For TDD's Christmas fanfic exchange - I wrote for Maddy. She also came up with the title.
He had become so engrossed in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed the shadows stealing across the room, bleeding into the light, until the door was pulled open and a candle brought the light rushing back in.
"Oh, I didn't mean to disturb you."
As she made to leave the room, Alex recognised the candle-holder. "Princess!" he exclaimed, standing and sweeping her a bow. "Please don't leave just yet."
Thayet paused in the doorway, the candle's flames illuminating her beautiful, sceptical face. He waited. Josiane had reported that the princess was deceptively sharp, but then he had often thought that Josiane would consider a chair leg to be deceptively sharp.
"Since you ask so politely, sir, I believe I could spare just a few minutes."
He barely resisted rolling his eyes. He had been right; she had all the intelligence of a mushroom.
Her eyes followed him as he lit the fire and when he turned to light the candles, they were on him still.
"Were you not cold in here before, sir?" she enquired, taking the glass of wine he offered her. It wasn't poisoned, though he had considered it. These people were Roger's to kill, except for the Lioness. She belonged to Alex alone.
"No," he replied, sitting down and pulling his chair closer, considering her. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Cythera was spoiled by her overly sweet nature, Delia by her overly cruel one. Josiane had only to utter a syllable before she became utterly repulsive. But Thayet... Yes, Thayet would do quite nicely to amuse him until Roger's obsession with Thom came to an end.
"I find anywhere without your smile too cold and dark, Princess."
Disgust flittered across her face before it dissolved into a smile. That was all right. He hadn't expected her to be as easy as every court lady he'd ever known.
"So I keep hearing. Tortall must have been a dull and dreary place indeed before I arrived."
His eyes glittered. "Oh, it was," he assured her, letting his hand brush against hers and watching her shiver slightly. "You don't want your wine?"
"To what would we toast?" Thayet asked, raising her eyebrows. As he opened his mouth, she held up a delicate, ivory hand. He followed the action of her bracelets sliding down her arms and then returned his eyes to her face. "Allow me to guess, please." Her white teeth flashed in a smile, cold and cruel.
She was getting more interesting by the minute.
"Please do," said Alex, moving back in his chair and lifting his glass to her.
She leaned forward, the look in her dark eyes intense. "King Roger?" she suggested.
"King Roger?" He gave a forced laugh, swallowing tightly. Then, he looked up at her, her teeth digging into her lower lip, her sweet, sharp smile. The princess was clearly more valuable than he had thought. "Well, if you will. To King Roger."
"There's just one thing, though. A tiny, insignificant thing. Barely worth bringing up, in fact." She lowered her eyes, looking ashamed.
He managed to conceal his irritation. "What is it?"
"I don't toast with traitors." She rose, looking down on him, imperious and disdainful. "Good evening to you, Sir Alexander."