"Your highness, your guest is here." A maid announced and Aveedah only nodded in response.
"You may all leave." She ordered and they scampered away. A moment passed by and she could hear light footsteps.
She watched as the man strolled into her chamber.
Keevah should be somewhere behind him or maybe he had already left them to themselves. She relied on the sound of the footstep to know it was the latter for she could not take her eyes off the man in front of her to confirm it.
He walked in head high and on spotting her relaxed self sitting on a cushion, her legs crossed, her back rested, her hair falling to the side in beautiful curls, her light blue eyes watching him like a hawk and he felt compelled to hold her gaze.
She manages to exceed his expectations anytime he sees her.
Gorgeous
Charismatic
She exuded royalty without even trying.
He had expected her to be decked up so she can intimidate him but she looks so confident on what he would call a simple black robe, yet she managed to look better than she did on the first day he had seen her, her wedding day.
If only he wasn't a man with a mission.
Maybe he would try to pursue the promise her father had made to him.
The promise he hadn't remembered when he tried to marry her off.
"Your Majesty, you should behead the people who describe you for they have disregarded your mind blowing self." He said, a mischievous smile on his face.
Aveedah's face held surprise as she asked.
"Is that what you do?"
"And here I thought we would get along for the fondness we share for mysteries and surprises." She added now feigning disappointment.
Velaine chuckled humorously before he approached her and as if asking her for permission, he locked eyes with hers before he reached for her hand, his eyes still holding hers.
"I see you are not fond of flattery." He commented.
"I see you are not very good at it." She replied, relaxing her gloved hands in his big palm.
He smiled deeper before he said, now his voice quiet and his tone proud.
"King Velaine Rado of Ridah." He introduced.
Aveedah stood up from where she sat and replied to him, a small smile on her face.
"Queen Aveedah Moorah Aarah of Vedarah."
"It's my pleasure having your acquaintance." He Said and before she could reply, he turned her hand that was lying on his for her palm to face him and he carefully dropped a quick peck on it and smiled at her questioning eyes.
"It's a seal of our alliance. Is that not what you seek?" He asked, glint of mischief shining in his eyes.
Aveedah chuckled and nodded her head.
She gracefully removed her hand from his loose hold and assumed her previous position.
"You may take your seat, King Velaine."
Velaine smiled and sat opposite her, he let his eyes roam the library once before he allowed them settle back on her.
Quietly, she taped her foot on the floor twice and the wall facing them slid back, the interior was too dark so he could see almost nothing from where he sat but he didn't allow himself to peer for he was sure whatever was in there was meant for him to see, he would just have to be patient.
She pulled a lever from below the table and somehow, the area lit up.
It was a prison with his knights inside.
Upon the sudden introduction light, the knights squinted their eyes as they allowed their pupils adjust to the change.
Aveedah simply observed them her eyes darting from him to them.
When they had finally adjusted to the change, their eyes settled on him and they involuntarily widened. He just nodded his head in assurance before he turned to her.
"Do you recognize them?" She asked even though she had seen the exchange between them.
Velaine smiled before he replied.
"They have just completely their mission." He replied and immediately, they fell in a deep bow.
"Greetings your highness. It is of utmost pleasure to be of use to you." They greeted in unison.
He only smiled at them before turning back to Aveedah.
She tapped her leg again and the wall slid back closing the prison.
"Why?" She asked.
"If you do not have that answer, I am afraid I overestimated you." He replied nonchalantly.
"I want to hear it from you." She ordered.
"I do not suppose you have that luxury, you are about to be ousted out of your seat." He replied, an infuriating smile on his face.
Aveedah chuckled a bit before she stood up from where she sat and waltzed to the wall that had slid back moments ago, slowly she turned to him.
"Eric." She called and from nowhere Eric appeared.
Velaine sat unperturbed.
Why would he be?
It is her Kingdom, it is only right she surprises him.
"Repeat what you heard about the conflux from Kebarah." She ordered.
"He is still looking for the culprit behind the attack but discreetly. He had suspected it was your doing but owing to the mix of gifts and the lack of knowledge of the other kingdoms, he is quite confused." He reported.
Velaine only raised his eyebrows as he stared at them.
"I have a grand plan that would most definitely work. I will surrender you in the presence when of all the kings to Kebarah and trust me I know Kebarah, he would loose control and spill his intentions. The kings will realize it is only a matter of time before they are also ousted and by then, it would be easy for him because he had destroyed their greatest pillar, me. What do you think will happen?" She asked, a victorious smile on her face.
"You will win." He started.
"If it happens according to the way you put it. But you don't want to be at the mercy of their intellects. You want to bind them to you, make them submit and acknowledge your power. You don't want to go to war that you will not trample on the enemy. You want to go to a war the enemy will cry and beg you for forgiveness, which is why you are curious what I can to give to you." He replied, standing up too.
"How about we alter the first plan a bit?
"Have you played chess before?" He asked, slowly approaching her.
Aveedah raised an eyebrow at him and did not bother to answer.
"I assume you have." He said stopping right in front of her.
"You know how the queen has more power than the king but the king is the ultimate determining factor of the game? That is exactly Kebarah's situation." He paused now looking in her eyes. He could see the anxiety in the slight widening of her eyes and the quiet pick up of her breathing.
"Kebarah is only the queen in this game of chess and I am about to hand you his king." He smiled now dangling Neil's necklace in his hands.
Aveedah could no longer keep her calm as her eyes widened at the sight.
The compass to the location of the stone of the water wielders!
"How..." She tried to ask but thought better of it when she saw the expression on her face.
"Where is Neil?" She asked, her eyes now on his.
"You know exactly where. Is this not the actual reason you need me?" He asked.
Aveedah almost laughed at her predicament.
He had known all along.
Keevah had used a tracing spell and had tracked Neil down to Ridah. That was why he had suggested she lowered her pride and send him an invite to the congregation. Keevah is right, the man is no fool.
"No matter how powerful the queen is, the ultimate goal of the bishops, the knights and even the castle is to protect the king." He completed. Knowing fully well he had convinced her, he went behind her and carefully put the necklace over her head.
Aveedah traced the necklace on her neck before she whispered.
"Why?"
"Are you not being too trusting?" She asked, her voice now firmer.
He chuckled and she could slightly feel his warm breath on her neck.
'He must be closer than two inches from me.' She thought.
'Close enough to put a knife to my neck.'
"You are the one who has her back to me. Is it your trust in me or confidence in yourself?" He asked, not moving an inch from where he stood.
Aveedah smiled to herself before she turned to him.
"There must be something that makes you so confident then."
He only stared pointedly at her before he replied, no trace of the past humour he had in his voice.
"Betraying me will make you a true niece to the man who murdered your father, his brother for his quest for power. I believe you are not that kind of person."