TheRedKing (6 page)

“I overslept.” Areus placed his hands on her shoulders.

She jumped, surprised since she hadn’t heard him approach.

“Didn’t mean to startle you.” He wrapped his arms around her
from behind and kissed the corner of her mouth. He smelled of mint, fresh water
and his own distinctive aroma that she had already grown to love.

“You move quietly,” she said. “Do you have any plans for me
today or am I free to explore?”

He turned her so that she was facing him. He had put on his
socks and breeches, leaving his torso bare.

“Do whatever you like. I’ll be in meetings again for most of
the day. Normally right now I’d be training with my men, but—”

“But that wound needs time to heal.”

“I’ll rejoin them in a day or so. I can’t afford to lose my
skills or get fat.”

Her gaze swept his sinewy body. “I don’t think you need to
worry about that.”

A pleased smile tugged at his lips. “Keep looking at me like
that and neither of us will leave this chamber today.”

She approached and slid her arms around his neck. Moistening
her lips, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Areus’s arms slid around her and he pressed her body close
to his.

When the kiss broke, he said, “Save this for tonight,
enchantress. It will give me something to look forward to.”

Delia smiled slightly and kissed his cheek before stepping
away. It seemed that nothing would keep this king from his duty, and she
couldn’t help respecting him for his dedication.

“Tonight I’ll tell you what I was going to suggest last
night.”

His green eyes sparkled. “A suggestion. Sounds intriguing.”

“I don’t know. We’ll see what you think.”

He strode toward her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“How about a hint?”

She smiled. “No.”

“You’re a harsh woman.”

“You have no idea.”

He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, then turned to put on
his shirt. He sat on the edge of the bed to pull on his boots.

“You’re up quite early,” he said.

“At the convent we rose at dawn for prayer. Then we’d work
in the gardens and tend to any sick or wounded guests. There was a village
nearby and we’d often help them in any way we could.”

He studied her carefully. “Not exactly the life one would
expect from a princess.”

“I liked it,” she responded truthfully. “I miss the sisters
and my good friend Katerina. She’s lived there since she was six years old. Her
uncle sent her. He’s her guardian. I think he’d hoped that life in the convent
would give her structure.”

“Didn’t it?”

Delia smiled. “You don’t know Katerina. She’s probably the
most headstrong woman I’ve ever met.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite a statement coming from
you.”

“It’s true. I don’t think there’s a man alive who can tame
her.”

“I’d like to meet her.”

Delia’s smile faded. She approached the bed and sat beside
him. Taking his face in her hands, she said, “I don’t think I’d want her near
you.”

He chuckled. “Why not?”

“Many reasons.”

The most important of which was that Katerina was mad about
men. Not only was she the most headstrong woman Delia had ever known, but the
most lustful. The man who married her would have an exciting but short life.

“None of them would matter. Since meeting you, other women
seem incredibly dull.”

His words warmed Delia in a way she’d never imagined. She
wanted to believe him, but could she?

“Should I have Echo bring you some breakfast?” she asked.

“No. The cook will have mine prepared. Would you like to
join me?”

“Yes, but I can see that you’re eager to get on with your
day and I still have to dress. Before you go, is there anything you would like
me to do? What duties are expected of me?”

“Talk to Alexa. She’ll show you everything. There are many
well-trained servants in this household, but you’re in charge whenever I’m
occupied, which is often. Most of my time is spent either with my advisors or
my men.”

“I’ll do my best to serve Lortia.”

Holding her gaze, he said, “I know you will.”

He rose and headed for the door, but paused to glance at her
over his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here, Delia.”

“So am I,” she admitted, though reluctantly. He seemed as
good a man as Rain and the guards had said, but she had only been here a day.

She refused to lose her heart too quickly. Areus would have
to earn her trust.

* * * * *

After dressing and eating the morning meal Echo had brought
to her room, Delia decided to explore the castle. She and Echo stopped in the
library, where they spoke to two scribes who not only cared for the king’s
impressive collection of books and scrolls, but also recorded events happening
in Lortia at the moment, both important and mundane.

