The King's Justice

Part 1 Chapter 14

"I don't care, Tobias. I don't want to hear it. The answer is no. It is NOT happening." Lord Fyn snapped. He shot a glance at Aydra, his gaze sweeping over her from head to toe before he stopped next to the chest his armour had been stored in. She had washed her face free of all signs of tears and was sitting back on the side of the bed when Lord Fyn swept in, Tobias at his heels.

"Fyn, it makes sense! This way you can ..." Tobias pressed; his expression annoyed as he started assisting in taking his armour off.

"No." Lord Fyn said, his tone cold. Aydra shivered, and pulled her gaze from the men to stare down at her hands. If she held still and kept silent, maybe they would forget she was there?

"Fyn, just consider it! This way ..." Tobias pressed insistently. He either didn't notice, or didn't care that his lord was looking angry.

"Get out." Lord Fyn ordered, gesturing Tobias away impatiently. Tobias hesitated and got an icy glare turned towards him. Then Tobias huffed and stormed out.

"Did you eat?" Lord Fyn asked in a flat tone. Aydra swallowed.

"Yes, my lord." She whispered. It was the truth after all. As long as he didn't ask her what ...

"What did you eat?" Fyn asked in a hard tone. She winced.

"The maid called it gruel?" Aydra answered tentatively. There was a tense silence and then he crossed the room to stand in front of her.

"Stand up." He ordered, holding one hand out in her direction. It was a gesture of respect, yet, for some reason, she felt hunted. There was a strange feeling in the pit of her belly as she stared at his hand. The hand that by his own admission would take her life if the king didn't dissolve their marriage.

Slowly, trying to not make her reluctance look obvious, Aydra raised her hand and set it in his. Standing on her feet next to him, she felt tiny. Helpless. His hand was so much bigger than hers and she couldn't help but stare down at the picture this presented. He lifted her hand and put it on his arm, turning her towards the doorway.

In total silence, Aydra walked beside Fyn. He walked slowly, accommodating her slower invalid's pace, leading her to the hall door. She kept her eyes down, watching her slippered feet walking next to his much bigger boots. It wasn't until he stopped walking and stood there waiting that Aydra glanced up. They were in the dining hall standing by a smaller padded chair. Next to it was the larger, ornately carved lords chair. The hall was filled with the silent household. Her breath hitched as she took it all in; everyone staring at them intently.

"Sit." Lord Fyn ordered, gesturing to the padded chair. Aydra hid her dismay and sat. His hand under her elbow steadied her when she wobbled. People slowly redirected their attention away as eating resumed and the buzz of conversation started up again.

"When I tell you to eat, I expect you to eat. Gruel is not what I consider to be actual food. Do you understand me?" He spoke in a low, hard tone.

"Yes, my lord." Aydra whispered, keeping her gaze fixed on the table. It would do no good to tell him that the gruel was what someone else had decided that she eat. Just as it hadn't mattered to anyone what Ardra had done to her, it wouldn't matter with this new maid either. Briefly, Aydra wondered what had happened to Ardra. Then, decided that didn't matter. It only mattered that the dreadful woman was gone.

"Here. Eat." Came the firm command. He picked up the plate that had just been set in front of him and turned, setting it in front of her instead. It was piled with meat and vegetables, was steaming hot and had several fragrant bread rolls sitting on the edge. Aydra's eyes widened. She glanced up at him briefly, then hastily looked back down at the plate in disbelief. There was a smattering of laughter somewhere further down the table.