The formation of her court and the signing of contracts between the new members had taken well over a week. The contracts were a mere formality as the claim on the district they were staking was based on the occupation of Alessi and Matteo's forces. The landen that remained were simply informed that a Blood court had been formed and tithe would be expected in return for the Queen's blessing of the land.
At Alessi's suggestion, Mirella took up the position of Housekeeper for the house used for court business and lodging for the closet members of her circle. Together with Kiera they plotted and managed to set up a game plan that wouldn't tax what treasury remained available to get the building back to appearing orderly. Rooms were ordered shut off to conserve heating and cleaning energy. Together they debated the future of each damaged piece of furniture; salvage or firewood until the rooms were mostly empty.
Kiera had not been entirely idle during that time either; spending it learning more about her two most consistent guards and members of her first circle, Orion and Illario, whom she had learned through conversation were father and son. She had learned a great deal about Alessi and the rest of the rebellion through the playful banter between the two warlords; along with further snippets about Alessi's background. Of course, they didn't realize she was listening as she spent portions of the day with her hands buried in the cold soil; seeking the connection with her homeland that marked her as a queen.
Around her, the entire court worked to start restoring a facade of prosperity and functionality while she offered the small insights she could. Kiera knew that she was just a figurehead and yet she tried to insert opinions on topics that didn't seem too far beyond her reach. One such opinion was that she needed to be seen by both the Blood citizens of their home city, but also the landens. Surprisingly, it was Luca who proved the hardest to convince that she would be safe to walk both settlements on market day. Kiera finally wore him down by insisting she needed to shop for moon time supplies as her courses were due anytime.
The morning of the planned venture Kiera debated through her very limited wardrobe. A sturdy homespun wool skirt dyed deep mustard yellow combined with a linen blouse and matching over sweater was the winner between that, the brown wool skirt and knit sweater that was a bit stretched out and misshapen, or the dress that screamed aristo. Hurriedly she worked her hair into a quick braid that she pinned as a crown around her head, with the end tucked under the braid to make it appear a continuous circle.
Simple but tidy. She looked at her appearance in the mirror. She was still thinner than when she first met Alessi, but not gaunt despite the rationing forced upon them as they entered the winter season. The buffet of her first morning was a distant memory as breakfasts soon became pottages of boiled grains, the occasional egg, and other cold hardy vegetables the cook could coax from the kitchen garden. Kiera, in respect of the darker jeweled members of her court, always took the smallest portion she could get away with to leave more extras for the darker jeweled among them.
"Ready, little queen?" Think of the devil, Kiera gave a little half grin at Alessi's voice coming from the doorway. Dressed warmly, in clothing that mostly hid away her highborn roots, she was as ready as she ever would be. Her hands brushed once more down her outfit, smoothing away any invisible wrinkles before turning to Alessi.
"I am. Luca should be waiting for me in the main hall." Kiera had tried to push back on the escort from the moment her toes stepped out of her bedroom. She had felt like a prisoner with a guard or Luca right at her side constantly; even if she understood it was supposed to be for her safety. In a compromise, she pretended not to see the sudden increase of guardsmen loitering around the second-story residence floor or the garden if she was outside.
"Illario has other duties to attend to this morning, so it will just be Luca and Orion." The frown on the Warlord Prince's face expressed the difficulty he was having resisting the temptation to cancel her outing altogether, but she needed to be seen and known. She deserved to not feel like a prisoner despite having started that way.
"That should be sufficient. It is just a quick trip into the market to be seen and mingle." She bit back a laugh at his raised eyebrow. "And buy the supplies I need." The ruse for her needing to escape the manor and its sense of false serenity. Matteo and the rest of her first circle pushed to keep her comfortable and busy; even so, it still felt like a cage. Kiera wasn't under any impression that she was free to leave at any time. At least here she would have the opportunity to learn how to be a queen and to help more than just her family and their retainers.
"Don't linger. The weather is threatening to turn and you don't want to be out in the worst of it." Alessi continued to fuss as he looked over her outfit. It would suffice for the cold with a light warming spell wrapped over it. The restless creature beneath his skin chafed at her leaving the house with only her cousin and his to guard her. She was still so vulnerable and the current atmosphere towards queens, and aristos in general, was not positive.
"Yes, father.." Kiera rolled her eyes as she kept her annoyed tone light enough to be considered playful. Carefully she walked past Alessi to enter the hallway. Her hand lifted and out of reflex, his rose to give her the support of his forearm and wrist. The light weight of her touch seemed enough to remove some of the tension rolling through the warlord prince and she mentally did the math trying to figure out exactly how close her moontime was. The issue with her attempt was that stress and nutrition played heavily into how regular a witch would be; so she could be due anytime or a month from now.
"Father?" Alessi looked down at her. Her lips twitched as she fought a grin at the baffled and slightly annoyed tone he held. The past weeks had made it clear that General Gerodi had no intentions of actually harming her and since that first day had gone out of his way to avoid terrorizing her. The flash of her mother's dying eyes pushed a shudder through her as she fought the sudden pinch of grief and guilt that threatened to swallow her. She took a few hard swallows as she banished back the tears that pricked at the insides of her eyes.
