Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

49: Mutually assured destruction

The castle was in twilight by the time Ella finally finished her meeting with the duchess. The halls were dusky blue with the last remaining light of the day, and the candles were already coming to life, casting a soft orange glow.

Ella bypassed her room and went straight down the hall. When she arrived at the room at the end, she simply walked in without knocking. There, she toed off her slippers, undid the tight laces of her dress and unceremoniously slumped onto a soft leathery sofa, eyes closed, a long, weary huff escaping her lips.

Aedion, who had been perched by the end of his sofa leafing through letters, arched a brow. "Well hello to you too, darling. Rough day at the mines?"

Ella cracked open one eye. "Is it terribly spoilt of me if I say dealing with the Duchess is as soul-crushing as working a shift?"

"Ah, yes, the gruelling horrors of drinking tea and making small talk, not unlike hefting rocks upon your spine," Aedion answered dryly.

Ella only sniffed. "Rude." She lifted her head enough to start removing the dozens of pins in her hairdo, her scalp sore from hours of holding up the massive weight of her hair.

Aedion set down his letters, angled himself towards her and began to help, preventing the tangle she was sure to cause. Ella closed her eyes and allowed him to work, carefully unwinding the pins in a way she didn't possess the patience to do.

"Did it go well?" he asked, fingers every so often massaging the back of her head in a way that made her spine tingle pleasantly.

"Better than I thought it would," she muttered, leaning back into the v of his thighs and stretching her legs along the sofa. "It felt like I was handling a very large, venomous snake who was only humouring me and playing nice, ready to strike me at any moment. It was... humbling."

"That is a very apt description of Lady Rhiannon," Aedion mused with a dry grin.

Ella half turned and peered at him. "Have you dealt with her?"

"Gods no, fortunately," Aedion grimaced. "She terrifies me. I count myself lucky to have spoken to her on very few occasions. Lord Nevyn--from the Chamber of Lords--once tried to speak with her, I do not doubt that to say something idiotic. I didn't hear what she answered, but when she finished eviscerating him, he was green and nauseous and he looked on the verge of tears." Aedion shook his head. "That day I experienced a very strange mix of horror and glee."

Ella laughed quietly, further sinking into him, the warmth of him covering her back. "I have a feeling she went easy on me today, then. She was rather..." she tilted her head side to side, searching for the word. "Well, not pleasant. But... insightful."

Aedion arched a brow in interest, carding his fingers through some of the knots that had formed in the teased hair. "Do tell."

"Well," Ella began, launching into a detailed description of the day.

It had taken well over four additional hours to hash out an agreement with the duchess, and they still had a few terms to go over. In all, it was an exhaustive magical contract that comprised payments and rules, obligations and titles.

It stipulated that, like Lady Tamsyn Gawain, Orla and Fiona would assist Ella in secretarial duties. They would not need to move into the castle, as that was not necessary, but they would accompany her during certain parties. Most importantly, they would hold court and hearings with her, as well as answer letters she might receive. This was their most important feature--they would help Ella gain an audience with the younger lords and ladies.

The Duchess, for her part, would offer a powerful backing. Though it was Lord Berwyn who held the title, Lady Rhiannon held the strings of the duchy, and her power was not to be underestimated.