Whispers and Promises (restarted)

[heartofcourage]

Kyra glanced over her shoulder as Rath removed his turban with a sigh of frustration. He had an impatient and wild streak in him that was endearing to her. She allowed her gown to fall from her shoulders before she stretched and crawled onto his bed, letting out a sigh as she turned to look at Rath.

"Come and join me, love." She said softly, patting the silk sheets beside her. "Let's rest before we go back out to the festival."

 

[DrStein]

Rath turned to see her stretched out on their bed and sighed again to expel his frustration as he smiled. He took off his shirt and joined her on the sheets, immediately wrapping her in his arms and planting a kiss on her lips. "Sunset is still hours away. We'll need to find some way to keep ourselves occupied until then."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can only imagine what you might have in mind." Kyra murmured, laughing at the look on his face. "I was imagining a nice nap before we went out again. But you, my sweet prince, you are hot blooded enough to try and make this moment as passionate as possible."

 

[DrStein]

"You know me so well." With that he kissed her again. One hand encircled her waist while the other went to her breast. "And I know something about you as well. You always are there to give me a way to take my mind off of my troubles. I also know that you're the most beautiful woman in Rhagal. And the most passionate."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra always melted into his kisses and she let out a sigh as his arm circled around her waist and the other cupped her breast. She let out a soft moan as he gently massaged it, telling her that she was the most beautiful woman in Rhagal and the most passionate.

"Only when I'm in your arms, my prince." She murmured softly, nuzzling against his nose with her own as they lay in a passionate embrace.

 

[DrStein]

Rath kissed her again. For a time they simply lay there holding and touching each other. It was easy to forget the strife of the world around them in times like this. The moment however was interrupted by a sound at the door. They lay in silence and listened as they heard voices from the other side.

"Is there something I can do for you?" The voice belonged to Darius.

"I... N-no, I simply wished to speak with the prince a moment." That was the younger of the two merchants, Sarael.

"His grace does not like to be disturbed when he is in his chambers. King Athmir is currently occupied as well. Is it urgent?"

"Well, no. It's just I... I had some questions is all."

"What sort of questions? I have been an adviser to the royal family for over thirty years. Perhaps I can help you."

There was a long pause between the two outside the door. At last, Sarael replied, "It's nothing so important. It can wait."

"Indeed. In the future, please be advised that it would be impolite to disturb the privacy of either the king or the prince. If you would like to pass the time until they are available, I can show you to the gardens."

"I... well... Y-yes, thank you."

Footsteps slowly retreated from the door and the room and hallway outside it were quiet once again.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra was quiet as the voice sounded outside their door. She would still whimper each time that Rath's large hand trailed over her skin, but for the most part she was listening. She nibbled on her lower lip as the man tried to gain admittance to Rath. Darius would turn him away, he always did. It was part of his job to make sure that they were not disturbed.

"Go see what he wanted to talk to you about." Kyra said softly, looking at her lover with a look on intrigue. "It could be something important pertaining to our plans."

 

[DrStein]

Rath looked back and forth between the door and Kyra before nodding. "I'll try to be back soon." He dressed quickly and slipped out the door. There was no sign of Darius or either of the brothers. Save for the prince himself the hall was empty and quiet. Rath felt a creeping paranoia and considered turning back into the room rather than leaving his beloved alone.

He had just about resolved to turn when a voice came from his side, "Ah, your grace!" It was Sarael and immediately Rath felt a sense of paranoia replaced with mild annoyance. "I was just looking for you."

"So I heard," Rath said. He fixed Sarael with a look and could tell the merchant realized his conversation with Darius had been overheard. There was an awkward pause before Sarael spoke again.

"I wanted to know if you have been enjoying the gifts House Jindoor has sent you. If we are to be doing business..." The merchant's obsequious tone was grating. Rath found himself wondering if Sarael was just that foolish or if perhaps most northern houses were just that bad.

