A man from Masson.

The figure behind the curtain looked like he was wearing a hood and robe, concealing most of his features from you. All you could make out was his broad shoulders and his tall build. Not far from him, you could see Laoda reclining back in her chair with her legs crossed and a long slender pipe in hand.

“May I help you?” Laoda said calmly and coolly. The man stopped for a moment and looked in your direction. For a moment, you were afraid that you had been caught and started burying yourself deep into your lover’s arms while Ceno’s free hand searched the bed for a sheet to cover you. It wouldn’t have done him any good if he had though, all the sheets on this bed were so thin they were near transparent.

“Oh, pay them no mind,” Laoda continued waving her hand dismissively at you, “Just a couple acolytes in training.”

He paused for a moment, just staring at you and Ceno through the curtain, then turned to Laoda, “Where is the Queen?” he demanded in a deep voice. You then remembered the illusion Laoda had placed on the curtain, prompting you to relax. You gently took Ceno’s hand and placed your lips to his ear, reminding him that the man couldn’t see you.

“The Queen Xira and Prince Ceno slipped out the back. Apparently, they had some private business,” Laoda continued.

“Private business?” he asked, “Such as?”

You could virtually hear Laoda rolling her eyes, “Private,” she hissed, “As in something that doesn’t concern you.”

“She is the heir to the City-State of Masson,” he replied sternly, “As the king’s aid, I would at least like to know what the future queen is up to.”

Your heart sank, and you squeezed your arms around Ceno a little tighter. This was all you needed, a reminder that your life was about to get even more complicated. Ceno cradled you in his arms and lightly pecked your brow in a somewhat vain attempt to calm your nerves.

Laoda stared up at him as she took another dliberate drag of her pipe then slowly exhaled the smoke through parted lips. “She may be the heir to Masson,” she started in a low tone, “But she is also the Queen of Accor, and what goes on between Accor and her allies in none of Masson’s, more importantly ‘your’ business.” Laoda paused for a moment before taking another drag from her pipe, “Besides, Prince Ceno is one of her many suitors. It’s not unusual for amazon women to toy with their potential mates.”

You narrowed your eyes at the woman and grumbled, “Does she have to spread fucking rumors?”

Ceno chuckled and gently stroked your arm, “Relax, it’s all part of the ruse.”

“I’ll remember that when I’m sucking off one of my many suiters,” you said, leering up at him. Ceno gave you a very strained smile before tensely turning his head away from you to grind his teeth.

The man grumbled something under his breath before responding, “Has she at least chosen a…mate? She needs an heir.”

“None that could beat her,” said Laoda, “She may have to do as her mother did, just find the most honorable and resilient…Or, in her father’s case, the most stubborn. Don’t worry. We are grooming her as best we can, and before you ask, yes, in Accorian politics. But as I have mentioned many times before, there is little difference between Amazon politics and those of men. They even have sex scandals.” Again, you found yourself grumbling at the woman. “So, tell me, why are you so eager to find the Queen? If you have something important to tell her, I will be more than happy to relay the message to her. I am the Queen’s aide after all.” Laoda almost growled out her last sentence.

The man paused for a long moment, possibly considering the consequences of giving information to a Daughter of Aphrodite. “King Thanos is dying,” he said finally, “There is a lump in his chest. The healers have already looked at it, but they’ve told me that removing or draining the lump at his age will likely kill him.”