The Concubine - (currently Revising, Complete)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Meili

There had been no change during the night in the way Eydis felt; if anything, their presence made her worrisome. The children and she were gone as soon as the sun rose. I did not have a worry in my heart though; Eydis knew well how to take care of our children. My mind was more focused on Thorsten. The longer he stayed, the more I regretted ever reaching out to him. There was such a thing as friendship and family. I considered Thorsten to be my brother, and I knew more than anything that brothers could not be trusted. They had talked last night, for hours she stayed with him, likely sleeping with him, confessing her love, and none of it bothered me. I only wanted him to make sure they were safe. Is this what love done to me?

I pushed the thoughts aside, trying to gather the plan for today. They were to leave, there was no doubt in my mind, either they went own their own or I would drive the sword through their heart myself.

Yuli moved through the hall, cleaning quickly behind the mess children had made. She stopped as I entered the room, bowing, and smiled. "My King."

"Yuli." I waved at her to continue her duties. "Where is everyone?"

"You mean, Eydis."

"Queen Eydis." I corrected her, slightly annoyed with her familiarity. Yuli's intentions were always blatant from the start; slave or not, she had ambitions to sit on a throne, but there was no room for her in my kingdom.

"Queen Eydis decided to take the children outside for fresh air, and she is feeding Kali. Leidolf and Geoffrey have done as you instructed with the coastlines.

"Great and Thorsten?"

"He still sleeps."

"Good."

"I listened to them last night."

"To whom?"

"Eydis and Thorsten."

"Why?"

"You do not care what the love of her life has to say about you?" The sneaky smile formed across her face, and she bit her lip. "It is unlike the wise King Meili to not have ears everywhere."

"I am the love of her life." I shrug and move her from my way. "That will be enough from you, Yuli. There is much to be done before the sunset. Wash the Esme and Eydis' dresses and prepare the dinner."

"He intends to kill you. The plan is already set."

I scoffed. "He can try." My eyes rolled. "Finish your chores." There was little that I believed from the lips of Yuli. It shocked me that Eydis still allowed her presence in the hall, but the children did love her. She intended to weasel her way into my heart, but there was no room for her there. My heart belonged to Eydis and my family. It overflowed with love for them, and even if I wanted to show interest to her, I could not with an evident conscious show admiration to another. Eydis had somehow wholly taken all of me. "And keep your ears closed, or perhaps I will dispose of them myself."

The children's laughter was an unmistakable song I had grown accustomed to, Siggy's gallant charges towards his brother and Esme's giggles. They were my favorite things. I opened the door, taken on the site before me.

Eydis liked to watch the people, waving and talking to them as if she grew up here her entire life. She sat on the steps cradling Kali with Thor at her side, all seemed well, but her eyes bled with worry. Sigtrygrr, Esme, and Eric play in front of her happily without a care in the world, and I found myself envious of their innocence. "You talked in your sleep last night." I touched her shoulder. "A totally different language."

Eydis chuckled. "Did I really?"

"Yes, it was the most beautiful thing. I wanted to know what you were saying. But you were sleeping so well I didn't want to wake you. Plus, there was a certain girl or two in between us."