Chapter Twelve: Meetings

  “I still really don’t want to do this,” Elijah grumbled. “The man is insufferable, a right bastard that I wish I’d never met.” Wait, when did I ever use the word right that way? This damn world is getting to me.

  “I understand your reluctance, your majesty,” Eva said, leading her towards the meeting room where the Queen would be having an audience with Cris, the Sea Folk man. “But I must stress upon you the importance of this meeting.”

  “I know the importance,” Elijah sighed. “The better relationship we have with the Sea Folk, the easier it will be to talk and ally with them. I know the whole kabosh.” Kabosh? What the hell even is that word, Guide?

  You’re the one who said it, how should I know?

  “Kabosh? What’s that,” Eva cocked her head. “But the political aspect with the Sea Folk as a whole is not the main reason why you must attend this meeting. If it is shown that you do not deem to see this man, then you shall be perceived as haughty in the eyes of the populace.”

  “Say that again and in different words, because none of what you just told me made any sense.”

  Eva turned hurt eyes on him, her beautiful brown eyes twinkling as she shook her head at Elijah.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  “It’s okay,” Eva promised. “I’m just a little confused as to why you don’t know this.”

  Yeah, Elijah. You could’ve just been asking me all of this.

  “I’m just trying to get a refresher, make sure I’m aware of all the points,” the princess said. “I assume that me having to join the meeting is important because of what happened last night?”

  “Yes, that’s it!” Eva smiled, swishing her skirts, making Elijah’s gut do a somersault.

  Damn pervert, his Guide whispered angrily.

  What, I can’t remark on a pretty woman?

  Not when you’re dating!

  “You see, if you do not attend this meeting, it shows you have no power over those who intrude and they shall suffer no repercussions at your hands, only the Queen’s. You must show that you are fit to rule, and you show that by the respect you are given. If only the Queen serves out punishments and you do not attend the hearings of criminals, you shall be seen as weak. Do you understand?”

  “Good job, Eva, that is exactly what I was pondering,” Elijah exclaimed, and Eva smiled teasingly, coyly. Pondering? Ugh.

  “This way, your majesty,” the maid said as Elijah missed a corner, causing him to blush and apologize. “No need to apologize. It’s my duty to know the palace well, not yours.”

  “That may be true,” Elijah told her.

  “But?”

  “There is no but,” He said, winking, then whispers so only the Guide could hear to annoy her, “Except for hers, obviously.”

  She heard that.

  What? Elijah looked up sharply, expecting to find the maid gaping him in shock, but instead she was only laughing at what he had said before. I will murder you.

  You’re the one who needs to be punished.

  I’d let her punish me.

  You need help.

  Mmm, as soon as you admit Eva is pretty.

  That doesn’t matter at all. I have no problem with you being a lesbian and finding that maid hot.

  Straight.

  Whatever. The point is, you can’t break apart your relationship with Thomas. It is too important both for you as a person and Advantia as a political system for you to just let it go.

  So who I love doesn’t come into it.

  Oh, come on, Elijah. You can’t possibly believe you love Eva.

  No, but you understand what I mean.

  I do, but I also believe that in time, you will learn to love and appreciate Thomas. Just give the man a try.

  More of a baby than a man, Elijah crossed his arms, looking down, then bumped straight into the wall in front of him. Eva tittered next to him, then put her hand over mouth.

  “I’m sorry, your majesty,” She gasped. “I did not mean to laugh. We’ve arrived, you see.”

  Craning his head, the princess found that he had not, in fact, bumped into a wall, but massive wooden double doors. “There is no problem with you laughing at me,” Elijah smiled at her. “In fact, I encourage it.”

  No, don’t say that, Guide Amanda groaned. You could lose respect from her that way.

  Ignoring the moaning woman inside his head—ew, don’t think like that! You really do need help, my God—Elijah opened the doors, flinging his arms outward epicly, and he found a massive room in front of him, and, to his surprise, he had entered through the side door. The room was sparsely decorated, the only light arriving from glass windows across from him, but there was beautiful, silk, red carpet leading from the door to the right to the stairs on the far left that led to the two thrones, one standing larger than the other, gold while the smaller was silver. Sitting on the gold throne was Queen Evangeline, regal as always, wearing a pink cloak that draped around her silken night sky blue dress that had such a low neckline as to show any viewer all her assets. A crown sat atop her head, bending low on her forehead before extending upwards and outwards.

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  The Advantian Crown. The Queen always wears it when she judges particular criminals or listens to any diplomat from another country, and Cris happens to be both, that bastard.

  At least we agree on one thing, Elijah thought. What should I do?

  Walk up to your mother, kneel before her, and kiss the ring on her left hand, a symbolism of her power even over yours.

  Obeying his Guide, Elijah walked in a slow pace towards the throne, holding his head high even as he walked the stairs, his dress swishing beautifully. When he stood before the queen, he knelt and, taking her ring-studded left hand, he kissed the third finger, and, standing up once more, took his seat on the small silver throne.

  “My daughter, welcome to the meeting. I trust you’ve had a wonderful day so far?”

