Abyss - Book Five (Man x Man)

Chapter 33

"What do you think, Nic?" 

The words echo off the great hall, floating past me with little care or acknowledgment as I dive deeper into the depths of my frustration with our current situation. Once again, Naptalion was missing from his own home with no word of his travel and no indication of when he'd be back. 

Part of me suspects he remains here, hiding from us, but those were only assumptions for he hadn't spoken a word to us since our last council. This task was beginning to consume me, every day spent here is another day wasted, my people go without rule and my friends fight a losing battle. 

"I'm thinking wildflowers, instead of roses." The voice continues as if I'd answered, soft and melodic as if these flowers would answer all our problems.

How can you rule a kingdom when you won't even talk to possible allies? I roll one of the gifted rings with a slow twist of my thumb, stewing in my contempt for the man.

 Something that had been drilled into me from the beginning, from the moment we started this campaign, was that allies were a resource to be coveted. If I was a more cruel man, I'd stand aside and allow the Empire to march right past us and remind this gentleman what it was like to be without aid. 

In my readings and review of my gifted tours, he was quite accomplished in battle and politically. Even with his short reign, he'd brought France out of the darkness of the monarchy and into the light of a revolution. He'd gifted the people a voice and started this part of the world on the path to freedom much as I was trying to do only he did it much quicker. 

Perhaps he felt his work here was done? 

If I allow my darker thoughts to come forward, I could entertain the possibility that he's waiting me out in hopes of gaining Russian land. His trials are not my own for few have faced the same foes I have. I ring my fingers as I slowly pace, my eyes locked on the marble floors. 

"Maybe pale colors? Spring colors. Helen, hold those there. Nic, look." 

How do I smoke him out? How do I pin him down and force him to speak to us? 

The pitter-patter of my entourage's feet creates a dull ache in the back of my skull, must they follow me everywhere? 

I could force him to acknowledge our existence in front of his peers, there would be no room to back out and no room to ask for unreasonable requests. I feel something smack me on the back, forcing me to surface from my musings.

"What?! For the love of all that is holy, what, woman? What?!" 

The expression that meets me is one of mild amusement and innocence. Fillipa had so much vigor in such a tiny body, her outspoken nature and her duty to her people were as relentless as mine if not a step further.  Of course, she would use her powers against me to get what she desired as well.

"Are you done being useless? We're planning a wedding." The reminder is at the bottom of my list of concerns, she rests her hands gently in front of her, arching a carefully manicured brow. I note the bundle of roses on the ground and yet her posied body suggests she never could have thrown it, eyeing Helen, the timid girl averts her gaze and goes back to plucking at the flower arrangement. 

My knee-jerk reaction is always to blame Helen, to accuse her of everything wrong in my life. 

"I'm trying to figure out how we can get Naptalion to meet with us and you're picking out posies. It feels rather ridiculous to plan a wedding when we won't be staying, let alone in the time frame you've suggested. This week's end is only five days away."

I regret my question immediately as the small smirk rolls onto her lips and she motions with her for the servants to come over. 

"Flowers, seating, food, wine, music." She points to each one, the poor women are each holding a pad of paper with her precise directions scrawled down on it in their haste to not miss a word or fear her intimidating gaze. She leads me through, allowing me to read each one.