3.16: Reunion – 1

As the orange sky began darkening, the ship veered left towards the coast.

The mists surrounding the coastline thinned, revealing a forest of crowded shanties, covering every single inch of the waterfront. Beyond it rose a weathered gray ribbon of stone; the Outer wall. A taller and whiter version far behind it poked its head above. A lone mountain dominated them all, on whose peak sat Castle Hohenburg, like a crown of stone.

Aldersthron; a city of contradictions. Full of poverty and opulence. Opportunity and misery.

Home.

Leaning against the railing, Reshma heaved a sigh of relief.

Even the bloody winds favored Jack. Waiting for them to turn, it had taken the Royal ship almost five days to reach the capital, instead of the usual three.

She looked up at the tall tower rising above the cliffs and the walls; the keep of Hohenburg. The seat of the Queen of Nahnon.

Her heart fluttered with excitement, anticipation and dread.

I’m going to be in so much trouble, she thought.

Jack, being Jack, had done what he wanted, and in the process managed a rare feat; making enemies out of nobles, the Church and the guilds, all at the same time.

She, who was supposed to control him, had failed spectacularly. No amount of begging on her knees was going to assuage Laira’s anger this time.

Then there was the secret.

The bastard had left the decision to her.

Whether to tell Laira about his other-worldly origin or not.

Damn him.

He knew perfectly well that Nahnon and maybe even Sindhu would stand or fall on the strength of his weapons and ideas, so she had no choice but to act on his behalf, whether she wanted to or not.

The keep’s windows began to glow golden-orange as the ship slowed down and turned into the harbor. The thick smell of brackish water carrying the city’s refuse and rotting seaweed overpowered the salty fragrance of the open sea.

Laughter, arguments and drunken songs drifted over the water. As the ship approached, the dilapidated buildings that blanketed the coast became more than specks.

The sky began to darken, but not every establishment had closed shop. Many, in fact, flourished at this very time of the day.

Reshma remembered with disdain how naive she had been as a Princess. A fool, ignorant about the world. She hadn’t even known about the people who lived in such places, much less thought about them. Not until she had almost become one of them.

She shuddered, but not from the descending chill.

She gave thanks to God for madame Bertrun noticing her in time. If not for her, she might, no, would have surely ended up as a resident of one of those buildings, bathed in the dim, flickering light of red lamps. Selling herself everyday for survival.

Bile rose up in her throat.

Perhaps that was why she hadn’t fought against Jack’s reforms as hard as she ought to. Even the memory of the fire in his eyes when he talked about how much better the common people’s lives could be made her heart flutter.

Or maybe it was just love.

Her hand instinctively settled over her stomach.

“My lady, we’re here.”

Sir Grimhart’s deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She caught the railing, just in time, as the ship struck the royal berth with a solid thud. It rocked once, twice, then finally came to rest.

She stretched her neck while the men shouted, throwing ropes down and lifting the gangplank.

Time for her reckoning.

A carriage was already at the docks, waiting for her. Her own would take time as the horses acclimated to being on land again.

Let’s hope it’s here because she is eager to meet her lover, and not a failed aide, she thought as she climbed inside.

As she took long breaths to steady herself, the carriage lurched forward, rattling over planks, then cobblestone.

The motion felt… wrong.

It shook too much.

Guess I got too used to his unique carriage.

And his presence.

As the carriage went through the Outer Wall’s gate, another worry sprouted within Reshma.

How was Laira going to react when she found out about them?

There was no guarantee that the desire that made her melt seeing the two of them together would also extend to…

No.

Laira had known it could happen.

Or maybe she had been blind in the throes of passion.

While Reshma dealt with doubts sprouting within her like weeds, the carriage reached the castle. She only noticed it when the large gates groaned open to let it inside.

She climbed out gingerly into the castle’s courtyard.

Night had fully descended upon the city.

Valmar, the old goat, was waiting for her. His silver hair gleamed under the flickering orange glow of torches.

“My lady,” the butler said, bowing sharply.

She inclined her head. “How have you been, Valmar?”

“Well, my lady.”

“And Her Majesty?”

“Well,” he replied cautiously.

She didn’t miss it.

“What happened?” the question tore out of her.

“I… should not be the one to tell you,” he replied slowly, then gestured to the keep.

Not waiting for him, she began running.

──────── ⋆✩⋆ ────────

Laira didn’t bother to stop the tapping of her foot as her eyes watched the road from the balcony.

Every minute the ship had taken beyond the expected three days had made her heart beat faster.

Reshma was finally back.

She tracked the incoming carriage in the dark. The one she had ordered to remain at the dock at all times.

The gates groaned as they opened to let the carriage in.

She forced herself to breathe deeply, then turned from the balcony and began walking towards the solar.

Suddenly, a silent ghost crept into her skirts and wound itself around her ankles.

She bent down to fish him out. He wriggled as she picked up the fluff-ball.

“You missed her too?” she asked Leopold.

He licked his nose.

“Of course you did. She feeds you from her plate. The savage.”

