An Axe in the Flames

Cat and mouse

"I know. You don't like the dresses. We don't have to try them on but you have got to let me brush your hair. It's getting so long!" Anese said as she ran a hand through Pela's blonde hair.

Indeed it had, almost to the small of her back now. "I've never seen this color hair before, but Pela. It's so beautiful, why do you never brush it yourself?"

Pela smiled and scribbled a reply, "You do for me."

She smiled as Anese read it and playfully rolled her eyes.

————

Rikart sat in his favorite chair, a beautifully carved iron wood chair with padding and fur and red inlay on the arms, in front of his fire place and starred into the flames. He was lost in thoughts, almost unblinking. Yalina watched him from the doorway of their bedroom, "My heart. I do not think the flames will ever obey your command. Through use of mind or word." She mused.

He grunted a half hearted laugh and turned to acknowledge her. So beautiful, with her braided red hair and white, winter dress made of leather and wool. "Yalina, my father loved this Sect. He gladly fought for his King. Gladly put his life on the line, and gladly followed him anywhere. What kind of man am I that killed his father and took his place next to the very King, yet I secretly plan to somehow leave or overthrow him?"

She crossed the room and stood behind him with her arms wrapped around his shoulders, "A visionary." She breathed into his ear.

"A visionary?" Rikart questioned.

She gracefully came around to the front of him and sat in his lap and caressed one cheek with a hand, "A man who has dreamt of a government meant to make no one better than the other."

"If no one is truly better than the other, then what will I be?"

She tipped his chin up, "A ruler. A ruler who's purpose is to make just and right decisions for his people. A ruler who overthrew a tyrant mad with magic. A man with a destiny."

He took her hand in his and kissed it, "This all scares me. Everything. The magic, the thoughts, the kingdom and the power."

She smiled at him and kissed his forehead, "I know not a better man. Being scared means you feel the weight of your people. Being scared shows you're a person and not just a mad King."

He shook his head and kissed each finger, "Yalina...we know he wants to siege the Emerald Castle. To throw as much, at once, as possible. He hasn't come from his personal throne room in a year yet still, I fear him and the thought of what I must do. He was a mentor for some time."

"Was, my love, is the most important word. We know he's stirred in the last few days. Like a coming storm I feel action coming soon."

Rikart looked her in the eyes and thought, Gods she is so beautiful. What have I done in my life to deserve all that I have?

She brushed her hand over his face and smiled, "When the time is right, you will know. The signs will be there as they always have."

He smiled back at her, "You're right. As always. A leader, I am, but I would be no where without you."

She returned the smile and kissed him deeply, taking his face in one hand. The kiss was cut short though, as voices arose from outside of their normally quiet home. Yalina gracefully slid off of his lap and over to the window that overlooked the front of their house. She could see the other soldier's houses. Gray blocks built into the harsh landscape and the sparse greenery in between the packed salt flat ground that was the roads inside of their fortress. The road bent around the houses and from it she could see dust clouds. Like plumes of smoke billowing from the earth, she turned to Rikart.