Whispers and Promises (restarted)

[DrStein]

Rath couldn't help the urge to poke at his father again when he followed Kyra and caught her remark. "You recall what I said before about generals, my dear. My father has what you may call a 'hands off' approach to governance."

"How do you think I make it look so easy?" the king replied. "Master Ithros has nothing but the highest praise for you," he said to Kyra. "And Master Khalid tells me that the boy, Shar, idolizes the prince. Apparently when he is sent to the market on errands for the wizards, he tells other children of his experiences with the wizards."

The wizard operating the water clock smiled and spoke up. "It may please your grace to know that when Shar came back from the market this morning there was a trail of other children behind him who followed him into the library. Fourteen in all."

Rath smiled and looked to his father. "Our house has long worked to set an example, father. And the Lady Kyra has been an inspiration to many. I think that you and I will live to see Katum's dream of an enlightened Rhagal come to pass."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps it would good if the people saw you both coming here more often. Not only would you learn the latest things the magicians have been up to, but you would interact with the children that come here to learn as well." Kyra suggested, giving them both a smile as a set of ringing bells on the clock suddenly started to chime, announcing the hour was upon them.

"If the two of you would like to accompany me, I think I would like to taste some of the food in the market." She commented, offering her arm to Rath. "We have to show your father the new sweets dealer. He has the most delicious creations at his stall."

 

[DrStein]

"I'm afraid I'm not good with children," the king said softly. He glanced at Rath, who had taken Kyra's offered arm, before looking to the ground. "But yes. Let's see what the merchants are up to."

The arrival of the royals in the bazaar caused a stir through the crowd. The three of them were the recipients of bows, gratitude and even small gifts of food and flowers. When Rath and Kyra were briefly separated from the king as he conversed with a silk merchant, the prince looked to his beloved and whispered to her. "Don't push too much on my father. You saw how hard it was to get him to admit he was wrong once. He'll come around in time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know he'll come around, Rath, but even great men sometimes need a little reminder of what is important." Kyra said softly, looking at her lover as he warned her not to push his father too hard. "I will go easier on him, though. Don't worry."

Kyra waited for the king to finish talking to the merchant before they showed him to the stall where the sweets were being sold. She couldn't wait to buy a few things, something for now and a few things for later. Everything in the stall looked absolutely delicious and she glanced towards Rath with a little grin on her features.

"I'm sorry, my prince, but I'm afraid another man has stolen my heart." She teased him, laughing at the look on his face.

 

[DrStein]

"Is that so?" Rath answered with a smile. "While I suppose I'll have to start entertaining ladies from the court in Shansul again, then. And just when I was beginning to think I had this whole courtship thing understood." He let Kyra pick out her favorites before asking for some of his own. Though Rath didn't have as much of a sweet tooth, he had an affinity for anything that was drowned in honey.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would think I'm prettier than anyone in Shansul." Kyra whispered against his ear as he bought them both some sweets. "And better in bed. No one knows you like I do, your grace."

It was as intimate as she dared to get there in the middle of the market, but she enjoyed loving Rath in every way possible. That meant teasing him whenever she got the chance.

 

[DrStein]

Rath smiled softly at her and kissed her hand again. After their trip to the market, the three of them went to the temple for evening rites and were soon returning to the palace. Once the guards were dismissed, Rath turned to regard his father and gestured for the trio to head to the gardens. "There's something we need to talk about."

"Oh?" The old king could see there was something bothering his son and followed along.

"One of those jackals told me that his house had been sending gifts to the palace. This is the first I've ever heard of this. What of you?"

The king's brow furrowed. "Hmm... This is news to me as well. Have you spoken to Darius about this?"

Rath shook his head. "We thought it best to tell you first." Rath took Kyra's hand tightly in his. Something about this chewed at his nerves.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra held Rath's hand tightly as he asked his father about the gifts that had been sent to the palace. She didn't like the fact that the king knew nothing about them. That meant that there was something in the palace that the king knew nothing about and that was a very dangerous thing. If the king didn't know about something that was being kept from him, then there was treachery afoot.

