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“When an enemy rushes towards you, and before he attacks, make a sudden gesture with the dagger in front of his face to destabilize him. Then, leap to the side and aim for his stomach or genitals.”

Ashana turned quickly towards me, her eyes rounded in astonishment. This kind of innocent reaction was absolutely and totally adorable. I was melting inside. It was terrible, because it made me want to continue on this path, just for the pleasure of seeing her react like that.

“His genitals?” she repeated.

I smile.

“If your opponent is wearing armour, I imagine it will be ... complicated.”

Ashana raised an eyebrow.

“I guess so.”

“So, for the time being, let’s assume that he doesn’t have one.”

The young woman nodded in agreement. I appreciated the fact that she hadn’t braided her hair, the reflections of which hypnotized me completely. I felt like a house cat fascinated by a ball of yarn, driven by the irresistible urge to play with it with its paw.

I positioned myself behind her—to my advantage—to show her how to hold the weapon properly. My body curved against hers, as if to cover her like a protective shield.

“I like your perfume.”

It just came out. Of its own accord, and without any prior intellectual consultation with my mind.

“It’s my soap,” she replied in a whisper. “I’ve already told you.”

“Ah?”

I could see her red-tinged ears expressing her embarrassment.

And with good reason: all my men, without exception, were staring at us with their mouths open, as if watching an event as extraordinary as a solar eclipse.

I immediately straightened up and glared at them.

Which encouraged them to quickly resume their training.

“I will personally teach you combat, whenever possible, after breakfast, for example. How does that sound?”

Ashana turned to me with a radiant smile on her lips. And what lips ... A mouth that begged for the most passionate kisses. I need to speak to Elendur . The sooner we marry, the sooner we can ... be truly united , I mused, staring at her.

“I’d be very happy!”

She examined the weapon in her hands once more, and I had the impression that it was a piece of my soul that she was caressing with her fingertips. Which was partly true, but Ashana didn’t know that. She looked up at me with her magnificent green eyes, which transfixed me.

“Why do you want me to learn to defend myself?”

“Because you are my wife,” I said without a moment’s hesitation.

“Is it really that dangerous?”

“You have no idea.”

I remained silent for a moment, then continued:

“Would you like me to show you around Osacan? When we get back, I can take you to the eaglery.”

“What is the eaglery?” she asked.

I raised my eyes to the sky, and Ashana followed suit. In the celestial dome that towered over Tarnton, immense messenger birds of prey circled ceaselessly: the guardians of the Osacan twins.

“The surest way to give your family news about you,” I replied in an atonal voice.

This announcement delightfully lit up her features with an expression of sincere joy, which I contemplated wordlessly.

The more time I spent with my wife, the more I struggled to recognize myself.

I felt whole, free, and frighteningly afraid of losing myself in the strange relationship that now bound her and me together.

Strange in the sense that we were at once very different, on so many points that I no longer counted them, but also similar, even complementary on others.

It made me want to run away. Escape from her, but also from the power she exerted over me. I was like the moth that couldn’t resist approaching a candle flame, even if it meant burning its wings, yet had a visceral need to get away from it.

I dreaded the day when she would discover my true nature, because if she was truly my flame, she was bound to find out. It was inevitable.

Without thinking, I leaned forward to offer her a chaste kiss on her delicately full lips.

Ashana gasped; I immediately stepped back.

Had I done something wrong? But how could I express it without her taking me for crazy or a pervert?

This persistent feeling that we’d known each other since long before our recent meeting.

This irrepressible need to constantly touch her, as if the slightest contact between us were natural and could assure me of her existence, that Ashana was really there, and not just a daydream.

A hope that I had forgotten in a dark corner of my mind.

“Dovah?” she called in response to my silence.

I lowered my eyes to meet hers.

“Sometimes it feels like we’ve been married an eternity. I realize you’re not familiar with this form of intimacy, however ...”

I briefly ran a hand over my face, as if this gesture had the power to enlighten me or chase away my confusion.

“ ... I’m the first to be surprised by my reactions to you, in truth.”

I paused before continuing:

“I’m not sure you understand what I’m trying to explain.”

Ashana didn’t answer immediately, taking time to think.

