Chapter 40 The calm before the storm
Elias's giggle travelled through Isabella’s ears, and she smiled by default as she walked.
Without seeing, she could guess already what was going on.
“Save me, Mommy,” He screamed in between laughs.
“You can do it.” Isabella returned, laughing.
Footsteps sounded before her, and she could guess who.
“Tired already?” He murmured behind her, taking her into his arms.
She shook her head, giggling. His voice made her ticklish. “I just can't keep up.” She groaned as she rested in his arms.
“How are you?”
She sighed. “Settling.”
The words were barely out of her mouth, when Lucien spun her to face him.
“How are you?” He asked again.
The sincerity in his eyes made Isabella pause. “Settling,” she answered again, a mischievous smile on her face.
“Seriously though, I'm trying all i can. It's not as hard as I thought it would.” Her hands reached for his face as her fingers caressed his chin.
“How are you?”
Lucien shrugged. “Settling.” He mirrored her.
Isabella spluttered. “That is not how I sound.” She was trying hard to keep a serious face.
“Really?” Lucien's brows were raised as he teased her. “Cause I hear you everyday, even when you're not speaking and that is exactly how you sound.”
Isabella blushed.
“I think we're going to be fine,” she murmured. “It's been two weeks of silence from both parties.”
“We can't be too sure.” Lucien's eyes followed Elias as the little boy ran, clearly unbothered by what was going on around him.
“It's too soon to conclude.”
Isabella nodded. “You're right, I shouldn't be fooled. He's not going to back down easily. Not when he's this close to taking the kingdom.”
They were both seated under the tree in the park.
“I should get going,” Lucien murmured.
“Why? You promised you had nothing to do.” Isabella whined. Unconsciously, she was getting used to him, even more than she would love to admit.
“I'm sorry,” Lucien apologised. “Something came up.”
“A matter of privacy?” Isabella rolled her eyes in sarcasm.
Lucien grimaced.
“It's fine, you can go. Even I am tired. Elias and I will go back home.”
The tremble in her voice, made Lucien want to kick himself in the stomach. She was trying so hard to act unbothered, but he knew she was clearly bothered.
“There was an attack in the neighbouring state.” His lips thinned as he whispered in her ears.
“You're not supposed to tell me. I'm not supposed to know.” Isabella had a look of horror on her face.
“I know.” He accepted. “But I want to. So you can see that it is important. I wish I could delegate it, but I have to be there.”
Regret laced his voice. “It is in moments like this that I wish I were not king.”
Isabella widened her eyes. “Don't say that,” she nudged him. “We'll be fine, I promise.”
She gave him her sweetest smile. “See?” The one she reserved for Elias only.
Lucien hesitated before standing up slowly. “I'll be with you in a moment.” He leaned down and kissed her cheeks lightly, making her blush.
The guards and servants on their detail were just a few feet away from them.
Then he stood up fully, as he waved Elias over.
“Daddy has got to be in a meeting, Little man.” Lucien crouched.
He knew it made Elias feel better whenever he could look into Lucien's eyes.
“Be a good boy and go home with mummy. I'll be back in time for dinner.”
“Okay,” he nodded as he waved him off.
“C’mon baby, let's go.” Isabella stretched her hand out to Elias as they waved Lucien goodbye.
Lucien clenched his hands, making his knuckles white as he listened to the reports from the council.
An attack was going on between factions.
“Your Majesty, this is an attack from the rogue. We have to retaliate.” An elder from the back spoke heatedly.
His town was the closest to the factions fighting, and where the first corpse had been found.
“I agree.” Voices assented.
Lucien looked around the hall, his eyes resting on Damien who had a smile on his lips.
“Lord Hale?” Lucien spoke, his fiery voice quietening the noise in the hall.
“What do you have to say about this?”
Damien was momentarily startled, but it was only for a bit and if Lucien hadn't been staring at him, he would have missed it.
“Why me, Your Majesty?”
Lucien shrugged. “You're a member of this honourable court. We would love to hear from you.” His calm neutral voice betrayed the hatred that lay in his heart.
“Oh well,” Damien stood up. “I think we should lay low.”
The hall became noisy again in an instant but he was not moved. “We really do not know the cause of the friction between these factions and so we cannot pick a side. Picking a side now, will be a bad political move for our kingdom.”
Lucien nodded despite himself. He had to give it to the man, he was politically correct and wise.
“Also,” Damien continued. It appeared he was not done. “This might be too soon, but we will have to pick a side.”
Lucien raised a brow. The man was contradicting himself.
“My sources tell me this is not just a rogue attack between factions. These people may soon start attacking our towns.”
Lucien leaned backwards, an interesting look on his face. “What do you suggest, Lord Hale?”
“We need to start prepping the army, Your Majesty.” He replied without missing a bit like he'd been preparing for the question his whole life.
Soft murmurs rose.
“Isn't that too far a stretch?” Lucien was sure he was speaking for almost all the elders in the Council.
“I'm afraid not, Your Majesty.” Damien scratched his beard noisily.
“These rogues do not have a leader. Soon, they will come to us to make a decision. We have to show them we are ready. This is just a speculation.” He added hurriedly.
Damien moved a bit forward so he could turn back to the people.
Lucien tried to keep the smile from coming up. He was genuinely interested in the plan the other man was talking about.
Of course, he was no fool. He knew the endgame here. Taking the throne and everything that belonged to him.
“Oh no,” he waved his hands. “We would love to hear it.” He glanced at the faces of the other elders and they nodded in confirmation.
“Okay,” Damien exhaled. “We are the strongest.” He paused, looking at the faces of the elders to make sure they were following him.
“Whatever faction that wins these battles will have to contend with us in the long run. The enemy of our enemy is our friend.” Damien glanced at Lucien as he concluded.
Lucien's lips curled. He was sure they'd moved on from talking about the rogue faction to something different. Something only both of them were aware of.
“So you're saying we throw our weight around the weaker faction?” He asked, confirming what was in the heart of many.
“Yes, Your Majesty. That's exactly what I'm saying.” He nodded hastily.
Lucien nodded. “Thank you for your contributions, Lord Hale. It is very…enlightening.”
Lord Hale bowed, as he sat, his eyes locked with Lucien's.
Lucien watched, lost in thought as another Elder raised an issue.
He needed to deal with this in the most logical way possible.
Damien had a point. The enemy of his enemy was his friend.
He could throw the weight of the pack around the weaker faction, but…there was a but.
War was brewing in his pack. One that had every likelihood of turning brutal and wiping everyone who stood for good away.
He tried to force his attention back to the council. Lord Sloane had stood up to speak.
“Lord Hale has made excellent points, Your Majesty.” Lord Sloane began, making all the other members murmur in agreement.
“We cannot afford to allow the strongest faction win. This will only come back to bite us in the ass, literally and figuratively.”
Lord Sloane's attempt at a joke, made Lucien and all the other persons smile.
Lucien nodded. He looked around. Like always, they were all looking at him expectantly, wondering what his final decisions were going to be.
“I think I agree with you on something, Lord Sloane, Lord Hale here, has made excellent points.”
He cleared his throat. He'd decided on an action. “We'll be going with whatever he has said.”
Scattered applause rent the air, as some of the elders exchanged handshakes with Damien.
It was a rare thing to go with a decision someone new like Damien had proposed without objections.
Lucien leaned back. He had a different plan though. He would be throwing his weight secretly on the stronger faction.
If he was going to go down, then he would need an ally. One that would help him take Damien out when the time was right.