Sweet Waters Throne

121 Chapter 12Imprisoning their uncle wasn’t a permanent solution, they both know it and Lord Benjen was well connected, he had friends in higher places. Killing his guards may have been their only choice but they would never dare take Benjen’s life.

“He’s still our uncle, after all this... and he’s the true heir of Old City” Gandalf told Lady Aryan when they were at the stable looking on the female lions who all successfully mated with the dead male. “Perhaps we should take it back”

A very stunned Aryan looked back at her brother “Take it back?” she was shocked.

“It’s our home, that’s where we grew up sister. Old City belongs to the Squires as it has been for thousands of years. Artemis will have no choice but to give it back to me”

“And what if he refuses? Do you really want to go to war during this time? After what happened in Stonedance? And for what – a city full of ruins? I say we stay here and rule a realm instead of ruling a city”

Gandalf refused to listen to his sister “It may be full of ruins and old but it’s still our home” and this time Aryan turned back at him with a frown look on her face “Our home is lost! We lost it the second we matched with all our men to King’s City. It’s gone brother, you should see it and make uncle Benjen see it too” she screamed loudly.

It’s not so often Lady Aryan screams at her brother, maybe the older version who was reckless and never sober. This new one seemed to be in control and taking his duty serious, but she still seemed to be angry at him for his lack of judgement.

Their altercation was suddenly interrupted by a guard who brought in Rush, she just came back from Blackmount. Rush wore a pink and blue satin long dress with black sandals, all these silks and satins were gifts from Lord Leoric whom she spent a few days with. The satin was indeed unique and so rarely seen at court. She seemed to be in a hurry and excited to see Aryan.

But she found her with Gandalf, and right there she curtsied slowly “Your Grace” and looked at the twins standing close one another. This wasn’t the first time seeing these two siblings together, but most of that time it was Aryan picking up her brother from the brothel and it was always chaotic.

.....

Now they were standing close and they wore the same outfits, both in black attires with their golden cloaks on top full of lions and today they were in the lion stables. Rush saw the semblance in clear daylight and she was shock, the same face, same nose, same fuller lips, same forehead and even the same built with an exception Aryan had tits, but they were so tiny and scarcely seen underneath her shirt.

For a moment she was awestruck and grew speechless, it was Gandalf who shrugged her off the shock. “Is it your first time seeing twins?” he chuckled softly.

“No, Your Grace but its just... you two look alike so much in clear daylight”

Aryan sighed “We’ve been told, I bet your journey was of success?” she asked seemingly leaning towards Rush to see if she would agree.

“Yes it was, and I have some very interesting news to share. Do you want us to talk here?”

“This is the only place where the King and his Hand are allowed. Unless His Grace wants to deliver this news elsewhere” Lady Aryan looked at Gandalf, and this time Gandalf chuckled softly “Stop with the formal talk, it’s alright talk”

It was as if Rush was dying waiting for that moment, but she did wait for a week to tell it to Aryan and her brother about what she heard and saw in Blackmount. She omitted the part where she slept with Lord Leoric, rode to him to Aurora’s Hill and the fact she didn’t meet Isabella.

Rush said she found Isabella occupied and surrounded by Lord Balrus’s rodents, and this clearly made Aryan believe that Olivia’s letter never reached Isabella. She damned Lord Balrus and his so called rodents who were always able to find things and destroy things too, she called him a man without a cock but with a good connection.

“The dragons do exist, I have seen them with my own two eyes. Five tiny dragons but not so tiny now and they are expected to grow twelve size of men and third size of castles in the coming years. I fear for our safety...” finished Rush.

“Do you think I’m on his list of people he wants to harm?” asked Gandalf.

“I don’t know Your Grace, I’ve never seen the King, only the Queen who guards the dragons with one thousand knights. I was given pass as a washerwoman but I ruined my cover and now I fear for my life, somehow I was able to escape”

The escaping part seemed too good to be true, for a castle guarded by one thousand knights how does a spy gets to escape. Lady Aryan asked “How did you escape?” looking straight into Rush’s eyes.

Rush took a moment to breath, “The lord of the Mines helped me” she admitted.

“Lord Leoric?” Gandalf’s eyes widened with amazement “What was he doing in the capital? Does he know about the dragons?”

“He was invited to the capital by the King, as all the ten lords of Maldonia. He doesn’t know about the dragons, I told him I blew my cover as a washerwoman and he was willing to help me”

“Why?” Aryan kept pushing “Why was he willing to help you, do you two know each other?” she went on.

However, her suspicious was brought to halt by Gandalf who teased her and said she sounded like she was jealous. Then Gandalf narrated how famous courtesans always have friends in the higher places, and Lord Leoric was a good customer himself. Although Rush never practically said it aloud, Aryan knew she had slept with the Lord to buy her freedom. Gandalf excused Rush and sent her back to her manse, Rush curtsied softly and walked outside of the palace.

Even though Rush sleeping with Leoric was the last thing which should concern her considering she had a whole girlfriend who not only loved her, but who also worshipped her and adored her – Aryan felt like a pang of anger bolting her stomach. Later on during the night, after dinner she walked outside of the palace and disappeared into the narrow streets of Raven.

Aryan went straight to the brothel where she was sure she will find Rush, as usual she had that black hoodie on. However, the brothel was closed and the usual sounds of music and drunk men fighting was absent. She exhaled softly and looked back, Aryan had no idea why she was there, she shouldn’t be there, she should be with Olivia tucked themselves inside their furs and warming one another.

Yet, there she was seeking out a courtesan who she knew was unworthy of her attention and worry. Just when she wanted to leave, Rush arrived. They were both startled and it was clear they didn’t expect to see one another over there.

“You are here?” Rush exclaimed.

Caught off-guard and still confused as to why she was there, Aryan managed a lie “I... I wanted to see one of my men, I didn’t know it would be closed” she said nervously.

“I can open it, for you”

“That won’t be necessary, I shall take my leave then” replied Aryan and started to walk away. Then Rush called out “You came to see me, didn’t you?” and this forced Aryan to turn back.

Rush continued “You came here for me, your man is always at the harbor and he barely comes here. You knew that, yet you still showed up” and she finished with a smile, maybe after all is said and done, there was hope.

“I should go”

“No, you should stay. I’ll open the door and we will go inside, no one will know” Rush assured her. Now this was the time Aryan was measured beyond control, it was either she stays loyal to her girlfriend who she’s been seen for years or forsake all that for one night of pleasure with a courtesan.

Aryan chose Olivia again and left the brothel without looking back, she mounted her horse and rode away as Rush looked on with tears rolling down between her cheeks. When Aryan arrived in the palace, she went straight to her chambers and found Olivia sitting on the bed applying her oil perfume.

“Where have you been, I have looked for you” Olivia stood up.

There was no time for words or confessions, Aryan knew exactly what she wanted and it was Olivia. She abruptly kissed her roughly and carried her in her strong arms, Olivia chuckled and she had no idea what had happened to Aryan. That night they had a mind blowing sex, maybe the best sex ever since they started dating and the servants knew it was good by the way Olivia moaned loudly and passionately.