Rath was about to give some platitude or another when something caught his mind. "Gifts?" He had first thought Sarael meant Kyra, but now he was suggesting there was something more.

"Yes. After we gave you the slave girl, we sent other gifts to the palace every few months. We wanted to know if you were enjoying them."

This was news to Rath. To his knowledge, the court had received no such gifts. "Regarding the girl, yes. She's a rare woman and I'm very fortunate. Regarding everything else... my father would be the better man to talk to... but I would not approach him directly. Let me speak with him about it."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra sat up as she watched Rath dress to slip into the hallway. She slipped off the bed and pulled on a silk robe, listening to him talking to someone just outside the doors. She supposed that he had found the man that had been searching for him. She could only hope that he got some information out of the man that would help them in their search for her brother.

She moved from the room, past her singing birds, and into the bathing chambers. It was the one room of the palace that gave her a spectacular view of the city beyond. She had found her place there in Rath's kingdom, but she still felt a bit of sadness in what had happened to Dath. She wished to see the snow capped mountains of her homeland.

She shook her melancholy thoughts free and moved towards the heated bath, letting the robe slip from her shoulders before she stepped into the steaming water. She sank up to her shoulders, her hair floating on the surface of the water as she leaned her head back against the side of the pool and looked up at the painted ceiling, her mind lost in thought.

 

[DrStein]

It took another minute for Rath to shake the obsequious merchant. Once he did he returned to his chambers and heaved a sigh. He stripped and joined Kyra in the bath, holding her close. "Something peculiar happened just now. That jackal insists that his house has been sending gifts to the palace every few months. This is the first I've heard of this." Rath's voice was detached and heavy with thought. "I don't know why... but something about this has me worried."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Where do you think those gifts have gone?" Kyra asked, glancing at Rath as he held her tightly. "Perhaps you should ask your father tomorrow about it. He would have to know about this, right?"

She was just as confused as Rath was about what he was telling her. If there had been other gifts that had been sent and kept from him, what else was there that he didn't know?

 

[DrStein]

"What worries me the most is... if Darius knew about this, he would have told us unless ordered by my father to do otherwise." There was a nagging feeling in Rath's head. Either his father was hiding something or someone at the palace had managed to keep something hidden from the spymaster, which was no easy feat.

"We'll speak with my father after the festival," Rath said after a long silence. He was quiet once more as he gently washed Kyra, pausing only now and again to place a soft kiss on her lips as if to remind himself that she was still there. It was obvious that this revelation troubled him, but he was trying not to let his more rash tendencies get the better of him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you think that they kept it from you on purpose?" Kyra asked softly, looking at Rath as he set about washing her body.

She knew he was stressed when he took the time to wash her body in silence, thinking to himself about all of the possibilities that could happen. There was little that she could do to take him out of his thoughts. He would do that on his own sooner or later. She simply returned his kisses, holding him tightly in the warm water of the bath.

"You know I'm always here for you, Rath." She murmured softly, looking him in the eyes. "No matter what may come our way, I'm always here."

 

[DrStein]

Rath cupped her cheek in his hand. "I know." He kissed her again and held her in his arms. "I promised you your birthright back. Your brother. Every where we look, we get more questions than answers. It sounds... almost like one of the old storybooks. The heroic tales you told me about from your homeland." After making his promise to Kyra to free her brother, the two of them had been reading old Dathish tales, legends and fables together at night. Through her he learned more about her home in those few months than all of his diplomatic training had taught him prior. He came to understand her homesickness.

As he had done before, he whispered to her one his visions for the future. "The day will come when you and your brother are restored your house and crown. We will announce our wedding that day and travel the land." Rath had always imagined in detail possible futures when he was a boy. It gave him confidence, something he needed right now. These days though, he wanted Kyra and her hopes to be a part of these visions. It gave him courage.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then I suppose I shall have to teach you Dathish." Kyra teased her prince, grinning at him as he whispered his hopes and dreams to her. "And prepare you for the cold climates. It snows there and rains much of the year. Very unlike here."

