Mocha 5 & CCM 16
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Pre-NIEE
Challenge: Mocha 5 (since you asked) & CCM 16 (superficial)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch
Word Count: 554
Rating: PG (swear word or two)
Summary: Sek gets a little tired of the constant asking for help.
Notes: Sek and the others are from a story I wrote that takes place generations before NIEE.
Sek sat with his chin in his hand, perched on the edge of the throne. “Andrew, please tell you’re kidding.”
“I’m sorry, Sek. It’s the southern border. We can’t just ignore him.”
Sek fidgeted. He and Andrew both knew that Sek’s wife was in labor for the couple’s second child. “You’re going to owe me.”
“Yeah, I know, unfortunately.” Andrew motioned and one of the guards opened the door as Sek sat up, trying to appear like he might somewhat partially want to be there.
The duke of Cheston swept into the room. “Sire,” he said, stopping almost too, bowing only his head.
Sek nodded back, realizing abruptly he forgotten his crown in his haste between Alex’s labor and the suddenness of Duke Carver’s visit. He didn’t like the crown, but he would have liked to remind Caver. “Hello, Wilson,” Sek said coolly.
“Andrew, it’s good to see you as well,” Carver said with a simpering smile.
Andrew managed a forced smile.
“What can we help you with?” Sek asked.
“I need more men.”
“Oh?”
“The Nerians are acting up.”
Sek just stared at him for a minute. He didn’t believe Carver for an instant. “I can’t spare any at the minute.”
“Sire...”
“You came all the way here and you must want something else or else you’d have sent a lackey,” Sek interrupted impatiently.
“I suppose you can see right through me, sir. I am, as you might know, unfortunately single.”
Sek heard Andrew choke back some sort of disgusted noise and he tried not to laugh. “I had heard that you were, Wilson. And what do you want me to do about it?”
“Well, you have a daughter...”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Sek exploded before he could contain himself, coming to his feet. He had, somewhat, seen it coming. He knew Carver had his eye on a more central location than Cheston and the borderlands with their most moody neighbor. But his two-year-old daughter? “My daughter will be reigning queen one day, not to mention the fact she is still a toddler.”
Andrew put a hand on Sek’s shoulder. “I think it’s time you leave, Duke Carver,” he said.
“But...”
“Leave. Now,” Sek told him, wishing again he had his crown, mostly so he’d have something to chuck at Carver.
“She’s a girl. Won’t any son you have be king instead?”
“Mackenzie is first born. Therefore, she gets the crown, if she wants it,” Sek said. “My wife is in labor with our second child, so I’m going to go tend to Kenz and wait for the news that I have had another healthy child. I suggest,” he added icily, “that you go elsewhere in your search for a wife. Good day, Wilson.” With that, he stared Carver down until the duke bowed, more deeply now, and beat a hasty retreat.
“Sek, have I mentioned lately that I actually do like you on occasion?” Andrew said.
The king, even though he hated to be called that, grinned. “I still rarely like you, Andrew. Take the rest of the day off. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Sek bounded out of the audience room to go find his daughter and see if there was news on Alex. Andrew watched him go, shaking his head, before heading back to work.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy (NIEE) universe, Pre-NIEE
Challenge: Mocha 5 (since you asked) & CCM 16 (superficial)
Toppings & Extras: Butterscotch
Word Count: 554
Rating: PG (swear word or two)
Summary: Sek gets a little tired of the constant asking for help.
Notes: Sek and the others are from a story I wrote that takes place generations before NIEE.
Sek sat with his chin in his hand, perched on the edge of the throne. “Andrew, please tell you’re kidding.”
“I’m sorry, Sek. It’s the southern border. We can’t just ignore him.”
Sek fidgeted. He and Andrew both knew that Sek’s wife was in labor for the couple’s second child. “You’re going to owe me.”
“Yeah, I know, unfortunately.” Andrew motioned and one of the guards opened the door as Sek sat up, trying to appear like he might somewhat partially want to be there.
The duke of Cheston swept into the room. “Sire,” he said, stopping almost too, bowing only his head.
Sek nodded back, realizing abruptly he forgotten his crown in his haste between Alex’s labor and the suddenness of Duke Carver’s visit. He didn’t like the crown, but he would have liked to remind Caver. “Hello, Wilson,” Sek said coolly.
“Andrew, it’s good to see you as well,” Carver said with a simpering smile.
Andrew managed a forced smile.
“What can we help you with?” Sek asked.
“I need more men.”
“Oh?”
“The Nerians are acting up.”
Sek just stared at him for a minute. He didn’t believe Carver for an instant. “I can’t spare any at the minute.”
“Sire...”
“You came all the way here and you must want something else or else you’d have sent a lackey,” Sek interrupted impatiently.
“I suppose you can see right through me, sir. I am, as you might know, unfortunately single.”
Sek heard Andrew choke back some sort of disgusted noise and he tried not to laugh. “I had heard that you were, Wilson. And what do you want me to do about it?”
“Well, you have a daughter...”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” Sek exploded before he could contain himself, coming to his feet. He had, somewhat, seen it coming. He knew Carver had his eye on a more central location than Cheston and the borderlands with their most moody neighbor. But his two-year-old daughter? “My daughter will be reigning queen one day, not to mention the fact she is still a toddler.”
Andrew put a hand on Sek’s shoulder. “I think it’s time you leave, Duke Carver,” he said.
“But...”
“Leave. Now,” Sek told him, wishing again he had his crown, mostly so he’d have something to chuck at Carver.
“She’s a girl. Won’t any son you have be king instead?”
“Mackenzie is first born. Therefore, she gets the crown, if she wants it,” Sek said. “My wife is in labor with our second child, so I’m going to go tend to Kenz and wait for the news that I have had another healthy child. I suggest,” he added icily, “that you go elsewhere in your search for a wife. Good day, Wilson.” With that, he stared Carver down until the duke bowed, more deeply now, and beat a hasty retreat.
“Sek, have I mentioned lately that I actually do like you on occasion?” Andrew said.
The king, even though he hated to be called that, grinned. “I still rarely like you, Andrew. Take the rest of the day off. I’ll see you later.”
With that, Sek bounded out of the audience room to go find his daughter and see if there was news on Alex. Andrew watched him go, shaking his head, before heading back to work.