Reckless Abandon - The Secrets of Avelina Chronicles 2

21: Aubrey

Back at his castle, Archer was tired of hearing everyone talking at once. His advisers were talking about their success in the war he had fought before discovering the Island. His soldiers were asking for advice and for him to designate a governor or overseer of their new land. All while his father was asking annoying questions about Queen Celia, that he could see upset Aubrey. He didn't want Celia mentioned in his kingdom ever again, unless it was to say that she was being punished for her treason to her King. But he could deliver that notice later. His immediate instinct was to go into his dining hall, the lesser of three within the Castle and sink into the elaborately carved seat at the head of the table, where he usually sat. As he commanded everyone to leave with a flourish of his hand, he gently pulled Aubrey onto his lap and closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the chair.

"Perhaps you should tell your people where you have been my King? They must have feared for your safety." Aubrey suggested, trying to make him see that everyone had been afraid he had died. Either from wounds sustained in battle or that he had been killed by the people on the Island. She was surprised they hadn't waged war already, what with his long absence. She recalled the stories of the sea and how they were probably biding their time, knowing that the Islanders would never cross the cursed seas. Plus, she was sure his army needed rest after their victorious battle.

"Shall we retire to our chambers my love?" Archer asked softly, changing the subject entirely. But although he kissed her sweetly, Aubrey wasn't going to allow him to sidetrack her. She had serious worries and wanted to know why a kingdom so beautiful and happy looking, had so many worries that they came straight to their King upon seeing him for the first time in weeks.

"My King, do you not think perhaps, that your people have feared that you were dead? That they have been contemplating war with the Island ever since your disappearance?" Aubrey sighed, hoping that he would take her concerns seriously. For a moment, she wasn't sure. He sat staring ahead, thoughtfully before speaking. He was trying to turn over the argument in his mind and see her point of view. All he could think about was how she and her people had been treated, Celia's treacherous actions towards her husband, the temporary King of the Island and how weak the true King Edward, was. Aubrey had explained his situation, when she had revealed that her family were vampires, a term he still wasn't certain of. But he knew a monster was a monster and Edward must be cured.

"Yes...war. Quite right. Edward is useless and so is Captain Randall. His wife wanders the castle as if she were the rightful Queen. They need dealt with." He thought aloud. It didn't take long for him to decide that if war was to be fought, it would be on his terms. He would use Aubrey's knowledge of the Island to find a vantage point before he waged war.

"Oh Archer, please...do not do this. Do not get involved. It is not your fight." Aubrey surprised him with her plea. As far as he saw it, marrying her made it his fight. The people on the Island being so mistreated by Walter, were lawfully Aubrey's people. Which made them his. He would have argued that he saw things differently, but she was so adamant that he couldn't help but sigh and agree not to tell his men of the war he intended to start one day.

"Very well, my love. As you say, we may yet be asked to give aid to one who defends the people of the Island, but we must not step in until asked. If your brother is trying to broker peace, we must not create war if it can be avoided." He accepted that her brother was dealing with Lyra, the daughter of a very influential man within the King's council. He understood that if peace could be brought through her or a marriage between the two, he wouldn't need to send his men to die in a war that wasn't theirs to fight. He could save lives and important kingdom finances by behaving himself and doing as his future wife asked of him.

"Your brother. My love, tell me more about these monsters you proclaim family. What is a vampire?" He asked, returning to the subject with the reminded she had given him of her family.