power to make things happen in the shadows. If he wanted this investigated there were ways to have that done. By definition, power meant the capacity to direct or influence the behavior of others. Knowledge was power. He had the resources but it seemed he’d yet learned how to use them.
“So…,” Evangelina paused, her eyebrows raising a little at him. Pulling plays from her uncle’s playbook, she continued. “You have an entire kingdom to do your bidding. Use the resources you have. Create a committee to look into it or hire someone to look into it for you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed and straightened her legs and let her back slowly lower to the grassy ground behind her. Her arms came up to rest under her head as she stared up at the sky. “You are the king. Whatever your actions are they are justified and legitimate. If you operate in the shadows, it’s no longer shadows and unsanctioned. It’s simply intelligence gathering. It’s no different than sending a scout out to report back to you what your enemies are doing, your majesty.” Crossing her ankles, she closed her eyes for the moment and exhaled, “Acting against you is a treasonous crime... not only against yourself but against the country. If you want answers… Get them.”
Opening her eyes, she turned her head to glance at him, “Money moves mountain. Find a mountain to get your answers.”
It was not as if he hadn’t considered the idea. But he’d just said, he didn't know who to trust, who he would place in charge of such an undertaking. Evangeline stared at him like he was being obtuse and then sighed and flopped back onto the grass like he was a hopeless case.
“You say that as if it is of no significance” Achilleas replied tersely, remaining upright but twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at her. Not that she seemed to pay much heed, her gaze fixed upon the sky above as she went on.
He knew everything that she was saying, on paper it made sense, but then this was no trifling mater that he could task the nearest senator with and be done with it. And he wasn’t going to be here to follow up on it. He thought it must be very satisfying to hand out helpful advise from a position where you bore no responsibility if things went awry.
“Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.”
The sharpness in his tone was ill-fitting for the mild day and the peaceful surroundings and spoke more toward lack of sleep and an unrelenting pressure than it did any real irritation with the woman beside him. It was Achilleas’ turn to sigh, directing a frown at the earth at his feet before he made himself address his ungracious response.
“Sorry.”
He didn’t like to think that he had been remiss in not having done what she had suggested already: not with his cousin’s letter still sat in a drawer back at the palati and the idea that his family within the palati might be thinking it of him too. But that didn’t excuse his short temper. “That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.”
And perhaps - and it was a hard thing to admit even to himself - perhaps there was a small, petty part of himself that smarted from the lack of faith from his cousin and his Aunt. Tiny but loud, it made him question why he might be so concerned as to work to clear Stephanos’ name when they all clearly decided him complicit in his downfall. It would quiet itself he knew when he found some equilibrium again. Though that seemed a big ask.
“The difference..” he returned to her previous words, “is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father” He was pleased that he said it without faltering or breaking stride “ then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make”
It was exhausting thinking about it atop everything else, and Achilleas propped one hand to twist to look at Evangelina once more. “You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?”
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It was not as if he hadn’t considered the idea. But he’d just said, he didn't know who to trust, who he would place in charge of such an undertaking. Evangeline stared at him like he was being obtuse and then sighed and flopped back onto the grass like he was a hopeless case.
“You say that as if it is of no significance” Achilleas replied tersely, remaining upright but twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at her. Not that she seemed to pay much heed, her gaze fixed upon the sky above as she went on.
He knew everything that she was saying, on paper it made sense, but then this was no trifling mater that he could task the nearest senator with and be done with it. And he wasn’t going to be here to follow up on it. He thought it must be very satisfying to hand out helpful advise from a position where you bore no responsibility if things went awry.
“Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.”
The sharpness in his tone was ill-fitting for the mild day and the peaceful surroundings and spoke more toward lack of sleep and an unrelenting pressure than it did any real irritation with the woman beside him. It was Achilleas’ turn to sigh, directing a frown at the earth at his feet before he made himself address his ungracious response.
“Sorry.”
He didn’t like to think that he had been remiss in not having done what she had suggested already: not with his cousin’s letter still sat in a drawer back at the palati and the idea that his family within the palati might be thinking it of him too. But that didn’t excuse his short temper. “That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.”
And perhaps - and it was a hard thing to admit even to himself - perhaps there was a small, petty part of himself that smarted from the lack of faith from his cousin and his Aunt. Tiny but loud, it made him question why he might be so concerned as to work to clear Stephanos’ name when they all clearly decided him complicit in his downfall. It would quiet itself he knew when he found some equilibrium again. Though that seemed a big ask.
“The difference..” he returned to her previous words, “is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father” He was pleased that he said it without faltering or breaking stride “ then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make”
It was exhausting thinking about it atop everything else, and Achilleas propped one hand to twist to look at Evangelina once more. “You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?”
It was not as if he hadn’t considered the idea. But he’d just said, he didn't know who to trust, who he would place in charge of such an undertaking. Evangeline stared at him like he was being obtuse and then sighed and flopped back onto the grass like he was a hopeless case.
“You say that as if it is of no significance” Achilleas replied tersely, remaining upright but twisting his neck to look over his shoulder at her. Not that she seemed to pay much heed, her gaze fixed upon the sky above as she went on.
He knew everything that she was saying, on paper it made sense, but then this was no trifling mater that he could task the nearest senator with and be done with it. And he wasn’t going to be here to follow up on it. He thought it must be very satisfying to hand out helpful advise from a position where you bore no responsibility if things went awry.
“Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.”
The sharpness in his tone was ill-fitting for the mild day and the peaceful surroundings and spoke more toward lack of sleep and an unrelenting pressure than it did any real irritation with the woman beside him. It was Achilleas’ turn to sigh, directing a frown at the earth at his feet before he made himself address his ungracious response.
“Sorry.”
He didn’t like to think that he had been remiss in not having done what she had suggested already: not with his cousin’s letter still sat in a drawer back at the palati and the idea that his family within the palati might be thinking it of him too. But that didn’t excuse his short temper. “That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.”
And perhaps - and it was a hard thing to admit even to himself - perhaps there was a small, petty part of himself that smarted from the lack of faith from his cousin and his Aunt. Tiny but loud, it made him question why he might be so concerned as to work to clear Stephanos’ name when they all clearly decided him complicit in his downfall. It would quiet itself he knew when he found some equilibrium again. Though that seemed a big ask.
“The difference..” he returned to her previous words, “is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father” He was pleased that he said it without faltering or breaking stride “ then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make”
It was exhausting thinking about it atop everything else, and Achilleas propped one hand to twist to look at Evangelina once more. “You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?”
The sharpness in his tone drew a raised eyebrow from her at him, she hadn’t meant to put him on defense so instead of reacting to it, she looked back at the sky allowing him his temper tantrum. Her chest rose and fell with deep steady breaths as she listened to what he said.
‘Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.’
She sighed and closed her eyes. If it made him feel better to dump on her advice then at least it had served some purpose. He wasn’t looking for a reasonable fix for his problems, she knew that his waspish tone with her was more to do with himself than with her. It’d have been a lie to say though that it still hurt, somewhere deep, deep down. It would have served him right if she’d raised up and without a word had walked back to Altair and left him sitting there in his problems. It would have served him right, but she guessed it was a good thing that she could take a fall, she could tuck and roll. Just breath, she exhaled slowly.
‘Sorry.’
Pressing her lips together, ‘That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.’ Opening her eyes, she stared up at the sky in her stillness taking her time to answer him as he continued to work it out his feelings out loud.
‘The difference..is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father.’ It was all such a mess. Evangelina glanced at him, checking on him for speaking those powerful words. She knew as well as anyone how difficult it was to see a parent being torn down from this pedestal children tended to put them on. He continued without wavering, ‘Then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make.’ She looked away at that.
“Don’t apologize.” Her voice was soft and steady but quiet. Blinking, she licked her lips. She’d been over the line in offering him her opinions. He’d not asked. She knew better than to expose her thoughts on the matter when she’d not been asked. “You don’t owe me one. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Your business is your own and I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds when my opinions weren’t asked for.” It won’t happen again.
She focused on the sky again as he propped himself up, twisting to focus on her. ‘You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?’ A sardonic snort escaped as her dark gaze flickered to him. Was he serious? She wasn’t what she’d meant when she told him to find a mountain.
“Oh, I’m not busy at all… I’ll schedule your spying in between organizing things for my wedding if it ever happens.” She sighed and looked back to the sky, she’d said she wasn’t going to offer any more advice but she couldn’t seem to help it with him. “You know when I said to find a mountain, I meant to find someone who’s loyalty could be bought with money… or someone you had leverage over. You have a whole dungeon full of criminals with ties to the shadow work of Taengea.”
Twisting around, she propped herself up on her arm mirroring him. She offered a small amused smile, “You really should offer me the position of Master of Secrets, you know?”
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The sharpness in his tone drew a raised eyebrow from her at him, she hadn’t meant to put him on defense so instead of reacting to it, she looked back at the sky allowing him his temper tantrum. Her chest rose and fell with deep steady breaths as she listened to what he said.
‘Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.’
She sighed and closed her eyes. If it made him feel better to dump on her advice then at least it had served some purpose. He wasn’t looking for a reasonable fix for his problems, she knew that his waspish tone with her was more to do with himself than with her. It’d have been a lie to say though that it still hurt, somewhere deep, deep down. It would have served him right if she’d raised up and without a word had walked back to Altair and left him sitting there in his problems. It would have served him right, but she guessed it was a good thing that she could take a fall, she could tuck and roll. Just breath, she exhaled slowly.
