Chapter 3
1843 Words
Sumon
There was tension in the air, a lot of tension, even though they were in the open air, the whole thing seemed almost suffocating. Nathan stood beside her, motionless and stiff as a marble statue. The queen and king of Locrand were behind him, she could feel all the negative emotions that Kyros Neyer radiated, as if he wanted to destroy everything to prevent this meeting.
Athelstan Neyer, on the other hand, was in front of her. His broad shoulders were stiff, and his face was pointed at the entrance, from where the two mounted figures were approaching on the back of their steeds.
The two young rulers looked around, Elhiás Ackard, with his scrutinizing eyes as cold as ice, looked at the top of the walls, on either side, studying every soldier stationed up there for their safety. After studying the guards on the walls, he went on to look at those around them. His gaze was calculating and cold, his face showed no emotion, his presence instilled power from every pore, while his body stood proud of his position.
Elhiás Ackard wore a long cloak that fell gently down his back, covering part of the horse he was riding. His black hair was disheveled, as if he had run his fingers over it over and over again, he was sitting on the saddle of his horse: his back straight, one hand resting on his thigh, wrapped in brown leather trousers, while the other hand held the bridle of the black horse on which he sat.
Elhiás's gaze stopped, and he stopped on Queen Reanna, his eyes were cold as he looked at her, he didn't show any emotion before he passed on to King Kyros. A flash of lightning flashed across his eyes, and Sumon could almost see anger as the king of Aeris looked at the king of Locrand.
Sumon moved on to King Kyros, who, in turn, returned Elhiás Ackard's icy gaze. Kyros looked nervous as he shifted his attention to the young queen next to Elhiás. The young king shifted his gaze and rested it on Athelstan, who was watching the queen. Evidently he perceived the other king's glance and immediately looked at Elhiás, who smiled and gave him a cheerful wink. That was the first emotion that Sumon could perceive from Elhiás Ackard, and it was directed at the Prince of Locrand.
Interesting,
Sumon shifted his gaze to the queen. The girl had long brown hair with blue undertones that fell softly over her shoulders. She did not wear women's clothes but a chain mail and cloth trousers, useful for riding, especially in his case, given the long journey he had faced.
The queen's orange irises were focused on Kyros, her gaze full of hatred and resentment, while the king remained impassive, indecipherable in Sumon's eyes.
Interesting.
Elhiás stopped the horse and so did Taryn Fahan. Immediately, the king dismounted, approaching the Prince of Locrand, who came to meet him, opened their arms wide and joined in an embrace, patting each other on the back. Queen Reanna's gaze grew sweet as the two boys remained together, as if they were afraid that this was a dream and that they would wake up if they broke away. A knight appeared beside Queen Taryn. The red and shining armor, the golden eyes that were focused on the young girl, as she dismounted from the saddle and approached Elhiás, who detached himself from Athelstan, keeping a hand on the prince's shoulder and looking him in the eye. Taryn stood by her husband's side, her eyes still on Kyros, staring at her son's back.
The young queen looked away from the king of Locrand as Athelstan approached her and laid a light kiss on her cheek, lingering for a moment, while Elhiás watched as Nathan approached him.
The king of Aeris focused on Nathan as Athelstan walked away from Taryn, looking her in the eye. For a moment, the two boys stood motionless as they looked at each other. Sumon watched the whole thing closely, while Elhiás was intent on approaching Nathan.
Athelstan and Taryn stood still, then she took a step back, moving away from him.
Sumon moved and approached her husband, who was staring at the king of Aeris, while the king scrutinized him intently. "King Elhiás, it is a joy for us to have you here with us," said Sumon softly, standing beside Nathan and holding out his hand to the king of Aeris. "I hope it will be a joy to me, too," replied the king. He grabbed her hand, kissing her back gently. Taryn Fahan approached her husband and stood next to him, while she turned her gaze to Sumon and watched her intently.
"I hope the trip has been smooth for you, Haefest's weather hasn't been the best lately," Sumon continued gently.
"It's certainly not the weather that brought us here," Taryn said, looking around.
Sumon turned to look at her husband, looking for some support. It was not easy for her to have people around her who had obvious friction between them and to try to pacify the spirits. Elhiás looked at his wife out of the corner of his eye, his face impassive and his eyes cold, Sumon wondered if the young king had any real emotions or if he was a shell devoid of any humanity.