"Well, I could have said mother hen, but you lack the plumage." Her retort was husky as she fought to loosen her throat. Hide away the grief that still had her crying into her pillow at night. To bury the guilt that made every moment of satisfaction and joy taste like ashes in her mouth. Worked to ignore that little voice that she attempted to banish in the back of her mind screamed about how awful she was to be happy, to be content, with those that had killed her mother and family.
"At least it wasn't another goat analogy." Alessi repressed the urge to ask the little queen what troubled her. The change in her psychic scent turned from the joyful floral to something darker; he had picked up on the change several times as she caught herself finding some little piece of joy. He knew the answer but didn't want to hear the reason coming from her lips. He didn't want her to put into words that he was the cause of her sorrow and nightmares.
"I will have to think upon more of those since you seem to enjoy them," Kiera replied quietly before smiling and lifting her hand from his arm. Her quick steps down the stairs had him ready to throw a shield around her if she managed to slip and attempt to break her neck on the stairs. Envy filled him as he watched his little queen throw her arms around her cousin in an easily affectionate hug. He tried to settle himself that she and Prince Domani were family and thus it was to be expected. The fact that she was giggling and leaning into Orion's shoulder wasn't something he could easily explain and for some reason watching it made him want to go down and snatch her away from both of them.
~ Easy cousin, that look could kill me ~ Orion's voice brushed along his outer barriers. The warlord didn't even bother to look over his shoulder as he turned to follow Prince Domani and Lady Kiera from the house. A simple pony cart had been arranged to carry them into the market square versus making the lady walk the distance.
~ Get her back safely.~ Alessi didn't bother to justify his cousin's taunt. He knew that what he was feeling was irrational. He didn't want to desire the little aristo queen. He looked and fought to find every fault in her and there were many. She had a barely functioning grasp of protocol that would be dangerous for any other lady around him. The fact she was so genuine with her reactions and took no offense in being corrected seemed enough to make up for her lack of education.
Kiera climbed onto one of the bench seats at the back of the lightweight cart. Thoughtfully Orion had put a thick woven lap blanket on the bench and she settled it over her lap for the short ride. The combination of the cold air and excitement had brought color to her cheeks. The sound of reins snapping gave her enough warning to brace herself from the sudden lurch of movement. Her fingers curled around the side of the cart to keep herself settled and in place. Luca's knee bumped against hers as he was jostled as well.
"Couldn't you wait until spring or when the weather was over-freezing to decide to venture out?" Luca held his hands up to his mouth huffing the warmth of his breath through his clasped fists. Kiera snorted as she wrapped herself in a light-warming spell. The cold air felt refreshing and the warmth of her spell kept the worst of it off.
"No, not really," Kiera replied with a bright grin at her cousin. He was perfectly capable of wrapping himself in an effective warming spell; he just liked to gripe about the cold or other minor discomforts. Her bright gaze turned over the town and she could see where the wars, neglect, and time had taken a toll on the once orderly streets and market square. The cobblestones were rutted and small scraggly weeds had pushed through the tiny cracks before dying; leaving small gaps that caused the cart to shudder slightly as they drove through.
The square itself was a contrast between the brightly colored canvas cloth covers of the temporary stalls, lighter colored patches of roof tiles on the front buildings, and the crumbling decay of the square. A large square fountain, that was once probably clear and clean, was now a stagnant marsh without the craft used to clean it being run through. Benches were broken and arbors that once formed shady spots for the summer were missing both rungs and the evidence of vines.
Despite all of the neglect, Kiera was excited to pursue the wares. The scent of hot street food wafted over the cold air and the ambient noise of shoppers and merchants alike brought life and warmth to what could have been a dispiriting sight. While not crowded the merchant square was still fairly busy with members of the Blood from various walks of life. For a brief second Kiera swore she saw a very familiar face. A little frown touched her lips before she forced a smile as Luca and Orion waited patiently for her to climb off the cart.
"Oh yes. Sorry I was distracted," The apology came from habit as she carefully put aside the blanket to take Luca's outstretched hand. The step down wasn't far and she barely put any pressure on Luca's arm as she searched through the crowd again trying to find that face in the sea of others.
"Of course, pet." Luca patted her hand as he waited for Orion to secure the ponies before they forged into the stream of shoppers and other pedestrians. Kiera offered a tentative smile to those who passed curious looks caused by their little gathering. Once Orion joined her and they moved further into the crowd the feeling shifted. Curiosity turned to either hope or hostility as they noticed she was a queen. Only her guard's presence seemed to keep the animosity contained to sneers.
"This way, Lady Kiera." Orion set the tone as he guided them through the market. Several stalls specialized in herbal remedies, homemade candies, and other comfits meant for the distaff sex. Happily, Kiera went through the wares, finding a couple of small treats for not only herself but also Mirella, and Damia the cranky healer. A few balls of tea meant to soothe nausea as well as promote relaxation, and a worn romance novel. The few marks she had squirreled away from her past pin money went swiftly as she didn't bother to haggle with each merchant.