‘Sorry.’
Pressing her lips together, ‘That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.’ Opening her eyes, she stared up at the sky in her stillness taking her time to answer him as he continued to work it out his feelings out loud.
‘The difference..is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father.’ It was all such a mess. Evangelina glanced at him, checking on him for speaking those powerful words. She knew as well as anyone how difficult it was to see a parent being torn down from this pedestal children tended to put them on. He continued without wavering, ‘Then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make.’ She looked away at that.
“Don’t apologize.” Her voice was soft and steady but quiet. Blinking, she licked her lips. She’d been over the line in offering him her opinions. He’d not asked. She knew better than to expose her thoughts on the matter when she’d not been asked. “You don’t owe me one. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Your business is your own and I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds when my opinions weren’t asked for.” It won’t happen again.
She focused on the sky again as he propped himself up, twisting to focus on her. ‘You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?’ A sardonic snort escaped as her dark gaze flickered to him. Was he serious? She wasn’t what she’d meant when she told him to find a mountain.
“Oh, I’m not busy at all… I’ll schedule your spying in between organizing things for my wedding if it ever happens.” She sighed and looked back to the sky, she’d said she wasn’t going to offer any more advice but she couldn’t seem to help it with him. “You know when I said to find a mountain, I meant to find someone who’s loyalty could be bought with money… or someone you had leverage over. You have a whole dungeon full of criminals with ties to the shadow work of Taengea.”
Twisting around, she propped herself up on her arm mirroring him. She offered a small amused smile, “You really should offer me the position of Master of Secrets, you know?”
The sharpness in his tone drew a raised eyebrow from her at him, she hadn’t meant to put him on defense so instead of reacting to it, she looked back at the sky allowing him his temper tantrum. Her chest rose and fell with deep steady breaths as she listened to what he said.
‘Do you know any? Mountains? Preferably not one of those who voted against my cousin or who stand to profit from Mikaelidas’ failure? By all means, if you have the time please come up with a shortlist and we can go through it. I have an abundance of free time before I sail to Egypt.’
She sighed and closed her eyes. If it made him feel better to dump on her advice then at least it had served some purpose. He wasn’t looking for a reasonable fix for his problems, she knew that his waspish tone with her was more to do with himself than with her. It’d have been a lie to say though that it still hurt, somewhere deep, deep down. It would have served him right if she’d raised up and without a word had walked back to Altair and left him sitting there in his problems. It would have served him right, but she guessed it was a good thing that she could take a fall, she could tuck and roll. Just breath, she exhaled slowly.
‘Sorry.’
Pressing her lips together, ‘That’s not...I suppose I haven’t gotten around to everything yet, and I don’t want to entrust that task to the wrong person. That could do more harm than good.’ Opening her eyes, she stared up at the sky in her stillness taking her time to answer him as he continued to work it out his feelings out loud.
‘The difference..is that I don’t know who the enemy is in this situation. If it were my father.’ It was all such a mess. Evangelina glanced at him, checking on him for speaking those powerful words. She knew as well as anyone how difficult it was to see a parent being torn down from this pedestal children tended to put them on. He continued without wavering, ‘Then he must have had accomplices. And if it wasn’t… then whomever it was could very well be working directly against any efforts I make.’ She looked away at that.
“Don’t apologize.” Her voice was soft and steady but quiet. Blinking, she licked her lips. She’d been over the line in offering him her opinions. He’d not asked. She knew better than to expose her thoughts on the matter when she’d not been asked. “You don’t owe me one. You don’t have to explain anything to me. Your business is your own and I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds when my opinions weren’t asked for.” It won’t happen again.
She focused on the sky again as he propped himself up, twisting to focus on her. ‘You seem relatively good at getting information out of people that they did not intend to impart. Are you busy these coming weeks?’ A sardonic snort escaped as her dark gaze flickered to him. Was he serious? She wasn’t what she’d meant when she told him to find a mountain.
“Oh, I’m not busy at all… I’ll schedule your spying in between organizing things for my wedding if it ever happens.” She sighed and looked back to the sky, she’d said she wasn’t going to offer any more advice but she couldn’t seem to help it with him. “You know when I said to find a mountain, I meant to find someone who’s loyalty could be bought with money… or someone you had leverage over. You have a whole dungeon full of criminals with ties to the shadow work of Taengea.”
Twisting around, she propped herself up on her arm mirroring him. She offered a small amused smile, “You really should offer me the position of Master of Secrets, you know?”
He’d regretted snapping at her as soon as he’d done it, her quiet sigh only underscoring the fact. And when she dismissed his apology as unnecessary, Achilleas shook his head. “ No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything”
And he meant it. He wouldn’t say as much, but the king did not object to Evangelina’s direct manner. It was what she had warned him of was it not? She had proven herself an ally when it came to that issue with the boy and was one of the only people to have approached him to voice support for his cousin. If he struggled with people to trust than somehow the diminutive Leventi had gone some way to win such a thing, and he didn’t want to ruin whatever cordiality was between them in a needless fit of pique.
He turned to look at her, almost considering reaching over to touch her shoulder to insist she drag her attention away from the sky and back toward him so he could say sorry properly.
“I don’t know why I” He did know why and so he corrected himself “… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.”
And so he was only half-joking really when he suggested she was the best person he knew at getting information. She managed it with him somehow, after all, despite him never intending to reveal as much as he did. And more importantly, he knew that she believed in Steph’s innocence, which was more than he could say for a lot of people. Achilleas loved his cousin but he could shake him for having made it so easy for people to question his temperament and morality.
Neither of which were things he would expect to find in any that he could haul out of the fylaki to do his bidding and Achilleas pulled a face at the suggestion. He had put some of those people in there, and they were not the sorts he would entrust any business to that was so closely concerning his family.
“I can see you have not such spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,” he said, careful this time to soften his words. “These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.”
When Evangelina sat up and slanted a gaze back toward him, he judged himself forgiven and found he was relieved at the fact. Her suggestion had him give a quiet huff of a laugh. “That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,” he said though the smile that accompanied it was a little strained. “ I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring”
But he looked forward again, harking back to her earlier words as he said: “ Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.”
He knew all too well how much arranging went into one now as well, though his own had hardly gone as planned. “ If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?”
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He’d regretted snapping at her as soon as he’d done it, her quiet sigh only underscoring the fact. And when she dismissed his apology as unnecessary, Achilleas shook his head. “ No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything”
And he meant it. He wouldn’t say as much, but the king did not object to Evangelina’s direct manner. It was what she had warned him of was it not? She had proven herself an ally when it came to that issue with the boy and was one of the only people to have approached him to voice support for his cousin. If he struggled with people to trust than somehow the diminutive Leventi had gone some way to win such a thing, and he didn’t want to ruin whatever cordiality was between them in a needless fit of pique.
He turned to look at her, almost considering reaching over to touch her shoulder to insist she drag her attention away from the sky and back toward him so he could say sorry properly.
“I don’t know why I” He did know why and so he corrected himself “… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.”
And so he was only half-joking really when he suggested she was the best person he knew at getting information. She managed it with him somehow, after all, despite him never intending to reveal as much as he did. And more importantly, he knew that she believed in Steph’s innocence, which was more than he could say for a lot of people. Achilleas loved his cousin but he could shake him for having made it so easy for people to question his temperament and morality.
Neither of which were things he would expect to find in any that he could haul out of the fylaki to do his bidding and Achilleas pulled a face at the suggestion. He had put some of those people in there, and they were not the sorts he would entrust any business to that was so closely concerning his family.
“I can see you have not such spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,” he said, careful this time to soften his words. “These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.”
When Evangelina sat up and slanted a gaze back toward him, he judged himself forgiven and found he was relieved at the fact. Her suggestion had him give a quiet huff of a laugh. “That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,” he said though the smile that accompanied it was a little strained. “ I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring”
But he looked forward again, harking back to her earlier words as he said: “ Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.”
He knew all too well how much arranging went into one now as well, though his own had hardly gone as planned. “ If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?”
He’d regretted snapping at her as soon as he’d done it, her quiet sigh only underscoring the fact. And when she dismissed his apology as unnecessary, Achilleas shook his head. “ No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything”
And he meant it. He wouldn’t say as much, but the king did not object to Evangelina’s direct manner. It was what she had warned him of was it not? She had proven herself an ally when it came to that issue with the boy and was one of the only people to have approached him to voice support for his cousin. If he struggled with people to trust than somehow the diminutive Leventi had gone some way to win such a thing, and he didn’t want to ruin whatever cordiality was between them in a needless fit of pique.
He turned to look at her, almost considering reaching over to touch her shoulder to insist she drag her attention away from the sky and back toward him so he could say sorry properly.
“I don’t know why I” He did know why and so he corrected himself “… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.”
And so he was only half-joking really when he suggested she was the best person he knew at getting information. She managed it with him somehow, after all, despite him never intending to reveal as much as he did. And more importantly, he knew that she believed in Steph’s innocence, which was more than he could say for a lot of people. Achilleas loved his cousin but he could shake him for having made it so easy for people to question his temperament and morality.
Neither of which were things he would expect to find in any that he could haul out of the fylaki to do his bidding and Achilleas pulled a face at the suggestion. He had put some of those people in there, and they were not the sorts he would entrust any business to that was so closely concerning his family.
