Sydney Alexis
XIV
I arrived at the palace to find my wives essentially where I left them that morning--packing. Clothing littered their beds and trunks in various stages of being filled lined the halls and the floors of their rooms all save Constance whose one and only trunk sat locked in her room. She had been pulled into Ria's room to help with packing. I paused at the doorjamb to listen.
"Ria...you have to recall Crycus' limit. There simply isn't enough space in the hold for all of your clothes and the food..."
"Well...there is the space you left by only taking one trunk."
"But the more you load down a ship with cargo, the slower it will sail and the easier it will be to sink."
"Trunks make excellent floatation devices," Ria replied, unfaised. "If we're sunk, I'll grab onto one of my trunks and use my legs to kick myself to shore.
Constance sighed, folding yet another dress to place in the third trunk that was rapidly filling.
"Perhaps you should rethinking packing your entire wardrobe, Ria," I said, entering. I held my hand out to Constance who smiled as she walked towards me and took it. I sat on the edge of the bed pulling the slight girl into my lap, enjoying the red tinge that came to her cheeks at the affectionate display.
"And why would I do that?"
"We'll be stopping at several ports along the way. Surely you'll need the space to stowe your newest aquisitions."
She paused to consider, while I dropped a kiss on Constance's brow.
"You also have to remember that we won't set sail for several days. You'll need clothing...unless of course you plan on not leaving your rooms..."
Constance laughed a deep, knowing laugh. "That shouldn't be a problem for Ria. She owns enough clothes for all of us to wear."
I paused, taking in the four wardrobes that lined her walls. Two of them were opened and emptied. The third and four had their doors open and were half emptied--some on the bed, some in the trunk she was currently working on.
"Why aren't the servants assisting you?"
"They were needed to help in the mead hall..."
"...and I won't have them pawing through my things," Constance started and Ria finished.
"You'll need to be more careful now that they're here," I said softly, closing my eyes, enjoying the feel of Constance's hand through my hair.
"Why's that," Ria asked, pausing her packing presumably because of my soft tone.
"His men are mostly Christians. They see you as corteseans. Objects that are only protected so long as I am alive. You're all smart and beautiful and they would love nothing more than to break you for what you stand for--pagean marriage rites. They would assume that you knew what I looked like without this veil. They would resort to...less than Christian means to get you to describe me, to identify my body as Crycus."
I felt Constance's hand stop, her body stiffen in my arms.
"But we don't know what you look like. When you've taken us, it's always been in total darkness..."
"Something they would never believe."
"If you are ever caught in that situation..."
"We never will be Crycus. I've seen you fight; you are formidable."
"But I am one sword. Alone, against a small group or one on one, I would be able to hold my own, but Solomon's army is twice the size of mine. We will be outnumbered once we reach the homeland."
"Then why train your men as roughly as you have? I've come across them in the fields. We all have. There is passion and purpose in your step when you train them..." Constance started.
"...and, even if the king has a thousand men or a thousand thousand, numbers do not make up for quality. You've said it yourself a dozen times," Ria interrupted.
"And if my men face that number, they will eventually fall--if not from a lucky blow than from an exhausted swordarm. You must be prepared for any eventuality."
"Why are you telling us all of this?"
"Because, of all the things you have been taught, you have but one lesson you must learn before tonight...before we leave."
"That fatalistic speeches agrue bad tidings ahead?" Ria suggested, returning to her packing.
I fought hard not to smile. This lesson was meant to be a serious. One that was taken seriously for the warning that it held.
"No. That you need to know who you can trust."
"And am I to assume you are going to tell me that I can always trust myself and no one else?"
"Ultimately, yes, but, under these circumstances, you can also trust each other."
"You expect all of the wives to trust one another? Need I remind you that Annika was making preludes to Chakotay? It was the reason you killed him and displayed his head well past the time of it being ripe with death. What makes you think that love or loyalty isn't going to make us turn on ourselves?"
"You'll find, Ria, that when the lives of yourself and those in your group are at stake, they will be willing to bend their moral beliefs enough until you escape. By the time they return, you will have part company, and will be heading in opposite directions."
"So we trust one another. And what of you...your advisors?"
"I will do everything within my power to get those that I love out safely," I started, watching them both visibly relax at my admission. "As for my advisors, Tuvok has pledged his life to me. Beyond that, use your own judgment."
I stood and moved toward the door only to be stopped by Ria's voice.
"I suppose you'll be sharing this little morale boosting speech with all the wives?"
"I am intrusting that wonderful mouth of yourse to repeat it for me, love," I said, willing her to recall her comment from days before. "Now, if there is nothing further you have to ask of me, I have business matters to attend."
I bowed slightly and left the two of them to continue their packing. From Sortiria's room, I walked slowly toward the 'throne room' where I was set to meet with Arkin, my advisor, and several traders who had 'unreconcilable difficulties.' Problems that, in all likelihood, could and would have been solved in moments if Arkin had the intestinal fortitude to pull his blade on them and force the issue. Inside, I was trapped for several hours in a large, grandious room listening to the good people of my town blather on about insignificant matters. Matters that would have been dealt with by Chakotay before I cut off his head...