Next they ventured to the great hall where servants went
about their work. Alexa joined them, and at Delia’s request, introduced her to
many servants around the castle. Unlike most women in her position, Delia
wanted to know the people around her. Living in the convent had taught her
humility and the value of hard work. The sisters had also taught her to respect
everyone, even those beneath her status. If her father had fully understood the
values the sisters instilled, he probably wouldn’t have sent her to the convent
at all—or perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered. When he’d packed her off, he’d
never expected to see her again or go through the trouble of finding a husband
for her.

By noon, they had completed a thorough tour of the castle and
Delia looked forward to meeting some of the villagers as well. Alexa ordered
three horses saddled. She, Echo and Delia rode out of the gates, accompanied by
Cyril and Eli again. Apparently Areus had ordered them to escort Delia should
she leave the castle grounds.

Delia had been wary of riding at first. In the past she had
taken short walks on one of two mules kept by the sisters. Access to a vast stable
was new to her and she looked forward to learning to ride better.

“Don’t worry. Clive is probably the gentlest in our stable,”
Alexa said. “And quite old. Queen Cosma, Areus’s mother, used to ride him
often.”

“Will the King mind me riding her?” Delia asked.

“No. He’ll be glad of it. He likes to keep all the horses
exercised and well cared for.”

They rode by a large blacksmith shop and armory with many
workers. Passing by houses with women working in gardens, scrubbing laundry and
minding children, Delia smiled and waved. She stopped several times to speak to
the villagers who seemed surprised, but not nearly as much as if a member of
the royal family in Prem had acted in the same way.

Before heading into the more thickly settled part of the
city, Delia glanced toward a field planted with a variety of vegetables. A
long, narrow storage house stood nearby with bins filled with various fruits, vegetables,
clothing and blankets.

“What’s that?” Delia asked. “Surely not the market?”

“No,” Alexa said. “It’s the community house, as we call it.
It was Areus’s idea. Villagers pitch in to help plant and harvest the field.
Wealthier citizens, instead of discarding old clothes, send them here. Anyone
who needs assistance—the old, sick and widowed—can come to the community house
to take what they need.”

“Charity,” Delia said.

“Yes, but it’s something everyone contributes to in whatever
way they can.”

“It’s a good idea.” Delia glanced at Echo. “It’s almost like
what the sisters try to do.”

Echo nodded.

“How can we help?” Delia asked.

“In any way you like,” Alexa told her, seeming pleased by
her answer.

“I gardened daily with the sisters,” Delia said. “And I’m also
a skilled healer.”

“Healing skills are always useful, especially in the times
we live in. Each day I pray that it won’t be the day Zaltana attacks, but it’s
inevitable.”

Delia glanced around, noting that many guards on horseback
watched the outskirts of the village. They also mingled within the city.

“If there was only some way to call a truce,” Delia said.

“Hippolytos, like the previous leaders of Zaltana, is a
conqueror,” Eli added. “The only way to defeat such a man is by overpowering
him.”

“So sad,” Delia murmured. “It will cost many lives on both
sides.”

What frightened her most was that unlike her father, Areus
rode into the front lines of battle with his men. He led their charges and his
blood spilled along with theirs. If he died, they would be lost to Zaltana.

Not only did she fear for herself and the entire kingdom,
but she hated the thought of Areus dying on the battlefield before his time. In
just a few short days she had grown to care about her husband. She wanted to know
him better and the idea of bearing his heir wasn’t quite as distasteful as she
had once believed.

“How is our situation regarding healers and healing
supplies?” Delia asked.

“There are three capable healers in the city and two within
the castle walls. Many of the guards have good skills they’ve learned on the
battlefield. And right now Sir Rain is with us as well. Knights of the Ruby
Order are known as much for their healing skills as for their prowess in
battle. Also we have a large store of medicinal herbs and other supplies within
the castle. One entire wing between the barracks and the main castle serves as
a hospital.”

