rose & the forgemaster

he does the devil's work

"Osahar." Began Rose across the steaming bath from her husband. He hummed softly and raised his head off of the smooth ledge, a few blue flower petals clung loose to his brown chest, "Yes?" He went.

She ran a hand over her wet scalp, then tucked her black hair behind both ears, "What does that forgemaster do in our palace? He looks so- angry all the time." She asked.

He yawned towards the ceiling that was coated in the steam from their bath, then pointed briefly behind him with a thumb, "Well for the last year he's been building my army." He told her.

"Your army? Harah.. you're still doing that?" She went, gliding through the wide bath to be in front of him.

"Of course. I still plan on conquering this continent. You know the deal, Oma." He vaguely explained.

Her gaze shifted to the side, her long, wet lashes batting slowly. Again she looked to him, "Is he a magician?" She asked.

"Rose. I'm tired. And I don't feel like talking about that man." He said.

"But I always am willing to you when you want something from me. Have you noticed you never do the same? Just tell me." She went, drifting through the hot water and to his side.

"I'm your husband. You are supposed to be dutiful to me. Not the other way around."

Her pretty face frowned, her thick lashes curling up to her black brows in length. She turned away and glided to the other end of the bath, lifting her arms out of the water to lie her forearms on the floor. She pushed her chin into her supple skin and let her head fall to the side.

Opening his dark brown eyes, he looked up to see her pouting across the bath.

"Oma. Don't sulk. It doesn't suit your face, lovely." He said.

She rolled her eyes, "Rajul sakif.." she murmured in another language.

"Fine. Yes, Omarose. He does magic." He gave in.

Excitedly she turned around and swam back over to him, "What kind?" She asked.

He sighed softly, "Some would call it the devil's work. See, the forgemaster is the last of his kind. He extracts souls straight out of purgatory before they can make it to either heaven or hell," her eyes widened at his words, "and he brings them back to the mortal realm.. as gnarly beasts. Those beasts will be apart of my army. It's how I aim to live out my plan." He told her.

That is- not what she expected at all.

No wonder the man was so.. sullenly serious.

When she didn't say anything, he swam out from her side and over to the stairs leading out of the bath. She looked his way, watching two maids come with towels and robes to wrap around his naked body as he emerged out of the water.

"By the way, there's another battle I'm sending you off to fight in." He said stoically, shrugging on his robe with a risen brow across the room.

Her mouth fell just partly open, and she immediately began swimming after him, "What?! Osahar no! I just fought eight days ago." She said.

"It's important. Tau says another country has challenged his own. He needs a strong warrior. That's where you come in." He said.

She emerged from the water, lifting her arms to allow the maids to wrap her in a towel. Then she marched after Osahar, "I will not! I'm exhausted, Harah. I can't do it."

He whirled around and pointed at her, "You don't tell me what you're going to do and what you're not going to do. You've been fighting in wars since adolescence! Don't start crying about it now." He went.