Page 19 of Thorns and Echoes

“It's just dinner.” Castien looked up, smiling slightly. “We both need to eat. I'd rather eat with you.”

She smiled back. “Alright. Tell me about your spar with Darius, then. Does he still favor his–”

A bell rang below, echoing up the stairs. Castien jumped to his feet. “That must be the food. I'll get it.”

Hurrying down the stairs, he opened the door and was greeted by a servant bearing a tray. He thanked the man, took the tray, and set it on a table. Closing the door, he slipped a hand into his pocket.

"Need any help?" the Queen called down from the balcony.

"No. Just getting it ready."

Castien poured wine into two cups. He opened a small vial and tipped its contents into one of them, as though he’d done this a thousand times before. Medicine. The Queen must have her medicine. His hand shook. He carefully set the vial down.

Balancing the tray up the stairs, he smiled and bent his knees in a servile bow. "Here you are, my Queen."

She licked her lips. "Thank you, love. You're going to be just as starved as I am when I make you Consort."

Taking a seat across from her, he leaned on a fist to watch her eat. His lips twitched. "Is it too late to back out?”

Between a mouthful of fish, she mumbled, "Much too late." She gestured with her fork. “Eat! You must be hungry, too.”

“I like watching you eat.” But he picked up his fork and tried a bite. The dishes smelled nice. It was just, his stomach was a knot, and his appetite had fled.

She sipped her wine.

His head throbbed.

Instead of wine, he drank water. She gave him a brief, sympathetic glance, then returned to satiating her hunger.

Castien lifted his eyes toward the fading sunlight. “It's beautiful up here. We should… dine together more often. With the other Escorts, too. Have you ever invited them all at once?”

The balcony was more than large enough to hold all the Escorts.

She drank more wine. “Oh, yes, now and then. At least, we used to. It's been a while. You wouldn't know by watching him, but Vern loves towers, and mine is the highest.”

He drew a line in the moisture gathering on his cup. “Somehow, I'm not surprised. He's probably thinking of the height advantage.”

She smiled between bites. “Exactly. Have you sparred with him yet?”

Castien shook his head, the motion sending a flash of pain behind his eyes. He hid a grimace.

The Queen talked as she ate, telling him how Vern had taught her how to fight. Vern and her mother, plus Octavius, Jerome, and the previous general. Her words floated like oil on the roiling waters of his thoughts. He watched her tilt her wine cup. Almost all gone.

Castien sipped his water. His throat felt raw.

Finally, the Queen sat back and sighed. "Much better. I can't remember if I've sent a gift to the kitchens recently. I should visit and thank them in person."

“You worry too much; I'm sure they know.” His headache faded as a wicked smile curved his lips. "Finish your wine. Then perhaps another course?"

Her eyes dropped to his lips. She purred, "Mmm. Yes, please."

He watched her drain the cup.

She licked the red stain off her lips. His ears rang, but he ignored it. This was important.

He picked up the tray. “Let me get this out of the way. You stay here and relax.”

Her head fell back, and her eyes closed. "Don't be too long.”