A hand brushed just under her arm as she turned to look at a thick brightly colored knit shawl. Surprised Kiera turned only to freeze at a very familiar pair of bronze-colored eyes staring back at her. Her lips parted only to be silenced as the man lifted his finger to his lips in the universal shushing sign. Her mouth snapped back shut as she turned away uncertain what to do or even why her heart raced and her lungs tightened with dread.
A glance up confirmed that her brother was indeed there in the market and had moved further through the row of merchants. Kyros paused long enough to give a subtle motion that she should join him as he worked his way into an alcove created by vacant buildings and the decaying low courtyard walls. Kiera looked between Luca, who had turned his attention towards the other books being offered. Orion was too busy watching the crowd and she waffled for a moment longer before slipping into the crowd before either of her escorts could protest her flight.
In the back of her mind, she knew that Alessi was going to be livid if she was caught wandering off. Internally she rationalized leaving the safety of her escorts by the fact her brother was there and needed her. How had he managed to find her here? The home city of the rebellion would have been the last place she would have guessed to find him. Carefully she wove through the crowd, a soft smile and apology ready for anyone she jostled or startled.
The fact that she was a queen was easily brushed away at her quick pace through the market. Kiera knew that they would remember a queen brushing past and make an easy trail for Orion to follow once he realized she was missing. Her time was limited before being found out. Lost in thought she nearly missed the half-hidden alcove until a hand shot out and dragged her into the partially hidden corner.
"Ouch.." The hissed complaint escaped her as she tried to jerk her arm back, glaring up at her elder brother. Only a century her elder, Kyros looked closer to a middle-aged male. Indulgent living had once made him soft and the deprivation of famine left loose skin where once plump cheeks at been. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and his normally flawless hair was messy and matted in places. Her appearance was fairly majestic in comparison and the fact that she was cleaned and dressed warmly didn't escape his notice as fingers tightened against her upper arm.
"That all you have to say to your only brother?" The hissed words were barely audible over the drone of the marketplace. Angerily Kiera jerked her arm back from her brother as she rubbed the sore spot along her tender flesh.
"Calling you an idiot wouldn't be as constructive. What are you doing here? You realize the Rebellion is based here?" She hissed in response. Oddly enough she didn't feel any joy in seeing her brother alive. Guilt and doubt flooded her thoughts; shouldn't she be happy or at least relieved to see that her sibling was alive? She pushed back the emotions as she faced her brother.
"I see you haven't gotten any smarter in your time away. Of course, I know they are based here, along with the rumor of the puppet queen they are trying to set up as ruler." He paused for dramatics before touching his fingertips to his lips as he gave a mock gasp. "Oh that would be you, wouldn't it? Or did you think they meant to let your daft self rule?" Cruelty lined his voice and that small voice inside of her started to get a little louder. Doubts and recriminations came back; she knew she was unfit to rule, unfit to form a court around herself; of course, she knew Alessi meant for her to be a figurehead but some little spark of hope had her thinking she could learn well enough to rule.
"Aww, you did. Good thing I am here sister. We need to leave, now before they can prop you up against the proper queen of Hayll." His hand again closed around her arm as his mocking tone turned urgent. His attention focused on something behind her in the market. A curse escaped him as he dropped his grip to step further away looking for an easy escape. The familiar wash of power told her that Luca had found her first.
"Mother night.."The voice and inflection were her cousin and his presence was warmth and reassurance enough for Kiera to step away from her brother. "What are you doing here Kyros?" Luca didn't bother to hide his animosity towards the other Prince as he shouldered between her and her brother.
"Same thing as you Lucie.. Looking after my sweet simple sister." Kiera smothered down a snort of derision at her brother's claims of looking after her. Luca didn't bother to reply as he just nudged her further away and back towards the busy walkways. She froze at the familiar touch of her brother's summer-sky power holding her in place with a temporary shield.
"Ah-ah, no running Kiki." Kyros' voice mocked as he waited for Luca to give in to the unstated powerplay between them. Kyros had been the Domani golden child while Luca had been banished to the same shadows as Kiera. His jewels were just a touch darker than Luca's and made the play between them even more contentious.
"Her guard will be coming soon. Unless you feel like tussling with an Opal warlord or his cousin- the Sapphire jeweled Warlord Prince that rules this city?" Luca dropped the threats and Kiera felt the shield behind her drop. Luca kept himself between Kiera and her brother; treating him as if he were a threat instead of a blood relation.
"I will be here only a short time. You have a choice, come with me to the Revisionist's city and pledge to their queen, or stay here and risk being broken and used by The General and his men." The snarled words were final between them as her brother stalked away. Kiera blinked watching him as his warning echoed in her mind. She barely had time to process what had just happened before Luca dragged her back into the courtyard, pausing to shove her down onto one of the crumbling benches.
He looked down the alley before towards the market and Orion's stormy face as he approached. Luca forced his expression to be relaxed and bemused even if Kiera could feel the anger radiating off of him. Her impulsive action threatened to reverse what trust they had built with the rebellion and worse had put her at risk.
