Page 59 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

58

GIDEON

T he servants poured wine into our goblets, as Lord Nolart and his family, with some of his ‘cherished’ advisors, dined with me. I reluctantly chewed my rubbery steak, already sick of the pointless discussions happening at the table. I eyed the old Lord, deep in conversation with the other lords. He was so unaware or, perhaps, indifferent to his new, young wife making clear advances at me.

Humans are pitiful.

I took a sip of my drink, hiding a smile as I imagined just how quickly Finn would burn her eyes out for even looking at me like that.

“So, Lord General…” she started, and I couldn’t resist curling my lip in annoyance at the sound of her voice. “All I hear is constant elven war conversations. What are your considerations of this?”

“My considerations on the war are quite simple, Lady Nolart. We are to win it,” I replied dryly, taking another bite of food, unsure of what was more bland, the vegetables or this dialogue.

“Spoken like a true Destroyer General.” She smiled sensually at me, and I couldn’t resist a scoff. “What of you, General Ikory, what do you think of this upcoming war? Are we truly to receive riches beyond the ability of our comprehension?” Lady Nolart cooed as she repositioned her arms, causing her large chest to be exposed more. I turned my eyes to Andrias, who was in a worse mood than before, knowing that I not only knew of the creatures he was hiding in the dungeons, but also of the hundreds of hatchlings too.

There was something so devilishly pleasant in seeing people get so riled up about my actions, yet unable to do a single thing about it. Perhaps Andrias could’ve been a good opponent at one time, had he not been so obnoxious to the point of exhaustion.

“Riches and glory, I’m sure of it,” he replied politely. Lady Nolart's eyes flickered with wicked intent as she ran her hand down her neck, adjusting her large necklace. Andrias cleared his throat but pulled his eyes away from her. His marriage was one of convenience: money and power. But even he wouldn’t dare betray the sanctity of the Destroyer marital Soulbond.

I dragged my eyes away from the poorly made dinner and stared outside through the long windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling of the dining hall. Drops of spring rain slid down the glass. The towns outside were hidden from view, all buried in the dark clouds lingering over the endless fields.

But there, amidst the fog, I saw a small shadow appear, shaping into a flying bird as she hovered near the window.

Liriya.

Without a word, I rose abruptly, marching towards the doors of the dining hall.

“General?” Lord Nolan questioned, but I ignored him.

“Andrias, I expect your completed report by tomorrow,” I ordered the general, “And Lady Nolart, desperate cheater is not a good look for you.” With that, I walked out of the room, Orest and Broderick trailing behind me as I paced down the dull corridors of the fortress, finding the nearest open window as the large bird flew in, landing on my forearm.

“What is it?” Broderick asked, his brows bunched with concern.

“It’s Finn, isn’t it?” Orest shook his head at me. “Try not to glow too much, or you might blind us with your love-struck gaze.” He smirked at me.

My heart raced while my eyes devoured the small letter with the one-of-a-kind handwriting.

“Everything is okay, right?” Broderick asked, still concerned as I reread the lines.

“Yeah,” I mumbled, unable to resist a happy grin.

“Let him be, Broderick. Who cares about the war or deadly creatures in the basement when he’s got love letters to craft.” Orest laughed.

“What did you write to get such a message back?” Broderick tauntingly peeked above my shoulder as I folded the letter, putting it away from their prying eyes.

“It was a sonnet, wasn’t it?” Orest grinned at me, folding his arms. “Please tell me it was a love sonnet because if it wasn’t, I will be greatly disappointed in you, Gideon.”

“No, I saved the love sonnet for the evening, you buffoon.” I flipped him off as Orest cackled, though I made a mental note to burn that first draft of the small poem that was hidden in my drawer.

“You gifted her something, didn’t you?” Broderick smiled as they both traced me while we walked back to my chambers. “That’s why you snuck out to the city yesterday.”

“If you two gossips must know, I got her Destroyer Diamond earrings.” I glared at the bird that was flying behind us and she looked away, almost crashing into the wall.

“Diamond earrings? Come on Gideon, you are truly losing your game.” Broderick snorted. “Our Empress-to-be deserves better than that.”

“Did you find out if she likes rose gold or platinum, or maybe she likes silver all together? Did you learn what she likes before gifting her a piece of jewelry? Or is it going to sit in her drawer, covered in dust alongside your failed advances?” Orest’s voice sounded behind me.

