The Queen, the Murderer, and the Governor's Wife

Chapter 14

"I should have known better than to give something to you. You are always so unappreciative."

"I am not being unappreciative," Lucien defended with a frown. "You are to tell me then that you would not find it odd if I gave you a gift? I am only asking why you would do so. That is all. Do not be so defensive."

"I gave it to you because sometimes it I choose to be thoughtful." Judith crossed her arms. "If you do not like it-"

"Aye, wench, it is fine." Lucien continued to stare down at the blade. "Tell me I do not have to get you something."

"I said nothing of myself, did I?" Judith looked off then. "Besides, I would not trust anything I got from you."

"Then you understand my predicament currently."

They were standing in their bedroom, where Judith had led him after luncheon that day. He honestly wasn't too sure what to expect, but seeing his dagger was a slight relief, as he had missed it and been looking for it. Knowing that she had got it decorated for him, however, was another point of hesitance.

"I understand nothing."

"Judith-"

"I just shall never try to be kind again, Lucien, if that is what-"

"Thank you," he finally said, picking up the dagger. "Very much. It was very kind of you."

"Lucien-"

"What do you want then, woman? I thank you, you get upset. I say I do not know how to react, you get upset. What do you wish for me to say then, Judith?"

She only stood there, arms folded over her chest, as she stared at him. Thinking for a moment, she finally said, "I think that you should say nothing on it and we can now move on. I thought that I would feel better, doing something for another. I do not. I still feel the same. This was a failed endeavor."

Lucien blinked then before shaking his head slightly. "Regardless, it is very nice of you to do this and I am thankful. I shall wear it in my belt, yes?"

"If you wish."

He went to hug her then, but it was very stiff and very forced. She only stood there when he did, as if annoyed. Then he shocked her by giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"L-Lucien-"

"Come then. I am sure that there is something more pressing for the two of us to be attending to currently. After all, your mother has once again arrived from the battle field. And I think she has words that you might wish to hear."

"Meaning what?" Judith straightened herself as he turned to walk away. "Lucien, what does that mean? What are you talking about?"

Lucien only shook his head slightly. "You shall see."

"Something I would enjoy? What sorts of things would I enjoy?"

"It has to do with your sister," he hinted.

"My sister." Judith shook her head. "She and my mother have not spoken since Solovet went to their apartment. Susannah has not even spoken to me! What can Mother do to her?"

"I said you shall see."

"Lucien-"

"It is a surprise, yes? Kind of like you surprised me."

"Then you set this up?"

"No," he said with a shake of his head. "This was from the plot of your evil mother. To get back at your sister."

"Lucien, just tell me-"

"She is sending York back onto the battle field."

Judith glanced at him before shrugging slightly. "He is a solider. It is his duty."

"His rotation would not have come up again for weeks, if not months. She is putting him in a new brigade, just to get him out of the capital. That way she can get back at your sister again. Then she can win her over while he is gone. Assuming he is not killed before then."

Judith blinked. Then, slowly, she said, "If that is truly her plan, then that is genius. Susannah will be most upset and come here to complain of York being sent off again. Mother will only say that it is his duty. Then she shall pretend to be sympathetic and Susannah shall fall for it, as she always does. Then she has York away and Susannah here and can slowly begin breaking away at Susannah's resolve over this whole divorce thing."

"Your mother is a lot of things, but foolish is not one of them. At least when it comes to manipulating others."

Judith almost looked downright giddy then as she laughed slightly. It almost sounded like a giggle. Honestly, Lucien was concerned.

"Susannah's perfect little world is about to come crashing to a halt," Judith said, grinning. "And who will she turn to? Not my mother. No. Mother thinks so. She will try to be sympathetic, but I shall get to her first, you see?"

"What do you wish with Susannah?"

"Nothing," Judith said with a shake of her head. "However, I hate her with York. I hate how happy she is with him. It is annoying and her resistance to this family currently bothers me. Especially considering the fact that she is supposed to hate him as much as I hate you."

Lucien rolled his eyes. "Jealous again, wench?"

"I am not jealous of anyone. You always accuse me of being so, yet I never am. Jealousy is not an emotion I feel."

"What emotions do you feel then?"

Rolling her eyes, Judith only said, "Susannah deserves some disappointment in her life. Some reality. She is like a young child. Always happy and looking at the brighter side of things. That is not a way that a person should live."