“I can see you have not such spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,” he said, careful this time to soften his words. “These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.”
When Evangelina sat up and slanted a gaze back toward him, he judged himself forgiven and found he was relieved at the fact. Her suggestion had him give a quiet huff of a laugh. “That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,” he said though the smile that accompanied it was a little strained. “ I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring”
But he looked forward again, harking back to her earlier words as he said: “ Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.”
He knew all too well how much arranging went into one now as well, though his own had hardly gone as planned. “ If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?”
It was one of those rare, perfect days, the kind of day that made people want to forget their worries and just exist in the lazy sunshine. Lying there staring up at the sky, she wanted to let all of this fade from her mind. These were the sort of days she remembered when she thought about her home in Acharist. The nostalgia put her in a mood to simply let go of any hurt by his sharp tone a few moments ago.
‘No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything.’ Catching herself before she reached out and patted his arm in reassurance, instead her mouth curved into a gentle smile and her eyelids drooped in languorous indulgence. He might not have thought she’d overstepped anything but she had, it was the worst sort of habit she had. One day someone would take it personally and she’d damage something that couldn’t be fixed with just an apology, if she didn’t learn to control herself better.
Awareness shot through her as he shifted, turning to face her. Swallowing, she continued to stare up into the sky trying to lose her senses in the vivid blueness of the sky. He might not realize it but Achilleas had such a strong presence. It was a bit distracting to her senses.
‘I don’t know why I…’ He started but stopped, the pause bringing about another small smile from her but didn’t say anything as he gathered his thoughts to offer her. ‘… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.’ The absence of her title caused something to seize in her chest and warm her. Were they becoming friends?
“No one likes missed opportunities. It’s the would-be’s, could have beens that haunt us, isn’t it?” She responded, her voice dipping quietly. Tilting her head, she settled her tender gaze on him as she offered him a smile before looking away from him before it became awkward. “You’re forgiven.”
‘I can see you have not spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,’ The smile slipped a little off her face and her gaze darkened for a moment before she dragged it away to focus on her surroundings. ‘These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.’ Swallowing, she pressed her lips together before murmuring just as softly back to him, “You are right. I haven’t spent much time in the company of such men.” Pausing for a moment, she tilted her head and focused her dark gaze carefully on him, “The men I have spent time with are much worse. They are the men who manipulate those sorts of men.”
After a moment, she sighed and blinked, flicking her gaze back up to the sky. Then tilted her head to offer him a faint smile, “What are you expecting to find within the thick of the nobility, if nobles are involved they aren’t operating in the halls of the palati. They are doing it in the shadows.” Just as he’d been half joking about his suggestion, she’d been joking about hers. The world was full of people better suited to that sort of work. She knew her place in this world and had no intention of jeopardizing it with the secrets of others. You couldn’t help others if you sank yourself, could you?
The soft huff of laughter from him at her suggestion, generated a deeper smile and appearance of the dimples in her cheeks. ‘That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,’ It was her turn to quietly snort her laughter. ‘I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring.’ Her nose crinkled and her dark eyes twinkled, “Look at you being all rebel king… who knows what’s in store for you next.” She tossed him a saucy wink before chuckling.
‘Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.’ Her mouth gaped for a moment, her eyes wide as he tossed her own words back at her. Without thinking, she twisted and plucked one of the late summer’s wildflowers and threw it at him for his teasing her. “How dare you! You’re despicable.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she mirthfully laughed.
The laughter faded but a genuine warm smile still settled on him as he spoke again, ‘If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?’ Her gaze dropped to the ground between them, “Gods willing,” She murmured. Pursing her lips for a moment before she glanced back at him and offered another smile, “Nothing would make me happier than to see you at my wedding.” She’d blinked for a moment and realized just how much she’d meant those words. Looking away, she swallowed… she’d needed a friend and the gods had given her Achilleas.
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It was one of those rare, perfect days, the kind of day that made people want to forget their worries and just exist in the lazy sunshine. Lying there staring up at the sky, she wanted to let all of this fade from her mind. These were the sort of days she remembered when she thought about her home in Acharist. The nostalgia put her in a mood to simply let go of any hurt by his sharp tone a few moments ago.
‘No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything.’ Catching herself before she reached out and patted his arm in reassurance, instead her mouth curved into a gentle smile and her eyelids drooped in languorous indulgence. He might not have thought she’d overstepped anything but she had, it was the worst sort of habit she had. One day someone would take it personally and she’d damage something that couldn’t be fixed with just an apology, if she didn’t learn to control herself better.
Awareness shot through her as he shifted, turning to face her. Swallowing, she continued to stare up into the sky trying to lose her senses in the vivid blueness of the sky. He might not realize it but Achilleas had such a strong presence. It was a bit distracting to her senses.
‘I don’t know why I…’ He started but stopped, the pause bringing about another small smile from her but didn’t say anything as he gathered his thoughts to offer her. ‘… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.’ The absence of her title caused something to seize in her chest and warm her. Were they becoming friends?
“No one likes missed opportunities. It’s the would-be’s, could have beens that haunt us, isn’t it?” She responded, her voice dipping quietly. Tilting her head, she settled her tender gaze on him as she offered him a smile before looking away from him before it became awkward. “You’re forgiven.”
‘I can see you have not spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,’ The smile slipped a little off her face and her gaze darkened for a moment before she dragged it away to focus on her surroundings. ‘These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.’ Swallowing, she pressed her lips together before murmuring just as softly back to him, “You are right. I haven’t spent much time in the company of such men.” Pausing for a moment, she tilted her head and focused her dark gaze carefully on him, “The men I have spent time with are much worse. They are the men who manipulate those sorts of men.”
After a moment, she sighed and blinked, flicking her gaze back up to the sky. Then tilted her head to offer him a faint smile, “What are you expecting to find within the thick of the nobility, if nobles are involved they aren’t operating in the halls of the palati. They are doing it in the shadows.” Just as he’d been half joking about his suggestion, she’d been joking about hers. The world was full of people better suited to that sort of work. She knew her place in this world and had no intention of jeopardizing it with the secrets of others. You couldn’t help others if you sank yourself, could you?
The soft huff of laughter from him at her suggestion, generated a deeper smile and appearance of the dimples in her cheeks. ‘That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,’ It was her turn to quietly snort her laughter. ‘I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring.’ Her nose crinkled and her dark eyes twinkled, “Look at you being all rebel king… who knows what’s in store for you next.” She tossed him a saucy wink before chuckling.
‘Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.’ Her mouth gaped for a moment, her eyes wide as he tossed her own words back at her. Without thinking, she twisted and plucked one of the late summer’s wildflowers and threw it at him for his teasing her. “How dare you! You’re despicable.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she mirthfully laughed.
The laughter faded but a genuine warm smile still settled on him as he spoke again, ‘If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?’ Her gaze dropped to the ground between them, “Gods willing,” She murmured. Pursing her lips for a moment before she glanced back at him and offered another smile, “Nothing would make me happier than to see you at my wedding.” She’d blinked for a moment and realized just how much she’d meant those words. Looking away, she swallowed… she’d needed a friend and the gods had given her Achilleas.
It was one of those rare, perfect days, the kind of day that made people want to forget their worries and just exist in the lazy sunshine. Lying there staring up at the sky, she wanted to let all of this fade from her mind. These were the sort of days she remembered when she thought about her home in Acharist. The nostalgia put her in a mood to simply let go of any hurt by his sharp tone a few moments ago.
‘No, please… it’s not that. You haven’t overstepped anything.’ Catching herself before she reached out and patted his arm in reassurance, instead her mouth curved into a gentle smile and her eyelids drooped in languorous indulgence. He might not have thought she’d overstepped anything but she had, it was the worst sort of habit she had. One day someone would take it personally and she’d damage something that couldn’t be fixed with just an apology, if she didn’t learn to control herself better.
Awareness shot through her as he shifted, turning to face her. Swallowing, she continued to stare up into the sky trying to lose her senses in the vivid blueness of the sky. He might not realize it but Achilleas had such a strong presence. It was a bit distracting to her senses.
‘I don’t know why I…’ He started but stopped, the pause bringing about another small smile from her but didn’t say anything as he gathered his thoughts to offer her. ‘… I don’t like thinking that I have missed opportunity. Please accept my apology, Evangelina.’ The absence of her title caused something to seize in her chest and warm her. Were they becoming friends?
“No one likes missed opportunities. It’s the would-be’s, could have beens that haunt us, isn’t it?” She responded, her voice dipping quietly. Tilting her head, she settled her tender gaze on him as she offered him a smile before looking away from him before it became awkward. “You’re forgiven.”
‘I can see you have not spent much time in the company of such men, and I am glad of it,’ The smile slipped a little off her face and her gaze darkened for a moment before she dragged it away to focus on her surroundings. ‘These people need to be able to converse with nobility don’t forget.’ Swallowing, she pressed her lips together before murmuring just as softly back to him, “You are right. I haven’t spent much time in the company of such men.” Pausing for a moment, she tilted her head and focused her dark gaze carefully on him, “The men I have spent time with are much worse. They are the men who manipulate those sorts of men.”
After a moment, she sighed and blinked, flicking her gaze back up to the sky. Then tilted her head to offer him a faint smile, “What are you expecting to find within the thick of the nobility, if nobles are involved they aren’t operating in the halls of the palati. They are doing it in the shadows.” Just as he’d been half joking about his suggestion, she’d been joking about hers. The world was full of people better suited to that sort of work. She knew her place in this world and had no intention of jeopardizing it with the secrets of others. You couldn’t help others if you sank yourself, could you?