From the staircase to the royal chambers, I headed south, past my personal dining hall toward my aforementioned doom. The room was brightly lit and dripping in expensive fabrics. At the rear of the room was a massive throne-like chair that was covered embroidered, red silk from Chin. The arms, legs, and all railings were covered in overly ornate, hand carved rosewood. To the right of this sat a more simplistic wooden chair upon which Arkin sat. Before both seats was the long wooden table that held land documents, petitions, and other paperwork that needed my attention. From the door to Crycus' hideous seat was a long, thin, red carpet presumably to show the 'commoners' how well off Crycus was because of them...that are a roadmap to find his seat. To the left and right of the red carpet, seated in ancient wooden chairs, sat the waiting masses of people who were their to have their disputes settled here, in my forum. The only things missing from this picture was the ridiculously heavy, jewel-encrusted crown and the trumpet fanfare.
The moment I stepped onto the threshold, I knew it was going to be a long day...a very, very long day. The crowd was standing room only. Seats were being fought over. The guards stood by looking amused by the whole thing, and, in front of it all, Arkin sat, writing out an agenda. At least I could calm myself by knowing this was the very last time that I would have to do this.
"Docket number 429. Selius versus Andrius. Selius claims that Andrius has illegally expanded his business into territory clearly staked for his family..."
By the fifth, continuous hour of cases which seemed to essentially all be about the same problem--vendors selling on others property--I came to the conclusion that I was being punished for every wrong I had committed. Head buried in hands, I listened to Arkin drone on and on about the particulars of the case--locations, witness, times and dates. Finally, I grew fed up, sat up in my chair and directly addressed entire group gathered.
"If you are here because of similar circumstances, raise your hand."
"You come forward," I said, motioning to the four out of a sea of people. "Arkin," I started, turning toward the little man. From the expression on his face, I knew he was horrorfied at my break in ancient practices. "Mark all of the land in question as being remanded into my kingdoms care. All claims, be they ancient or not, have been dissolved. Any of those parties present that wish to reclaim the land they were fighting over, may fight to the death. Such will be the law for all future claims. Any inquries or petitions to do so must be directed to Neelix who will officiate over them. Those of you this was directed to are now dismissed from this palace," I finished, feeling satisfied for the first time in hours.
From the throne room, I went directly to my chambers and collapsed onto my bed, Arkin following closely behind.
"...you simply can't expect your people to fight to the death. It's barbaric and uncalled for. These people have done nothing but support you and to take away their land because you simply can't be bothered to listen to their arguements..."
"...shows a lack of concern on my part. Arkin, you are missing the part where I care. Yes, of course, I realize that these people have been good to me. This is simply a means to an end. Making them realize that they should be happy with the possessions that they own is my only motive here," I said, speaking to the ceiling rather than them man.
"But it's as if you are saying that the people whose land is being violated have no rights to stand up for themselves."
I sighed, drawing in a deep, weary breath. "Release an edict. Tell the people to clearly mark their land's boundaries. Have them use their family's crest on each corner. If any disputes rise from this, then send teams to find the documentation and mark out those areas for them. Once they are up, increase patrol. At least until we've left with Solomon's men."
"Thank you, Sir."
"And in the future, I expect you to deal with these petty squabbles. I have far too much to do as it is."
"Yes, sir," Arkin said, backing out of the room. Instead of hearing the creak of the hinges, I heard soft footfalls instead. My hand went to the dagger in my belt as I turned my head toward the door. My grip relaxed as I saw Kathryn approach. She smiled brightly, closing the doors behind her.
"I thought you could use some company," she said, sitting beside me on the bed.
"Silence and time to think actually."
"That bad, huh?"
"We're so close to being within the lion's den that mistakes at this point will be costly."
"And trying to plan and covering all of Crycus' old job duties and trying not to out yourself in front of your countrymen is a bit exhausting," Kathryn teased. Her fingers eased through my hair, I closed my eyes at the sensation, feeling the mattress dip as she curled up beside me.
"Poor little Thomas needs a nap," she whispered into my ear.
I stroked the arm that came to rest on my chest. "You must be careful where and when you speak that name. Some of those men may know the tale."
"And your death may mean our own...yes, Ria was more than happy to repeat your cautionary speech. You worry too much, Thomas. Why would the king tell his men about the night he turned his back on his own prize fighter?"
"Stories can be changed to suit the needs of the bard."
"And what the king speaks is always gospel. I've already learned that lesson," she said.
Silence ensued as she traced her fingers along the scars on my chest. The moment was soft and intimate the likes of which I hadn't felt since B'El. I felt my breathing even out, deepen, and my heart beat slow. I trusted her. God help me I trusted her enough to fall asleep next to her full well knowing that not more than a few moments away was a group of men that could bring my ending, but, somehow, I knew she would never betray me to them.
"I just wanted to spend some time with Thomas before he completely disappeared," she said softly, thinking that I had fallen asleep.