The Grim Conspiracy by C Craig Coleman

Author:C Craig Coleman [Coleman, C Craig]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781679421020
Published: 2019-12-20T22:00:00+00:00

32: Eva & Tigmoor’s Palace

In King Agmar’s royal palace atop the pyramid overlooking the plaza, Eva stood on the balcony of her suite looking north towards Octar. Miserable and homesick, she thought back on both Ickletor and Nokmay’s warnings that this was her last chance to have a good life.

I wanted love, she thought. All I have now is slavery and a precarious life subject to the whims of a king twice my age.

A maid knocked and entered the room with a gown for the evening. Eva stepped back inside and looked at the evening outfit laid across her bed. Instantly she spotted the faint tonal difference where the maid had tried to clean a stain. Another hand-me-down, she thought. She bit her lip and sat at her dresser without speaking so the maid could brush her hair. When the servant left, she shoved the gown on the floor and lay on the bed.

I was such a fool, she thought. My lust has ruined my life. How could I have been so brash with the Korkufin prince amid the most public feast of the year? Now I’m just a tool used in the struggle between Ickletor and Agmar. I suppose Nokmay was right. I’d better make the most of this last opportunity and win over the king.

She dressed and sashayed down the hall to find King Agmar and begin his seduction. Reluctantly, servants directed her to his private study. She knocked and entered without waiting for permission to do so.

“Majesty, I hope you will forgive my disturbance, but I wanted to thank you again for accepting me into your household.” Her gracious bow exposed her right side to the best advantage, having noted the lighting as she went in.”

Agmar didn’t get up from his desk. “Let us understand each other, Eva, we both know your father sent you here disgraced to spy on me. I will tolerate your presence at court for political reasons, but you need not work your charms on me. I know you’d put a dagger in my chest as soon as the opportunity should arise once it worked to Ickletor’s benefit.”

The bluntness shocked Eva, and for a moment, she was speechless. “Your Majesty, I assure you I’m not here to spy on you. I’d hope to be a peace offering to sooth the animosity between Octar and Tigmoor. You wound me with such a groundless accusation.”

She fanned herself, knowing her embarrassment had made her blush. She only hoped the king would take her at her word that the blush was humiliation and pain, not the rage that sourced it. She dabbed her eye as if there was a tear there hoping he would see.

He will never see me cry, she thought. I must ally with this old man now or never.

“Majesty, Ickletor has cast me out and abandoned me. I throw myself on your mercy. I am here but to serve your every need for showing me kindness in taking me in.” She dabbed her eyes again, shaking her hair to make a few strands veil her eyes.

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