3.18: Reveal upon Reveal – 2

The more Reshma spoke, the angrier Laira got.

By the end, her eyes had narrowed to slits.

“So let me see; during seven weeks that Jack spent in Nobhart, only seven bloody weeks,” Laira said through clenched teeth, as she began counting, “he established stewardship councils in every barony and formed the biggest standing army in the county’s history, without consulting his every vassal, angering the nobles. Then, he didn’t just replace his physician with a barber-surgeon, but kicked the man out as well, angering the priests.”

She paced in the bedchamber like a caged animal, still nude. “He also made all the craftsmen of a mining town his direct employees, which I can let go, but then he also steals an apprentice from a glassmaker, angering their guild. Am I missing anyone he didn’t piss off?”

Reshma looked up through her lashes. “He did pay for the apprentice.”

Laira wasn’t affected. She forced air through her nose.

“Why did you let him get away with all this?”

“I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Then you should’ve tried harder!”

“I did, but—”

“What?”

“He had a counter-argument for every one of mine. And…” she broke off, then wrung her hands. “It’s difficult to stand firm against the man who makes my knees wobble with just a look.”

“Damn it, Reshma!”

“He did have sound reasons,” she said halfheartedly.

“I know he has sound reasons, but what he doesn’t have is sound timing. He himself admits to being impatient and undiplomatic. You were supposed to cover his shortcomings!”

“I’m sorry. Can I… kiss it alright?”

“No! Why are both of you the same?”

“I’m nothing like him. For one, I don’t have a big, thick snake—”

Laira’s glare hardened.

Reshma shut up instantly.

A vein popped in Laira’s head.

Prophet or not, when he arrives, he’s going to get a throttling instead of a wedding!

“What about this escaped cousin who killed his brother and knows Jack’s real identity?” she asked.

“Olfric. I don’t think he knows about it. He is using Jack’s memory loss to call him an impostor, to lay a claim on the county.”

“And the Ironfelds are supporting him?”

“We don’t know, but they are at least harboring him.”

Laira clasped her hands, as she stared at the ceiling.

“You sent a letter demanding his return?”

“Of course.”

“And?”

“They didn’t respond.”

She sighed. “Going against me and Jack. That’s quite bold for a county. They definitely have backers.”

“Stormhaven,” Reshma whispered.

“Yes. Maybe even the other northern idiot. Let’s hope the fools stay put until winter has passed.”

“He’s already hiring mercenaries. And you don’t usually rely on hope, Laira.”

“No, but I don’t have any other choice. With the army undergoing overhaul, the leadership structure is in shambles. Hrodric kicked almost a third of the officers out before he left for the border.”

Reshma’s eyes widened in fear. “We should send a message to Jack. Arm soldiers with the crossbows his people have already built.”

Laira nodded silently.

“I might have some good news,” Reshma said cautiously.

She perked up. She could use some good news.

“The Dowager of Mondgrove used to be the original Jack’s paramour before her wedding. Apparently our Jack retained some of the original’s feelings.”

“He told you that?”

“He didn’t have to. One look at them glancing at each other was enough. The way they pined for each other without saying a word… it was revolting.”

Laira studied her carefully. “You don’t look revolted. You’re not jealous?”

Reshma tapped her chin. “At the beginning I was, but then I remembered I had decided to be with him even when he already had one paramour and was going to wed you. I think… after we strengthened our relationship, it doesn’t bother me as much. Besides, I mentioned it to you because of the benefits.”

“What benefits?”

“Nobhart is the closest county to Chadom. The marriage ensures its two largest baronies are directly under Jack’s control.”

“I don’t want him playing Count.”

“That’s where Eirica comes in. She’s quite smart. If the Church gives Jack permission to marry multiple women, she would be a welcome addition to our family, and she would make a capable Countess. We need someone like her managing Nobhart.”

Laira jogged her memory. “Mondgrove… Is her father the lord of Harrowstead?”