  When in a semi-public place such as this, his guide offered, always, always, always remember to call her my queen instead of mother or Evangeline.

  “Yes, my queen, my day has been good,” Elijah agreed, sending his thoughts of assurance to the guide. “I have recovered from last night’s…unfortunate events.”

  “That they were,” the queen smiled grimly. “Well, shall we get the meeting started? SEND HIM IN!”

  At once, the doors in front of them opened, and two guards dressed in a deep purple armor that completely encased them led in a familiar man in a suit who smiled outwardly, but Elijha could tell he was now nervous.

  “Kneel,” the queen ordered, and, immediately, Cris dropped onto one knee. “You are Prince Cris of the Sea Folk, is this correct?”

  Prince? Elijah groaned. The bastard is a damn prince. What type of world is this?

  “Aye, that is correct, your majesty,” Prince Cris whispered, cringing at the use of Sea Folk.

  “Stand up,” Queen Evangeline said, and he did so, avoiding the princess’ eyes. “I have heard of how you arrived yesterday. My daughter has told me of how you trespassed, stole, and made crude remarks about her. What do you have to say about this?”

  “That it’s all a lie?”

  “You call my daughter a liar?” The queen made as if to rise, and the Sea Folk prince shook his head.

  “Obviously not, your majesty, but it was worth a shot, you see,” He smiled heart-stoppingly but it didn’t make a difference on either person. “I did not steal, it was a fair trade. As for the trespassing, I was unsure of how to contact the princess any other way, um…and for the crude remarks, I must apologize.”

  “You did steal!” Elijah exclaimed. “The trade was not fair, and I did not agree to it at all.”

  “Then we can agree to disagree, princess.”

  “That is not how you talk to her, you insolent bastard!” Queen Evangeline exclaimed. “For what you have done, you must be punished, but I cannot execute you or throw you in prison,for fear of political turmoil. Thus, I think I shall let the princess decide your punishment. She should come up with a good sentence.”

  Cris’s eyes went wide, and he turned to Elijah, who smirked.

  What should I do, Guide?

  Do what you want, but I would advise you to not put a punishment that would cause a lot of pain, as that could be just as bad as prison.

  “I want him to be deprived of water for two days,” Elijah exclaimed, thinking of the cruelest torture Cris would survive without any trauma, and both the Queen and the prince gasped, and inside his head, the Guide shrieked in surprise.

  No, why would you do that? That’s the worst choice you could’ve made. The man is Sea Folk, he needs water to live. Two days might be enough for him to survive, but not much longer. Oh, you stupid, stupid woman.

  “You heard the princess,” The Queen exclaimed, looking troubled. “You shall be deprived of water for two days, and after, you may return to your country.”

  “But I must return quickly, the King needs me,” Cris said desperately. “Please, I need—”

  “You should’ve thought about that before deciding to go through with what you did yesterday,” Queen Evangeline sighed. “Now I shall listen to what you have to say. Why are you here, Cris?”

  “Well, we are having a peace celebration in Kainotami,” Prince Cris began. “We are inviting many people from many different nations to join, and my father would be honored to have the princess and her paramour there.”

  “Hmm,” the royal said. “I see. And when is this?”

  “Two weeks to the day, your majesty.”

  “I assume you shall bring transportation.”

  “Aye,” Cris said. “Transportation shall be provided for the princess, her boyfriend, and her guards.”

  “As much as I hate to accept a proposal coming out of your filthy mouth, I would hate to anger those in Kainotami even more. What do you say, Amanda?”

  You must take the proposal, the Guide said. A rejection would have serious implications for the relationship with any and all countries. I understand you may not like Cris—hell, I hate him too, that stuck-up bastard—but this is the right decision.

  Pursing his full lips, Elijah cocked his head, fixing a death glare on Cris, who wilted under the gaze. Ha! A far cry from how he was acting yesterday, the damn coward!

  “Of course I shall do it, my queen,” He said. “I shall journey to Kainotami as your political ambassador.”

  “Not in so many words, I hope,” Queen Evangeline smiled. “Yes, now that that has been taken care of, GUARDS!” She screamed. “You may take Cris here. He may stay where he will, but he is to be deprived of water for two days.”

  Nodding, the guards grabbed and dragged a begging Cris, who struggled in the guard’s grasps before falling limp in acceptance.

  “That was a needlessly cruel punishment, my daughter,” The queen scolded her. “You must be more careful with what you decide.”

  I didn’t know! Elijah exclaimed in his head. You should’ve told me not to!

  How was I supposed to know you’d do something like this? Guide Amanda asked. Just accept you made a mistake and everything will be fine.

  Sighing, he nodded. “Aye, my queen. I apologize.”

  “No need,” the monarch smiled. “The bastard deserved it.”

  Elijah mirrored her smile, a small chuckle escaping him.

  “Now,” the Queen continued, clapping her hands. “We have much to do, and no time to waste. Amanda, I trust you to do what you must today, but I feel the need to remind you to prepare for the dragon. You are dismissed.”

  That’s your cue, Guide hissed when Elijah stayed prone for a second. NOW!

  Elijah had never run so fast in his life.