“Yes. I think, well, I think I know what you mean. I understand, in a way, even if I don’t have that kind of reflex with you.”

If she’d added “because you’re still my father’s murderer,” I’d have left without looking back. To some countryside, spending days killing the enemy as an outlet. But she hadn’t. I thanked our Father for this encouraging sign.

“Go home before the heat makes you suffer,” I suggested. “And if ever I have that kind of ‘reflex’ again and you don’t like it, just turn away. I’ll know, then,” I assured her, praying it would never happen.

Ashana took a deep breath, then confronted me openly:

“I will not turn away from you.”

I thanked our Father again for his generosity towards me.

“No?” I prompted with a smile.

Her cheeks coloured slightly.

“No,” she confirmed firmly.

“May I ask why?”

The young woman raised an eyebrow.

“Simply curious,” I clarified.

Which was true. Here again, she took her time to answer me.

“Because you’re my husband and, uh, your kisses are ... nice,” she hesitated.

That’s all it took to ignite my senses. Although the word was mild, the glint in her eyes and the flush in her cheeks were unmistakable.

Okay, stay calm, Dovah , I told myself.

“Do I have your permission?”

I had difficulty restraining myself from revealing my impatience.

“Yes. You have it,” Ashana said, just before turning around and heading for the two laundresses I’d recruited the day before.

They had stayed a little further away and were content to observe us. I stood there, my hand resting on the pommel of Flame, my sword, my mind drifting because my wife had just authorized me to kiss her.

I was going mad. Probably. How could I deny it? Wasn’t that a form of madness? An intoxicating madness, yes, but madness all the same.

Elendur was waiting for me in his office. As soon as I crossed the threshold, the men present froze, as they always did whenever I entered a room without their having mentally prepared for it. It was involuntary and, fortunately for them, they possessed an efficient survival instinct.

There was Helyes, the Secretary of Finance and the Royal Treasury.

A lanky, beady-eyed man whose physique was a perfect match for the position he held.

Garit, the kingdom’s Chancellor of Secrets and Investigations, the high-ranking individual in charge of spies.

Small in stature, but with broad shoulders and a rather impressive muscular frame.

It was said that his father was a dwarf from the Firelands, those of the volcanoes of the Underworld. I wanted to believe it.

There was also Niall, the spokesman for the Osacanian people, responsible for liaising with the king.

Any discontent that might give rise to revolution was, thanks to his innate talent, nipped in the bud with a speed that commanded respect.

And then, finally, there was the man I hated the most: Jessop.

The head of the temples. Of medium height, with a sloping build and a light turban wrapped around the top of his head to hide his lack of hair.

He was the one who ensured that the worship of the Dark Gods would endure against all odds.

Any means were acceptable to keep his flock of believers in line.

He exerted a terribly harmful influence on the king.

Why was this? Because there was no greater fanatic than the man in constant search of absolution for his daily sins, perpetrated with mad enthusiasm within a cult whose laws had been corrupted.

I had nothing against the various forms taken by our Father and his bride, the Source, to watch over his children. No, my problem was with the handful of humans who used them to enslave the people, not to serve them or guide them toward the path of light.

Jessop smiled at me. A wobbly smile, as if only one part of his mouth could move.

“Lord Dovah! I’ve just learned that tomorrow I’ll have the great honour of officiating your marriage at the Temple of the Dark Gods. What an interesting alliance.”

I refrained from commenting on his words. Nevertheless, I could rejoice that my wedding date had finally been brought forward.

I bowed deferentially to Elendur, who observed me intently.

“Your Majesty,” I greeted him before standing up.

“My brother,” he replied, feigning friendliness.

“Your timing is perfect. We were just discussing the upcoming ceremony, as well as the notable benefits this union will bring to Osacan. Did you know that Muvaria was renowned for its woollens and products such as soap, perfumes, and powders? Well, thick fabrics aren’t much use to us, but I seem to recall that the kingdoms of Edrialon and Nicrarune have rather harsh winters . ..”

I was willing to bet my armour that they weren’t discussing imports or exports. What was he hiding from me? And more importantly, why?

“Tomorrow’s a perfect day, I think, for your wedding, since you’re more or less already married. What do you think?”