we will be.”
Rich looked down at the table for a long time before clearing his throat.
“I won't forbid it, but run the plan past me and your brother before you take action? Whatever you do, it can't come back on us later.”
That was reasonable and while Karina clearly saw it as a trap to stop her and Ali from doing what they had to, Tor didn't. At least ten ways to execute the girl flashed through his head instantly. Of course most of them would endanger a lot of innocent Austrans, so should be taken off the table. Killing was to be avoided when possible. Even if the people being saved would never thank you for it.
There was no lengthy talk after the desserts came, people just left for their own work or scheduled activities. Rolph said that he had something to take care of but would be back in about half an hour, leaving Tor just sitting as everyone else left.
Except the Queen who was already sitting right next to him. For the first time in a while she made a point of touching him, her hand going to his arm and just resting on it gently. After a few seconds she stood and pulled him along behind her. Bemused and maybe a little baffled Tor walked along. Today she wore a deep green velvet dress, but as with most of what she wore lately, it wasn't real, but the amulet around her neck. Perversely Tor wondered what would happen if he turned it off. Probably a beating from the Queen, he decided, wondering if it would be worth it anyway.
They “retired” to a small room that held only a low sofa and a couple of wooden chairs. Nice ones but this was almost a closet for the palace, maybe six by ten, if Tor had to guess. There were no lights on inside and Connie didn't bother arranging for one. A secret meeting? Well, the nobles did love their intrigue, didn't they. Settling on the soft cushions the attractive woman patted the seat next to her.
“I was thinking, since we have time, maybe we should-” She stopped when Tor moved in and kissed her hard.
Where that came from he didn't know, but it was all he could do to keep from ripping her clothes off suddenly, he was hard already though he hadn't been a moment before. At least she kissed him back, it would have been embarrassing if she didn't.
It was wrong, but Tor suddenly didn't care anymore. Using a bit of intent, he turned off her clothing and then his own and kissed her again, moving to her breasts faster than he normally liked to, but then, they had a time limit, didn't they? She gasped slightly as his lips touched the soft nipples, licking and stroking gently.
“Tor…” It was a murmur, a gentle thing that sounded a lot more like “do more” than “please stop”
He pushed her back gently and did things to her that she seemed to enjoy, then did a few more that they both did. It was fast and intense and really, regardless of the fact that he'd been the one doing it, felt off-putting and wrong now that they were done. After all, she was married. It was pretty normal for the royals and she probably did things like this half a dozen times a week, which didn't help Tor feel better about the whole thing at all. Sure, he loved her. That didn't mean he had a right to use her like this. It was fun, and felt… great, if he was to be honest with himself, still a cold and dark sense came over him too. Sigh. Stupid prudish bumpkin. Can’t even have fun when it was freely offered. That was hardly sane, was it?
Connie seemed pleased though, cuddling him to her even as they both got their clothing back on.
“Well! And here I was going to ask you to stop playing games with my affections. I was a little bit put out when you didn't show for our walk in the garden you know, but this, well, we need to make plans to make it a regular thing I think. I didn't know you'd be so manly about the whole thing. Bonita described you as being gentle and attentive. Not that I have any complaints! That was almost exactly what I needed right now.” She held him close until Rolph stuck his head through the door, no more than three minutes later.
“There you are! Well, if you're ready?” It was all that was said, but the look on his face… Tor knew that the Prince got what had happened. Mortifying.
Tor stood and kissed the Queen on the cheek.
“I enjoyed our talk, we really should do it more often.” There, that wasn't too indiscreet and still told her that he planned to do it again. Really, as wrong as it was, he kind of felt like giving it a try as soon as possible. Maybe with a little more foreplay and some other things thrown in?
Yeah, that would be nice.
Laughing Rolph took his hand and led him away at a fast walk, leading him down a familiar set of gray stone steps that went down into the deep basement, a damp and cool place at the best of time. The little room at the bottom was empty, which meant that Rolph really had gotten the whole thing at dinner. The guy was mentally quick for sure.
Tor pushed the heavy iron door shut and turned, letting his face go serious.
“Austra isn't at war with us.” It was a statement and he didn't stop there, lining out all the evidence, starting with the lack of attacks and the Larval army being built.
“So… I think their planning something else, an attack on another land maybe? Because honestly, if they tried for us, well, the Larvals wouldn't last that long against our military, not fully armed. It's one thing to attack a few parties or get in a fight with some unarmed little builder, but take on the King’s army with a few thousand lightly armed and unshielded people? I think not. But…” This part was the most difficult really, Tor just didn't know enough.
Rolph nodded.
“But if they’re not coming after us, and I agree, it would be foolish, assassin force or not, then who are they going for and why use a long term distraction like this? As far as I know Austra isn't even being aggressive towards anyone else right now. They’ve even left Tellerand alone for years.”
What if, Tor asked, pensive and focused, this wasn't about war at all? Or not a war like any that two Noram boys would think of. What if this was about something deeper, older? A war between the Ancients? Something a lot bigger than any of the rest of them had thought of, because they all worked on normal mortal time scales.
“Except you.” His friend chimed in, not seeming put out by the idea.
“Nah, I do too. I'm only nineteen, it's not exactly like I have a few thousand years behind me to become jaded or bored or whatever their rationale is.” Tor spread his hands and grimaced.
“Not that we know any of that for sure. I think we should pin a few Ancients down and… No. I should pin a few of them down and find out. This isn't really your concern, as long as Noram isn't directly involved yet. A family thing. A messed up, moronic, and probably incestuous, family thing.” He shuddered as he said it, but Rolph laughed.
“A bit that, huh? Well, I've heard of a lot worse. Recently even. At least the Ancients have convoluted plans and reasons involved. Half the noble houses are related to each other, which means nearly half the dates I've ever been on were a bit too close for more than hand holding, you know?”
Right. Well, Tor just shrugged.
“You’re not too closely related to Dorgal though, so at least there’s that. I… Well, we're supposed to be friends now, he and I, so I guess I should just be happy about the whole thing, still, it's a little rough for me. I mean Dorgal Sorvee? Well, I'll adapt. We didn't even fight over all those weeks trapped in the mountains like we were. He was polite the whole time, I can’t fault him there at all.” It was just an offhand comment, but Rolph winced.
That kind of took Tor by surprise. After all, He'd walked in on his friend doing Ridley from behind once, nearly a year before. Or, well, time was just a blur to him anymore, wasn’t it. A while ago, Tor figured, at least. That was a nice specific way to look at things. He really needed to get a calendar. The idea that his friend did guys too wasn't exactly a new one to him though, so that didn't seem to be the issue.
“Ah… So, yeah. Well, clearly you got that one. OK. Um where to start?” Rubbing his big red head he sat on the table behind them, an old and rough wood piece that would probably give him splinters if he scooted around too much.
“I… Well, Dorg and I were kind of seeing each other a bit, you know, just as friends, before the whole thing with Maria Ward. When she went around telling everyone that you and I, you know, that we were lovers? Well, Dorgal heard it and kind of… Really from what he told me a few weeks ago, he kind of flipped.” Rolph held up his hands.
“I swear, I wasn't even putting him off or anything and, you know, we were just friends, close and we did some things, but it was mainly just hanging out and stuff. Anyway, he kind of figured that, well, if I had you that he couldn't compete at all, so he sort of took off after you then, trying to break us up…”
Ah. That made some sense then. Well, good to know Dorgal had a reason all that time, wasn’t it? He didn’t
