A War Of Traitors( ARTK, Book 2)

Chapter 53

Anor 6th, 3329 A.G

They would not linger in Dedor for too many days- but Tiffan was okay with that. She had too many things to do back home and hadn't heard from Valter since leaving Voryn in his care. Her father always had a list of tasks longer than most books to complete after returning from trips, which was why she'd avoided them before. Milon could be given some of the responsibilities, but he was young. He could only be trusted with so much.

Tiffan had met his new Paramour that morning, and while she was as plain-faced as Vanora had claimed- she wasn't horrendous to look at.

It'd been just when the sun started to rise, and no one but the servants were up yet. As they hadn't started preparing to leave, Amira still had her normal duties- baking the bread and grinding spices.

She'd just begun crushing a dried spice mix Tiffan did not know the name of when they ran into each other. Tiffan had let herself into the kitchens to find something, and Amira nearly knocked her over.

"Forgive me, Mi'lady- " She apologized, gripping the bowl of expensive spices. Only some had spilled- and that amount could go to some servant. "I am... I've always been quite clumsy."

"Let's at least hope you're not seasick." Tiffan shrugged. "The journey is long and the waves during this month can sometimes be brutal. Have you bled yet?"

"Mi'lady?" Amira wore a look of confusion. "I do not see how that is-"

"Sure you do." Tiffan shrugged. "You're intelligent enough to understand than I cannot allow him to have a bastard. Young men often have.... appetites, so it is better that he'll only be fucking you- but still you two must be careful. I will make sure mugwort is kept in the main home at all times- and that some is brought for the sea journey, but still I must know: Have you bled yet?"

"Just.... Last week." Amira finally replied. "But my blood has never been a monthly thing-"

"Even better." Tiffan walked past her, towards the shelves where the freshly picked fruit was kept. "That means it will be harder for him to get you with child. Now, I want the both of you to be happy. An unhappy lord consort does nothing good for the territories, and you will be seen with him and I enough to hold some power. Wield that power wisely and in time you may even grow to have people loyal to you, guards who would give there lives for yours."

"I don't want anybody to die for me-" Amira shook her head, horrified. "Not now, not ever-"

"But eventually someone will." Tiffan grabbed her arm. "That is just the world we live in. It will be better to let them get attached, but avoid it yourself. That way, when someone does die- you will not be affected by it..... as I have."

"I have never been more than a servant." Amira frowned. "Vorynese customs are strange. Why would I be given personal guards-"

"A paramour always has." Tiffan shrugged. "My father preferred whores, but his grandfather  apparently had two. I never met him... or them. But I do hope... we will eventually become friends."

"We may-" Amira smiled. "After all- you are allowing me to fuck your husband."

As Tiffan walked to Lord Ferdrar's chambers, the girl was all she could think of. Not because she was fucking her husband( Tiffan couldn't care less about that)- but because she reminded her of her sister. Esabell was less vulgar and more beautiful, but it made no matter. They had the same eye shape and hair texture- and were roughly the same age, so she saw only her when she looked at Amira. Strange or not, she would protect the girl if it took fifty guards.

  She knocked on the lord's chamber doors, waiting on him to call her in and the guards to open them until going in. He was sitting at his desk, going over what seemed like an endless stack of pardons and criminal sentences. His wife had given him some space to work, but he welcomed Tiffan's intrusion and shoved the papers aside.

  "Mi'lady." He nodded. "What is it?"

  "I just wanted to tell you.... those ten thousand soldiers will be sent here to aid what's left of your army immediately upon my return to Voryn. There will be no delay." Valter would not be happy about having next to no time to work out specifics, but he'd deal. And the ones they sent would all be grown men, so if they died at sea it would be their own faults.

  "That was always the plan, wasn't it?" Ferdrar frowned. "Or is there a 'but' coming?"

Tiffan sat. A month ago he may have been reluctant to follow her plan- but he'd become a different person since finding out he had a chance against Nara.

  "What?" He raised an eyebrow, annoyed at her silence.

  "As long as Nara Ashhand has people here, an infection will spread. I know all too well how an infection can kill, taking out those you you care about most. So.... I ask two things of you. You may not enjoy doing them..... but they must be done. One to annoy her.... and one to stop the infection." Tiffan said, staring into Ferdrar's eyes for so long he felt uncomfortable.

  "Anything." He replied. "Now what is it you want?"

  Tiffan almost smirked. This was just the beginning, only one person she'd take from Nara. It was not enough to be equal to the sister she'd killed, but this was okay. "There's a witch at the temple who served her family for many years- but you knew this. I want her dead."

  "I will allow this." Ferdrar quickly nodded. "What else?"

  "I have no interest in the old titles myself but.... It would be a great benefit to Dedor." Tiffan took a deep breath. "Declare yourself king."