Kitchen servants steadily funnelled in and out of the door that connected the dinning hall to the kitchen. Their faces were tinted red and sweat coated their brows, their frenzied pace increasing as the dinner hour drew nearer. I had set them into motion to provide an adequate meal for the return of Mistra, though to their frustration, she had only given me a mere couple of hours of notice, not nearly enough time to have cakes frosted and elaborate gelatins set. Regardless of the lack of notice, they seemed to be taking the task seriously and were setting out a feast starting with a large assortment of fresh bread, cheese, and cured meats. Enticing, deep, golden smells wafted out of the kitchen every time the door opened to let another frenzied servant through.

I had decided to come and stand at the grand dining entrance to oversee the work being done to inspire an extra layer of importance to their task. I wanted my consort to feel welcomed upon her arrival, greeted by an event worthy of her return. It was imperative from a common sense standpoint as well as royal hierarchy expectations. Any sane monarch knows to keep anyone that shares their bed happy, it would would be far too easy to slip a dagger between the ribs in the middle of the night. I did not necessarily think Mistra would do such a thing, but it didn't hurt to hedge my bets on the off chance I was mistaken. Power often makes people fatally covet what they do not have, sometimes regardless of what methods would be necessary to achieve the power.

Slender fingers ran down my spine, causing the hairs on my neck to stand up, partially out of surprised. I managed to keep my regal poise, but my heart thumped loudly in my ears. There was only one person I knew that could move so stealthily that I could not detect them, it was another reason why I strived to keep my consort content.

"You are back already," I said, keeping my voice steady, "I thought you were not due until closer to sundown."

I turned to her and my breath caught in my throat. During her time away she had somehow managed to grow more beautiful, more ethereal. Her eyes had always been enchanting pools, but they appeared to have deepened, yet sharpened, their black color almost too intense to be real without being a void. Her eyes weren't the only thing different, her bronze skin seemed to be glowing from some internal light, her ashen locks all the more stark against her skin. Somehow in our time apart she had become even more lovely and a subdued joy bubbled in the back of my mind, relishing in the fact that I could claim her as mine.

"It was you that set the precedent to always be earlier or later than scheduled," she purred, "never let your enemies have a chance to predict your movements with certainty."

"I would sincerely hope I am not in a position to call you my enemy," I jested and placed a hand on her arm. I couldn't help myself, I was so stricken by her that I had to reach out and touch to verify that she was real.

"Not at this moment, no," she said with a smile and covered my hand with her own. "Before dinner, I would like to discuss something in private."

The skin along my spine erupted into goosebumps at her touch, I distantly wondered if that was what she had intended, setting me up to discuss whatever it is she wanted with my senses entranced by her.

"We might as well discuss now," I replied and offered her my arm.

Mistra accepted my gesture and snaked her arm around mine, walking close to me back to our room. I didn't know if it was perhaps that it had been the first appreciable time away from her, but it felt comforting to have her at my side and I wondered how I had made due while she was away.

"Anything astonishing happen while I was away?" She turned her head to me and gave me a gentle smile.

"Mari started bringing back recruits," I answered. "Some of them are promising, one in particular I'm sure you'll learn about soon enough."

Her right eyebrow raised in intrigue, but she left the topic for now, her mind seemingly on other maters. At the bedroom door, I pulled it open for her, guiding her inside before closing it behind me. I paused with my hand on the handle and summoned power to seep through the soles of my feet all to way to my hands. I was not exceptionally skilled at enchantments, but through enough brute force of will, I forced magical energy into the handle of the door to remain rigid despite any attempts to open. Someone with magic could easily gain access, but the mechanism being broken would alert me immediately.

"I see you've been practicing," Mistra remarked with a smile.

"I have," I admitted, "particularly things that can be useful that are outside my normal purview."

"I too have been stretching myself beyond what is typical for myself," she said, moving to sit on the edge of her side of the bed.

"Oh?" I questioned. "What exactly have you been up to while you're away?"

Mistra's lips curled up into a half-smile and her demeanor straightened into something more formal than I was used to seeing her when it was just the two of us.

"I hope you will agree with me that my potential is perhaps beyond just the realm of being a consort."

