Uncovered

Fahmeen's POV:

"We never speak about history. Our history."

In the palace gardens, I ask my mother what's been sitting on my mind lately. She sips her tea and gives me an understanding nod.

"What would you like to know?"

"You know, we don't even have any books." I've never come across one in the library, no tales of old kings nor older alliances.

"Not everything can be found in a library." She chuckles. Something about it makes my ears perk up. It was one she'd give to avoid someone's intrusive question.

"Really? I thought it could. It's why you encouraged me to spend any free time in there, is it not?" I can't help but watch her now, despite my easy smile. Mother replies confidently,

"All I mean is, history should be told rather than read. Spoken and seen. Passed down from our ancestors till it reaches us."

"Okay mother, then I ask you. Why have you never told me of my grandparents. On both sides. Why have I no cousins or uncles nor aunts? Why do we live alone on this island, with nobody around except for alliances we pay for?"

Mother stops her drinking. She sighs and appears tired instantly. Her mouth opens then closes. I urge her,

"Tell me mother. Tell me what you want to say."

I follow her eyes to the garden doors, two guards are stationed there.

"If you want answers, you'll have to ask Micah." That was it. She folds her napkin, her hand staying on the perfectly flat material for a little too long. Then she leaves. As well as being utterly lost, I couldn't stop the uneasiness when she mentioned father by his name to me.

...

"Mother acted so strangely this afternoon."

I said out loud. It was meant to spark a conversation between Rolf and I, actually I would've settled for him even listening to me.

"My father is up to something."

This makes him look up. It's those papers again.

"My mother too." I mumble quieter, remembering the mix of guilt and worry I saw all over her face today.

"Of course he is." He folds away the papers and comes close to the bed, as if to lay next to me. But he doesn't, he stays by the bed post and instead watches me from up there.

"Rolf, I'm being serious."

"So am I. He is a murderer and so anyone with an ounce of intellect would suspect him of other crimes. Twenty years ago it was murder, today... who knows?" He yanks off his tunic and strips down to nothing.

Landing on the bed with a thump, he wears the same look of frustration that's shrouded him ever since we returned to Covas.

"What did you know of Covas? Before marrying me, what information did you have on the history of my people?"

Rolf turns to his side, concern creasing his brows as he caresses my face.

"All I could think of is the princess I'd get to marry." He smirks. I shake my head, quickly matching his earlier frustration.

"No Rolf, be serious. What were we before my father was king?"

I see something similar on his face as I did my mother. Guilt. Secrets, as of late they're everywhere and it's rather scary not being in on any.

"What is it damn it. Just tell me!"

Rolf sighs angrily, the growl at the end building the tension.

"You were tribal people." As he tiredly scrubs his face, I stare at him in shock. We were a tribe?

"What?"

"Yes Fahmeen." He sighs again and sits up, opening his legs, waiting for me. I am lost again in one sense but I find my way to him, nestling into his chest. His voice becomes soft in my ears, his one arm wrapped around my front.

"All it means is you started out like the rest of us. Just later than you thought. The Eastern king found your island-

"Oko's father?" Wow. What a history lesson tonight.

"Yes." He says reluctantly.

"It was said he'd even taken a lover but his wife never made any noise. He established his rule, left your parents in charge and never came back."

"Why my parents?" I whisper out into the open. Why. So so strange. Something is missing.

"That, I can't tell you."

Excuse me?

I gasp and turn to face him but he breaks out in a laugh.

"Only because I do not know!"

I settle down quite quickly and he kisses my forehead. Turning back around, I try and process everything I had learnt today. In the end, I can only think of one thing, that I know nothing.

...

Daisy's POV:

I hated being here. This was... everyone knew what this place was. Somewhere lonely soldiers found solace. In the middle of the ocean and in between a strange woman's thighs. It was quite easy to become a whore. Or rather pretend to be one. I would not sleep with him of course, but a whore could get very close to a man. In fact, the closest anyone could ever get. Lonely men in need of comfort were like drunkards. What did they say... loose lips sink ships?

I was not interested in any ship however, I just wanted my retribution. I stood outside the door of our room, the thought was enough to start feeling nauseous. I hadn't seen him since that day, thankfully but now I had to stand before him dressed in clothing I couldn't imagine anyone being comfortable in, ever. Seriously. I knock on the door and his relaxed, low toned voice welcomes me in.

I see Oko laid back on the wide bed, his legs planted firmly on the floor. His hair was jet black and glistened under the warm light. His skin a pale yellow, eyes like an abyss. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only plain black trousers and a silver chain with a silver ring hanging off of it. Much like his hair, the lines etched into his stomach played under the lights. Was he seducing or was I?

I savour these moments under my disguise, taking him in as he cannot do to me. He seems only mildly interested, not even a pitched tent beneath his pants.

"So what's your name?" He asks, almost bored, drinking from a pitcher. I respond by dropping the cloak from my shoulders. I stay still once the pitcher lands on the floor.

"Daisy." He whispers, and those black eyes get closer as he sits up immediately. My breath grew shaky as his eyes lowered whilst his cock rose.

"Oko."