Sweet Waters Throne

171 Chapter 17Sir Thomas added “It will be Your Grace. We will all stand by your side when the time is right, and believe me when I tell you this isn’t the time” and Lord Howsley nodded in agreement with Sir Thomas’s speech.

“I agree with the Hand of the Queen Your Grace. These are tough times, the winter may last for a year and what will we do then?” Lord Howsley pinned his argument in collaboration with Sir Thomas.

Then all of them consoled Aryan as tears rolled down between her cheeks. Well one thing about the Squires is they are never used to defeat. They always want to win because they believed their lions were powerful and dangerous, yet time and time again the countless failed rebellions against Kings of Maldonia had reminded them their lions weren’t as powerful as they potrayed them to be.

Now there was another powerful creature on top of all, a dragon. Not even one hundred thousand lions can defeat a dragon, while the lions roared the Earth — dragons roared the sky and breathed hot flames capable of even burning stones and turning them black. That power was terrifying and had never been seen before, it was beyond human imagination and Aryan thought if the dragons were allowed to roam the Earth any longer then no one will be safe.

She was telling this to Rush since Olivia had travelled to Bellward to oversee rents and taxes collection from the merchants and local men. Rush vowed never to speak again to Aryan after she treated her bad the day she was sailing to Whitebridge, but then when Aryan came to her manse drunk and stumbling to even walk, Rush had no choice but to let her in.

Hence Aryan spent a night inside Rush’s manse and that’s when she expressed her desire of finding a Dragon Hunter. They sat on soft couches made of leather inside Rush’s sleeping chamber, a fire was in front of them and it warmed the whole room. The windows were shut because there was a whole winter storm outside and none of them wanted that cold to get inside, the people who were outside were damned.

There was a huge bed in the middle and that’s where Rush spent most of her days, just sleeping and when she wasn’t sleeping then she was running a brothel. She may have been appointed as Mistress of Spies but she still kept her brothel although she wasn’t for sale herself. Three oil lanterns kept the place lit up and warm at the same time, it almost looked so romantic.

Rush heard Aryan’s complains and she thought it was the wine talking and not her. “Where will you find a Dragon Hunter? I doubt they even exist” she said.

“They did when House Morrow was wiped out. I read a book about them and how they saved the world from dragons and their riders”

.....

“That was thousand of years ago” Rush chuckled softly. “They must be all dead now, and their generations too”

Aryan reached out for another glass of red wine, “You are not helping” she told Rush and took a sip.

“That’s because I can’t help in finding Dragon Hunters for you”

“Aren’t you supposed to be Mistress of Spies, isn’t your task to spy for the Queen?”

“Yes, but not spying Dragon Hunters who I have no clue where to start. Everyone might think I’ve gone mad”

This time Rush stood up and slowly walked to the bed with a glass full of red wine, she wasn’t sober either. Her soft and transparent white shift showed her whole body from head to toe, and all this time Aryan was struggling not to look. However, she was too drunk to keep it together and from time to time she found herself salivating as she looked at Rush’s breasts which were full and erected.

Whatever was going on between these two was weird and at the same time not safe, especially for Aryan who was loved dearly and fondly by Olivia yet she took a liking into a courtesan living in her city. When Rush walked to bed, she knew exactly what she was doing.

It was the hour of the wolf and Aryan was drunk, Rush knew Aryan so well to be assured that when Aryan is drunk she completely loses her senses. It’s as if she turns into a completely different person, and that’s why she laid down on bed and turned to look at Aryan with eyes full of passion and yearning for a great sex. This was the night she wanted to have her, to feel her skin close to her and be close to her even if it was just for one night.

“Are you coming to bed?” asked Rush. “Or are you going to sleep all alone cold in your chambers while I can keep you warm, right here” this last sentence was soft and carefully spoken, she even placed her hand on the other side of the bed while her eyes never leaving Aryan’s.

“We shouldn’t be doing this” That’s what Aryan said, she still didn’t move from the leather couch but her eyes were locked with Rush’s.

“Alright, if you say so. Just close the door on your way out, I’m exhausted I need some rest” replied Rush and turned on the other side.

There’s always a moment when a man is tested whether he was worth it or not, most of the times men fail this challenge and that’s why they have many bastards roaming around streets compared to their legitimate children. Gandalf himself had several bastards back in Old City whom he never claimed and nor even met.

Aryan and Olivia weren’t married, same sex relationships weren’t even legal during that time but Aryan had been open about her relationships all her life. It’s as if she dared anyone to rise their voice against who she should date and how she should dress or how she should act.

In Old City most of the men who challenged her to be more “lady-like” found themselves in trouble. Some were fine knights with war experiences and they requested a duel with Aryan so they can prove to the world that she was just a woman and nothing else. However, they failed badly and most of them lost their heads in the process.

Enough about men who challenged Aryan throughout her life and let’s get back to the point. Olivia wasn’t Aryan’s wife, these two never wed because no High Septon would perform such ritual. It was considered an abomination and sin against the gods, not even Father Stewart would entertain the thought of uniting two women in the eyes of the gods. Aryan knew better that’s why she never asked.

But right there inside Rush’s chambers, Aryan had that thought of getting married to Olivia. It’s time, she thought out loud. They have been together for so long, since she had nothing to being the Hand of the King, to finally a Queen of Prophis — the most powerful kingdom ever known to man. There could never be another woman like Olivia.

Suddenly Aryan moved to the other side of the bed and sat on it. Rush turned to look at her, she smiled. “Have you made up your mind?” she asked while flirting.

“I’m getting married” Aryan didn’t even know what she was saying, the words seemed to shock her too.

Rush was struck with wonderment, she didn’t know how did they reach to the talks of marriage while they were supposed to be having a mind blowing sex, “What?” She asked also confused.

Aryan was excited and she laid down on the bed and looked at the ceiling, “I’m getting married” she repeated the words.

“To whom?”

“Who else, my Olivia”

“Olivia?” Rush stuttered, she wanted to continue speaking but the words failed to come out of her lips. “But... she is a woman!”

“Exactly! A woman is who I’ll marry”

Rush suddenly sat on the bed even though she complained about being tired early on. Her eyes popped up, her jaw dropped and she leaned on just to hear more of the story. Aryan still laid down looking at the ceiling.

“Aryan, you cannot do that. You don’t know Prophisians like I do, they are very spiritual people and this will rise their hate against you” said Rush, now she was serious and no longer playing the whore trying to get a man.

Aryan didn’t seem to care, “How can you know Prophisians while you aren’t a Prophisian yourself?” she locked eyes with Rush.

“I have lived in Raven way longer than you. And I have seen things that you haven’t, there’s no worse thing that could ever happen to a ruler than having his own people turning against him”

“Well it’s a good thing I’m not a He” Aryan then sat on the bed, she was so close to Rush — both of them exhaled.

Rush thought perhaps it was the wine talking again and by next day Aryan will be sober and she wouldn’t even know what she was saying. Hence she tried to kiss her “If you are getting married tomorrow, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind taking me for the last time. Would you, Your Grace?”