Chapter 7
Title: A War in Winter: Costis Finds a Strange Creature
Author: Mirabelle ( openedlocket )
Rating: PG-It has some war talk.
Genre: Humor
Word Count: 726
Disclaimer: All characters, settings, borrowed lines and etc. all belong to Megan Whalen Turner, not me. The only thing I own is the strange creature that isn't even made up.
Chapter Notes: Since my author's notes in the community and my notes here are virtually identical I decided to write stuff about the chapter here. Like my excuses for making all my characters act strangely and etc. There's a lot of the king and queen in this chapter.
“Has the queen agreed to let the king fight in the war yet?” Aris asked.
Costis, who was eating lunch beside him, shrugged unknowingly. He couldn’t make a proper reply with his mouth full of food. It was a topic frequently discussed by all in the palace; some of the Guard had even made bets. Most of them had bet that eventually the queen would give her permission and allow the king to join in the battle. Though they knew of the queen’s hard resolve, they believed the king’s stubbornness and sly reasoning would win in the end.
The queen would have to make the decision soon, with only 3 days before the Mede’s arrival on one of the outer islands. The latest report from their sources told them that the help from the Greater Powers would come at least a week after the Medes. They could do little help if they were already taken over.
When Costis had finished eating he gave Aris his opinion, “I think the king will find a way to get what he wants. Why do you think he wants to fight anyway?”
“Haven’t you heard?” replied Aris. “Nahuseresh is leading the Medean army.”
It was no secret that the king hated Attolia’s former ambassador. After all that Nahuseresh had done it wasn’t hard to believe that the king would want revenge, and if the queen allowed him, he would certainly take it.
When they were done there they walked to the training yard where a group of other guards were sparring. As they took practice swords of their own, Costis and Aris couldn’t help but notice Teleus talking with the king and queen; mostly with the queen, though. The king just seemed to be standing there, distracted.
Even as they sparred, Costis and Aris were half watching the king and queen, who were now discussing something in hushed tones. As their voices grew louder, Costis was able to pick out the words they were saying. As he stopped to listen, Aris accidentally hit him with his practice sword.
“Sorry,” Aris apologized.
“I’m fine,” Costis reassured him and he turned to the king and queen’s direction to listen again. Aris did the same.
After a while the king and queen’s discussion became loud enough to be heard easily. It was clear now that they were arguing, and everyone who could hear them stopped what they were doing to listen.
“You know I won’t get hurt,” the king was saying.
The queen replied impassively, “We don’t know that, do we?”
“You just don’t want to admit that I can fight better than anyone in the Guard.”
The queen scowled at this but her face became expressionless again. “This discussion is becoming immature, my King,” she replied. “If you need to test your strength then I suggest you show all of us some other time.”
The king’s expression became serious. “You of all people should know that this isn’t a show of strength.”
“Yes, that is what I am afraid of.”
“If I promise not to take any unnecessary risks, will that make a difference to you?”
“Another one of your promises?” the queen said, lifting an eyebrow. “It won’t make a difference.”
“What if I beg?”
“No.”
The king sighed, “Irene, I’m going to die of a fall, remember. Not in a glorious battle.”
“Exactly... That’s because you’re not going to a glorious battle.”
The king huffed impatiently and suddenly turned to Teleus. “Isn’t there some harmless little corner in the battle ground a defenceless king can cower in without getting harmed?”
Teleus was surprised with the question but he managed to answer. “If you stay in the backmost line of the defences you should get little, if not none, of the fighting your Majesty.”
“Is that good enough for you?” the king asked, facing the queen.
The queen paused before giving her answer, “I shall reconsider. We can this discuss this later.”
The king gave her a triumphant nod and the queen continued her previous discussion with Teleus.
Aris turned to Costis, smiling. “Well I might as well get my win.”
Costis was surprised, “You joined the betting?”
Aris laughed, “Of course. Who could pass off something like that?”
It wasn’t long before Teleus told them that the king was going to join the fighting. Not one of them was surprised.