The soft huff of laughter from him at her suggestion, generated a deeper smile and appearance of the dimples in her cheeks. ‘That would certainly give people something else to talk of instead of the coronation,’ It was her turn to quietly snort her laughter. ‘I have yet to make any appointments to the senate council, why not start with something daring.’ Her nose crinkled and her dark eyes twinkled, “Look at you being all rebel king… who knows what’s in store for you next.” She tossed him a saucy wink before chuckling.
‘Alas, you have a wedding to arrange.’ Her mouth gaped for a moment, her eyes wide as he tossed her own words back at her. Without thinking, she twisted and plucked one of the late summer’s wildflowers and threw it at him for his teasing her. “How dare you! You’re despicable.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she mirthfully laughed.
The laughter faded but a genuine warm smile still settled on him as he spoke again, ‘If the Gods are with us perhaps I will be back from Egypt in time to see you wed?’ Her gaze dropped to the ground between them, “Gods willing,” She murmured. Pursing her lips for a moment before she glanced back at him and offered another smile, “Nothing would make me happier than to see you at my wedding.” She’d blinked for a moment and realized just how much she’d meant those words. Looking away, she swallowed… she’d needed a friend and the gods had given her Achilleas.
She didn’t turn her gaze to him, even when he moved, and Achilleas found his eyes lingering on the smile that threatened at the corner of her lips, willing it to blossom into something more, something that would confirm he hadn’t offended her with his sharp words. When she did deign to look at him once more, he felt that knot of discomfort that he had upset her unwind with her words.
The man was worse than most at hanging on to things that had not gone his way, analysing them and scrutinising his own actions in an attempt to ensure success on a next attempt. It yielded results: Achilleas had many achievements under his belt but also lent itself rather too well to the anxiety and fear of failure that plagued him too. And there were few that he found it easy to speak to...he didn’t know how but Evangelina had somehow wormed her way into that category without him even realising it.
It didn’t mean he agreed with everything she said, as the next moments proved quite aptly but there was a very real part of Achilleas that thought she’d do very well getting secrets out of people if she put her mind to it. It was almost a shame that society would never permit her to hold such a position.
And to hear her use the word rebel in conjunction with himself was enough to have Achilleas properly laugh...he didn’t very often, but it was too much. He was well aware of how his reputation set him as far from that as was humanly possible. “That is something I have never been called before,” he said, glancing away and plucking another blade of grass. But then the butchered meadow flower smacked him on the cheek and he looked up, amused at her daring.
But their next words were sobering, and though the king tentatively returned her smile it was reserved because if Achilleas knew anything it was that the Gods were fickle. He could only hope that they would see his endeavours as worthy of their favour and that fair winds would see their task complete and the Taengean soil beneath their feet again.
That talk of weddings slanted his mind towards his own hardly contributed to a buoyant mood either, and Achilleas found himself silently praying that Evangelina would find hers a more joyful occasion.
“So tell me,” he said, trying to interject some lightness back into their conversation “How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?”
That had after all been what first brought her to see him, what felt like so much longer ago than it truly was. Much had happened in their short acquaintance, so far beyond the triviality of his question that it seemed even more absurd in comparison. But perhaps it was needed even though generally such smalltalk felt like more of an effort than it did with the young woman beside him.
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She didn’t turn her gaze to him, even when he moved, and Achilleas found his eyes lingering on the smile that threatened at the corner of her lips, willing it to blossom into something more, something that would confirm he hadn’t offended her with his sharp words. When she did deign to look at him once more, he felt that knot of discomfort that he had upset her unwind with her words.
The man was worse than most at hanging on to things that had not gone his way, analysing them and scrutinising his own actions in an attempt to ensure success on a next attempt. It yielded results: Achilleas had many achievements under his belt but also lent itself rather too well to the anxiety and fear of failure that plagued him too. And there were few that he found it easy to speak to...he didn’t know how but Evangelina had somehow wormed her way into that category without him even realising it.
It didn’t mean he agreed with everything she said, as the next moments proved quite aptly but there was a very real part of Achilleas that thought she’d do very well getting secrets out of people if she put her mind to it. It was almost a shame that society would never permit her to hold such a position.
And to hear her use the word rebel in conjunction with himself was enough to have Achilleas properly laugh...he didn’t very often, but it was too much. He was well aware of how his reputation set him as far from that as was humanly possible. “That is something I have never been called before,” he said, glancing away and plucking another blade of grass. But then the butchered meadow flower smacked him on the cheek and he looked up, amused at her daring.
But their next words were sobering, and though the king tentatively returned her smile it was reserved because if Achilleas knew anything it was that the Gods were fickle. He could only hope that they would see his endeavours as worthy of their favour and that fair winds would see their task complete and the Taengean soil beneath their feet again.
That talk of weddings slanted his mind towards his own hardly contributed to a buoyant mood either, and Achilleas found himself silently praying that Evangelina would find hers a more joyful occasion.
“So tell me,” he said, trying to interject some lightness back into their conversation “How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?”
That had after all been what first brought her to see him, what felt like so much longer ago than it truly was. Much had happened in their short acquaintance, so far beyond the triviality of his question that it seemed even more absurd in comparison. But perhaps it was needed even though generally such smalltalk felt like more of an effort than it did with the young woman beside him.
She didn’t turn her gaze to him, even when he moved, and Achilleas found his eyes lingering on the smile that threatened at the corner of her lips, willing it to blossom into something more, something that would confirm he hadn’t offended her with his sharp words. When she did deign to look at him once more, he felt that knot of discomfort that he had upset her unwind with her words.
The man was worse than most at hanging on to things that had not gone his way, analysing them and scrutinising his own actions in an attempt to ensure success on a next attempt. It yielded results: Achilleas had many achievements under his belt but also lent itself rather too well to the anxiety and fear of failure that plagued him too. And there were few that he found it easy to speak to...he didn’t know how but Evangelina had somehow wormed her way into that category without him even realising it.
It didn’t mean he agreed with everything she said, as the next moments proved quite aptly but there was a very real part of Achilleas that thought she’d do very well getting secrets out of people if she put her mind to it. It was almost a shame that society would never permit her to hold such a position.
And to hear her use the word rebel in conjunction with himself was enough to have Achilleas properly laugh...he didn’t very often, but it was too much. He was well aware of how his reputation set him as far from that as was humanly possible. “That is something I have never been called before,” he said, glancing away and plucking another blade of grass. But then the butchered meadow flower smacked him on the cheek and he looked up, amused at her daring.
But their next words were sobering, and though the king tentatively returned her smile it was reserved because if Achilleas knew anything it was that the Gods were fickle. He could only hope that they would see his endeavours as worthy of their favour and that fair winds would see their task complete and the Taengean soil beneath their feet again.
That talk of weddings slanted his mind towards his own hardly contributed to a buoyant mood either, and Achilleas found himself silently praying that Evangelina would find hers a more joyful occasion.
“So tell me,” he said, trying to interject some lightness back into their conversation “How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?”
That had after all been what first brought her to see him, what felt like so much longer ago than it truly was. Much had happened in their short acquaintance, so far beyond the triviality of his question that it seemed even more absurd in comparison. But perhaps it was needed even though generally such smalltalk felt like more of an effort than it did with the young woman beside him.
Did you ever wonder why you met someone when you did? Why didn't you meet them a day earlier? Or two years later, instead of that exact moment that you did? What twisted wires the fates were weaving with the strings of your life? Evangelina didn’t usually waste her time pondering the things that were out of her control but there next to Achilleas, on a day that seemed almost perfect, her curious mind ventured to those questions? Was it because we met them the exact moment we needed them the most? Was that possible?
The deep, earthy laugh of the man next to her was infectious, drawing a larger satisfied smile from her. It was the sort of laugh that made a person glow from the inside and shine on the outside. ‘That is something I have never been called before.’ Despite tossing the plucked summer bud at him, she turned her head to regard him for a moment before her eyes flickered over his shoulder and onto nothing in particular.
“That is a great shame,” She murmured after a moment. “If a king can not be a rebel then who can?” Offering him a faint smile before she turned her head away from him again and let out a soft sigh. Her head bowed and she found herself plucking another flower or two and twisting the stems together.
Conversations of rebel kings and treacherous families died away while the conversation of weddings and Egypt were born.
‘So tell me,’ Looking over her shoulder at him again, she paused in her twisting of the plucked flower. ‘How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?’ Her mind shifted to their first real conversation and how it had been marriages and table linens that had brought them together. She smiled at him and reclined back in the space next to him.
“Oh, just the one.” The pint-sized Leventi turned her head to watch him, the soft smile on her lips still lingering. “Green. A simple, ordinary green. I don’t think Lord Gavriil could stand anything more conspicuous than that, do you?” She teased and sighed, she wondered what color the table linens had been when he’d married Sybil. The smile on her face faded as she seemed to wander off in thought for a moment.
Without really realizing it, she spoke again.