She could get excited at the idea of seeing her homeland again one day. She could almost close her eyes and imagine sleeping in her childhood bed, listening to the rain as it pattered against her window. The damp smell of earth filling her senses as she dreamed of green rolling hills and fields of red poppies and yellow flowers. She missed it immensely.

 

[DrStein]

Rath smiled and kissed her forehead. "I'll have a fine tutor." He frowned playfully at the mention of snow. Though the deserts of Rhagal could get very cold at times, Rath had only ever seen snow once when he was a boy. "I suppose I'll have to dress in those furs I've heard are fashionable. Say what you will about the weather here, at least it's warm most of the time."

They dried off together and dressed. As a gesture of his sincerity, Rath picked up one of the old Dathish storybooks that Kyra had brought to the room and asked her to teach him a little of it. He had worked out how to phonetically translate it a few hours later when the sun was about to sink and they were to meet the king out front.

When they arrived at the gate, Athmir was already waiting for them. He wore a magnificent turban and coat, flanked by two guards with swords and shields. Another four were standing by awaiting the arrival of the prince and his lady. "You know I haven't been to the festival since I was a boy," the king said conversationally. "Many of your ancestors were similarly distant, you know. But the people seem to like the change you two are bringing."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra enjoyed teaching Rath Dathish. He was a quick learner and seemed to be genuinely interested in learning her native language. The storybooks that were in the palace library told ancient tales of monsters and dragons, but they were thrilling none the less and the perfect backdrop to teaching her prince. She smiled broadly, kissing him each time he got something right as a reward. Perhaps all of this would work out, she thought to herself.

Soon they were leaving to meet the king. She had dressed in a gown of deep green, a warm tan coat over the top against the cool night air. She had to be careful to not hold Rath's hand as they walked even though she wanted to touch him. When they found Athmir, she curtsied to him in respect to his position as she always did. Never once would she show him disrespect in front of his citizens or his guards.

"You will find, your highness, that your people will respect you all the more. Besides, even a great king needs to have a little fun." She said with a smile on her lips.

 

[DrStein]

Athmir smiled. "It has long been the tradition for leaders to remain separated. It gives them sight to see the bigger picture. But you and Rath find it listening to the people instead of watching them. Some of the courtiers don't like this. But I doubt you ever cared what they think." Everything about Rhagali royalty was meant to separate them. The palace, the fact that it was rude to approach them during a meal, all manner of other restrictions and taboos. Rath never enjoyed it and he could tell that his father was no longer going to fight him about it.

"Come." With that, the king led the way as they exited the palace with their guards in formation behind and in front of them. As they descended to the streets, a current of renewed excitement came to the crowd. It had been some time since any of them had seen the king in public. And yet here he was at a festival with the prince and the Lady Kyra. Many passersby stopped to bow their heads in deference to the king before showing similar respect to the prince and his lady.

Music filled the streets as the sun sank below the horizon. Street lamps and lanterns, some with colored glass, bathed the streets in lights of all shades and colors. When they came to the library the wizards were standing out front giving an amazed crowd of onlookers a presentation of elaborate machines that could lift heavy loads and even keep and record the hour.

Master Khalid spotted the three of them and rushed, bowing his head down to the ground before the new visitors. "King Athmir! Long live the House of Katum."

"Rise, old master," the king said. He spoke in the commanding, projected voice of a practiced orator. "My forefathers had great faith in your order to bring new enlightenment and strength to Rhagal. And you have more than done so. For this I thank you on behalf of our people." The crowd cheered for those words and many drinks were raised and quickly quaffed.

"Thank you, your grace." Khalid looked over at Rath and Kyra with a smile and a bow as well. "Your visit this evening in unexpected. To what do we owe this honor?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"A little bird convinced him to step out of the stuffy palace and into the street to view the festival." Kyra said with a smile on her lips as she gave a wink towards Rath. "We intend to show him the music and dancing and food that his city has to offer."