~Just sit there and follow my lead. We will talk about this later~ Luca's voice hissed through her mind on their private thread. Kiera winced at the anger in her cousin's voice. As Orion approached she managed to smooth away any anxiety on her expression as Luca offered her his hand to rise.
"There, I think it was just that one stone." The words were a little loud, meant to reach the angry warlord and imply an innocent reason for them being so far from where they had been shopping. Kiera rose and acted like she was carefully testing an injured foot. As Orion approached she gave him a little smile.
"Ah Lord Thessaly, sorry about wandering off. The Lady had a pretty large stone stuck in her shoe. All better now and I think we completed our shopping." Luca didn't give her a chance to counter him as he led her back towards the pony cart. Innanely she was baffled at Orion's last name. When did Luca learn that? How did she not know his and Illario's last name? Baffled she didn't counter the story that Luca created even if the warlord didn't seem to be buying it.
"Of course. Best to get back anyways before the weather turns." Orion looked between the two of them, wondering just what Kiera was hiding behind her suddenly subdued expression and the barely concealed anger on the affable prince's face. He wouldn't probe here, not when the queen already appeared so defeated. Some part of him hurt at the despondent way she climbed back into the cart and placidly allowed Luca to place the blanket back over her lap.
The look he shot Luca clearly stated that he knew something more than a rock had happened in that time between them slipping off and his arrival. Luca gave a short jerk of his hand indicating now was not the time. Later he would disclose what had happened; when Kyros had time to flee from the city if he was wise. If the Prince wasn't; well that was his folly.
The ride back to the manor was uncomfortably silent as each of them worked through those last few minutes at the market. An outing that had started on such a positive note now left them each working through their own darker thoughts.
Kiera didn't wait for Luca to assist her down from the cart. Her hop down nearly sent her sprawling to the ground as she hurried back indoors; rushing past the confused guards and various citizens going about their daily business. The realization that Kyros was here, that he had survived the attack, kept rolling around in her mind. His implied threats combined with the warning he had given her; to flee the rebels or risk being broken. Doubts swamped her as she tried to weigh through her experiences with the men surrounding her.
So lost in her thoughts Kiera nearly ran into Alessi only pausing as his hands caught her shoulders to steady her. Surprised she looked up with a ready apology on her lips only to freeze at the thunderous expression on the Warlord Prince's face. His grip loosened enough to run his hands down her arms before cupping one hand beneath her arm steadying her. No words passed between them as she leaned into the silent strength he offered her.
" What happened?" Under those simple direct words was the unspoken question of who, if anyone, he needed to correct. Something had bruised his little queen and the fact that Luca appeared on the verge of snarling and Orion was trailing behind told him it wasn't either of her escorts.
" Nothing. I'm just tired." The lie fell from her lips instinctively. The self-doubt that seeing her brother brought up rolled through her mind. Fear and recriminations echoed through as she worried at Alessi hearing the truth of her from her brother. Would he look at her differently? Would whatever was between them die when he realized just how worthless she was as a queen? That thought alone bothered her more than it should.
" Something happened, Gattina." Alessi kept his tone calm; despite wanting to rage at whatever caused her to wilt so drastically. He knew that going to the market was a bad idea; that exposing her to the current public opinion would only harm her. He wanted to rage and rip apart those who would have dared put those shadows back in her eyes even if he had no right. Gently he guided her to sit in one of the chairs in his office. Part of his frustration was soothed by her being surrounded by his psychic scent; his marking of her that proclaimed her under his protection.
Kiera just looked at him. Her mouth pressed tight as she refused to answer. Anything she said would only give him fodder to continue probing her. Her fingernails tapped against the arm of the chair as she waited for his focus to shift back to the numerous duties that came with running a district. Even with Matteo to help, Alessi had many evenings that reached until just before daybreak. Evenings of work she had offered to assist with multiple times only to be turned away.
" Prince?" A gentle psychic push came with the soft rapping on the office door. The interruption came at a perfect time, allowing Kiera to rise from the chair. His quick glare in her direction told her the conversation or subject wasn't forgotten and combined with a gesture from him she resigned herself to being in his office for some time longer. At least it was warm, wrapped in heating spells, and for the most part safe. An odd sentiment she still hadn't fully wrapped her head around.
" Come in, Lady Domani is here as well." The warlord prince had shifted in the few brief moments between their silent exchange and his reply, subtly putting himself between her and the door. His greeting became more of a warning if anyone carried ill intent. Kiera sighed softly as straightened and watched the door open to reveal Illario. A little smile graced her lips at seeing the older Warlord. His polite bow helped settle any nerves that might have lingered from her days when he served partially as her jailer instead of guard.
"Good afternoon, Lady." Illario's polite greeting was kept short as he turned his attention back toward the dominant presence in the room. Kiera barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the subtle display of deference between the two men; one being an elder family member and the other being ranked higher by both caste and jewels.
"I have those reports you were waiting on. Looks like our rival queen has started setting up her court." The news perked Kiera's interest even as she tried to feign indifference. Her brother had hinted that afternoon at a proper queen of Hayll being supported by the Traditionalist faction. Illario offered the written pages of the report over to Alessi as the warlord prince shifted to rest his hip against the edge of his desk.