“I think he’s still in love with Lady Sybil.” Blinking, her dark eyes moved to his as she realized she’d just admitted her inner thoughts out loud to him. Pressing her lips together for a moment before she spoke again as she looked away a faint distracted smile forming, “He says he is not but there are times…” Her words drew off for a moment and she looked back to Achilleas and took a deep breath, jumping into the admittance. “There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and…” She stalled, “And I know his mind has drifted to her.” Pressing her lips together, she’d known that when she’d agreed to marry him. It wasn’t a love match, even if she’d discovered that she loved him. He was doing her a favor… he was helping her stay where she could keep an eye on her brother. He was keeping her from being shipped away. Her hopes were pinned on the fact that one day he might hold something more than affection for her.
Swallowing back the thoughts of ‘what if he didn’t’, she pasted on a perfect smile for Achilleas, certain he would be uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. “It’s fortunate that I ran into you today, I have something for you.” Shifting next to him, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bright blue stone of lapis lazuli. The stone had a worn spot the perfect size of a thumb print in the middle of it. Passing it to him, “Before you ask, no… I didn’t pilfer anyone’s paper weights.” She bit her lip and studied him for a moment before she spoke again, “My father’s master of horse believes stones have special meanings. This one is supposed to stimulate wisdom and truth and block evils.” Looking away she shrugged lightly, “I thought it might be better suited for you, give you something to take your worries out on.” She didn’t add that’s what she’d used it for. To calm her, center her thoughts… to ground her.
Slanting a teasing look at him, “If worse comes to worse you can load someone’s slingshot with it and perhaps it’ll aid you that way.”
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Did you ever wonder why you met someone when you did? Why didn't you meet them a day earlier? Or two years later, instead of that exact moment that you did? What twisted wires the fates were weaving with the strings of your life? Evangelina didn’t usually waste her time pondering the things that were out of her control but there next to Achilleas, on a day that seemed almost perfect, her curious mind ventured to those questions? Was it because we met them the exact moment we needed them the most? Was that possible?
The deep, earthy laugh of the man next to her was infectious, drawing a larger satisfied smile from her. It was the sort of laugh that made a person glow from the inside and shine on the outside. ‘That is something I have never been called before.’ Despite tossing the plucked summer bud at him, she turned her head to regard him for a moment before her eyes flickered over his shoulder and onto nothing in particular.
“That is a great shame,” She murmured after a moment. “If a king can not be a rebel then who can?” Offering him a faint smile before she turned her head away from him again and let out a soft sigh. Her head bowed and she found herself plucking another flower or two and twisting the stems together.
Conversations of rebel kings and treacherous families died away while the conversation of weddings and Egypt were born.
‘So tell me,’ Looking over her shoulder at him again, she paused in her twisting of the plucked flower. ‘How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?’ Her mind shifted to their first real conversation and how it had been marriages and table linens that had brought them together. She smiled at him and reclined back in the space next to him.
“Oh, just the one.” The pint-sized Leventi turned her head to watch him, the soft smile on her lips still lingering. “Green. A simple, ordinary green. I don’t think Lord Gavriil could stand anything more conspicuous than that, do you?” She teased and sighed, she wondered what color the table linens had been when he’d married Sybil. The smile on her face faded as she seemed to wander off in thought for a moment.
Without really realizing it, she spoke again.
“I think he’s still in love with Lady Sybil.” Blinking, her dark eyes moved to his as she realized she’d just admitted her inner thoughts out loud to him. Pressing her lips together for a moment before she spoke again as she looked away a faint distracted smile forming, “He says he is not but there are times…” Her words drew off for a moment and she looked back to Achilleas and took a deep breath, jumping into the admittance. “There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and…” She stalled, “And I know his mind has drifted to her.” Pressing her lips together, she’d known that when she’d agreed to marry him. It wasn’t a love match, even if she’d discovered that she loved him. He was doing her a favor… he was helping her stay where she could keep an eye on her brother. He was keeping her from being shipped away. Her hopes were pinned on the fact that one day he might hold something more than affection for her.
Swallowing back the thoughts of ‘what if he didn’t’, she pasted on a perfect smile for Achilleas, certain he would be uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. “It’s fortunate that I ran into you today, I have something for you.” Shifting next to him, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bright blue stone of lapis lazuli. The stone had a worn spot the perfect size of a thumb print in the middle of it. Passing it to him, “Before you ask, no… I didn’t pilfer anyone’s paper weights.” She bit her lip and studied him for a moment before she spoke again, “My father’s master of horse believes stones have special meanings. This one is supposed to stimulate wisdom and truth and block evils.” Looking away she shrugged lightly, “I thought it might be better suited for you, give you something to take your worries out on.” She didn’t add that’s what she’d used it for. To calm her, center her thoughts… to ground her.
Slanting a teasing look at him, “If worse comes to worse you can load someone’s slingshot with it and perhaps it’ll aid you that way.”
Did you ever wonder why you met someone when you did? Why didn't you meet them a day earlier? Or two years later, instead of that exact moment that you did? What twisted wires the fates were weaving with the strings of your life? Evangelina didn’t usually waste her time pondering the things that were out of her control but there next to Achilleas, on a day that seemed almost perfect, her curious mind ventured to those questions? Was it because we met them the exact moment we needed them the most? Was that possible?
The deep, earthy laugh of the man next to her was infectious, drawing a larger satisfied smile from her. It was the sort of laugh that made a person glow from the inside and shine on the outside. ‘That is something I have never been called before.’ Despite tossing the plucked summer bud at him, she turned her head to regard him for a moment before her eyes flickered over his shoulder and onto nothing in particular.
“That is a great shame,” She murmured after a moment. “If a king can not be a rebel then who can?” Offering him a faint smile before she turned her head away from him again and let out a soft sigh. Her head bowed and she found herself plucking another flower or two and twisting the stems together.
Conversations of rebel kings and treacherous families died away while the conversation of weddings and Egypt were born.
‘So tell me,’ Looking over her shoulder at him again, she paused in her twisting of the plucked flower. ‘How many shades of table linen are you deciding between?’ Her mind shifted to their first real conversation and how it had been marriages and table linens that had brought them together. She smiled at him and reclined back in the space next to him.
“Oh, just the one.” The pint-sized Leventi turned her head to watch him, the soft smile on her lips still lingering. “Green. A simple, ordinary green. I don’t think Lord Gavriil could stand anything more conspicuous than that, do you?” She teased and sighed, she wondered what color the table linens had been when he’d married Sybil. The smile on her face faded as she seemed to wander off in thought for a moment.
Without really realizing it, she spoke again.
“I think he’s still in love with Lady Sybil.” Blinking, her dark eyes moved to his as she realized she’d just admitted her inner thoughts out loud to him. Pressing her lips together for a moment before she spoke again as she looked away a faint distracted smile forming, “He says he is not but there are times…” Her words drew off for a moment and she looked back to Achilleas and took a deep breath, jumping into the admittance. “There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and…” She stalled, “And I know his mind has drifted to her.” Pressing her lips together, she’d known that when she’d agreed to marry him. It wasn’t a love match, even if she’d discovered that she loved him. He was doing her a favor… he was helping her stay where she could keep an eye on her brother. He was keeping her from being shipped away. Her hopes were pinned on the fact that one day he might hold something more than affection for her.
Swallowing back the thoughts of ‘what if he didn’t’, she pasted on a perfect smile for Achilleas, certain he would be uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. “It’s fortunate that I ran into you today, I have something for you.” Shifting next to him, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bright blue stone of lapis lazuli. The stone had a worn spot the perfect size of a thumb print in the middle of it. Passing it to him, “Before you ask, no… I didn’t pilfer anyone’s paper weights.” She bit her lip and studied him for a moment before she spoke again, “My father’s master of horse believes stones have special meanings. This one is supposed to stimulate wisdom and truth and block evils.” Looking away she shrugged lightly, “I thought it might be better suited for you, give you something to take your worries out on.” She didn’t add that’s what she’d used it for. To calm her, center her thoughts… to ground her.
Slanting a teasing look at him, “If worse comes to worse you can load someone’s slingshot with it and perhaps it’ll aid you that way.”
“Green is not ordinary” Achilleas replied, his gaze lifting to the shades which made up Taengea and all her bounty. It was one of the things he remembered most keenly from his last trip to Egypt, missing green because here it was everywhere and in Egypt, even the grass was sun-scorched and yellow, not like home. He’d found a new appreciation for green fields and forests after he’d returned and he didn’t relish the idea of leaving them behind again.
But he turned a half-smile upon Evangelina, well able to believe his Dimitrou cousin would be less than enamoured with the idea of anything garish. It was hard for him to imagine the man being troubled by the same things that had been put to him before his wedding - he did not think the Lord Gavriil would entertain such questions. “I suppose you are right” he conceded, sparing a glance for the horses who grazed happily nearby. “I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events”
Achilleas had not been expecting the quiet revelation that came from his companion next though, and without meaning to he turned to look at her, opened his mouth and then closed it again as she met his gaze. He wasn’t sure what to say to such a statement. It was far from his area of expertise and he didn’t know the Lord Gavriil well enough to speak to his feelings. So the king just nodded and let the quiet leave room for Evangelina to expand upon her words, should she wish to.
‘He says he is not but there are times…There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and… And I know his mind has drifted to her’
The blue gaze of the Mikaelidas man slid sideways towards Evangelina again and he frowned then, wanting to offer something by means of comfort but at a loss as to what.
“ Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…” Well, that was a lie. He didn’t know. He could hardly claim to be an expert in love, or whatever concoction of feelings the word was supposed to encapsulate. “..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word” he finished. If she could not, then such thinking would eat away at her surely?