Kyra could hear the murmuring of women in the crowd and knew that by morning, her outfit would be copied a dozen times over. It didn't matter to them that she was a mere concubine in the house of the royal family. They saw a woman in power for enjoyed the company of the king and the prince. They would notice the loving glances and the way that she was familiar with both men and she would be admired for it.

"But first, I think his majesty would enjoy a demonstration of some of your new machines." Kyra said, prodding the magician into showing off his newest inventions for the interested royals.

 

[DrStein]

Khalid brought the three of them over to a machine that two other wizards were tending and which a small crowd stood in awe of. It was a strange contraption of discs and designs overlapping one another. Rath was quick to identity the designs. He looked up at the night sky for comparison and then back at the machine. "Are those the constellations?" he asked in amazement.

"Yes, your grace," the wizard operating it told him. "We have worked for many months on this project. We have turned the night sky into a living map. It is the most accurate star chart our order has ever created."

Rath was amazed, examining the machine with a boyish grin. It was complex yet worked effortlessly. It showed clearly the movements of the sky across the seasons. He smiled at Kyra, knowing he must look downright boyish at that moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra smiled along with Rath, knowing just how much he adored the stars and constellations. They had spent many evenings in his bath, staring at the paintings on the ceiling as well as the night sky beyond his windows. She made a mental note to ask the magicians to make a machine like this for Rath for his birthday. Surely no one else would ever compare to the gift that she might give him.

She fought so hard to not loop her arm through his own like she wanted to. Instead, she leaned in towards the machine, listening as it was explained to the royal family. She knew Rath was in heaven and the king was standing in rapt attention.

"And there is one that can keep the time as well. I have seen that one up close and personal." She said with a smile on her lips.

 

[DrStein]

At the mention of a machine that could keep time, the king straightened up. "Keeps time, you say? This I must see." The wizards happily directed the king toward the device, but Rath lingered a moment.

"Things like this are why my house has supported their order from the start." Rath turned his smile to Kyra. He wanted to kiss her right then and there but he had promised his father they would be discreet. He pursed his lips with a slight impatience and looked aside to the crowd to remind himself why it was necessary. "You know... I've heard them quoting your book. I know Dath will always be your homeland. But you understand us. We will always accept you as Rhagali."

 

[heartofcourage]

"While I might one day become the queen of Rhagal, my heart will always belong to Dath." Kyra said to her prince, giving him a smile as they both turned to study the machine further.

She listened as Rath explained the different constellations to her, just as he had while they lounged in his bedchambers. She would never get tired of the passion in his voice that he had for the study of the moon and stars. She was aware of the many sets of eyes on them from the crowd, each admiring their prince from a respectable distance.

"There are many woman in the crowd who wish they were in my shoes right now." Kyra murmured softly to her prince, a sly smile on her lips. "Should I be worried, my prince?"

 

[DrStein]

Rath smiled playfully at that. "Worried? You? Nonsense. When a beautiful woman starts influencing changes in education, fashion, and the court itself, then maybe. Until then, perhaps the promise of a night of sky-shaking passion will ease your worries?" The urge to embrace her was strong but now was not the time and in front of a crowd was not the place. Rath instead settled for a gesture that would not seem amiss and took one of her hands, placing a soft kiss upon it.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra grinned at her prince as he teased her about the situation, kissing her hand gently as they struggled to find a way to express themselves among all of the stares that they were receiving in that moment. She chuckled softly, her fingers squeezing his own as he joked with her.

"Perhaps two nights...and maybe an afternoon. Then you might have a deal, your grace." She said, giving him a sly wink as she moved past the constellation machine towards where the king was studying the time keeping mechanisms.

"I told them, your highness, that things like this need to be taught in the schools. Imagine capturing the children's imaginations with wonderful machines such as this. There is little telling what the future might bring." She said as she stood respectfully at his side.