"Of course not."

"And besides," she went on. "If this divorce goes through, then she will not be in the Fount."

"And? I thought you wished for her to be gone?"

"I do," Judith said with a nod of her head. "However, I do not think that she and stupid York should be in power in the Fount. The Fount is mine. I do not like either of them. Why should they be in control fo something that is mine? I-"

"Tell you what," Lucien began then. "If this divorce goes through, why, I'll allow you to go to the Fount."

"Wh-What?"

"You can go to the Fount and rule there. I shall stay here. You can do whatever you wish there. I do not care. You will even still be the Queen of everything, but I won't ever have to see you or-"

"Lucien, be quiet."

"It is a very lucrative deal, I would think."

"You are not funny."

"I am not trying to be."

She only crossed her arms once more as they walked along down the hall. "These are the sorts of things I am talking about when I tell others that you treat me badly."

He only snorted. "Giving you a whole city is something that a kind man would do. You should be thankful. And all that I am asking of you is that you take your entire family with you. Vikus, Solovet, Hamnet, Susannah. All of them. Even Miravet. All of them. Gone."

"I am not laughing," she told him with a frown. "At all."

"You never did have a sense of humor. I suppose it was taken along with all of your other emotions."

"Susannah, please, stop crying."

"I-I cannot help it, York," she sobbed, curled up in the center of their bed. She had been off that day from her schooling and had not been expecting him home for some time. She had been picking up around the apartment when he came in with some bad news. He was going to be shipping out in two days, back to the battlefield, for perceivably longer that time. "It is not fair."

"It is fair. I am a soldier. And I like war. I-"

"More than me?"

That made him grin slightly, as he stood at the side of the bed, staring down at her. Slowly, he shook his head.

"No, Susannah, of course not more than you."

"Then why-"

"I am a soldier. And given that in a year we will more than likely be in the Fount, I wish to fight as much as I can."

"But war is so…nasty."

He only continued to stare at her for a moment before slowly nodding towards the bed. She scooted over some, allowing him to sit on it with her. He immediately pulled her up some, so that she was partially in his lap. She only stared up at him though, still tearful.

"War is not nasty, Susannah," he told her with a sigh as he stroked the back of her head. "It is only a necessity. One that I tend to enjoy. Does that make me nasty?"

"No," she said slowly. "But you should not enjoy killing, York. That's-"

"That's what makes me a good soldier," he told her. "Am I a bad person?"

"No."

"Would I ever hurt someone outside of battle without just cause?"

"No."

"Then see? War is just something that men like me must do. To get it out of their systems."

"Then," she said softly, settling against him. "Then if you did not have war, would you kill someone?"

"Susannah-"

"I am only asking."

"No," he told her softly. "I do not have…bloodlust or something such as that. I only enjoy fighting."

"You enjoy killing." She sniffled, shifting up to rest her head on his chest. He paused for a moment before holding her against him. "And that is wrong."

"It is only filthy rats, Susannah. Not humans. I-"

"It makes no difference. They have families and lives and-"

"Susannah, if we did not kill them, do you think they would have the same feelings about you?"

"Maybe."

"No," he told her flatly, trying to keep the harshness out of his voice. "They would kill you in a heartbeat. They are soulless, worthless creatures that-"

"And we are not?"

"Susannah-"

"York, I am only-"

"No." He lifted her then, very easily, and laid her back down on the bed. "I am going. I have to go. There is no way that I am not going. Suck it up."

That was not the right thing to say, as of course she began to sob again, now thinking that he was angry with her. York only sighed before shifting on the bed so that he was on his side, staring down at her.

"Susannah-"

"I'm sorry, York," she whined, burying her face into the sheet. "I did not mean to call you horrible or take the side of rats. I did not-"

"I am not angry with you." He patted the back of her head gently, as if she were an animal. "I am only trying to make you understand, yes? Without soldiers, Regalia and the Fount would be taken over. We have to fight. We cannot just stand by and be peaceful creatures. We-"

"How would you know unless you try?"

He only sighed, leaning over to kiss her head. "Because if we wait around to try, Susannah, then we shall be taken over, yes?"

"But-"

"What can I do to make you understand?"

She only laid her head back down, sniffling again. "I do not like war. I do not think I ever shall."

"What would Solovet say when you acted this way?"