"You'll be tired after the long journey, we'll make you sit in a wing of the palace so you can rest," Nathan said, crossing his arms behind his back and looking at Elhiás.
Nathan was clearly uncomfortable standing in front of the king of Aeris, knowing their pasts, Sumon was sure that her husband felt guilty about being in his presence. "We'll rest later," Elhiás said, holding out his arm to his wife.
"I think we have urgent matters to discuss, don't we?" he continued, as Taryn slipped her arm into his and Elhiás shifted his gaze to Kyros, who watched the soldiers of the King of Aeris in the meantime.
"Very urgent," Elhiás repeated, more to himself than to those present.
"If that's what you want," Nathan said, nodding to the guards. "Weapons are not allowed in the palace, and I am sorry to say that your soldiers will not be able to remain here, but will have to find other accommodation. I'm sure they'll find the city's taverns and brothels welcoming."
Elhiás Ackard frowned, amused, and then turned to one of his commanders and gave him the order to camp outside the city to await further instructions.
Nathan held out his arm to her, and she slipped his into it, and then turned and went back to the palace. their feet swift and noisy, while their guards followed them in solemn silence. Sumon looked behind him, noticing how diligently Kyros Neyer and his consort followed them, followed in turn by Elhiás and Taryn, and finally Athelstan, darkly. All eyes were on the new queen of Aeris, whispering to her husband.
"It's going to be a crackling meeting," Sumon said, looking back at him.
"Apparently," Nathan said, turning the corner of the corridor that would lead them to the council chamber, "not a word of the kingdom's situation with the Ackards. Elhiás is very cunning and could take advantage of it. With the north he has become the most powerful king in all of Mihdel."
"Lucky for us that he doesn't have the north yet, but only a queen without lands," Sumon said.
"Don't underestimate him."
"I had no intention of doing so." Sumon looked at him out of the corner of her eye, Nathan's gaze frowning.
"Don't even talk about the commander of our army, no word about Doreon," he said through gritted teeth.
Sumon nodded, and together they entered the boardroom, taking their seats. Nathan sat at the head of the table, his back resting on his elaborately designed desk, as he grabbed the armrests with both hands, squeezing them tightly. Sumon sighed and took a chair, then dragged it to her husband's side and sat down, so that both of them were at the head of the table and could watch the diners.
The Neyers entered immediately afterward and went to sit down, Kyros Neyer positioned himself at a chair away from Sumon, in the center of the table, with one hand resting on the wood, while the other on the thigh, which rose and fell quickly. The old king was anxious about something.
"What are you hiding, Neyer?" she asked herself, watching him intently.
Elhiás Ackard and Taryn Fahan were the next to take their seats.
The King of Aeris didn't think twice and sat down at the other end of the table, right across from Nathan, looking at him with a defiant smirk on his lips. His consort took her place beside him, standing in front of Queen Reanna, who was studying her cautiously. Along with the Ackards came some of their guards, including the red-armored knight and a lord, with red hair and dark eyes, who approached at a slow pace. Elhiás turned to him and began to murmur something in his ear as the lord leaned towards him. Athelstan entered last, his hands folded behind his back and his attention focused on the windows behind Taryn Fahan, who, as soon as the Prince of Locrand entered, looked up and followed him, as he walked and went to position himself beside King Kyros.
The queen of Aeris didn't take her eyes off him the whole time until her husband turned his attention away from the lord and turned his gaze back to Nathan. At that moment, Queen Taryn looked away from Athelstan and placed it on her clasped hands on the table. Sumon watched the scene almost amused, perhaps he would send Claire, his servant, to serve Queen Taryn, perhaps he would find out something about her. Not that he wanted to use him for blackmail, but they were still enemies and he didn't trust strangers in his house. It's better to always maintain a certain advantage. The Ackards' lord sat down beside his queen while the knight stood behind Taryn, not the king, but the girl.
Interesting.
Silence descended on the hall when some servants entered with jugs and cups, and began to place them on the table. The noise they made echoed through the room, filling the awkward silence that had been created.
Nathan frowned at the servants who placed everything, while the other diners glanced eloquently at each other. Sumon could see Athelstan staring at the queen of Aeris as she gave hated glances at Kyros Neyer, who blissfully ignored her.
If she hadn't been in the presence of four other kings, Sumon would have burst out laughing at the situation, but she tried to keep her control. He could laugh later. When the servants left the hall, Nathan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Elhiás Ackard, who was tapping her index finger on the wooden table, returning her husband's gaze
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