I couldn't help the twitch at the corner of my lips at her words. I knew the increased interest in training had a reason behind it, Mistra was not the type of woman to make choice on whims. I doubted she would warn me of an upcoming coup attempt on her behalf for my throne, but she was a mysterious and cunning woman. It would not have surprised me if she had devised a way to declare her intent to overthrow me to my face and have the actual attempt take me by surprise.

"It is no secret that my family, especially my father, are not ideal monarchs to occupy the throne for House Drak," she said, a soft, almost innocent smile on her lips. She paused and gave me a serious look, one meant to cement her statement was very much not a joke.

I sat down opposite from her on the small sofa we used to recline and discuss the events of the day. I weighed the potential ramifications of voicing a negative opinion about an ally. A reasonable monarch would have instantly declined to comment or disagree to preserve the alliance, especially one so powerful enough to be the source of my magical strength, but I hesitated on taking either route that laid before me. Mistra was looking for agreement as a conspirator, exposing a part of her that could lead to her banishment or, unthinkably, her death. If I were to disagree or refuse to discuss the matter with her, at best I would be closed off from her aspirations and at worst, be cut from her life to ensure safety.

"Your father is often hot headed," I admitted, "he tends to make decisions based on anger. That can be a dangerous premise for a kingdom."

It was an answer that at least met her halfway and could be passed off as merely a concern and not a condemnation of his rule. Mistra's lips pursed together into a look of annoyance and she folded her arms across her chest.

"That as a safe, conservative answer, not a response from the queen I know and admire," she tutted.

"My dear," I explained, "I sometimes will need to think and act like a typical monarch. I have an alliance to worry about, after all, it is where I draw power from."

"You, acting like a traditional monarch?" she said with a light laugh. "Are you now going to treat me as just some consort as well?"

"Well you are my consort."

The moment the words escaped my lips, my face flushed red with regret, it was not at all what I had intended to say. Mistra's eyes opened wider and her lips parted slightly as if she had a reply ready, but decided against it.

"That's not what I mean," I quickly said. "I meant to convey the necessity for me to remain more neutral in this situation. It is not like you stand as direct heir of your kingdom. You are my consort and wield not insignificant power in this kingdom beyond the normal confines of a consort."

"I see I ws mistaken in my assessment of you," she said sharply, rising to her feet.

"Mistra -"

"No," she interjected with a quick gesture of her hand. "I was wrong about my position and our relationship to each other. You meant what you said."

"I did not," I pressed, "it just came out wrong."

Her eyes scanned me, as if looking for some indication of whether to believe me or not.

"You understand the position I am in now, don't you?" She asked, but she gave me no time to respond. "You now know I am of the opinion that my father is not the right monarch on the throne, that has potentially deadly consequences."

"Your father wouldn't have you killed," I insisted.

"Perhaps not, but he might banish me to never return and I certainly would not be so lucky to be sent here." She still looked upset and her eyes bore into me, but she sat down and let out a long sigh. "I suppose you wouldn't want that either, you likely wouldn't be the one to tell him."

My face transformed into mask of disbelief at her gut assumption.

"My hesitation to be anything but neutral is out of sense of protection for you, Mistra," I explained. "I would certainly not tell him, but if my words were to get back to him, I would not want the alliance or your position to be questioned. A breaking of the alliance would likely mean your presence here would be problematic for your kingdom."

"That is a very real threat. My father is prone to fits of rage where he hastily decides and often regrets, is one of the reasons I feel that I would be a much better fit for the throne."

"You?" I asked in surprise. "You have ambition to overthrow your father and your brothers in line for heir?"

"I do," she said, voice dropping low, "this is perhaps not the best time to go farther than that in our conversation. We should find a truly secure place before I say any more. I just wanted to know if you would be with me."

I hesitated a moment to speak, but it was out of fear I might say something rash again and I wanted there to be no mistaking my words.

"I am with you, I think House Drak needs a woman at the helm."

Her berry lips curled up into a smile and she leaned forward, resting a hand over mine.

"I am glad we agree, though it has some interesting challenges regarding our current arrangements."

"All in due time," I assured, "but first, your ascension." I stood and offered my hand, which she accepted and stood as well. I pulled her towards me, pressing my lips to hers, then broke into a wide grin. "The world might not yet be ready for two queens conspiring, but we will make it ready."