The Kingdom of Adreas

Year 106 of Leahra, Second Age

High King Felix of Erya watched the woman sitting on the opposite side of the carriage staring out the window. His wife. After nearly three years of marriage, she still kept him at arm's length and it amazed him he'd convinced her to join him on this trip. He suspected the only reason she had relented was that they had visited her home kingdom of Adreas, settling a dispute between her father, King Samon, and the neighbouring kingdom's ruler.

Looking out the window, he wondered what she was thinking about. The vast farmlands that brought Adreas most of its wealth spread out before them as they travelled along the road back towards the city of Messina. He nodded to the captain of his King's Guard as Castel caught his eye. They would soon reach the forests, which Felix preferred, as he felt a little like a sitting duck travelling with no cover. Not that it should matter, since the Dark Disciple and the Dark God's zealots were long gone, and whoever remained had retreated to the Dreadlands north of Erya. But it was difficult to shake the memories of his time on the road with Isobel and Goddess Dhim. Always looking over their shoulders. Always waiting for the next attack.

Turning back to the stack of missives resting on his lap, he sighed. When he was still the Prince of Ler, he'd never had to deal with the boring day to day running of the kingdom, but since becoming High King of all of Erya there seemed to be an endless amount of issues to deal with, and reports and letters to read and respond to. Glancing up for a moment, he caught his wife looking at him. The reports could wait.

"I'm glad you agreed to join me on this trip," he said conversationally, hoping to entice her into a conversation. "It's been ages since you left Messina."

"I never felt comfortable leaving Mio with only nannies when he was so young."

He knew this excuse well. She'd used it numerous times during their time together. First, it had been her state as she expected him—she had conceived quickly, so their awkward couplings had been limited to a handful of times, thankfully—and later that she didn't want to leave him. Anything to avoid time alone with her husband.

"I know." A smile played at his lips as he thought of Mio. Say what you want about their marriage, but they had a beautiful two-year-old son. "I can't blame you. He's delightful. Still, I'm glad you came. We spend such little time together."

She smiled blandly, not rising to the bait. It was bad of him, but he couldn't help himself from needling her a little at times. She was always so prim and proper, and the playful side of him just wanted to ruffle a few feathers. This wasn't the type of marriage he ever would have envisioned for himself, but he accepted her terms even if he didn't enjoy them. Her father had more or less forced her into this marriage, and if she wanted no more to do with him than absolutely necessary, he would give her that. Even if he often wished things had been different.

"Do you miss Adreas?" he asked, refusing to give up on getting her to talk to him.

"Sometimes," she allowed. "It's not quite the same now that my father has remarried. I enjoyed seeing my old home again. It's good to see them making such good progress on rebuilding after the destruction."

He nodded. Many of Erya's kingdoms needed to rebuild after the war. They had all reeled with shock when Deva, the Dark Disciple, murdered the previous High King and declared his allegiance to the trapped Dark God. After going into hiding, his followers ran amok across the world of Erya. The kingdoms struggled to cooperate without their sovereign and High Council, old grievances suddenly coming to the forefront and allegiances tested. After Deva attacked and occupied the city of Messina, the raids and attacks reached new heights, and Adreas was particularly badly hit. The years since taking back Messina had not been easy on anyone, but it was a far cry better than during those dark days.

At least it was over now. He had personally watched Isobel and Goddess Dhim lock the bastard away. They reclaimed Messina, vanquished the enemy... and if this had been a storybook, they would have lived happily ever after. Instead, Felix was trapped in a marriage with a woman who appeared to loathe his very existence, and Isobel spent as much time as possible away from Messina. Goddess Dhim was long gone, having returned to wherever the Gods were hiding. They stayed out of mortal affairs, and Dhim had probably got into trouble for stepping in to help with Deva. He was grateful she had because, without her help, no one knew what might have happened.

Tired of the gloomy thoughts, he looked back at his wife. She'd returned to gazing out the window, always content to ignore him. Her long, auburn hair hung down her back and shoulders, a lovely contrast to the deep green of her velvet dress. She was as beautiful as she was unapproachable, but by the Gods, if he wasn't going to keep trying.

"Do you think I was too harsh on him?" he asked, forcing her to turn back.

It took her a moment to understand he was speaking of her father, and she raised her eyebrows, surprised to be asked her opinion. "No, my father was in the wrong. He cannot claim ownership of a piece of land belonging to another kingdom simply because he helped them during the war."

"You're correct, of course. I worried I may have been too harsh. Perhaps I worry because he's your father and may hope for special treatment." He ran a hand through his hair, tired of the politics he had to deal with daily.

Shae watched him, clasping her hands in her lap. "If he does, he should know better. You cannot favour any king over another. That would be abusing your role as the High King of Erya and is exactly the type of thing your detractors worry about. By always remaining impartial, you will win everyone over, eventually."

Not everyone was glad to have a High King back on the throne in Messina. A lot of kingdoms had enjoyed no longer having to report to a sovereign, and even if he did his best not to step on anyone's toes, it was impossible to please everyone all the time.

"Thank you." He smiled crookedly. "I'm more grateful than you realise that you came with me on this trip. Even I can feel worried in the face of my wife's father. And it has the added benefit of us actually spending a little time together."

She stared at him, her golden-brown eyes unreadable. What would he not give to know what she was thinking. When she remained silent, his smile widened slightly.

"Shae?"

She jerked back, surprised by his soft query. "I beg your pardon," she murmured. "I was lost in thought."

"Apparently." Had she been considering how she might smother him in his sleep? No, of course not. For that one had to share a bed.

Looking away, she motioned to the stack of missives still sitting on his lap. "Please, don't let me keep you from your work."

He smiled sardonically. "And dismissed."

"Excuse me?"

Giving her an innocent smile, he said blithely, "Oh, nothing. I will deal with these now." He grabbed the stack of parchments and began rifling through them. Finding that he couldn't focus, he pulled them all together and placed them on the seat next to him. "Actually, no. I will not do that. You're stuck in a carriage with me with no escape, so I think this is the perfect time to talk."

She smiled pleasantly. "Your Majesty, we talk all the time."

"I've told you to call me Felix." He hated it when she used his title. It made the distance between them seem all the greater. "I hardly think discussing the weather and if the steak is too salty counts as a proper conversation."

"Felix..." She faltered, looking as if she'd tasted something foul. "My king," she amended, making him scowl. "What would you like to discuss?"

Frustrated, he ran a hand through his hair again, mussing it up. "I don't know," he complained. "Anything. Everything. Don't you think it's a shame that we've been married for nearly three years, and we barely know each other?"

Probably not. He wasn't stupid enough not to realise it was by design. She had no interest in getting to know him any better.

"Ours is a marriage of convenience," she reminded him, her voice not unkind. "It doesn't require conversation. It's what we both wanted."

He looked at her for a moment, saying nothing, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Is it?" he finally asked quietly.

She was saved from having to answer by the arrow that suddenly came flying through the open carriage window.

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