Chapter 123 - Strategic Thinking

ETAN

Ayleth tucked into the fried sausages and biscuits that Borsche had prepared like she hadn't eaten for days. While Etan smiled through his own breakfast, both of the other men looked up from theirs to stare at her with raised eyebrows more than once. Etan wanted to laugh and brag about his beautiful wife to the others, to show them how amazing she was. But she was his wife.

Her… appetites were none of their business.

Despite stifling laughter, he wasn't distracted by Ayleth's hunger for long. Soon Borsche turned the conversation to the events of the day to come, and the dangers therein. Etan's stomach dropped to his toes.

"Ayleth and I spoke of it at length," he said after swallowing a mouthful of dry biscuit. "And I spent half the night debating it with myself. In the end, I think our priority has to be giving neither Kingdom a valid reason to attack the other. We must tell the Rulers at the same time so that neither has an opportunity to accuse the other of moving ahead, or hiding the truth from the other. And in truth, we cannot allow either of them the opportunity to move on the other for political gain."

Falek nodded, but Borsche sat back, his lips pursed. "While I see the wisdom of taking that approach in the halls of power, my concern is that if the two of you are split up, the risk is greater of one of you being taken or used against the other. It also gives your parents no context for your feelings towards each other. I am confident that seeing you together will demonstrate to them better than any words, the true commitment you have to one another."

Etan sighed. "I agree, but if we are forced to choose one Kingdom to inform first, we automatically risk division—or worse, outright attack when the second learns of it. And we cannot discount that either of our fathers will, in fact, use the information against the other before they have a chance to know. There are any number of alliances alone that could be drawn using this information."

"What about the mothers?" Falek said quietly. 

Etan regarded the man. "What about them?"

"What if you were to bring the mothers together and tell them at the same time? They would certainly have the most influence over the Kings. Would they be… less likely to declare war at the news? Perhaps able to tell the Kings themselves, or with you, in a way that might avert war?"

Etan looked at Ayleth whose eyes were narrowed. When she looked at him, she didn't smile. "I truly don't know," she said. "I know mother is less likely to lose her temper and make a quick decision. But I do not know that she is less likely to attempt to kill you." Then she blinked as she heard her own words and her face paled.

Etan took her hand and held it. She was shaking. 

He leaned into her ear. "Do not fear, my beautiful wife. The Father walks ahead of us, and behind. Whatever will be, we will walk into His plan."

She grimaced, but didn't deny him. 

"I think approaching the mother's first is a solid idea," Borsche offered and they all turned to look at him. "Even if they are not less likely to kill, they are less likely to kill swiftly. The more time we can gain, the more likely we are to succeed in convincing them to publicly support the marriage."

"But what of the time before the public announcement. Even if we can convince them to accept it, we can assume they will be unwilling to bring it to the people until they have negotiated terms between the kingdoms," Falek added.

Borsche  nodded. "I think you two will need to be prepared to be publicly separated, at least until the Day of Unions—perhaps until the end of the festival. This is not a blow that I can foresee either Kingdom swallowing quickly. The negotiations—if you even get that far—may last far beyond the Festival dates."

"I am not being kept from Ayleth for weeks," Etan growled. "She and I discussed it. We will accept public separation and hide our union until others are allowed to know. But we will not be held apart. Not for days… and nights."

Everyone shifted in their seats, but Etan refused to feel bad about turning their minds to these things. He knew, deep in his bones, that keeping physically close to Ayleth was crucial to their success. He would not allow anyone, not even the King of Zenithra, to hold him away from her.

Ayleth squeezed his hand and looked up at him, pride shining in her eyes. "I will accept separation publicly until it can be appropriately announced, but I will not be shamed for my husband. I am proud of him. We will find a way to ensure that we can be together before the people before the end of the festival. I won't let them take me from you, Etan," she said.

A surge of love and desire expanded his chest. He leaned in to take her mouth quickly, ignoring the grunt from Borsche. But he didn't indulge in a lengthy kiss. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted.

"So, are we agreed that we try to bring the mothers together?"