"Rose jeweled as well? At least we don't have to compete with a higher jewel rank then. All of her court appears to be the survivors of the Hundred Families. So an all-aristo court, which may give us a small advantage." Alessi didn't bother to censor his thoughts as he reviewed the hastily scrawled reports. His informant in Draega seemed to indicate that the environment remained mostly hostile to the distaff caste and isolated incidences of brutalized witches that strayed from their escorts seemed to be a recurring theme.
"If we can get the local villages, both Blood and Landen, to accept Lady Domani or at least tolerate her, it will give us some leverage in pushing forward to claim the entire territory," Illario added to Alessi's conclusions from the report. The political and social climate was still volatile and it made the Warlord Prince hesitant to expose Kiera to more violence than he already had.
"Easier to accept or tolerate if they see me. The unknown is easier to demonize." Kiera finally spoke up. A glance at Alessi had her pausing to gauge his reaction to her speaking. When he didn't outright object Kiera shifted to sit a bit straighter in her chair. The unpleasantness of the afternoon was forgotten in the prospect of getting to give her opinion on ruling and what they should be doing.
" I was in the market today and the merchants I spoke with were polite, perhaps I can try in the next couple of days the closest landen village?" Her fingers toyed over the thicker repaired patch on the gold chain of her necklace, a nervous habit as she stroked over the rougher texture in idle thought.
"Maybe speak with their leaders and see if they would nominate a representative for their village to work with our court." The words were rushed as Hayll frowned on giving the landens the same respect as members of the Blood; much less positions reserved for Aristo witches. Alessi's expression was pensive as he reflected on her offered suggestion. They were trying to make changes to Hayll and end the fighting between the classes as well as between blood and landen.
"We would have to review the last suggestion with the rest of the court, but I think as Master of Guard we can arrange a trip to the landen village. It is a few hours away, but the area is firmly under our control so the danger is limited." Alessi paused for a moment as he cast an appraising look over the barely concealed excitement on Kiera's face.
"With a proper escort this time." Alessi's final words and tone indicated he had not forgotten the dismal mood she had returned in. "After all, little goats are good at finding trouble."
At his parting shot Kiera gave a rather unladylike snort before baaing under her breath. Illario just barely managed to keep his expression neutral at the play between the two of them. The tension ebbed and flowed as they danced around unspoken thoughts and instincts that both seemed to war against.
"I wouldn't dream otherwise Prince Gerodi." Keira's saccharine sweet tone made the simple statement more sarcasm than truth; not that she would have had a choice of leaving an escort behind. Captive queen or puppet queen; the term didn't matter as both indicated she was under the control of the men around her.
"If you don't mind, I would like to find lunch and meet with Mirella about some proposed updates we were working on." Kiera slipped off the chair, watching with surprise as both men straightened in instinctive response to her rising. Their body language indicated respect more than fear or aggression which lent her some confidence to slip past them and toward the closed door.
~ Don't think I have forgotten. I will find out the truth of today. ~ Alessi's silent threat rang across the darkest level of her rose jewel thread.
~ Nothing happened so there is nothing to forget. ~ Kiera followed the thread back in their private discourse even as she cast a final smile at both the men before opening the door to slip out into the hallway.
"I look forward to meeting with both of you again to plan that trip." With that Kiera slid into the hallway, letting the door latch closed behind her with a soft click. A soft sigh of relief escaped her before she turned down the hallway to seek out the hearth witch. Alessi was tenacious and she was certain he would know if she didn't immediately seek out the other woman. Overbearing male that he was.
The promise of seeing more of the local population outside of the march of the rebellion soldiers pushed away the lingering bruised feelings from the morning. The lingering specter of her brother's presence became an afterthought. Something she could dismiss in confidence that her first circle would keep most threats away from her in their determination to secure the territory.
Each sore step towards her room convinced Kiera further that seeking out Mirella was not her smartest idea. The hearth witch took advantage of any free hands available to her; caste withstanding. Her only thoughts revolved around a hot bath and then straight to bed. The siren call of her bed's promised warmth and comfort was her main motivation to keep a semi-steady pace down hallways that seemed to have grown three times longer than normal.
An eternity later she reached her door and thankfully pushed it open. Her mind preoccupied with the details of her self-promised bath missed picking up on the presence lurking behind the door. In truth, she didn't catch up until she was about midway across the room and a soft cough jerked her attention from her dreams of comfort. A startled half shriek escaped her as a clumsy shield partially formed around her before collapsing as her mind finally caught up to what she was seeing.
"Damn it, Luca. You scared me half to Hell." Kiera pressed her palm against the racing thud of her heart, trying to calm it down with a few slow breaths. Her narrowed gaze focused on her cousin as he draped across her bed like some languid feline. His back propped up on pillows she had just been entertaining thoughts of snuggling down on. His ankles were crossed and hands clasped against his stomach; only the tight expression on his face kept her from believing the visit was anything but a friendly gossip session.