"I would never say anything to her such as this. Demand that she not fight in war? I would never say that to her. She would have struck me."

"Hmmm." He stared down at her then. "I could never do that. You are far too beautiful to mare."

He was trying to make her giggle, but it did not work. Sighing, he kissed her forehead again.

"Susannah, look up at me." When she did not, he reached over to force her to do so.

"York-"

"I am not angry with you," he reiterated then. "So stop crying. Now. It is over. Alright?"

"You yelled at-"

"I did not. And I will not, if you stop this act now."

"It is not an act, York! I-"

"I know. Shhh. I know." He finally fell onto the bed with a sigh. Being in a relationship was very hard. Especially considering he never wanted one to begin with. "Susannah, you might possibly be the nicest person I have ever met. The most kind hearted."

"I-"

"It is a compliment. For you," he added as an afterthought. "Your sister, your mother. They are very cold. They have no heart. Perhaps you got all of the heart in your family. I do not know. But you are have a caring nature. It is something to be admired for someone that is going into the position you are. You will be a good doctor."

That made her lift her head slightly, still sniffling away. "Thank you."

"You are my wife, Susannah," he told her with a sigh as he stared up at the ceiling. "I wish to please you, but not at the cost of my own desires."

She sniffled before moving closer to him resting her head against his side.

"York? How long do you think you will be gone?"

"Not too long, I hope." He laid a hand on top of her hand. "The main war is over. Now we are just doing clean up, if you will. Your mother killed the king, you know."

"I know."

"So I will not really be in danger."

"You always are in danger, when you are in battle." She rubbed her head against his stomach, which didn't make him feel incredibly comfortable. At least not in a way that she herself would be comfortable with. "And why would Mother change your troop so suddenly?"

"I do not know," he said slowly. "I-"

"You do not think she is punishing us, do you?"

"How is this punishment?"

"Your old group would not be going back so soon."

"And? If anything, she is rewarding me. I wish to leave." He closed his eyes then. "I do not take it personally. Your mother would not meddle with her career just to get back at you, Susannah."

This made her feel no better, only caused her to cuddle closer to him. York glanced down at her, but she was oblivious to his stare.

"Must you go back to the arena?"

"Today?" He shook his head slightly. "No. Tomorrow morning though, yes. I must practice new drills, yes? With my new brigade?"

"Oh."

"But we are free for now," he told her then. "Was there something that you wished to do?"

"No."

"Well, what were you doing then? Before I got home?"

She shifted slightly before saying, "Cleaning up."

"Did you wish to get back to that then?"

"Should I?"

He shrugged as best he could, lying down and all. "I did not clean much before you. It is a worthless endeavor. You clean and then things get messy again. So you clean them again, only for them to wind up dirty once more. What is the point, I ask you?"

"Well," she began slowly. "If you never did clean, the things would get messier and messier and then it would get dirty on top of dirty until it was a complete mess."

Blinking, he glanced down at her before saying, "I think you are too smart for me, Susannah."

That made her giggle before moving away from him slightly. "Was there something that you wished to do, York?"

He watched her for a moment before shaking his head slightly. "Just laying her with you is fine."

That made her smile slightly before laying her head back down, her head rested on his stomach then as she curled against him. He only reached down to stroke the top of her head gently, closing his eyes then as he slowly began to relax. Maybe everything about being married wasn't bad. Maybe.

Hamnet, in all his experience, had never found any one woman that entertaining.

Not to say that women did not entertain him. Because they did. Very much. Just not in the way normal company would.

He had never ever in his life actually had a female friend. And knowing the relationships that he had with the women in his family, it was easy to see why. There was his mother, who would drain him dry and claim it an act of love, the sibling he came out of the womb with, who would have drained him dry and found complete and utter pleasure in the act, and then his baby sister, who drained him dry without meaning to, but did so regardless. Needless to say, other than the sexual side of it, he had all his bases covered as far as women went in his life. He did not need another in it.

And he actively avoided having one in it. He could not handle an actual relationship. Half of his life was spent fighting and the rest was spent recuperating from the fighting. Not to mention the factions of his life that were spent arguing with his twin, keeping his baby sister safe, and delegating disagreements for his mother. So he made fake relationships, like most soldiers, where he knew some amount of women who were ready whenever he was, who just wished to be able to say that they were with such a high acclaimed soldier.

