The Evil King and His Mate

Chapter 6

In the morning Cairbre and Moira meet in the dining room for breakfast. Since both of them had realized the weird feelings they were feeling it is very awkward. Cairbre had started to come to a conclusion he was not totally comfortable with. As an elf he has been surrounded by other elves and their mates his whole life. He has decided that these feelings towards Moira are because they are mated. He has also decided that he is not going to tell her, unless she says something to him.

*

Moira is still very confused from these feelings but she pushes them aside. The plan and everything that they have to do for that is much more important than anything else. She does wonder what it all means though.

*

“So today I was thinking I could draft the letter for King Alfhild, would you mind helping me with that?” says Cairbre.

“Of course. I am itching to get started on whatever I can to further this plan along.”“You and me both.”

After breakfast they go to Cairbres study. Three of its walls are bookshelves filled to the brim and on the fourth is a huge mahogany desk. The two of them head straight for the desk where Cairbre pulls out some paper and a pen. They get to work drafting the letter.

After hours of working to get it right they finally feel like they have it done. The letter reads:

King Alfhild,

I have recently been dealing with some very tough issues and I have reason to believe that someone may be reading our correspondence. I do not want to discuss these issues through a letter if there is a possibility of a mole. I would like to invite you to come and stay at my castle here in Neahm where we can discuss these things and you can relax. I wish that I could travel there but I am currently dealing with some revolts and I see no end in sight. Please respond as soon as possible with your answer so that we may properly prepare for your arrival.

King Cairbre

The letter gets sent out the same day.

*

While the letter makes its journey across the Great Ocean, Cairbre and Moira get to know each other better. Cairbre decides that it is a sure thing that they are mated and is not sure that Moira knows. Moira knows that something is amiss but is not quite sure what. The two of them take horse rides together, eat every meal together, and in the evenings read in Cairbres study next to the fire with cups of hot tea.

It only takes a few weeks for the letter to makes it way and for the king to send his reply. When the messenger arrives with the letter it is immediately delivered to Cairbre. He calls for Moira to read it with him.

"Its here." says Cairbre once Moira arrives.

"Hurry, open it. I am dying to see what it says!" Moira says with anticipation.

His reply reads:

King Cairbre,

Recently I have been feeling overwhelmed with my responsibilities here and have been thinking about taking a trip to your lands anyway. I would like to check on things with my own eyes. I accept your offer for some relaxing days and will leave here in one week. That should give you ample time to prepare everything.

King Alfhild

*

The letter is taken to Cairbres advisors to be looked over. They decide that it is real and preparations need to start as soon as possible. All of the rooms that he will be in are cleared of any possible weapons and if there are any left they are hidden well and only Cairbre may know where they are. The poison master is sent for and Cairbre discusses the best poison for taking down the king. They go over multiple different options and Cairbre decides on Belladonna, its juice will be easy to conceal in a drink and it will kill him quickly. While Cairbre would like the king to suffer and feel his pain he just wants it over quickly. Cairbre meets with the head chef and finalizes all of the menus for the multiple different meals. They go over the itinerary that the king will follow once he arrives. They are going to show him the castle and its grounds and they are going to show him one of the nearest human villages and how miserable they are. They are also going to show him the training of Cairbres army and how that is going. The king had requested not long after Cairbre returned from Sliabhraon that they follow his army's training regimen because it would make them more reliable fighters. One of the first things on his itinerary will be the welcome banquet where he will meet Moira. She is going to be playing a human slave of Cairbres. The two of them are hoping that this will show Cairbre in an evil sort of light that the king will like.

By the time the king leaves for Neahm all of the preparations have been made, and the elves await his arrival anxiously.