Her answering smile was overbright, so Achilleas did not know that she’d really heard him but he was not going to press the issue. He felt out of his depth enough just trying to find something to say in response.
Thankfully, Evangelina did not seem to wish to linger on it either, shifting subject like a fickle fall breeze, and the king looked a touch suspicious when she said she had something for him, his expression shifting to something perplexed as she held out a small blue stone toward him.
“No?” he asked, glancing from her to stone and back again as he turned it in his palm. But when she went on to explain the meaning behind it, Achilleas stopped turning it and stared at her a moment. The reflexive reaction to assure her that he had no worries didn’t come and there was a pause before he looked away, his fingers closing around the stone so it was all but hidden in his fist, and he was smiling slightly at her jest. The amusement was fleeting though and he turned to look at her, squinting a little as the low sun hit his face. His words when they came were quiet and carefully formed.
“That’s very…. thoughtful of you” Pause. Breath in.
It wasn’t that he was not perfectly able to accept a gift with grace, he was well-practised at that. It was just, he hadn’t been expecting it and it was so simple a thing yet felt warm and solid if his palm already. Achilleas frowned and cleared his throat.
“...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?”
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“Green is not ordinary” Achilleas replied, his gaze lifting to the shades which made up Taengea and all her bounty. It was one of the things he remembered most keenly from his last trip to Egypt, missing green because here it was everywhere and in Egypt, even the grass was sun-scorched and yellow, not like home. He’d found a new appreciation for green fields and forests after he’d returned and he didn’t relish the idea of leaving them behind again.
But he turned a half-smile upon Evangelina, well able to believe his Dimitrou cousin would be less than enamoured with the idea of anything garish. It was hard for him to imagine the man being troubled by the same things that had been put to him before his wedding - he did not think the Lord Gavriil would entertain such questions. “I suppose you are right” he conceded, sparing a glance for the horses who grazed happily nearby. “I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events”
Achilleas had not been expecting the quiet revelation that came from his companion next though, and without meaning to he turned to look at her, opened his mouth and then closed it again as she met his gaze. He wasn’t sure what to say to such a statement. It was far from his area of expertise and he didn’t know the Lord Gavriil well enough to speak to his feelings. So the king just nodded and let the quiet leave room for Evangelina to expand upon her words, should she wish to.
‘He says he is not but there are times…There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and… And I know his mind has drifted to her’
The blue gaze of the Mikaelidas man slid sideways towards Evangelina again and he frowned then, wanting to offer something by means of comfort but at a loss as to what.
“ Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…” Well, that was a lie. He didn’t know. He could hardly claim to be an expert in love, or whatever concoction of feelings the word was supposed to encapsulate. “..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word” he finished. If she could not, then such thinking would eat away at her surely?
Her answering smile was overbright, so Achilleas did not know that she’d really heard him but he was not going to press the issue. He felt out of his depth enough just trying to find something to say in response.
Thankfully, Evangelina did not seem to wish to linger on it either, shifting subject like a fickle fall breeze, and the king looked a touch suspicious when she said she had something for him, his expression shifting to something perplexed as she held out a small blue stone toward him.
“No?” he asked, glancing from her to stone and back again as he turned it in his palm. But when she went on to explain the meaning behind it, Achilleas stopped turning it and stared at her a moment. The reflexive reaction to assure her that he had no worries didn’t come and there was a pause before he looked away, his fingers closing around the stone so it was all but hidden in his fist, and he was smiling slightly at her jest. The amusement was fleeting though and he turned to look at her, squinting a little as the low sun hit his face. His words when they came were quiet and carefully formed.
“That’s very…. thoughtful of you” Pause. Breath in.
It wasn’t that he was not perfectly able to accept a gift with grace, he was well-practised at that. It was just, he hadn’t been expecting it and it was so simple a thing yet felt warm and solid if his palm already. Achilleas frowned and cleared his throat.
“...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?”
“Green is not ordinary” Achilleas replied, his gaze lifting to the shades which made up Taengea and all her bounty. It was one of the things he remembered most keenly from his last trip to Egypt, missing green because here it was everywhere and in Egypt, even the grass was sun-scorched and yellow, not like home. He’d found a new appreciation for green fields and forests after he’d returned and he didn’t relish the idea of leaving them behind again.
But he turned a half-smile upon Evangelina, well able to believe his Dimitrou cousin would be less than enamoured with the idea of anything garish. It was hard for him to imagine the man being troubled by the same things that had been put to him before his wedding - he did not think the Lord Gavriil would entertain such questions. “I suppose you are right” he conceded, sparing a glance for the horses who grazed happily nearby. “I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events”
Achilleas had not been expecting the quiet revelation that came from his companion next though, and without meaning to he turned to look at her, opened his mouth and then closed it again as she met his gaze. He wasn’t sure what to say to such a statement. It was far from his area of expertise and he didn’t know the Lord Gavriil well enough to speak to his feelings. So the king just nodded and let the quiet leave room for Evangelina to expand upon her words, should she wish to.
‘He says he is not but there are times…There are times when I’ll catch him looking off and… And I know his mind has drifted to her’
The blue gaze of the Mikaelidas man slid sideways towards Evangelina again and he frowned then, wanting to offer something by means of comfort but at a loss as to what.
“ Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…” Well, that was a lie. He didn’t know. He could hardly claim to be an expert in love, or whatever concoction of feelings the word was supposed to encapsulate. “..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word” he finished. If she could not, then such thinking would eat away at her surely?
Her answering smile was overbright, so Achilleas did not know that she’d really heard him but he was not going to press the issue. He felt out of his depth enough just trying to find something to say in response.
Thankfully, Evangelina did not seem to wish to linger on it either, shifting subject like a fickle fall breeze, and the king looked a touch suspicious when she said she had something for him, his expression shifting to something perplexed as she held out a small blue stone toward him.
“No?” he asked, glancing from her to stone and back again as he turned it in his palm. But when she went on to explain the meaning behind it, Achilleas stopped turning it and stared at her a moment. The reflexive reaction to assure her that he had no worries didn’t come and there was a pause before he looked away, his fingers closing around the stone so it was all but hidden in his fist, and he was smiling slightly at her jest. The amusement was fleeting though and he turned to look at her, squinting a little as the low sun hit his face. His words when they came were quiet and carefully formed.
“That’s very…. thoughtful of you” Pause. Breath in.
It wasn’t that he was not perfectly able to accept a gift with grace, he was well-practised at that. It was just, he hadn’t been expecting it and it was so simple a thing yet felt warm and solid if his palm already. Achilleas frowned and cleared his throat.
“...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?”
Drawing her eyes slowly back to him, she smiled. He was right, green was not ordinary, that wasn’t quite what she’d meant. It was more that the colors of table linens were a simple green. A Dimitrou green. There weren’t any sea foams or apple greens or any variances such as teal. It was just a simple but extraordinary green. It was a Tangean forest green. She didn’t correct him though she just held her smile there for a few moments and then looked away.
She didn’t want to put the cart in front of the horse yet. Gavriil still had to speak to Fotios and acquire his permission. A part of her wondered if her uncle would create unnecessary difficulties with this match. It wasn’t nearly the match that he had hoped for, she was sure of that. His family didn’t bring an even deeper level of wealth nor were they exactly a political powerhouse in the senate. They were a family not chasing any sort of ambition.
‘I suppose you are right.’ She found her eyes settling back upon Achilleas, ‘I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events.’
Evangelina caught her lip between her teeth and looked down to hide her smile. It really didn’t sound like such a terrible idea. She wasn’t exactly comfortable with the thoughts of all the fuss centered upon her. It sounded like the perfect place for an accident to happen. She wasn’t the picture of grace and serenity like Theodora or Selene. She did sweep into rooms and command the presence of everyone in the room. Did he realize how unfortunate it would be if she was overlooked during her wedding? Probably not, those sorts of things didn’t seem to plague the minds of men.
“I wouldn’t object to that.” She sighed and laid her head back into the grass and stared up at the sky. “I have this epic fear that I’m going to accidentally catch something of fire… or trip over my own feet and do a nose dive and end up in the lap of Lord Dorotheos.” Slanting her laughing dark eyes at him, she smirked. “Running away to the temples actually isn’t a bad idea.” It wasn’t a bad idea but it would also never happen. Why? Because her family would never allow that. She would be tied to having the full ceremonies and traditions. She would be expected to play the part of a perfect Leventi bride. Shifting she looked back up at the sky and before she knew it she was confessing her deepest worries to him.
His gaze slid to her and she could feel in his look his loss of words, the way he seemed to be searching for something that would help her or make her feel better. She didn’t have to actually glance at him to feel that coming off of him. It was as tangible as the warmth of the sunset with your eyes closed. You knew it was there even if you couldn’t see the sun’s last rays.
‘Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…’ Not brave enough to meet his gaze, she swallowed back worries because they were quite unfounded, weren’t they? ‘..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word.’ They were the words of a heart that had never been broken. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head. He was right, she knew that he was but there in the back of her mind was a small voice that was trying to protect her.
“Of course.” She sighed and nodded her head before glancing at him with an almost smile, “You are right. I don’t need the words.” If he’d admitted to feeling anything for her it might have made it easier to see him getting lost in the thoughts of Sybil. She might have bore that a little easier. She didn’t need the words but she’d wanted them. “Actions speak louder, don’t they… and the fact is he did offer to marry me and solve my problems...” She paused and looked back up to the clouds, “That will be enough.” I’ll make it be enough.
