Conqueror Queen

Chapter 9

Aiya sat in her tower, freezing. The cold air crept in through the open window, chilling everything in it's path. Frost glittered on the wood around the opening and Aiya wrapped the small rag she was given as a blanket closely around her shaking body. Her breath was heavy in the air around her as she watched it form and disappear each time she breathed. She longed for Ragda's warm embrace, but knew it would be some time before she saw him again. She sat on her cot in the center of the room rocking back and forth. She hadn't anticipated her revenge against Hemming like this, she figured she would have found a way to escape by now. She envisioned sneaking into his bed chambers and slitting his throat as he slept. The door to her prison was well fortified however and the tower was far to high up for her to jump, it would have killed her instantly. All she could do was sit and wait for an opportunity, but none had arisen yet.

The heavy door latched clanked and the door swung open. Aiya stood from her bed as James entered the room and latched the door quickly behind him, telling the guard on the other side to leave immediately. 

"What do you want?" She asked. 

James didn't look at her but moved to the window, peering out at the cold, dreary day outside. 

"I needed to see you," He said, placing his hands behind his back. 

She couldn't read him at that moment and it made her nervous as she shifted her feet underneath her. 

"He's your father? Why did you say nothing?" She had so many questions for him.

"Yes, he is. In the beginning I honestly didn't care enough to mention it, but as time went on it became harder and harder to tell you the truth. I didn't want you to hate me as you hate him," He still wouldn't look at her as he spoke and it began to annoy her.

"Why are you here now?"

Finally he turned to her, looking in her eyes, an expression of concern on his face. "I've come to help you, but it will take some time to get you away from here," 

"I don't need your help," She said, sitting back down and rewrapping her blanket tighter around herself.

"Oh, don't be her," He threw his hands up in the air, letting them fall back to his sides with a thump.

"Don't be who?" She argued.

"The stubborn Aiya I can't stand, the one who wants to do everything her way," He walked over to her and knelt on one knee grabbing her shoulders, making her look at him.

"I don't want the help of a traitor," She starred at him.

She was beautiful to him in her anger and he felt himself harden slightly as she pursed her lips together in an almost pout as she glared at him. He wanted to stand up but knew it would draw attention to his trousers so he slide to sit next to her, bring his knees up to rest his arms on.

"My father is planning a feast in my honor this eve. You are to be the entertainment and I have no idea what he will do," He kept his eyes fixed on the wall ahead of him, trying to think of anything to relax himself, thankfully she hadn't noticed.

"You want to help so bad, get me out of here now,"

"We won't get far enough and if we fail we may never get another chance. I've sent word to Ragda, we must wait for his instruction," At that he stood up, pulling her with him.

"I will come back to see you again, but right now I have to go,"

He kissed her on her cheek, squeezing her arm before turning to leave. He slammed the door behind him, securing the latched and descending the stairs, disappearing from her view.