Everyone nodded. "We may need your help then, Borsche and Falek," he said, without looking away from Ayleth. "They may be with their husbands. They will trust you to bring them news of us. It may be up to you to bring them to the conference. In fact, I insist. We must enter the castle separately so we do not raise alarm. Then Falek and Borsche can approach the Queens with urgent missives. Bring them to… where? Where would it be safe to bring them?"

He looked at Borsche and Borsche eyed Falek. "It must be somewhat neutral ground. They will both have guards, but if either is in a place where their men own the room, they can use that against the other."

Falek nodded. "We also have to ensure we won't have an unintended audience. I think… I think bring them to the library—the one over the conservatory. There is only one entrance so it is unlikely to be interrupted. The patrols in the halls do not extend into the room itself. Barring taking them outside the castle, which is far too risky, it is as neutral ground as we can manage."

Borsche nodded. "Are you in agreement?" he asked them.

Ayleth agreed, and Etan nodded too. "Then I propose that we split to enter the castle grounds separately—Ayleth with Falek, and Borsche with me. But once we are in our chambers, our men approach our mothers urgently. We move to the library immediately and wait there together for them to arrive. Borsche, Falek, you bring them both with their guards, but leave the guards at the door."

The men both nodded.

Etan sighed and Ayleth's grip on his hand tightened. "Then we have a plan."

"Father bless us with safety," Borsche breathed. 

Etan nodded, but he couldn't take his eyes off Ayleth's hand. How was he going to let her go when the time came? Even for an hour?

Father, help me, he prayed silently, his stomach twisting. Help all of us. 

*****

AYLETH

The ride, once they began, was mostly silent. She and Etan rode knee to knee, her skirts billowing around her ankles because the dress wasn't made to ride astride, but she refused to side-saddle until she was in sight of the castle. 

The closer they go to the castle, the more ill she felt. Etan didn't seem sick, but his tension rose with every passing step of the horses. She'd forgotten how early they had risen that morning. It wasn't even mid-morning when they reached the edge of the castle grounds and Falek pulled his stallion to a halt, the rest of them gathering behind him. 

"Once we enter the wood we're on castle grounds, and we may meet patrols," he said solemnly. "We need to split you both up now so there's no chance of you being sighted together." He nodded at Ayleth and Etan.

Ayleth was about to agree and turned towards Etan, but he was dismounting his horse and, passing the reins to Borsche, he walked to her side and held her horse's bridle. "Come speak with me a moment, wife, before we leave each other. Please."

Falek looked tense, but didn't argue as Ayleth threw her leg over the saddle and hopped to the ground next to him, her heart trilling. She'd been dreading this moment of goodbye and anything that delayed it was a relief.

Etan handed her horse's reins to Falek. "Position yourself within the wood. I'll bring her to you in a few minutes."

Her Knight Defender clenched his jaw, but did as he was asked, bidding farewell to Borsche and walking the horses towards the shadows under the trees.

Without looking back, Etan tugged her towards the trees as well, but on an angle away from the trail, towards a small thicket.

Ayleth trembled, took a few trotting steps to come alongside him, then entwined their fingers and gripped his arm to her side. "I do not wish to say goodbye to you, Etan," she said, cursing her shaking voice. "This feels… dreadful."

"I know," he said, his gaze still fixed on the trees ahead. "I know."

He didn't say more, but his pace picked up. 

As soon as they disappeared under the trees and out of the other men's sight, Etan pulled her to him, cupping her face, his thumbs at her jaw to bring her up to him and he kissed her, breath tearing out of his nose, desperate and clinging. 

And Ayleth threw herself into his chest, clawing her fingers into his hair, just as frantic as he.

*****

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! Thank you for being willing to come on this very up-and-down ride with me. And thank you for purchasing privilege, and your summoning pens. I am so humbled by your kind words and dedication to these characters.

In September I am going to try and make sure you have at least a couple updates a week. If I gain more time, I will release more chapters. But we'll have to see how it goes. Regardless, I wanted to throw an extra chapter to you today to say thank you for still being here! I hope you enjoy!