It seemed like a good time to give him the stone. It provided a distraction away from her own mind and thoughts. She’d awkwardly made a joke about using it in a sling shot if worse came to worse. The small Leventi thought for a moment that it had lightened the mood but the look on his face as he looked back at her. The sun bearing down on the angles of his face. Her smile slipped and her gaze softened, the gift hadn’t been much but it was something that did mean something to her.
‘That’s very…. thoughtful of you.’ She blinked and shifted uncomfortably, looking away. A faint red flush blooming into her cheeks awkwardly. She wasn’t the best at expressing heartfelt feelings and over their short friendship… she felt like he was one of those rare people she could be her truest self with. ‘...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?'
His question made her snort back a little laugh, flicking her incredulous gaze back at him. “Pft. The stone is always with me.” As if realizing she’d said more then she’d meant to, she snapped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes at him. “If you don’t like it you can give it back.” Pressing her lips together, she was not going to get emotional on him. She wasn’t. No, she was not going to. Indignantly sniffing, she jutted her chin out, “And you are welcome.” Trying to keep the indignant look on her face, her darker gaze met his and her lips softened into a cheeky smile. "That's what I meant to say. You are welcome."
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Drawing her eyes slowly back to him, she smiled. He was right, green was not ordinary, that wasn’t quite what she’d meant. It was more that the colors of table linens were a simple green. A Dimitrou green. There weren’t any sea foams or apple greens or any variances such as teal. It was just a simple but extraordinary green. It was a Tangean forest green. She didn’t correct him though she just held her smile there for a few moments and then looked away.
She didn’t want to put the cart in front of the horse yet. Gavriil still had to speak to Fotios and acquire his permission. A part of her wondered if her uncle would create unnecessary difficulties with this match. It wasn’t nearly the match that he had hoped for, she was sure of that. His family didn’t bring an even deeper level of wealth nor were they exactly a political powerhouse in the senate. They were a family not chasing any sort of ambition.
‘I suppose you are right.’ She found her eyes settling back upon Achilleas, ‘I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events.’
Evangelina caught her lip between her teeth and looked down to hide her smile. It really didn’t sound like such a terrible idea. She wasn’t exactly comfortable with the thoughts of all the fuss centered upon her. It sounded like the perfect place for an accident to happen. She wasn’t the picture of grace and serenity like Theodora or Selene. She did sweep into rooms and command the presence of everyone in the room. Did he realize how unfortunate it would be if she was overlooked during her wedding? Probably not, those sorts of things didn’t seem to plague the minds of men.
“I wouldn’t object to that.” She sighed and laid her head back into the grass and stared up at the sky. “I have this epic fear that I’m going to accidentally catch something of fire… or trip over my own feet and do a nose dive and end up in the lap of Lord Dorotheos.” Slanting her laughing dark eyes at him, she smirked. “Running away to the temples actually isn’t a bad idea.” It wasn’t a bad idea but it would also never happen. Why? Because her family would never allow that. She would be tied to having the full ceremonies and traditions. She would be expected to play the part of a perfect Leventi bride. Shifting she looked back up at the sky and before she knew it she was confessing her deepest worries to him.
His gaze slid to her and she could feel in his look his loss of words, the way he seemed to be searching for something that would help her or make her feel better. She didn’t have to actually glance at him to feel that coming off of him. It was as tangible as the warmth of the sunset with your eyes closed. You knew it was there even if you couldn’t see the sun’s last rays.
‘Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…’ Not brave enough to meet his gaze, she swallowed back worries because they were quite unfounded, weren’t they? ‘..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word.’ They were the words of a heart that had never been broken. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head. He was right, she knew that he was but there in the back of her mind was a small voice that was trying to protect her.
“Of course.” She sighed and nodded her head before glancing at him with an almost smile, “You are right. I don’t need the words.” If he’d admitted to feeling anything for her it might have made it easier to see him getting lost in the thoughts of Sybil. She might have bore that a little easier. She didn’t need the words but she’d wanted them. “Actions speak louder, don’t they… and the fact is he did offer to marry me and solve my problems...” She paused and looked back up to the clouds, “That will be enough.” I’ll make it be enough.
It seemed like a good time to give him the stone. It provided a distraction away from her own mind and thoughts. She’d awkwardly made a joke about using it in a sling shot if worse came to worse. The small Leventi thought for a moment that it had lightened the mood but the look on his face as he looked back at her. The sun bearing down on the angles of his face. Her smile slipped and her gaze softened, the gift hadn’t been much but it was something that did mean something to her.
‘That’s very…. thoughtful of you.’ She blinked and shifted uncomfortably, looking away. A faint red flush blooming into her cheeks awkwardly. She wasn’t the best at expressing heartfelt feelings and over their short friendship… she felt like he was one of those rare people she could be her truest self with. ‘...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?'
His question made her snort back a little laugh, flicking her incredulous gaze back at him. “Pft. The stone is always with me.” As if realizing she’d said more then she’d meant to, she snapped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes at him. “If you don’t like it you can give it back.” Pressing her lips together, she was not going to get emotional on him. She wasn’t. No, she was not going to. Indignantly sniffing, she jutted her chin out, “And you are welcome.” Trying to keep the indignant look on her face, her darker gaze met his and her lips softened into a cheeky smile. "That's what I meant to say. You are welcome."
Drawing her eyes slowly back to him, she smiled. He was right, green was not ordinary, that wasn’t quite what she’d meant. It was more that the colors of table linens were a simple green. A Dimitrou green. There weren’t any sea foams or apple greens or any variances such as teal. It was just a simple but extraordinary green. It was a Tangean forest green. She didn’t correct him though she just held her smile there for a few moments and then looked away.
She didn’t want to put the cart in front of the horse yet. Gavriil still had to speak to Fotios and acquire his permission. A part of her wondered if her uncle would create unnecessary difficulties with this match. It wasn’t nearly the match that he had hoped for, she was sure of that. His family didn’t bring an even deeper level of wealth nor were they exactly a political powerhouse in the senate. They were a family not chasing any sort of ambition.
‘I suppose you are right.’ She found her eyes settling back upon Achilleas, ‘I would not be surprised if he just escorted you to the temple one day and you came back married; Lord Gavriil never seems terribly at ease at big events.’
Evangelina caught her lip between her teeth and looked down to hide her smile. It really didn’t sound like such a terrible idea. She wasn’t exactly comfortable with the thoughts of all the fuss centered upon her. It sounded like the perfect place for an accident to happen. She wasn’t the picture of grace and serenity like Theodora or Selene. She did sweep into rooms and command the presence of everyone in the room. Did he realize how unfortunate it would be if she was overlooked during her wedding? Probably not, those sorts of things didn’t seem to plague the minds of men.
“I wouldn’t object to that.” She sighed and laid her head back into the grass and stared up at the sky. “I have this epic fear that I’m going to accidentally catch something of fire… or trip over my own feet and do a nose dive and end up in the lap of Lord Dorotheos.” Slanting her laughing dark eyes at him, she smirked. “Running away to the temples actually isn’t a bad idea.” It wasn’t a bad idea but it would also never happen. Why? Because her family would never allow that. She would be tied to having the full ceremonies and traditions. She would be expected to play the part of a perfect Leventi bride. Shifting she looked back up at the sky and before she knew it she was confessing her deepest worries to him.
His gaze slid to her and she could feel in his look his loss of words, the way he seemed to be searching for something that would help her or make her feel better. She didn’t have to actually glance at him to feel that coming off of him. It was as tangible as the warmth of the sunset with your eyes closed. You knew it was there even if you couldn’t see the sun’s last rays.
‘Is it not possible to hold regard for a memory whilst also loving in the present? It is probably strange for him. I know…’ Not brave enough to meet his gaze, she swallowed back worries because they were quite unfounded, weren’t they? ‘..if you have asked him and he has answered then you should take him at his word.’ They were the words of a heart that had never been broken. Taking a deep breath, she nodded her head. He was right, she knew that he was but there in the back of her mind was a small voice that was trying to protect her.
“Of course.” She sighed and nodded her head before glancing at him with an almost smile, “You are right. I don’t need the words.” If he’d admitted to feeling anything for her it might have made it easier to see him getting lost in the thoughts of Sybil. She might have bore that a little easier. She didn’t need the words but she’d wanted them. “Actions speak louder, don’t they… and the fact is he did offer to marry me and solve my problems...” She paused and looked back up to the clouds, “That will be enough.” I’ll make it be enough.
It seemed like a good time to give him the stone. It provided a distraction away from her own mind and thoughts. She’d awkwardly made a joke about using it in a sling shot if worse came to worse. The small Leventi thought for a moment that it had lightened the mood but the look on his face as he looked back at her. The sun bearing down on the angles of his face. Her smile slipped and her gaze softened, the gift hadn’t been much but it was something that did mean something to her.
‘That’s very…. thoughtful of you.’ She blinked and shifted uncomfortably, looking away. A faint red flush blooming into her cheeks awkwardly. She wasn’t the best at expressing heartfelt feelings and over their short friendship… she felt like he was one of those rare people she could be her truest self with. ‘...thank you, is what I mean. Really. Though now I wonder how long you have been carrying this around for hoping you might just bump into me?'
