LIRO || completed

• 7.2 •

Liro had been right in assuming that other than the little bit of trouble she'd summoned upon her arrival, everything else usually went smoothly around the palace. The servants were neither seen nor heard, and Liro had to make her footsteps especially quiet as she walked through the empty hallways carved of marble.

That morning, she had passed on her rationing of food, fearing that it might come back up, even though her temperature seemed fine and only her mind felt groggy. But she couldn't take any chances.

She'd told Kier that she was going to help Olenna until she felt better. He'd not so gently suggested that she should be better by tomorrow, or her assignment would be passed along to someone else.

That didn't leave her with much of a choice at all.

Liro's shoes echoed as she walked along the hallways, and the sound made her grit her teeth in annoyance. It would draw an excess amount of attention her way. Harmless attention, yes.

Yet she would be noticed all the same.

And the only way that she was ever going to converse with the Queen was by making herself as small and unnoticeable as possible. 

When she saw the Queen's crown of scarlet hair emerge from her chambers to walk along the hallway, it was all Liro could to do follow at a steady pace. She raised her chin high, as if she knew what she was supposed to be doing. As if she belonged there.

Liro couldn't have been more lost.

The words bubbled up in her throat, and she fought to keep them down as she walked through hallway after hallway. Every thought sent Liro crawling deeper into her own mind, and she didn't like where it was taking her.

You used me. You knew she would.

You think you can use everyone. She can. She's the Queen.

You're going to have Kier kill me. Soon enough. You knew it would happen. You knew it would come to bloodshed, one way or the other.

The thought of her assignment the next day sent her skin crawling. Liro knew that she would be partnered with someone doing the Queen's bidding.

She still hadn't uncovered why the Queen had recruited her, either. And killing her didn't make any sense. Liro hadn't done anything for the Queen yet; she wasn't in any position to prove anything against the ruler. 

But Liro was dangerous. Anyone a mile away would be able to sense it. And if she suddenly decided that the Queen wasn't worth staying on the good side of? Hell would be unleashed.

Even Liro didn't know what she would do if her tides turned.

The Queen turned into the King's study, and shut the door firmly behind her. The wood made a heavy sound as it was pressed to its kin. Liro's heart sank.

Her one opportunity, gone. Just like that. She cursed herself for not walking faster, for not seizing the opportunity as it presented itself.

Liro sulked back to the kitchens, scratching at her skin all the while. She couldn't get rid of the mortality of her body. It hadn't bothered her so plaintively before, yet now that she was a mark - of the Queen, no less - she couldn't help but wish that she had her immortal arsenal.

"You're done quickly," Olenna said, raising an eyebrow as Liro entered the kitchen. "I thought you were my helper for a full day?"

Liro felt the lies roll right off her tongue. "I'm feeling a little better. I should catch up on my training."

"You're going to make yourself sick again."

"I'm going to train," Liro countered. "I helped you while I could. But I'm going to have to perform a task tomorrow, and I'd rather there be an arrow in an animal's back rather than mine." She couldn't help the tightness that crept into her voice as she spoke.

Olenna was silent.

"I'll help you when I can," Liro continued, changing quickly from her maid's uniform into the comfortable leathers of the huntsmen. "I promise you that much."

"Kier wouldn't hurt you, you know," Olenna said softly. Liro's gaze snapped to the woman. "He's mighty tough to train with, and he follows power, but he also has a moral code. Whatever you think he might do, he won't."

Liro didn't want to see Olenna's face break if she told her how wrong she was about Kier. Liro had no doubt that if given the opportunity, Kier would stick the biggest knife he could find in the back of her neck.

Just as she would do with him. 

It was an unspoken agreement between them, and so far, it appeared to be working.

Liro shoved her hair into the back of her shirt and walked towards the training grounds, her stomach filling with butterflies at the thought of running warm up laps.

Kier noticed her as soon as she stepped onto the soil.

"Feeling up to a bit of hard work?" he asked, coming to stand beside her.

"I was never opposed to it." She kept her eyes on the other hunters. Each and every one of them was throwing themselves into their training in anticipation of the assignments the next day. "What should I brush up on?"

He looked as surprised as she pretended to be. If he thought she was turning, coming to accept that he might not have nothing behind his skull, then he might hesitate before he tried to carry out the Queen's wishes. That would give her window enough to end him.

Then his expression darkened. "You sneak. You're trying to get your assignment out of me." He studied her for a few moments, unblinking. Finally, he spoke to her softly, turning away as he spoke. "You'll want to be able to hit a moving mark from far away."

Bow and arrow. Throwing knives. 

Liro bared her teeth. "Excellent."

She collected her equipment and moved to a secluded area of the grounds. Her muscles were tight as wire, and the first few shots from the bow just barely hit the target. Yet as she loosened, she was able to find her mark every time.

Liro caught Kier watching her, studying the way that she moved. 

She met his gaze defiantly. See what I can do? I don't miss.

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