Book 3: Chapter 68: Annabeth

Book 3: Chapter 68: Annabeth
Annabeth

King Louis of Lysolee was a very large man, and not in the muscular way. He was very large, and honestly, quite short for the average guy, dressed to a T in royal clothing. His eyes were a piercing green, and snot dripped from his nose. Disgusting... King Glorian seemed to have the same thoughts as he stared from the opposite side of the circular table we were to meet at. Alex was already there, thank god, looking like a freaking prick as he usually did. Not that it was his fault, but it annoyed me that he looked better than I did. I might have been wearing a dress, but that didn't mean I wasn't underdressed. 
“King Louis of Lysolee,” I smiled my best smile. “King Glorian of Gala, I am so sorry to have kept you both waiting, I have only just learned of your arrival.”   
King Louis grunted, and I couldn't help but feel like I was in over my head. King Glorian just gave me a look like that said, 'how could you have ever left me alone with these two?' and I had to suppress a slight smile. 
“Kes Koo too m, Ally.” King Louis grumbled.   
I frowned and exchanged a confused look with Jake who was standing guard at the door but was facing inward, not out. 
“I’m sorry sir?”   
“Where is Ally? I was told she would be here.” He grunted. He was so unpleasant that I wondered how Lexy had ever reached any agreement with this man.   
“Jem ka too, King Louis,” A voice so familiar to me that I nearly breathed a sigh of relief.  
Lexy slid out from behind Jake and fully into the room. She was wearing a light pink, loose fitting dress, the lightest color I had seen her wear since Sari had died. 
“I am here, Sir,” She stated again, bowing to each of us, and moving to kiss King Louis hand's and then King Glorian's.   
“What happened to your shoulder?” King Louis demanded, his eyes narrowing.   
I glanced at her again. Her shoulder was quite red, and I looked down at my wrist and saw it burning bright red as well. She should be resting. Not here. Not saving my butt... Again.   
“Oh, just a little fight with a wire in my tent,” She smiled, rising to her full height. “Clearly the tent won.”   
Clearly, King Louis bought it and laughed at her joke.   
“So, shall we get to business?” She asked. “Princess Annabeth and Prince Alex were very excited to meet such a heroic man. And I hope you don't mind King Glorian joining us. He heard you were here, and since we have been working closely together, he requested to join.”   
The lies flew out of her mouth with an ease that I didn't expect. Alex and I hadn't known anything about her special guest. Well, maybe she had told Alex something. She seemed to trust him more than she trusted me these days, not that I had given her any reason to trust me... The thought makes me sick. I mean, I didn't force her out of my home when she showed back up, but that was human decency... Not anything more. 
“Yes sir, I was delighted to hear you were here,” I played along with her game. She was clearly trying to butter him up. I had never seen her in action like that, and I was a bit in awe of how easily she seemed to be able to manipulate the situation.   
The man grunted. He didn’t seem to like me much, which I was a little surprised at. Usually, people found me more approachable than my brother, but he didn't seem to share that sentiment. And I would have maybe called him sexist for that, except he seemed to like Lexy okay. 
"So, tell me Ally," King Glorian said her name like it left a bad taste in his mouth, like he was remembering something from his past. "What exactly is the plan here?" 
"Well, we have a proposition,” She started, her confidence unwavering, though I knew she felt like shit. I could feel her emotions, her pain, for the first time in a really long time, and I didn't like it. It made me nauseous, or maybe that's what she was feeling. I couldn't differentiate my feelings from hers. "King Louis has Vivian knocking at his door. His country has the most soldiers compared to any other country here in Lyndella." She explained. "Between the three Kingdoms, I think we can help each other to make sure that Vivian does not collect anymore of the Allasigh stone or goes for Gala's Salsona stone and marches on the whole damn continent." 
I sucked in a breath. I didn't even know Gala had a stone similar to the Allasigh stone. For the next 2 and a half hours we discussed the best ways to support each country. Lysolee is fighting a famine. Vivian already had a major foothold in Locke. She was attempting to breach Gala's borders every day. Calina had all but fallen to Vivian already. Alex and I were doing our best not to let our parents drive us to total ruin. But we all had things to give, and through lots of discussion, we had finally reached an agreement. 
We were just about to sign our contracts when King Louis leveled a look at me and Alex, and said, "You there, Princessa, your word as good as hers?" 
He gestured at Lexy, who stiffened ever so slightly, but I pretended I didn't notice. "Yes, I will honor my word. Ally is good at this stuff, if she says this is a good deal, then I trust her to help keep all of us safe." 
He grunted again, and I didn't know what to make of him. I couldn't believe Lexy had won him over at any capacity because I most certainly hadn't. 
Lexy bowed at him, a serene smile on her face that I knew was false. 
“Please feel free to stay and rest before you return to Lysolee.” Alex offered. 
“We will be seeing each other again soon your majesty. Kenn cow so.” Lexy told him as she kissed his hands again. 
He didn’t respond, he just signaled for his servant, and it was my turn to curtsy to him as I noticed Lexy slip out of the tent.   
“Thank you for coming your majesty.” I said as sincerely as I could muster as King Glorian slipped out of the tent apparently not interested in pleasantries. “We hope you enjoy your stay.”   
“Listen.” He motioned me to move closer. “That girl. Ally. You say she is friend?” His accent was heavy and choppier than it had been throughout our meeting.  
 “Yes sir,” I answered, not sure where he was going with his question. Even Alex stiffened.  
“And she protect you?”  
“Yes sir,” I answered, a tad more hesitant. “She does her best.”   
“You owe her everything.” He stated simply, before reaching for something his servant was holding, and they disappeared right before our eyes.