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"So falls the kingdom of Bast-Haradis."
Brishen nodded without comment, wondering idly how history might remember him if he impaled himself on his own sword in a last-ditch effort to escape the soul-killing boredom of his vicegerent’s conversation.
History, however, was long and memories short.
Serovek’s gaze settled on Anhuset. He inclined his head in greeting. “Sha-Anhuset,” he said in a voice that might have coaxed bees from their honey.
Serovek jerked and leveled a surprised stare on Brishen. “I’m the last legitimate Khaskem. None of my family survived the galla attack.” Serovek stepped away to bow low before Brishen. “Your Majesty,” he said in the most solemn, formal voice. Brishen sighed inwardly, fearing the casual camaraderie that had always existed between them was now a thing of the past. The costs of kingship were both great and small.
“I’ll do it,” Serovek declared. “I’ll stand with you against the galla.”
what a MAN
“I don’t know,” she said. “The galla are many; the dead will have to be even more. It will be difficult for only two of you to control them.” Again Serovek waved away their concerns. “Eh, I’ve faced worse odds.” Brishen stared at him doubtfully. “You have?” “No,” the other man readily admitted.
lmao
“You are my queen,” he murmured into her hair. “And my queen you will remain.” She replied with a slurred “I love you, Brishen,” and he exerted all his willpower not to crush her to him, meld her into his skin. Keep her safe. Keep her close.
“I’m not desperate for a child, Ildiko. I’m desperate for my wife. That’s it. No matter what you believe, you aren’t lesser. Not to me. You are all.”
“Dark or not, you see me. From that first day in the gardens at Pricid—our wedding day—you’ve always seen me.”
“I would have been content to live my life as just Brishen,” he whispered into her hair. “Who was loved by Ildiko.”
Necos held her arm. “You know we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. Cutting off a cart driver’s bollocks because he won’t give us a seat isn’t exactly the way to stay unnoticed.”
“How did you prepare before you fought?” The other woman gave a half shrug. “Much as they’re doing now. Diced for a treasure, drank good wine with friends. Swived a well-hung Kai soldier all night.”
lmao
“You left me too soon this morning,” she said. He straightened and pulled her against him. “Had I choice, I wouldn’t leave you at all.” His lips brushed hers. “Grow old with me,” he whispered.
Hasarath ended the stalemate. “The Kai follow you, Brishen Khaskem.” “As do we,” the human revenants said in chorus. Relief surged through him as heady and powerful as the Kai magic. “Then we ride.”
“Is he dead?” she whispered. Anhuset skirted around her, still holding the shutter pole. A short silence reigned before she spoke. “You shattered his knee and caved in his skull. I think it’s safe to say he’s dead.”
She was life and hope and strength, and he drew on all three as he bent his head to kiss her deeply.
“No. Nothing so grand. I’m content to live my life as just Ildiko,” she said softly, repeating words similar to those he once whispered in her hair when he thought her asleep. “Who is loved by Brishen.”