"Who do you trust the most?" Kyra asked, looking between the two men. "I don't feel right simply letting you two alone in the palace. Especially if there have been threats made."

 

[DrStein]

"Darius has been loyal to us since he was old enough to take part in the courtly politics," the king said. "A few of the other nobles can be trusted, though not as absolutely as Darius."

"Master Ithros as well," Rath added. "The pagekeeper would walk barefoot across the desert and back for us." He looked to Kyra. "Can you think of anyone else you would trust with your secret?" He didn't like the idea of bringing some of the other courtiers into this. Between the four who already knew the truth there was already enough danger if any of them were discovered.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra shook her head to the negative, holding Rath's hand tightly as it suddenly became clear that they very well might be in danger. Why would someone lie to Rath about gifts that had never reached the palace? Could someone in their circle not be trusted with the information of her heritage and the plot to help her brother get free of his bondage?

"What if there are threats made against your life because of this? I don't wish to bring a war to your front step." She said with all sincerity.

 

[DrStein]

The king folded his arms with a frown at mention of war. "So soon after the rebellion... I'm not sure the people have the spirit necessary to mobilize." His words were heavy. If their secret campaign failed and Rhagal were attacked it would be a blood bath.

There was a moment of silence before Rath set his jaw and looked up. "If that happens then I'll meet them on the front lines."

"Rath-" the king began before his son cut him off.

"Father, I do agree that we must do this cautiously. But if the time comes for battle, then I will show them what a mistake it is to back a lion into a corner." There was a fire in Rath's eyes. Doing this for Kyra was motive enough. If the conspirators threatened his kingdom however it would be a battle on behalf of his home as well.

Athmir offered a sigh and a knowing glance to Kyra. "Your spirit is not in question, my son. But the lady is right."

 

[heartofcourage]

"No." Kyra said as Rath promised to fight the men on the front line himself.

She glanced towards the king, knowing that she needed to do. It would break her heart and Rath's, but she would not allow another kingdom to fall. Dath had been enough.

"If it comes down to it, I will announce my heritage publicly and give myself up willingly." Kyra said, looking between both men. "I love you dearly, Rath, but I have no kingdom any longer. I am not a princess. If they wish to destroy my house, then I will let them if it means protecting Rhagal."

 

[DrStein]

Both men were shocked to hear Kyra say that. "They will not have you!" Rath said without hesitation. "These slobbering ghouls have innocents killed for power and profit. They're a blight on this world. I'll see them all hang before I ever bend knee to their demands."

"Rath!" the king barked. "We are not going to bring this to war. We don't even know if these gifts are real or not."

"What do you mean?"

"Think. None of us know anything about it and Darius certainly would have told me." The king once again folded his arms. "That means either someone in the palace has an ulterior motive, or these two fools are not as foolish as they seem. Possibly they are as in the dark as we are, but we can't dismiss the idea."

Rath backed down, but only slightly. "And what of Kyra, father?"

"I will not ask you to give yourself up, Kyra," the king assured her. "We don't know that will be necessary."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra held her tongue as the king assured her that she would not have to give herself up. That was no one's decision but her own to make. If she felt that it was a step in the right direction, she would willingly do it to protect the people that she had come to love so much.

"Then we will wait to see what comes of this." Kyra said softly, Rath's arm wrapping around her waist in a possessive way. "No decisions shall be made until we get to the bottom of his matter."

 

[DrStein]

"We will rest and discuss this matter in the morning with Master Ithros and Darius." The king made sure there was no mistake that was the final word on the subject tonight. He turned and departed for the palace leaving Rath and Kyra standing alone in the soft lantern light of the gardens.

Rath pulled Kyra to him and held her tight. "They won't have you," he murmured as his arms wrapped around her. "I swear, I won't let them have you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You will if there is no other option." Kyra murmured, leaning in to kiss her stubborn prince. "Your kingdom needs you, Rath. That's final."