“Yes. Shrewd man.”

“His seat is also the biggest domestic trading hub of Nobhart, if I remember correctly. Nothing happened between those two, right?”

“Besides a whole lot of pining, no.”

“Good. If his daughter become Jack’s mistress openly, that could jeopardize his grandson’s claim. He will retaliate.”

Reshma sighed. “That won’t happen. She found out about Jack’s identity.”

She stared at her in alarm. “How?”

“They must’ve been very close. Our Jack doesn’t put a lot of effort in acting like his old self.”

Her eyebrows almost disappeared, when Reshma reached for her, taking her hand in hers. “She won’t reveal it; she gains nothing from it and only loses her liege’s support.”

Laira flopped on the bed, hugging a pillow.

The day had just begun and she was already tired.

“So, what do you think?” Reshma asked slyly.

She turned to look at the taller woman. “About what?”

“Their marriage?”

It did make her heart flutter a bit. A lot. But there were also the political ramifications to think of. The child of their union…

“It would also ensure that she remains quiet,” Reshma added.

“It might not be a bad idea, but I don’t know if it is doable,” Laira mused.

“Why? Wouldn’t a generous donation to the Church solve it?”

“It would have,” her voice turned bitter, “if Jack hadn’t been hell bent on pissing off every institution he comes in contact with.”

Reshma winced.

“Do you know how much money I had to donate to the Church, just to let me decide who to send to examine his supposed possession?”

“Who are they sending?” Reshma asked cagily.

“Bishop Konrad. A black sheep.”

“What does that mean?”

“Not orthodox enough. Too open-minded.”

“Good.”

Laira resisted the urge to snipe at her.

Half an hour later, they sat at the ornate dining table in the royal suite.

The smell of hot porridge wafted as servants arrived, placing the dishes in front of them.

Laira watched with amusement as Reshma struggled to hold her tongue.

“Thank you, Eldran,” she said to the twelve year-old filling her cup.

“That’s a new face,” Reshma commented.

“Count Kravenstein’s grandson.”

“You are accepting wards?”

There was no accusation in her voice. Just curiosity.

“Yes,” Laira forced the word out. She hated the practice of taking hostages, but her direct vassals had left her with no other choice.

The moment they were alone, Reshma let go of her spoon. “So… What happened here while I was gone?”

“The assassination attempt?”

“Yes!”

Laira sighed. “The workshop Jack had ordered built collapsed when I was inspecting it, and not on its own. Luckily, two brave knights found out about the plot and got to me just in time.”

She could still see the liquid seeping out of the joint and the beam slipping. She resisted the urge to look up.

Reshma exhaled in relief. “I will have to thank them personally. Are you—Laira? Are you alright?”

“Yes. They pushed me out of the building in the very nick of time. The others weren’t as lucky.”

Reshma froze.

“Sir Brandolf and… Ragenwald didn’t survive.”

The taller woman’s chair scraped the floor as she shot up. Hurrying to Laira’s side, she wrapped her arms around her from behind. “I’m sorry, Liru.”

She blinked away the tears gathering in her eyes, then patted Reshma’s hands.

“I’m fine. I didn’t let their deaths go to waste,” she said bitterly. “Squeezed as much political leverage out of them as possible.”

“You’re a Queen. You don’t have the luxury of being sentimental.”

“That’s what I tell myself.”

Reshma pulled her chair next to Laira’s and sat down, taking her smaller hand in her own.

“Who was behind it?”

“We don’t know.”

The dusky woman’s face blanched.

“Never figured it out,” Laira continued. “The carpenter who had assembled the beams to fail had already been killed. His drunkard brother was spending the hush money liberally. The two knights who saved me came across him and decided to investigate the matter on a whim. If not for their curiosity, I would have been dead.”

Reshma’s hold on her hand tightened.

“After the incident,” she continued, “the men who worked with him vanished as well. We searched the entire city, but found none of them.”

