Lena

Chapter 5

He knew what his aunt wanted to discuss. Today was the day after all. The day that would mark the end of his time here in his home, or at least his adopted home. He had lived in Sosphira most of his life. Nearly as far back as he could remember. When he thought about Thalor all he could remember was the smell of citrus, and his mother. The pale white woman in a sea of olive and brown faces.

“No king of Thalor May ascend the throne as a bachelor,” the emissary from Thalor had told them one year ago.

“This is an outrage he is the rightful king of Thalor. The only son of King Pascal,” his aunt had screamed back. But it did not matter. Some silly law had been uncovered that would prevent him from taking the throne, and even rob him of it. If he did not find a bride in a year. “Snakes,” his aunt had said convinced someone was trying to usurp him. But did he even want it? He had thought to himself. He’d never lived there before. Maybe he’d prefer to live here. Let someone who knew the kingdom take it, he could be content here. He sighed for a moment resting his head back as he looked around his room.

The large stony room, with head of deer and boars that he had hunted. The tapestry showing the history that he had learned of. The fireplace that was always crackling even in the summers. He would miss the smell of juniper berries that grew just under the balcony of his room. He would miss it all. But that was quickly interrupted as he heard a gentle knock on his door.

He raised an eyebrow at that, a chamber maid possibly come to claim her prince. He smiled at that thought. He might have claimed a maid or two, lots of these men did. Even the widowed knight stokes had done so, though he’d never admit it. “Come in,” he said to the mysterious person behind the door.

“Oh, sorry Hector,” the woman said. It was no maid rather it was Lena. The daughter of Sir Stokes. She was a pretty thing, with a freckled face and auburn hair. Short enough that some had asked if she had dwarf blood. She was maybe five foot two. And she positively buxom. A bosom to make any man lust after her. She and Hector had grown up together their whole lives. They were close as siblings. But then siblings did not wind up in bed together, not even in a drunken escapade.

“Calm down it’s nothing you haven’t seen before,” he said to her sitting in the tub. He was even behind a screen so what was she so nervous about.

She quickly shut the door hoping no one had heard. “You promised never to speak about that,” she whispered. A drunken encounter after a party. They had ended up in bed naked. Though neither could remember the events. If they had had sex, then it was a mystery. But Hector liked to tease her about it, evident by the smug smirk on his face. “Isn’t that water cold by now,” she said for a moment.

Hector realized he’d been so lost in thought that he hadn’t even realized that the water was now freezing. He quickly jumped out of the tub. Causing Lena to avoid her gaze lest she see the Prince nude. “What did you come in here for anyways,” he asked of her.

“You’re aunt wan-“

“Tell her I’ll be there shortly,” he said quite sick of everyone trying to hurry him up in deciding the rest of his life. Needless to say that was enough for Lena to leave.