He meowed in protest.

She put him down, then scratched behind his ear. “Now go sleep.”

As the cat trotted away, hurried footsteps echoed beyond the door. They quickly became louder.

Then stopped.

The doors to her chambers swung open gently.

Reshma strode in.

Even in the dim golden light of candles, Laira could see her face was blanched in panic.

“What happened?” Laira asked immediately.

Reshma’s eyebrows knitted in confusion. “I should be asking you that.”

She blinked.

“Valmar said you—”

Laira cut her off. “Valmar is a worry-wort. I’m fine.”

Relief washed over Reshma’s face, then stopped halfway.

“But something did happen.”

Laira wet her throat, then nodded.

“Same thing that happened in Falkenheim.”

Reshma stared at her, mouth agape.

“An assassination attempt. It failed.”

Before she could say anything, the taller woman had crossed the distance between them and enveloped her in a tight hug.

“I’m fine,” she managed to croak, her face squeezed against Reshma’s bosom.

“I can see that,” the lithe woman replied between heavy, uneven breaths.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally peeled herself away. Digging her fingers into Laira’s shoulders, dark eyes bore into hers. “Are you really?”

“Yes. I’m not in the habit of lying about such matters.” She couldn’t help resentment from seeping into her voice.

Reshma’s face darkened, as she let go of her. “What was I supposed to do? Tell you that Jack almost died while you had your hands full, thanks to those military reforms of his?”

Laira conceded the point. Sending more than a hundred soldiers wouldn’t have been the best of decisions. Not with all the turmoil.

“So, is he well?” she asked.

“He is.”

“Good.” Laira exhaled

She reached for Reshma’s long, slender hands and squeezed them, then looked into those dark eyes.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

Reshma’s expression softened.

“I missed you too,” she replied, bending down.

Laira craned her neck, feeling Reshma’s breath on her face.

The tentative contact of their lips was electric.

Her lips opened, and so did Reshma’s.

They latched onto each other with the desperation of the drowning.

Her one hand grabbed her lover by the neck, pulling her down, as she bit her lip.

Reshma answered immediately, one arm sliding around her waist, pulling their bodies closer.

They separated after an eternity, and she began pulling Reshma towards the bedchamber.

“Wait,” Reshma hissed.

“What?”

“I need a bath.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do. It’s been almost five days since I bathed. I smell like a rotting fish.”

“I still don’t care.” Laira almost whined.

A devilish smile came upon Reshma’s face. “I’ve heard that some people enjoy that sort of thing. You didn’t discover another peculiar taste while I was gone, did you?”

Laira shot her a glare, then sighed. “I’ve had a bath prepared. Hurry up.”

“I will.” She turned and began walking. Then paused.

“Oh.” She produced a letter from her dress. “Here. Jack asked me to give you this.”

Laira sat at a desk and opened the envelope. A small parchment slid out. She unfolded it, revealing sharp words underneath the light of candles, with some attempts at flourish.

Dearest Laira,

I’m sorry I got a little too enthusiastic in Nobart with some of my ideas, but rest assured they will all bear delicious fruit in the long term.

The work to make our forces more formidable is going on as planned. I hope General Hrodric is having similar success. Give the corrupt nobles and merchants a nice kick in the rear from me.

I can’t wait to see you again and begin our journey as a family together.

Yours forever,

Jack Nobart.

P. S. I go to sleep and wake up thinking of you and your mesmerizing curves. Once I return, be ready to do all the things that a certain someone says you like.

As she scanned the last line, heat flooded her cheeks.

If Reshma was here, she would have throttled her.

When the doors to the bathroom opened, Laira found it hard to be angry.

Reshma’s long damp hair fell in dark waves around her shoulders, framing her flirty eyes just the right way that made Laira squeeze her thighs together.

She forced herself to remember the letter hanging limply from her hand.

Waving it accusingly, she asked, “Did you read the letter’s contents?”

“Yes.”

“Then why in the God’s name did you let him keep the last line? What if someone else had gotten hold of it?”

Reshma tucked a stray strand of damp hair behind her ears, which Laira knew was deliberate. “It was with me at all times. I would have shredded it if I foresaw any trouble.”

She sent a glare her way.

Reshma sighed. “You should’ve seen the thrill on his face as he wrote it. We had some fun times afterward.”

Laira groaned.

“What exactly did you tell him?”

Reshma smiled. Slowly. Deliberately.

“Everything,” the words came out slow and sultry, “a husband ought to know about his future wife.”

Laira’s glare deepened, while Reshma took another step, “In turn, he told me about all the things he wants to do to you.”

Her heart skipped a few beats.

Reshma stepped closer, and bent down to whisper in her ears. “He might have even done those things to me.”

Laira’s legs squirmed.

“How about…”

Reshma’s voice dropped further.

“… we forget about Jack’s plans for one night?”

She looked at the letter, tore it into pieces and threw it into the brazier.

Only then did she approach the tall, dusky beauty.

“Fine.”