“Echo and I will offer our services to the healers in charge
there,” Delia said.

Echo nodded. “It will put everything we learned with the
sisters to good use.”

Alexa studied Delia and her servant with a faint smile. “I
admit that I was a bit concerned at first when the king made the decision to
marry, but I see he made the right one. If I may be so bold to say, you’ll make
a fine queen.”

“I second that,” Eli said.

“Third,” Cyril added.

Delia glanced around and nodded. “You seem like good people.
I realize we have much to learn about each other, but I look forward to it.”

“Good luck with Seth, though,” Eli said. “He can be
crotchety when new people nose around his infirmary.”

“Seth?”

“He’s the chief healer at the castle. Once you get to know
him he’s a good man and quite skilled. He’s tended my wounds more times than I can
count and has saved many lives, including the king’s on several occasions.”

“Then I’m already grateful to him and I’ll do my best not to
offend him.”

“You won’t have much trouble getting around him,” Alexa said.
“Remember, you’re the queen. Oh, and if he does give you any trouble, just let
me know. Seth never has and never will intimidate me.”

“Haven’t seen any man do that yet,” Eli muttered under his
breath.

“And you won’t,” Alexa told him. Eli raised an eyebrow,
apparently surprised that she’d heard him. “No, despite my full head of gray
hair, I’m not deaf.”

Eli glanced away from Alexa and lifted his gaze to the
heavens. Delia repressed a giggle.

The older maid was still huffing, so to divert her
attention, Delia asked, “Shall we go to the city square? I’m eager to see more
of Lortia’s capital city.”

“Excellent suggestion,” Eli said and kicked his horse
forward.

Delia and Echo glanced at each other and grinned. Already Delia
liked her new home and the people in it.

When they’d completed their tour of the city, Delia, Echo
and Alexa went to the infirmary at the castle. At the moment it was bare,
except for a couple of guards who had suffered injuries during training and a
wine merchant whose wagon had collapsed, causing him several broken ribs and a broken
leg.

Past rows of empty carts stood an archway leading to a
smaller room in which a bearded man of average height and a sturdy build
hovered over a vast table filled with bottles, bowls and pestles. Various dried
herbs hung from the ceiling and other tables and shelves were laden with
healing supplies and medicines.

“Seth,” Alexa said as she, Delia and Echo approached his table.

The chief healer glanced up at them with large brown eyes.
“I’m busy right now. Wait a moment until I’m done measuring.”

“This is our new queen,” Alexa said.

“Then I’m sure she wants the chief healer to correctly mix
this medicine in case she or someone else in the castle needs it.”

“For once in your life show some respect, you wretched
little man!”

“Woman, who are you calling wretched? You forget I’ve had to
look at your sour face since I was a child.”

“Because my mother and I took you off the streets.”

While he argued, Seth continued measuring and mixing
ingredients. “Of course. Toss that in my face. Do you see what kind of woman
she is, Your Majesty? Still trying to belittle a poor orphan.”

“It’s been nearly forty years since you were a poor orphan!”

A wicked little grin tugged at Seth’s lips and he finally
straightened, focusing his complete attention on the small group.

He stepped from behind the table and bowed to Delia. “A pleasure,
ma’am.”

“The pleasure is mine,” Delia said. “I’ve heard such
wonderful things about your healing skills.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m a healer as well. Trained by the sisters at the convent
where I was reared. With your permission, I hope to continue my training here,
if that’s acceptable to you.”

His brow furrowed. “Here, as in at this very infirmary?”

“Where else does she mean?” Alexa snapped, folding her arms
across her chest. “She lives here at the palace.”

Seth glowered at Alexa. “Can’t you be nice for once?”

“I do mean here. Under your tutelage, of course.”

“I don’t usually take on apprentices. I’m far too busy for
that. There are other healers in the city who are willing to train, but seeing
that you’re the queen—”

“Yes. She is the queen,” Alexa said.