That went well for him too.

…Until it didn't.

The thing was, she stared as one of his normal women, who was just around when he wanted her to be. And it was perfect that way. It was fine that way. She got what she wanted out of it, or so he assumed, and he most certainly had his fill of her.

…But then he wanted more.

She was actually a very funny person. It was not a trait that he attributed to women. He was funny. He knew other men who were funny. But there was not a single funny woman that he had ever met. Sometimes Judith might make some sort of really dark centered humor that only she thought was funny that usually involved the death of someone or caused Susannah to cry. But other than that, he figured women had only a few set functions. Evil, like his twin. Weepy and needy, like his other sibling. Or vindictive and authoritative, like his mother. But funny? That wasn't something women were. At all.

…Yet she was.

They had spend the night together the night before and, shockingly enough, actually said more to each other than usual. It typically were the same fake, hallow words that he used on women's that got him what he wanted, and yes, it started out that way, but then somehow they started talking about other things. It was mainly because of the fact that he was so injured. She had seen his bandages and then started asking him about his injuries and how war had been for him. And somehow they ended up talking and laughing and…well.

And then he spent the next day with her, which wasn't that big of a del. Not really. Some times he would spend multiple days with the same woman. It was noting other than sexual really. Well, usually. He and her spent more time talking to each other than anything else.

He was drowning. Hamnet was honestly drowning.

"You look terrible."

Hamnet made a face at Edward as he walked into the dinning hall. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Valeria frowned at her husband, who only shrugged slightly. To Hamnet she said, "You just look overly tired."

"Late night, brother?" Judith asked from her spot at the table. Lucien was gone for once and she was at the head of the table, where she no doubt thought she always belonged.

He regarded her with suspicion though he still only nodded. "Aye. Nights, more like it."

"I have not seen you in a few days," Valeria told him then. "You have not been eating meals here. Not even breakfast this morning."

"Aye," he said again, slower that time. "The past two days I was bedridden."

Edward only shook his head slightly. "Is that what we are calling it now? Bedridden?"

Judith only rolled her eyes. "What is her name, Hamnet?"

"I do not know what you are-"

"Hamnet has just suffered a massive injury," Valeria reminded the other two at the table. "If it weren't for York, he would be dead currently. Perhaps-"

"I would have been fine without York. I can look after myself. I have my whole life," Hamnet grumbled as a plate was sat in front of him.

"Bad mood? She must not be very good at bed riding."

"Edward." It was Judith that time that looked over him, her tone shutting down his mood faster than his wife's ever had. "Enough."

He lowed his eyes to his plate then, mumbling something about how he apologized for his vulgarity. Valeria only rolled her eyes while Hamnet sighed.

"Where is mother then? I thought she would be back by now."

Judith shrugged her shoulders slightly. "If you care so much, then perhaps you should be around some more. You and Susannah both have abandoned the palace for-"

"I have other things to do all day that argue with you, sister. I beg for your forgiveness."

"Beg me for nothing. It only serves to make me consider beheading you."

"You should go to the doctor, sister," he retorted then. "Your normal wittiness has fled you and left you with these dry, hardly interesting remarks."

Judith narrowed her eyes at him before saying simply, "Yes, well, my mother does not watch over my lack wittiness as she does your inability to even fend off two lowly soldiers. Tell me, does it give you as much of a thrill to be saved by big bad York as it does our baby sister?"

Hamnet bore holes into her in that moment, but Judith only looked on with that snide little smile of hers. She always thought she was so cunning, so intelligent, so…so…so much like Solovet. And she wasn't. She wasn't half of what their mother was. Not even close.

"Of all the times the King decides not to eat luncheon here, it has to be when the two of you choose to fight. Honestly, I do not know why I have not found a better place to eat by now," Valeria sighed as she stood. "Come, Edward. You have had your fill."

For once, Judith did not take a parting shot at the woman as she and her husband left, only keeping her eyes on her brother as she reached forward for her glass of wine. She thought she had won. She could outright lose and she'd still think she won.

"One day, Judith," Hamnet said slowly once the Prince and his bride were gone, "you are going to be in trouble. Very, very big trouble. And you're going to wish I was there to save you. But I won't be. I would watch you burn rather then lift a finger to save you."