"Not fun when you are on the scared side is it?" He sat up with those words, his feet swinging towards the floor as he used a gentle nudge of craft to finish closing her door. The silencing shield around them wouldn't keep out the darker jeweled members of the household but it would provide them some advanced notice.
"No, not at all. Though I did not mean to scare you, just seeing Kyros startled me." She crossed the distance to the bed, dropping her weight down at the foot to sit. Her hand patted against the thick comforter inviting Luca to join her. Once her cousin had dropped onto the mattress beside her and had pushed against her hip to scoot further to the side so he could recline with his head in her lap. The pose was so familiar to the many nights they had spent venting their grievances or sharing the latest gossip that Kiera felt her throat tighten as a sudden sense of grief welled up and tightened her throat to the point of choking.
Frantically she blinked away the threat of tears as she jammed that grief back into its unspoken box in the far corner of her mind. Grief for relationships that could have been, of old memories, and her innocence from the worst of the violence. The pain lurked there along with the anger she pushed away; forcing those memories from her mind to keep herself from breaking into tiny pieces. When she felt confident that she wasn't at risk of breaking down, of the stretched sense of brittleness shored up for the moment, her hand rose to stroke through Luca's hair.
"I know. He is here to stir trouble and hopefully will bugger off once he realizes you aren't reachable to torment." Luca started without any preamble, misjudging the mixture of emotions that rolled through her. The stiffness of her movements attributed to worry about whatever had transpired in the marketplace.
"Kyros is all hot air as usual. I know that. He didn't tell me anything we didn't already know." She managed to push a false sense of calm into her voice. A side glance at the attached bathroom was nearly covetous but she knew her bath would have to wait. Luca wasn't prone to fits of screaming or ranting. He had perfected the air of letting her stew in her sense of guilt before finally chiming in with his opinion.
"I know I shouldn't have followed him and left you and the rest of my escort behind. Not just because my brother is an awful person, but also because of safety." Kiera finally broached the crux of the matter. Her fingers ceased stroking his hair as she thought over the events in the market.
" I just.." A heavy sigh escaped her. " Well, there is no excuse for it." Kiera flopped back on the bed, groaning slightly as overextended muscles protested the additional exercise.
"So we agree, it won't happen again? I won't keep the secret from our illustrious Prince if I think you are about to do something foolish." Luca lifted his head enough to catch her eyes. His look was probing as he attempted to gauge how repentant she was for running off head-first into danger.
"Yes, we agree. Also, Mirella punished me enough for the three of us." The agreement was followed with a groan as she tried to shift enough to ease the cramping along her legs and arms from the unaccustomed lifting. Luca's bemused chortle ended as she hit him in the face with a pillow. The blow was a single one as her fingers fell lax around the corner, unable to summon up the energy to swing the pillow again.
"Poor little cousin." He teased before rolling off the bed. In a smooth motion, he tossed the pillow back at her, laughing as she batted it away from her face. " I will go run that bath you probably want and need. Ladies should be seen and not smelled." At her half-hearted growl, Luca made his way to the bathroom.
Kiera pounded her head against the bed a couple of times in frustration. The sound of water striking the bottom of the tub earned her another groan as she started climbing to her feet and crossing into the bathroom. The soft scent of lavender and rosemary filled the air as she watched her cousin drop the metal infuser into the tub.
"I am going to trust that you can get yourself in and out of the tub without drowning." Luca rose as he dried his hands off on a hand towel. The lazy rise of steam from the bathwater promised it to be just the right temperature; just barely on the tolerable side of hellfire. "Unless you would like me to send in one of those handsome guards to help you into the bath.."
"Maybe Prince Gerodi? He is the Master of Guard after all." At Luca's suggestion, Kiera squealed and attempted to cover his mouth before he could continue along that train of thought.
"Don't you even dare.." Kiera felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment and frustration as she struggled with her cousin. The both of them staggered around like a pair of drunks as she attempted to keep his mouth covered and he attempted to duck away from her. The barely-held-back laughter continued until Kiera stepped on a fallen towel and started to fall. Her barely contained squeal of fear was cut off as Luca caught her by the shoulders.
"Dare I even ask?" Kiera only felt her mortification grow at the added voice. Desperately she squeezed her eyes closed, wishing to find herself anywhere else except bedraggled in her bathroom, acting like a child, just for Alessi's viewing enjoyment. The sudden splash of water against the tile floor earned another curse from her as she dove towards the tap, only to knock heads with her cousin who attempted to do the same.
The water stopped with a gentle sweep of craft as a long-suffering sigh escaped the warlord prince. Surprisingly amused, he watched them rubbing their heads while Kiera attempted to look anywhere but at him in the small room. Her embarrassment combined with the laughter was an improvement over her dismal spirits earlier in the day.
"What are you doing in here?" Kiera finally mustered the will to reply. Her voice was higher pitched than she would like as the question was more of a plaintive wail. Her head hurt and the puddles of water on the floor would need to be cleaned up before she could drag herself to bed.
"I heard your scream and came to check on you." Kiera resented just how calm and reasonable he sounded compared to her. "False alarm I see." The sodden towels on the floor vanished along with the majority of the water mess.