His question made her snort back a little laugh, flicking her incredulous gaze back at him. “Pft. The stone is always with me.” As if realizing she’d said more then she’d meant to, she snapped her mouth shut and narrowed her eyes at him. “If you don’t like it you can give it back.” Pressing her lips together, she was not going to get emotional on him. She wasn’t. No, she was not going to. Indignantly sniffing, she jutted her chin out, “And you are welcome.” Trying to keep the indignant look on her face, her darker gaze met his and her lips softened into a cheeky smile. "That's what I meant to say. You are welcome."
Achilleas' brow creased a little as Evangelina made some show of pushing aside her worries about Lord Gavriil. He knew enough to see that he had not succeeded in offering comfort, and more than that, her response had him thinking about his own situation. He was not a man who was good at expressing emotion and though the Leventi girl's words spoke to the opposite; they were not very convincing where she claimed actions were enough.
It made the king wonder if perhaps Theodora was not off lamenting the fact that he had not verbally expressed his affections to her, and that was not a comforting thought. There had been more than one conversation that had passed between the two of them where she had requested more openness, and though he thought they grown closer over the past days, he had not actually expressed love in any verbal sense. Should he? Here was Lady Evangelina wanting it from a man she was not even formally betrothed to and Achilleas had not yet uttered such a thing to the woman already his wife?
Almost he considered asking the woman next to him but dismissed the idea almost as quickly because Theodora hadn't said anything like it either, and mayhaps it wasn't entirely unsurprising given the strange start they'd had to their marriage. Maybe he...
When Evangelina began to speak again, Achilleas realised how rudely he'd let his thoughts wander and turned his attention back to the woman beside him, a little thrown by the unexpected offering, so he bumbled his way through a thank you.
But at least he'd done it without revealing how touched he was at the gesture, and to be doubly sure, he rounded off with some flippant remark about her having been hanging on to the stone for days just in case she happened to see him. That provoked a response he hadn't expected, and the king's gaze fell back to the piece of lapis lazuli as he processed the idea that Evangelina had gifted him something that had been her own.
"I…" He hadn't decided quite what he was going to say at that point, but she cut him off anyway, narrowing her gaze as if to warn him off speaking the words that might have been on the tip of his tongue. And Achilleas' fingers closed around the stone instinctively as she threatened to take it back. "What, no. I want it."
He looked at her, and the darted his gaze away because somehow this had strayed into..some kind of moment and he was never sure what to do with those. And he felt incredibly grateful for the fact that the Leventi girl seemed to sense it too and righted the world by mocking his own fumbled thank you.
With a wry arch of a brow, the king pocketed the stone before she got any further notion of reclaiming it. "Actually, more regular shaped stones are more effective in slingshots" he observed, just to ensure the status quo was fully restored, and he pushed to his feet, brushing off the grass seed that clung to him and clearing his throat before he offered Evangelina a hand up too.
"I've tarried too long already," he said, trying not to sound as disappointed by the idea as he felt. But tasks were awaiting him back in Vasiliadon that would not wait because he was weary, or because this brief freedom tasted so good. "I should head back before a search is mounted for the missing monarch. You'll let me escort you back, of course."
Not a question, then, but he hardly thought it controversial given that they had already agreed as much. As he approached, Amyntas lifted his head from the grass and turned to leave a slobbery green smear on the man's forearm, one which Achilleas promptly wiped off on the horse's neck with a muttered 'delightful'. A moment later and he sat astride the great horse, cutting an imposing figure as he waited for Evangelina to retrieve the grey and join him. There was still an hour's ride to the city, and the sun was slanting lower with every moment passed.
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Achilleas' brow creased a little as Evangelina made some show of pushing aside her worries about Lord Gavriil. He knew enough to see that he had not succeeded in offering comfort, and more than that, her response had him thinking about his own situation. He was not a man who was good at expressing emotion and though the Leventi girl's words spoke to the opposite; they were not very convincing where she claimed actions were enough.
It made the king wonder if perhaps Theodora was not off lamenting the fact that he had not verbally expressed his affections to her, and that was not a comforting thought. There had been more than one conversation that had passed between the two of them where she had requested more openness, and though he thought they grown closer over the past days, he had not actually expressed love in any verbal sense. Should he? Here was Lady Evangelina wanting it from a man she was not even formally betrothed to and Achilleas had not yet uttered such a thing to the woman already his wife?
Almost he considered asking the woman next to him but dismissed the idea almost as quickly because Theodora hadn't said anything like it either, and mayhaps it wasn't entirely unsurprising given the strange start they'd had to their marriage. Maybe he...
When Evangelina began to speak again, Achilleas realised how rudely he'd let his thoughts wander and turned his attention back to the woman beside him, a little thrown by the unexpected offering, so he bumbled his way through a thank you.
But at least he'd done it without revealing how touched he was at the gesture, and to be doubly sure, he rounded off with some flippant remark about her having been hanging on to the stone for days just in case she happened to see him. That provoked a response he hadn't expected, and the king's gaze fell back to the piece of lapis lazuli as he processed the idea that Evangelina had gifted him something that had been her own.
"I…" He hadn't decided quite what he was going to say at that point, but she cut him off anyway, narrowing her gaze as if to warn him off speaking the words that might have been on the tip of his tongue. And Achilleas' fingers closed around the stone instinctively as she threatened to take it back. "What, no. I want it."
He looked at her, and the darted his gaze away because somehow this had strayed into..some kind of moment and he was never sure what to do with those. And he felt incredibly grateful for the fact that the Leventi girl seemed to sense it too and righted the world by mocking his own fumbled thank you.
With a wry arch of a brow, the king pocketed the stone before she got any further notion of reclaiming it. "Actually, more regular shaped stones are more effective in slingshots" he observed, just to ensure the status quo was fully restored, and he pushed to his feet, brushing off the grass seed that clung to him and clearing his throat before he offered Evangelina a hand up too.
"I've tarried too long already," he said, trying not to sound as disappointed by the idea as he felt. But tasks were awaiting him back in Vasiliadon that would not wait because he was weary, or because this brief freedom tasted so good. "I should head back before a search is mounted for the missing monarch. You'll let me escort you back, of course."
Not a question, then, but he hardly thought it controversial given that they had already agreed as much. As he approached, Amyntas lifted his head from the grass and turned to leave a slobbery green smear on the man's forearm, one which Achilleas promptly wiped off on the horse's neck with a muttered 'delightful'. A moment later and he sat astride the great horse, cutting an imposing figure as he waited for Evangelina to retrieve the grey and join him. There was still an hour's ride to the city, and the sun was slanting lower with every moment passed.
Achilleas' brow creased a little as Evangelina made some show of pushing aside her worries about Lord Gavriil. He knew enough to see that he had not succeeded in offering comfort, and more than that, her response had him thinking about his own situation. He was not a man who was good at expressing emotion and though the Leventi girl's words spoke to the opposite; they were not very convincing where she claimed actions were enough.
It made the king wonder if perhaps Theodora was not off lamenting the fact that he had not verbally expressed his affections to her, and that was not a comforting thought. There had been more than one conversation that had passed between the two of them where she had requested more openness, and though he thought they grown closer over the past days, he had not actually expressed love in any verbal sense. Should he? Here was Lady Evangelina wanting it from a man she was not even formally betrothed to and Achilleas had not yet uttered such a thing to the woman already his wife?
Almost he considered asking the woman next to him but dismissed the idea almost as quickly because Theodora hadn't said anything like it either, and mayhaps it wasn't entirely unsurprising given the strange start they'd had to their marriage. Maybe he...
When Evangelina began to speak again, Achilleas realised how rudely he'd let his thoughts wander and turned his attention back to the woman beside him, a little thrown by the unexpected offering, so he bumbled his way through a thank you.
But at least he'd done it without revealing how touched he was at the gesture, and to be doubly sure, he rounded off with some flippant remark about her having been hanging on to the stone for days just in case she happened to see him. That provoked a response he hadn't expected, and the king's gaze fell back to the piece of lapis lazuli as he processed the idea that Evangelina had gifted him something that had been her own.
"I…" He hadn't decided quite what he was going to say at that point, but she cut him off anyway, narrowing her gaze as if to warn him off speaking the words that might have been on the tip of his tongue. And Achilleas' fingers closed around the stone instinctively as she threatened to take it back. "What, no. I want it."
He looked at her, and the darted his gaze away because somehow this had strayed into..some kind of moment and he was never sure what to do with those. And he felt incredibly grateful for the fact that the Leventi girl seemed to sense it too and righted the world by mocking his own fumbled thank you.
With a wry arch of a brow, the king pocketed the stone before she got any further notion of reclaiming it. "Actually, more regular shaped stones are more effective in slingshots" he observed, just to ensure the status quo was fully restored, and he pushed to his feet, brushing off the grass seed that clung to him and clearing his throat before he offered Evangelina a hand up too.
"I've tarried too long already," he said, trying not to sound as disappointed by the idea as he felt. But tasks were awaiting him back in Vasiliadon that would not wait because he was weary, or because this brief freedom tasted so good. "I should head back before a search is mounted for the missing monarch. You'll let me escort you back, of course."
Not a question, then, but he hardly thought it controversial given that they had already agreed as much. As he approached, Amyntas lifted his head from the grass and turned to leave a slobbery green smear on the man's forearm, one which Achilleas promptly wiped off on the horse's neck with a muttered 'delightful'. A moment later and he sat astride the great horse, cutting an imposing figure as he waited for Evangelina to retrieve the grey and join him. There was still an hour's ride to the city, and the sun was slanting lower with every moment passed.