Reshma’s grip on her hand tightened to the point of discomfort. “That…”

“Is not the job of some minor noble,” Laira finished the thought

“Stormhaven?”

Laira ground her teeth.

“I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s that moron, or Grauberg, or both of them together. Neither properly answers to my correspondence. I’d march my army at their gates, but…”

“Maybe this is not the right time for the military reform?”

“Too late for that. There is no going back. At first I laughed at Jack’s plan, then grudgingly accepted it, as he wouldn’t budge on it. Now I’ve come around. Those two knights alone are worth more than dozens of worthless bootlickers and the illustrious scions of old houses,” she said, acid seeping from her voice.

“Numbers still matter, though.”

“We’re working on it. I don’t know if the Crown can ever have monopoly over military power like what Jack wants, but my army definitely needs to become more formidable, if only to keep the vassals in line. These idiots are more interested in playing their power games even when our realm faces an insurmountable threat from the outside.”

Reshma wet her lips. “If something were to happen to you, your cousin would inherit the throne. What if it’s your uncle?”

Laira had thought about it. Every time she did, it made her shiver. Arnold was just sixteen; he would make a good pawn. But her uncle had clearly favored her, even against Linus.

Up until her betrothal with Jack.

She let out a long breath.

“I don’t know, Reshu. If even he’s against me, then I’m lost. I don’t see how one duchy could stand against three hostile ones, even with Jack’s weapons. Even if we could, the civil war alone would destroy the realm before any outsider can.”

Reshma kissed her head.

“We’ll figure it out, together.”

She nodded, for Reshma’s sake.

“The breakfast is getting cold.”

Reshma nodded and went back to hers.

Laira found it difficult to swallow, but she forced it down, stealing glances at her lover.

The taller woman didn’t miss it. “What is it?”

“Eat first. Talk later.”

As they ate, a fluffy gray tail vanished underneath the table. Laira couldn’t help but smile as Reshma discretely picked pieces of meat and fed them to the cat.

Once they were done, she led Reshma to the covered balcony.

Its gray floor was still wet.

Cold, salty breeze rose from the sea to greet them, making her shiver. The sky was still gray, but the rain had paused for the moment.

“Don’t you have work?” Reshma asked.

“I had my schedule cleared the moment the message of your arrival reached me.”

The taller woman bent down to kiss her. The chaste kiss threatened to become more, before Laira reluctantly pulled back.

They had just sat down, when Reshma fixed her with a stare. “What do you want to tell me?”

Laira clasped her hands and took a long breath.

“A few weeks ago, Prince Tejas Sindhu arrived, unannounced.”

Reshma froze, as color drained from her face. “He’s—”

“Gone. He said his father and mine had agreed to have the two of us wed. Probably just an attempt to take over Nahnon.”

“What did you say?”

“I called him out on it. When he couldn’t produce any proof of the agreement, I asked him to publicly renounce his claim on the throne of Sindhu and Nahnon first. That was enough to send him back scurrying. But…”

She reached out to Reshma and took her hand in hers.

“He hinted that he knew about you.”

Reshma’s eyes widened in fear. Her shaking hand settled on her stomach.

Laira didn’t miss it. Her breath stuck in her throat.

“Reshma,” she whispered softly, “are you—”

“Maybe. It hasn’t been long enough.”

She got up and put her arms around the shivering woman from behind.

“You’ll be fine. Jack and I won’t let anyone harm you.”

“But what if they find out! They won’t stop at anything until I and my child are dead!”

“They won’t.”

“But—”

“No but. If you are indeed pregnant, I’ll have a ship take you to Chadom before you start showing. Jack said the entire realm is a fortress. No one will be able to touch you there. Now breathe.”

As Reshma did, Laira burned with a newfound resolve.

She had lost her father, her idiot brother and two of her mentors.

She was not going to lose any one else.