She couldn't help it as they pressed together tightly, her hips rubbing against his own. She would love him all night long to take his mind off the pressing matters if she had to. She was very good at loving him and taking his mind off his troubles.

 

[DrStein]

He squeezed his eyes shut and a single tear ran down his cheek. The thought of losing Kyra ate him alive. Not after how far they'd come. Not after everything they'd done for each other. To have come closer and closer to the end only to finally let the conspirators and usurpers win. She deserved better. She deserved her life back.

There was nothing more he could say, his heart just ached. He barely even noticed her touch. They eventually returned to his chambers where he sat on the bed and pulled Kyra into his lap. He had no words. He only kissed her to remember everything was real.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra kissed her prince in return, knowing that he was in turmoil with what to do. He wanted her there and safe, but she wasn't worth his entire kingdom. She wiped the tear from his cheek, wrapping her arms around his chest and hugging him tightly.

"I'm here now, Rath. We will enjoy the moment for what it's worth and in the morning we will look at everything with fresh eyes." She whispered against his ear, her cheek resting against his shoulder.

 

[DrStein]

They held onto each other for a long while sharing tender kisses and caresses that slowly became more passionate. Rath removed her coat before he began to slide her gown from her shoulders. He immediately went to kiss her newly exposed flesh. The gown fell further, exposing her breasts. His hands reached over to knead them in slow, firm circles. Kyra was with him tonight. He wouldn't waste that. "Do you remember my promise to you earlier tonight?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra always felt so helpless in Rath's arms. He had pulled her coat from her body, pulled her gown down until her arms were pinned at her sides and her breasts were exposed. She let out a whimpered moan as his hands instantly settled on the globes of flesh, massaging them in slow circles. It was so hard to think when he was like this and she chuckled softly.

"Was it about the sky shaking pleasure?" She asked him, giving him a gentle smile as she leaned towards his lips to kiss them sweetly.

 

[DrStein]

His strong hands on her shoulders held her in place as his head lowered. He took a nipple into his mouth and nibbled and sucked on it gently. He enjoyed teasing his beloved in bed like this. Rath loved to feel every shiver and shudder of flesh. She wouldn't try to escape him, but his form hold on her remained as he switched to the other nipple. After what they had learned tonight, what had been said, he wanted those thoughts out of her head, if only for tonight. He would never give her up. He simply refused to accept the idea. They were together now.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kyra was helpless to what pleasure Rath wanted to give her that evening. She let out a moan as he took a nipple into his mouth and nibbled on the pebbled nub. She whimpered as she bent her head to watch him, panting as he abused her flesh in the most pleasurable way. He treated her other nipple to the same, his lips wonderful as he sucked on the poor bud.

"Rath." She moaned, her head tipping backwards as she reveled in the intense sensations that he was sending down her spine.

 

[DrStein]

"You're so beautiful," he said in a heated whisper. Rath laid her down on the bed and took off his shirt before continuing to slide the gown from her body. Where the fabric retreated his lips followed. Once she was naked beneath him he gently spread her legs and kissed her lower lips. One hand caressed her thigh while the other cupped her breast. "Everything about you is beautiful."

 

[heartofcourage]

Rath was certainly an accomplished lover. After all their time together, he still knew how to take her breath away with a few short motions. His hand cupped her breast, squeezing it as he declared his love while he kissed her wet entrance and squeezed her thigh. She parted her legs for him more, allowing him access to do what he wanted with her. She trusted him and she loved him.

"You make me beautiful, my prince." She whispered to him, gasping as he kissed her pussy again, her hips moving to meet his lips.

 

[DrStein]

Rath blew a cool breath against her flesh before his tongue reached out to delicately tease her pussy. He wouldn't deny that he was a willful lover. But in his time with Kyra he had learned the things she liked, the touches that made her shiver. He would listen to her breathing and her moans to tell what she wanted next. She had given him so much that it seemed only right to make everything that he did for her matter, that it bring her the happiness she deserved.