"She is incredibly gifted", Aren dared to speak first. He had been waiting on his feet for lack of an offer to take a seat, while his young King had sat there at their massive desk, glaring at him from behind the shadows around their eyes that seemed to grow even darker by the minute.
Fingers interwoven in front of his face, Nyx rested his elbows on the shiny wooden surface, still not showing any sign of an intention to respond. Instead, he evidenced his rather well developed skill to disguise his thoughts once again.
"This power of hers is a blessing from the stars, bestowed upon her by the goddess Theia herself. Her blindness only serves to strengthen her ability. She has the potential to surpass me in no time at all",Aren continued. He was not intimidated by Nyx, but this was probably as far as he could go, breaching the limits of etiquette before the King.
If I give my consent, that is, Nyx finally let his voice be heard.
"Indeed", said Aren calmly and bowed.
Although they were alone in the large room that served as the King's study, they still spoke to each other inside their minds. Nyx had agreed to grant him audience under the condition that Iris' blindness would stay a secret to even the lowest creature that might reside within those walls.
Why would I, Nyx probed further.
"Oh, by no means do I intend to force my knowledge onto one that does not desire it", Aren replied. "But I believe it is her own wish, my King."
Nyx fell silent again. She had indeed begged him. She had said she wanted to be of help to him.
What did you tell her to make her want this in the first place? And yet Nyx would not give in so easily.
"I only told her about the nature of her ability."
When Nyx simply kept staring, Aren carried on.
"She would be able to see the presence of even the tiniest beings around her. She could move about freely, within this castle's walls as well as in public. Her blindness would not be noticed, for she could even read her counterpart's emotions as they speak to her."
And she could hear their thoughts.
"With ease, I believe."
Even those of my enemies, you said.
"Of anyone, yes."
Meaning that she would get involved in the politics of this country.
"If she wishes to."
Of course she wishes to!
Nyx' voice grew louder. He lost his patience with this impudent soothsayer before him. They leaned on their stick as always, their small body enveloped in dark purple cloth, richly embroidered with golden thread, pointy fox ears sticking out from their cowl.
Of course she wishes to be of help to me, she...!
"She loves you more than herself", Aren ended Nyx's sentence. Nyx' jaw almost dropped.
Almost.
"Her thoughts are with you all the time." Aren knew he would have to appease his King's cold rage soon, if he wanted to make it out of this conversation alive. The only thing that had saved him up until now were his age and his frail body. There was no honour in doing anything to him. But this time it was different. This King before him was clearly head over ears.
"Even as your Queen, she will be in constant danger of being found out. They will want to get rid of her for nothing but the mere fear of their precious successor being born flawed like her."
The veins in Nyx's large hands twitched at Aren's last words. His eyes still gleamed with menace.
"My King. Two of the three beings that do not consider her a flawed existence are now gathered in this room."
Nyx hated to admit it, but he had a point.
"What she will do with these powers of hers once she has mastered them, as well as what she will not do, is entirely her decision. What I will provide is nothing more and nothing less than the best way to protect her life in those very moments when displays of your benevolence would only serve to threaten her further."
Nyx looked away, clenching his fist that now rested on the heavy desk that towered like a last bastion between him and that old geezer. He did not like to admit it, not at all, but this was nothing but the truth. The King was expected to protect his Queen from any immanent danger, but he could not constantly hover around her. She was the Queen in his favour, for her grace and her ability to rule, not because of his feelings. At least that was what his subjects had to think. And should their enemies, who had their spies among them, become aware of his love for her, they would know how to attack. They would know who to attack. And if they took her away, he would have to let them go through with it, unless she carried his heir under her heart, or else his own people would turn against him for being weak enough to be swayed by emotions.
The thought alone sickened him beyond anything he had thought himself capable of feeling.
Aren spoke no more, for he could now clearly see Nyx' agitation. Of course it would be hard on him, there was no use in further fuelling his lingering reluctance by adding anything. He had said what had to be said.
Fine, Nyx mumbled. Go through with it.
"As you wish", said Aren and bowed again. Nyx clicked his tongue sharply.
There is simply no other way, he muttered. Do not think I want this. And do not feel too safe, I will end this the very moment you trouble her in any way.
Aren bowed and took three steps backwards, then left the room without another word.
It had rather sounded like an I will end you.
This had never been an easy job, after all.
YOU ARE READING
Without Words, Without Sight
Fantasy"And in the distance between these eyes that did not see, and this voice that did not resound, he put the flowers and fruit he had picked to describe the scent she had to him. As he put them all into her arms, she understood with a graceful smile. P...