“I—” I swallowed. “She has multiple ear piercings and is always wearing a ton of earrings…so I thought...”

“ ‘Thinking’ doesn’t quite apply to Destroyer men in love.” Broderick patted me on my shoulder, laughing.

“How can you be so old, yet so na?ve?” Orest enjoyed this way too much as my heart thrashed in panic.

“I’m glad you are having fun at my expense.” I narrowed my eyes on both of them.

“It’s like watching something burn, you just can’t turn away from the disaster.” Broderick cackled along with my Second.

“For future reference, most women have a color preference for their jewelry.” Orest folded his arms, now looking somehow even more mature than before.

“True,” Broderick remarked. “Gia likes gold a lot more than others, she also likes “fun” colored stones, as she calls them.”

“Zora is metal only. Platinum or tungsten, with no shiny rocks,” Orest added.

“Great,” I hissed. “Now, what precious metals would I have to give you two to get you to shut up?” I scowled, unlocking the door to my room and quickly locking it behind me.

I could still hear them snickering behind the tall door before walking away, but I didn’t care. I had written a letter earlier today and had been waiting for her reply all day.

Nothing would keep me away from the poorly-scribbled lines as I pulled off my jacket, rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, and found a comfy seat on the small couch.

My eyes reread her short reply to my morning letter.

I think Zora is trying to kill me. Today, she had all of the Ten fight me. At the same time. Did I mention I fought all Ten at the same time? I don’t think I’ve ever been this exhausted before.

I scribbled the reply.

So, is it too soon to ask if you’d like to train with me again?

Ask me again in two days. I think by then I’ll either be dead or would rather train in your intoxicating presence instead. P.S. Flowers were a nice touch. Thank you.

“Flowers?” My brows bunched up in confusion. I darted my eyes to the large raven perched on the balcony. “You little rat, where are the earrings, Liriya?” I narrowed my eyes at her as she turned her head away, too unbothered to reply. Though, perhaps it worked out to my advantage. A small smile crept up my lips as I scratched the tiny bit of stubble, not caring to shave this morning.

So, hot question of the day. Precious stones or metals, which is better? I wrote.

“Subtle, Gideon…” I sarcastically mumbled to myself as I passed the half-folded paper to the bird.

I am confused. Does your stone-cold heart count? she replied, and the room filled with my wholehearted laughter. I wrote back, my lips stretched with a boyish smile.

Your jab has no power here, Finnleah. All I take from it is that you find my heart precious. And that’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever told me. So, thank you. I shall cherish your compliment forever. But only wait until you find out about my chiseled, stone-like abs. Which I think you might also find quite precious .

I reread my sentence. I was a fool. I shook my head, giving the paper to the bird.

A fool in love, nonetheless, as I smiled, awaiting her response.

You are delirious, General. I hope you didn’t stay up all night on my account. P.S if anything, it would be your precious, stone-like ass.

I grinned widely.

And what if I did stay up all night thinking of you?

Then I’d say you are a fool.

I’d gladly be a fool for you.

And here I thought generals were supposed to be smart.

You haven’t met many generals, have you?

The oil in the lamps had long burnt out and the stack of papers, with my neat handwriting alongside her absolutely chaotic scrawl, were scattered across the plush couch. Each page was filled with stories. I had told her of my least and most favorite generals in Destroyer history and their dumb, yet brilliant decisions. I had told her of my uncle. She’d told me of her maid.

Line upon line, we talked well into the night, the Moon Goddess lighting up the room with her silvery glow. We wrote about anything and everything. How she gambled for chores with her maid or how she had hallucinated once from accidentally eating poisonous mushrooms. I’d told her of growing up in the barracks, of my uncle and my friends that were gone. Of the hidden half-charcoaled piano buried in the basement of Blackstone Castle that nobody knew about. Of the midnight runs into the fields to tip cows in the villages, and the time I was banned from the War Games.

The stories flowed like a stream, constantly changing, and always so refreshing. We talked about the wildest gossip she had overheard in Svitar’s libraries, and about the time I burned all my teachers and their books so I could get out of our lessons early. The black ink connecting our minds like threads, creating something of beauty.

Until tomorrow then? Finnleah had asked.

“Until tomorrow, my little wildfire...” I whispered into the dark.