Haldir exhaled heavily and then said, "We have received the information that someone will come from Viniski within the next two days."
Anastasia stopped. She placed her hands on her waist and widened her stance. In the last two days, she hadn't heard from the king or the queen. "Faes cannot be in their corporeal forms outside the kingdom of Vilinski. How will you talk to them? You would need me to talk to them and I swear Haldir, I will send them all back or kill them but I won't give Maple. Don't test my patience! I am warning you now." Her countenance was dangerous… even lethal.
"I agree with Anastasia," said Ileus. "What purpose would it achieve to invite Aed Ruad for talks with us when we all know that it would never be in our favor? Moreover, it is possible that they will come to meet us under the garb of a full-fledged war conspiracy!"
"I was supposed to tell you about her decision, Ileus," said Haldir. "Anastasia needs to be there when Aed Ruad comes. These are the queen's wishes and I am no one to interfere in what she demands or how she runs her empire. I have seen many kingdoms, but I know that Anastasia runs hers with an iron hand and is one of the finest women I have come across. If she has called Aed Ruad, she must have thought about all the aspects. In fact as we talk, the king has gone to Silver Vales to prepare and army who is going to stand outside Draoidh just in case the faes try to attack us. Not only that, we have Brantley as our ally. He is also going to stand there." Then his gaze went at Anastasia and he said, "This is going to be your first negotiation as one of the rulers. Adrianna wants both of you to be there. She believes that it is necessary for you to be a part of it and she has ordered that you have to be present during the talks. So please make yourself available."
"I hate Aed Ruad!" she blasted. "I might end up killing him!"
"Won't that be good?" Haldir chuckled.
"Even if it costs my life!"
Ileus sucked in a sharp breath. Haldir's face paled.
"Never ever say that again," said Ileus.
After giving her an odd look, Haldir turned to leave and closed the door behind him.
Anastasia let out a frustrated squeal and sat on the bed. "I don't like any of this!"
Ileus walked to her and stroked her sweat-slicked hair. "Let's take a bath sweetheart. We are going to talk about it over the bath."
She closed her eyes. "Ileus, is that how you talk with your adversaries between kingdoms? Does your mother know how much I hate Aed Ruad? Why don't we go and tell her about it? She is an intelligent woman. She will understand my predicament on meeting that bastard cousin of mine. It is possible that I will convince her not to have this meeting."
Ileus scooped her up in his arms and walked to the bathroom. She was like a big baby he had to handle until things settled between her and his mother. When he was younger, he would scoff at such tussles between in-laws and daughter-in-laws and now he had become a part of it. He sighed, shaking his head as to when things would become better. Every day was a challenge. Every day keeping Anastasia in the palace was a challenge.
She was so impatient and felt so powerful that at one time she said that she could take down the entire Vilinski on her own. Seashell was sitting beside her that day and she was stroking his mane. The lion only seemed to agree with her as he looked smugly at Ileus. Seashell had abandoned his place of stay, which was Adrianna's official building and was now staying in the palace, much to the servants' fear.
After stripping her clothes, he set her in the tub and said, "It would be wise to wait and watch. Let us not hurry up. I highly doubt that Aed Ruad is going to attack us in this meeting if he has a modicum of sense. And you also shouldn't act in haste either." He set on the edge of the bathtub. "Though we have armies on this side of the realm to help us, don't forget that Aed Ruad is still the commander of one of the most dangerous armies of the Lore. The worst part—they all think that you are incapable of commanding them. Any wrong move from your side is going to be taken negatively and blown out of proportion."
Anastasia's lips curved downward and she almost cried on the inside. Like any teenage girl, all she wanted was instant revenge. Why was she being subjected to so many tests?
"Act wisely, love," said Ileus. "Being a royal and that too being at the highest level of the Lore comes with its share of danger and problems. You have to deal with them." When she was still not convinced, he cupped her face with his hands. "Promise me that you are going to listen to what all will say and then act."
"Al, I—"
"Promise me." He was scared of her outburst. He knew that it was natural for her to be so mad, but he wanted her to think coldly.
"I won't promise, Ileus, but I will try…"
"Fair enough," he replied. "And now it's time you give me a good bath!"
"What?" she shouted as water splashed around her as if a huge wave had crashed on her body. The next second, she found Ileus sitting right in front of her… naked, with his back turned to her. "Honey, my back needs good rinsing. It is itchy. Moreover, I need to lap up honey!"
She didn't know how or when, but their bath session turned into a massive pleasure giving session.
For the next two days she waited in anticipation for the meeting to take place. However the meeting didn't take place as scheduled. It took place after—
