Zara fought hard to keep the smirk off her face when she heard the commotion down the hall. Shouting. Running. Angry voices.
If only she could bear witness to the results of her actions. What she would give to see the despair on Darius' face at the sight of the lifeless child!
A cruel chuckle escaped her. The poison had been subtle, but it would be effective. There would be no heir. She would personally make sure of it. Every child Elora would bear him would meet the same fate.
Zara listened as the sounds drew nearer. Any moment now and she would hear the crying. She could hardly wait.
But instead of entering Elora's wing, the footsteps approached the harem. Zara frowned as soldiers lined up along the wall. Soldiers weren't allowed into the harem.
She narrowed her eyes when she saw Torcan enter the room. When he reached her, she sneered at him. "What are you doing here? Did Darius finally decide this is where you belong? With the rest of the women?"
Torcan's face betrayed no emotion. "Zara of the eastern plains, you are under arrest and will be sentenced for high treason."
Zara let out a scampering laugh. "Treason? And what act of treason might that be? Look around, you fool, I am confined to these rooms. There is nowhere I can go. Treason!"
"I'm glad you find it amusing," Torcan said calmly. He took her arm and pulled her with him. "You are being arrested for conspiring against king Darius and queen Elora, and the attempt to take the life of the newborn prince and heir of Tirèze."
"How would I have been able to kill that baby," Zara sneered, "I haven't left the harem since Darius threw me in here."
"King Darius might have placed you here," Torcan said, "that does not mean he didn't keep an eye on you. Your so-called allies acted in his name, giving you a false sense of security while in fact they reported everything back to him." He looked at her with disdain. "Did you truly think he has no eyes and ears in the harem?"
Zara gritted her teeth and tried to claw at Torcan, but he grabbed her wrists and pushed her toward a soldier who was waiting outside the harem. "Take her to the prison."
"You will regret this!" Zara screamed as she was being dragged away, "I will make you pay!"
All threats were ignored.
...
"You are glowing," Vara noted as she smiled at Ophelia. Her friend couldn't stop smiling.
Ophelia giggled and let out a dreamy sigh. "I am just so happy. I have waited for so long for this day. I can hardly believe it has finally come true and I am Iolaus' wife." She took Vara's hands. "I am so nervous."
Vara laughed. "You have nothing to worry about. You look beautiful."
Ophelia grinned. "At least now my brothers have stopped glaring at him." The two girls glanced in their direction and giggled.
Upon hearing the sound, Ophelia's brothers looked up confused, only making the two girls laugh harder. "Poor Iolaus," Vara giggled, "he's been terrified of them for years."
"What nonsense are you telling my wife?" Iolaus had appeared and ruffled Vara's hair with an amused smile.
Vara pulled a serious face. "I speak only true."
"Of course you do," Iolaus said wryly.
Ophelia laughed. "Don't worry, my love, she told me nothing I didn't already know."
"Yes, make fun of me, will you," Iolaus said flatly, "I've only waited for eternity to make you my wife."
"Are you causing trouble again?" An amused looking Iason appeared at her side.
Vara crossed her arms and pouted. "It is unfair how you just assume it is my fault."
He looked at her unimpressed, making Iolaus and Ophelia laugh.
Vara huffed. "So unfair."
A throat was being cleared and the group looked up to find Cyrus at their side. He looked at Vara a moment before turning his attention to Iason. "A word with you."
"My prince?" Iason asked confused. As far as he knew, he had done nothing to offend the man.
"What's going on?" Vara asked warily.
"We need to talk about the report you sent in, about the increase of attacks from Balor near the border."
"We have it under control," Iason spoke calmly, "as the report shows..."
"The men you sent to Salvire..."
"Cyrus, please," Iolaus intervened, "it is my wedding day. Today we celebrate. I'm sure warfare can wait. We can trust our soldiers to keep the border. All other discussions should be postponed."
Cyrus gritted his teeth. He was still troubled by the meeting last week. And the fact that his father had forbidden him to ride out to Boncini. But his friend was right. Now was not the time. He looked at Iason again. "I understand you will be travelling to Valais with Iolaus and Ophelia. Once you return home, we will speak about these matters."
"My lord," Iason bowed.
