Seventeen

The next day, I woke up with Orel still beside me in the bed. I was sore. I should have paid attention when he said that the next step of our relationship could start, what was I expecting? Wooing? I was already his wife. Still I was shocked that he was still beside me, normally he would have been gone since dawn. “Stop acting as if you are still sleeping wife.” Orel sleep filled voice said a moment before his hand dragged my body more closely to his.

“I was not acting” I lied through my teeth, I was acting.

“Today, we will bathe together this morning then have breakfast before joining others.” Orel said ignoring my earlier statement.

“I should have known that the reason you remained behind was to drag me there and not for my company.” I grumbled as Orel smiled.

“The reason why I remained behind is to spend time with you.” He said as his hand drifted to my butt before he grabbed it and changed our position, all within a blink of the eyes.

Two hours later, my cheeks red, as I tried to ignore the teasing remarks which Elison and others made about our lateness, I think that my cheeks was what clued them in on what was the reason for our lateness. Orel took everything in his stride… as always.

“Here is some of the maps, I would like you to look through them.” Orel gave me some maps and I nodded as I started to look through them, ignoring the instant silence that Orel gesture caused.

“My lord…” Olyver started to say but a look from Elison silenced him. I blocked out everything that was going on around me as I focused on the map. I made some adjustment to their pointers already on the map and circled one of the empires closed to ours.

“Why?” Orel asked when he saw what additions I have made to the maps.

“I believe that those territories will be more amendable towards helping us than others might be.” I chose my words carefully.

“And you arrived at this conclusions how?” another commander asked.

I looked at Orel to answer this question because he was the one who made the decision to listen to my advice. Orel cleared his throat as he supplied us with an answer. “Her opinions are important in these dealings…”

“I understand that you are happily married and in love with your wife but that doesn’t mean she has the power to make decisions that will affect the empire as a whole, any wrong decision she makes, the might of the Dar empire will suffer and are you sure you want that to be on your wife conscience.” Another commander spat out angrily at me as I flinched back in distress, I had become so lax in protecting myself.

My thoughts were scattered about and so comfortable in Orel camp thinking none can harm me when I forgot that most people could share the merchant queen dislike of me. Apparently, one of Orel’s people shares that dislike.

So caught up in my head, I didn’t feel Orel tense behind but I felt when he transferred me to his chair and attacked the commander, I quickly rushed to Orel as I tried to get him to lessen his grip which was tight around the command throat, lifting him off the ground. “Orel, calm down. You cannot kill your commander because of a little back talk.”

“It wasn’t a little Themis.” Orel replied me without talking his eyes off the man in his grip, his attention was laser focused on the man.

“You cannot kill your commander for backtalk.” I rephrased as Orel looked angrier. “Calm down and settle this like a levelheaded human not a bloodthirsty warlord.” I snapped at Orel as Orel hand immediately let go of the man who collapsed on his knees while he took in deep breaths to regulate his breathing.

“The only reason why your windpipe is not crushed is because my wife is here to make some level headed decisions that I cannot make because I am a bloodthirsty warlord.” Orel said as his angry gaze settled on me as he said the last words. I nodded unconsciously.

Orel returned to his seat then faced his commanders who didn’t moved an inch throughout the incident that just occurred. “Anybody have anything against my wife and wants to talk about it by undermining my wife power to make decisions in here?” Orel asked and when nobody spoke up he nodded. “Let’s be guided, I would hate to kill one of you just because the brat forgot who he was talking to since I am always smiling these days whenever I am with my wife.” Orel added as I walked closer to him after concluding that the commander will live to see another day hale and hearty, as soon as I got within reaching distance of my husband, he dragged me back into his laps as I sighed. I know now that my complaining about his actions don’t tend to change those actions.

“Besides” Elison spoke up. “What she marked is correct, if we do woo the Brookston with trade, they will assist us and if we can show the Northshore ruler that our army might is powerful, he might pick a side in this war just to have some strong allies.” Elison dropped the map which I marked and stared at me. “Well done war lady.”

I smiled as I nodded my head at Elison. “Thanks.” I whispered as I rested my head on Orel chest.

“And about dispatching the warriors to our boundaries?” Orel asked me as I felt everybody apart from Orel tense at the question. I looked into Orel eyes to see that he was still waiting for an answer as if he didn’t know about the sudden tension that descended into the room. He was telling everybody in the room that my decision over weighs that. I shiver at the goosebumps that thought created, Orel didn’t know that he just painted a target on my back with blood. If anything happen to him, I will be at the mercy of this group and majority of them don’t like me.

With a pleasant expression on my face, I leant up so I could reach his cheeks which I kissed then I smiled at him. “Why don’t you do that with your council of commanders while I learn how to improve my skill with swords and also cheek on Dyane, she must be so busy?” I voiced as I stood up when Orel nodded that he was okay with my decisions. I waved them all bye as I left the tent with my heart beating heavily in my chest. I move towards Dyane tent only to be intercepted by Gwenn who gave me a chin lift in greeting.

“What do you want?” I asked folding her hand across my chest in a defensive move, I was not as polite about my hatred as she is.

“To begin your training.” Gwenn replied with an impassive look on her face as I gritted my teeth. Only Orel will get away with doing something like this. His actions was as clear as his words ringing in my ears that he wants us to be friends.

“Why would Orel pair us together?” I asked as Gwenn shrugged.

“I don’t know, what I am suspecting is that is to punish me for the stunt I pulled on you. What did you do? Didn’t please him enough in bed.” Gwenn asked snidely as I bit my tongue from lashing out at her words.

“No, he wanted me to be the bigger person and babysit you since you cannot be trusted not to play pranks like a kid the minute you have free reins.” I replied with a sweet smile on my face as her expression turned from being indifferent to one filled with rage.

She matched close to be as I stood my ground while glaring at her with anger flashing in my gaze too. “I should remove all your teeth for trying to stand up to me.”

“Try it and let’s see what big brother think of his annoying little sister then.” I said as Gwenn fumed more before stepping back and making some visible efforts to calm herself down.

“Meet me in the training field in twenty minute and dress in something you can fight in.” Gwenn got out as she stumped angrily on her way as I quickly hurried to my tent to get dressed.