"Yes, a false alarm. Thank you for your diligence, Prince." And now she sounded like an ungrateful brat; Kiera wished she could vanish the same as those towels. Unfortunately, she remained very tangibly there. Luca wasn't much of a help as he was attempting to smother down his laughter at her discomfort.
"Some escort.." She hissed at her cousin, her voice barely audible as she subtly kicked his ankle.
"I was just getting ready for a bath." Kiera bit her lip at her pointing out the obvious. Her hands toyed in her skirt as she looked between the two men. "So..."
"I will take my leave, try not to drown yourself in your bathtub little queen." Alessi's smirk looked a little too smug for her liking as he gave a slight half-bow before leaving the room. The sudden absence of his presence left the room feeling almost empty. Wide-eyed and confused at the brief exchange she looked at Luca then towards the door where Alessi had departed.
"Did that?"
"It did. I didn't realize his room was so close to yours.." Luca confirmed the experience for both of them. He gave one final look around the bathroom before stepping back towards the main bedroom. "He is right though. Take your bath and get some rest. We can talk more in the morning."
"Fine, leave me to stew in my mortification. It is the least I deserve." Kiera waved a negligent hand at her cousin. Her tone was light enough to make it clear there was no ill will behind her dismissal of him. A towel landed on the floor next to the tub before she heard the outer door of her room open and once more close.
Alone she undressed quickly and slipped into the steaming hot water. A little groan escaped her as she attempted to drown her mortification and stupidity in the bathtub; at least for the night. Nothing couldn't be made right by enough hot water and time.
The next morning proved her thoughts wrong. She had attempted to tackle the day optimistically despite the nightmares that had pulled her from her sleep. Cold water had washed away the worst of the puffiness around her eyes. The dark circles at least mostly blended with the soft brown of her skin- something that could be overlooked if she explained it by having been up slightly too late.
Kiera even dressed mindfully for what the day could offer. Another plain skirt and simple blouse with a sweater pullover. Her unruly hair was tamed into a lopsided braid. If that had been the extent of the morning Kiera might have continued with her determined cheerfulness. A low aching tug along her lower abdomen and back told her that her day would only get worse. Enough that she was ready to crawl under her blankets and do her best to become one with the furniture.
Luca's bright greeting and clear eyes annoyed her. The chipper way he had wished her good morning had Kiera grinding her teeth in irritation she knew wasn't reasonable. The fact that the sun dared shine so brightly despite the air being cold enough to leave puffs of steamy breath in the air and frost glistening across the window panes only added to her foul mood. By the time they reached the breakfast table, Kiera wasn't certain if she wanted to scream or sob. The scrape of chairs felt too loud. The pound of footsteps shook the floors more than they should and everything felt off. It was too much and even forced breaths couldn't get her past the anger that threatened to boil over. The smell of food, bland grain cereal, sent a wave of greasy nausea through her that finally had her abandoning any good manners she had left as she fled from the room.
Her flight ended as she stepped outdoors and the cold air washed over her. Sharp and biting the crisp clean air pushed away the scents of food that had her stomach clenching in protest. The low ache remained along with the swirling of emotions; this decent a hard one as she verged on the edge of tears. Too much had happened and the combination of trauma and the vulnerability that came with the impending moon time compounded on one another until all she wanted to do was crawl off somewhere and hibernate.
"Machosism isn't attractive, pet." The heavy fall of Alessi's footfall startled her awareness back to the current world. Startled she whirled to face him, lips tightened as she fought back the urge to snarl, flee, or fling herself into his arms. Caught with the contradicting impulses Kiera just stared at the Warlord Prince as a cocoon of warmth suddenly wrapped around her. The male remained a cautious distance from her. His attention was focused purely on her and for a moment she saw a glimpse of something predatory behind the controlled mask he typically wore.
"Like that is it?" He took a slow prowling step forward, closing the distance between them. Kiera, for the first time, took a retreating step backward as her entire being stiffened at the urge to run away. Instictively she reached for her Rose jewel, the contained power bucked against her causing a soft hiss of discomfort. A further reminder of how helpless she would be once her moon time officially started.
"I just needed some air, Prince." Her voice trembled as she sank slightly into the frost-stiffened grass. Her head bowed as she felt the slumbering earth beneath her palms. The frozen ground burned against her bare skin as she sought some way to ground herself.
'Now is not the time' The internal chastisement rang through her mind as Kiera desperately tried to shore up the terror that threatened to rip through her. She would be powerless with these males; without even the token strength of her jewels to protect her. Helpless around males who were prone to attacking witches. As Alessi's hands pressed against her shoulders Kiera flinched before relaxing as Alessi's hand gently rubbed her shoulders in slow circles.
"No lies little queen. Let's get those jewels emptied and you up and safely resting." She jerked as his hot breath tickled over the chilled flesh of her ear. When had he gotten so close? Her head turned until her brow almost brushed against the warmth of his mouth. Bewildered at his intentions Kiera remained frozen as his finger tapped against the gleaming surface of her rose jewel.