That made her chuckle before taking another sip of wine. "Tell me, brother, do you thinking burning scares me? Do you think you do? I-"

"I know exactly what scares you, Judith."

"Do you? Do tell."

He only shook his head before looking down at his plate. That made her frown slightly, feeling as if he was not playing by the rules of the game.

"Then you know nothing."

"One day, Judith, you will learn that just because you know something does not mean you have to share it," he told her. "Perhaps if you had known that when we were kids, you would have some actual friends by now."

"Tell me you did not."

Solovet did not even lift her eyes as she stared down at the map in front of her. "I did not."

"Solo-"

"Vikus, I am working."

"You are not. And I would not care if you were."

That made her look up, though it was only to nod at Caius, who was forevermore faithfully at her side, awaiting instruction. At that one nod, he headed out of the room, leaving her and her husband alone in the tactics room. Vikus frowned at the younger man, but said nothing about him.

"What did you wish to discuss, Vikus?" Solovet sighed, staring at him then. "I would like to point out before you begin that you came in here telling me to do something. I did it. I do not know why-"

"You are sending York back into battle."

She pursed her lips. "Who?"

"Solovet-"

"He is a soldier, Vikus. Honestly, I-"

"You are sending him out with a troop that he is complete inexperienced with. You know exactly what you are doing. And if where I heard you are sending him-"

"Where did you hear I was sending him?"

"Into the caves toward the backend of the Water Way."

She nodded then. "I am."

"Solovet-"

"Vikus, he is a soldier in my army. I move men around frequently. I do not have a preference about-"

"Then why are you not sending your son?"

She snorted. "He is injured. And who told you of this anyhow, Vikus? Susannah? The little-"

"No," he said, his tone going darker then. "I have not seen her since you struck her. Judith either. In fact, since you went to speak with York, no one has even spoken to her."

"She is alive, if that is what you are worried about."

"No, Solovet, it is not."

"Oh, do calm down, Vikus. You are beginning to bore me with this protective streak." She shook her head before looking back down at the map. "Susannah is fine and it will only serve her better to have York gone."

"Why? So you can get your claws back in her?"

"Claws? Why, you are the one with the tail and a snout. Or are you not trading little messages with your friend once more?"

Vikus stifled at that. "Ripred and I both wish for an everlasting peace. You are the one-"

"They are rats, Vikus. Gnawers. He would stab you in the back if it brought him some sort of gain."

"And you would not?"

She almost looked hurt for half a second then before only looking back down at the map. "You are a worthless politician that only serves as an annoyance. There is not a soul that would pay me to do away with you."

He was walking then, but she did not look up, not even when he stopped next to her, staring straight at her. It used to be cute to her, when they were young, that he was the same height at her. Now it only served to annoy her. She wished to be taller than him. Still, she had strength on him and that was enough.

"What is your plan then, Solovet?" he hissed, glaring at her. She only continued to stare down at the map. "Surely you would not have York killed out there."

"Surely? No. But have I?" She shook her head slightly. "It is costly, yes? Killing someone off? Especially a governor's son. Royce would ask too many questions."

"I do not fine you entertaining."

"I have done many wrong things, Vikus. I have killed for personal gain before. Is that what you wish to hear?"

"Solovet-"

"But no, I will not kill just so my daughter will remarry to another." She glanced at him then out of the corner of her eyes, not moving her head in the slightest. "I will force the divorce in another way. So step away. You know I do not like when your breath on me."

Vikus was still upset with her, but she only rolled her eyes. It had been a long time since either of them had been too pleased with the other. A very long time.

"Do others know that you act this way? Or is it only I that can get you so worked up?" Solovet finally turned her head to stare at him, though she was grinning then. "Why, Vikus, I am flattered."

He only stared at her for a moment before taking a step back. "You had better hope that York comes back from battle alive, Solovet. Or else-"

"Or else what, Vikus? Hmmm?" She made a face at his back as he retreated then, no doubt feeling like a man. Like he had put her in her place or something as silly as that. She knew that she could crush him back down to size with a few choice words, but resisted the desire. She had long lost the joy in playing around with his emotions. Not when she had three children who were just as fun to toy with. "Divorce me? I could only hope. Then I'd marry this damn general myself."

Yeah, I know, it's been a week again. Maybe that's how long it'll take from now on for an update (I write knowing the second I commit to that, I'll start pushing out chapters daily). Bleh.