Cyrus' eyes lingered on Vara a moment longer before turning to Ophelia. "You look beautiful, Ophi."
Ophelia looked at him amused. "I wondered when you'd notice me, but you are forgiven." She kissed his cheek. "It is good to see you."
"And you," Cyrus nodded, "I almost gave up hope of Iolaus ever settling down. You owe me a dance later."
Ophelia curtsied. "I will be honored."
...
Darius wrapped his arm protectively around his wife and son and kissed both of them on the forehead. They could hear Zara's furious screams all the way down the hall.
When the messages had come to him regarding Zara's plans, he hadn't wanted to believe them at first. Of course he knew she hated him and that she bore a grudge, but he never would have thought her capable or harming a defenseless child. But the messages were cohesive with one another. The soldier Zara had tried to persuade, the harem girl, the woman in the market that had received an odd request, one of his own riders. Their stories were all in accordance.
Torcan had been right to advise him to keep a close watch on her.
"What are you going to do now?" Elora asked softly. She still shivered as she thought about how close she had come to danger, how this woman had almost succeeded in harming her child. How could any woman do that to a child?
"She will be dealt with," Darius said coldly, "it is none of your concern."
Elora narrowed her eyes at him. "Not my concern?! She tried to murder my child!"
Darius, too, glared. "And I said she will be dealt with. It is my child too. My heir. She will pay for her crimes with her life. Is that what you want to hear? Should I tell you how it will be done too?"
Elora paled and rocked the child in her arms. "That won't be necessary, thank you," she said in a small voice. She suddenly felt nauseous. For a moment she had forgotten her husband could have a temper. She wouldn't ever want to get on his bad side.
"Then don't ask anymore," Darius answered briskly. He took a deep breath and fought to remain calm. He needed to remember it wasn't Elora he was angry with. "I believe she acted alone, but I am investigating the matter. If she had any accomplices, we will weed them out. No harm will come to you or our son, I swear it."
"I know that," Elora said softly. He would do anything to protect his heir, as would she. "Will you finally name him then?" she asked.
Darius looked at his son, safely in his mother's arms, so unaware of the machinations going on around him. "Yes," he said, "I will name him."
...
"Are you alright?" Iason asked softly once they were alone. He wasn't blind to the looks Cyrus had been given Vara all day. And he knew there wasn't much he could do. Vara was still Cyrus' adopted sister. It was only natural he would approach her on formal occasions. Objecting against it would only start up the rumors again. Besides, no matter Cyrus' intentions, he and Vara were close friends. It would be wrong to try and keep them apart completely. He trusted Vara. She had refused Cyrus' advances more than once.
That didn't mean it didn't affect her and he hates seeing her hurt.
Vara smiled weakly. She couldn't deny she still had lingering feelings for Cyrus, even if they did seem less profound than they used to be. Part of it was because of Iason. And she assumed it had to do with the distance as well.
It seemed for Cyrus not much had changed and that bothered her more than her own emotions. "I'm fine," she assured Iason, "we will be leaving in the morning. It will be nice to see your family again."
Iason wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss in her hair. "I think you won Dimitris over last time. He was convinced I was forced to marry you."
Vara looked at him innocently. "You mean you weren't?" she teased.
Iason tilted his head in thought. "Happily forced perhaps."
Vara gasped and pushed against his chest with an undignified look on her face.
Iason chuckled and reeled her back in, wrapping both his arms tightly around her. "I said happily."
Vara pouted. "I heard forced."
He shook his head amused. "Of course you would. I told you I had no regrets." His expression turned serious. "I just don't like seeing you hurt."
Vara smiled at him sadly. "I told you I'm fine. I can handle seeing Cyrus. I'm happy with you. I'm sorry he is giving you such a hard time. He can be so stubborn."
And jealous, Iason noted to himself, and possessive. He shrugged lightly. "His father is still our landlord I suppose. He is entitled to demand reports and discuss defenses. And no matter my current position, I am still a soldier and he is my superior." He grinned. "However, he didn't mention any timeframe in which we were to return to Boncini. The estate will run itself, the troops will hold the border and the captain of the guard knows where to find us in case of emergency. We can hide with my family for as long as you like."
Vara laughed too. "I'd like that," she said content while seeking the comfort of Iason's arms again. "I'd like that very much."