"Emptied?" The question escaped faster than her brain could process the correlation between his words and actions. Another moment passed before she registered the gentle pressure against the outer webs of her mind. The psychic nudge became a coaxing invitation to let him into the surface level of her inner self.
"Oh, oh... Luca normally.." She stopped as Alessi raised one imperious eyebrow. Kiera sighed as she scrunched her nose in feigned annoyance and dropped the first of the barriers of her mind, allowing him in. She slowly became aware of her body. Of the cold that had her flesh pebbling and her jaw clenched as she fought against chattering her teeth in the cold. The cold seemed to seep into her bones despite the warmth of Alessi's body against hers. A cold that caused her feet to ache through every joint despite the warming spell that surrounded them.
"Prince Domani isn't here and I am." His tone remained gentle yet firm. His hand continued the circles along her shoulders until he felt the tension and anger that had been riding her ease away. When she started to shiver and he was certain both her rose and yellow jewels were depleted Alessi scooped her off the ground. Kiera's outraged yelp earned a slight grin as he held her closer to his chest. For all the volume of witch and wardrobe in his arms, there was more clothing than there was woman - an observation he found similar to a cat who had puffed up in anger. Her outrage melted quickly enough when her cold little fingers found purchase against the side of his neck. Only centuries of discipline kept him from jerking her away as those freezing little appendages pressed against him.
His longer legs crossed the garden to take them back inside the manor faster than Kiera had walked it. The simplicity of the decoration indicated he was running them through the servant's section instead of the public-facing corridors. She didn't fight against him as he carried her up the stairs that led to the court residences. A glance down at his burden saw her eyes closed as she relaxed against him, the tension melting further away as the warmth of the house further chased away the cold.
Instinct overrode rationality as he took pains to avoid any other males of court on this journey. Once he reached her room Alessi found himself hesitating; internally warring with his want to secure her in his room where he could see to her needs and safety, and the demanded private sanctuary his solitary living space provided.
"I will be fine from here." Kiera broke his internal debate as she subtly shifted her weight to indicate she wanted down. The aching cramp had turned into a more pressing need along her bowels as muscles in that region worked and cramped- hormones uncaring if they were sending signals to all the muscles in that area instead of just her womb. "I need some private time, Prince."
"Could you bring me some hot water for tea and maybe a piece of toasted bread?" It wasn't hard to sound pathetic when she was forcing her body to obey just long enough to reach the toilet. For what seemed the thousandth time since she had reached puberty Kiera cursed mothernight for the cruel biology of women- both blood and landen. When her feet finally brushed the floor she waited only a breath before bolting into the room and to the bathroom. Hurriedly she threw the bathroom door closed and locked it before turning the tap on full blast. Those seconds nearly cost her what remained of her dignity. Embarrassment warred with gratitude that he had brought her inside when he had. Her situation could have been much worse if she had been in the garden when her bowels had started to rebel as well.
Alessi had to think she was crazy. Kiera was certain if he hadn't before, he believed she was a cracked chalice after this morning. Groaning she cleaned herself up, noticing the telling pale pink smear of blood on her undergarments. A warning that by tomorrow she would be completely miserable and even breathing wrong would bring on the full discomfort of her heavier flow. Thankfully her stashed supplies were unpacked in the bathroom. After she had cleaned herself up, washing her hands and face, Kiera returned to her bedroom. Unsurprisingly, Alessi was perched on the singular chair in the room. A tray with a teapot of hot water, a steaming mug, and a plate of buttered toast sat on the desk beside him. The warlord prince looked up from the book he had been reading. The well-worn book indicated it was a favorite or at least one he read habitually.
Kiera lifted a hand as she watched him shift his weight to stand. She wasn't in the mood to play the subtle games of manners as she crawled into the warm bed. From the corner of her eye, she watched Alessi react to the faint smell of blood. The Warlord Prince's body language shifted just enough to indicate the duality of emotions that gripped him. A subtle flaring of nostrils, the narrowing of his eyes, and the change in how his body was angled on the chair told her the need to protect rode over any other needs.
"Drink the tea and eat the toast." Alessi's tone was deceptively bland. His fingers turned the page of his book to the next as his gaze didn't seem to lift from the text. When the blankets adjusted themselves around her, Kiera's suspicions were confirmed. He was very aware of what she was doing.
"I think I just want to sleep." A yawn escaped her as she snuggled into the soft comfort of her pillows. "You don't have to stay, I know your time is precious, Prince."
"After you drink the tea and eat something you can sleep." He didn't dignify the latter half of her statement with a response. Instead, he motioned towards the plate and mug to illustrate his command. The grumpy little queen glared at him from the nest of comforters that appeared on her bed before taking the cup to sip at it cautiously.
Kiera hummed softly at the taste. The blend of herbs was a pleasant one that helped ease away the worst of her nausea and some of the ache in her stomach. After she drank half of the tea, Kiera turned to the toast. Never had half-burned bread tasted so delicious before. Another glance showed that Alexi had no intention to leave her room. It was going to be a long three days and Kiera wasn't certain if either of their sanities were going to survive.