Nine

I froze then slowly turned to him. “A man is almost dead and time of the essence and you are asking me that?” My tone was incredulous.

“Yes.” Orel replied while I glared at him but the glare did not work.

“If you don’t answer me quickly, not only his life is at danger. As time goes by, I am threatened to ride into the capital and kill a lot of people because this is clear that the snake was sent by someone who hates me. It is too rare to be seen here. Those things only grow in one place and I assure you that the place is far from the Dar Empire.”

“The person don’t have to hate you, the person just need to be against your bride…” I whispered softly as Orel snorted.

“Any harm to you is a harm to me, everybody knows this. You are my wife, my weakest link. Only those who seriously despise another goes after his wife. The person who did this just became my greatest enemy.” Orel explained passionately as I stared shocked at Orel.

“The person does not hate you.” I voiced again as Orel growled in anger.

“I need to know, nobody gets to put a stunt like this and not wait for repercussions, the person is aware that he is living on borrowed time.” Orel said frustrated that I didn’t provide him the name as soon as he asked. Well he better get used to the feeling because it was always going to be this way.

“She.” Dyane quiet voice said next to me as I turned my head so fast to look at her.

“Dyane.” My sharp tone said in the quiet tent.

She flinched but shook her head. “A man is almost dead because of her silly game and he might not survive. My heart almost stopped because of this, riding out is been delayed so that he can recuperate. And the only reason you are not hurt is because you had some form of warning… that was uncanny too. Everything happened exactly as you saw it.”

I went pale as Dyane revealed my secret to the room, it wasn’t her fault though. It was mine, I just assumed that she knew not to talk about it in front of others but this weren’t just others. They were my husband and his best friend so she must be free to voice it out.

“Dyane.” I said softly as I turned to face Dyane but she didn’t understand the message I was trying to pass to her with my eyes. While I was looking at Dyane, trying to pass a message. Orel and Elison exchanged a look that I didn’t catch.

“Who is she?” Orel asked as I said in a firm tone

“Don’t.”

Dyane stared at me as she replied Orel question. “The merchant queen.”

Dyane was not prepared for the roar of rage that Orel released but I was. I could tell that even the merchant king cannot force Orel to be civilized to his wife again.

The merchant queen just lost all respect in Orel eyes just as she has burnt all the bridges between them and Orel was going to retaliate.
“I will kill her.” Orel said as he strode of the tent with murder in his eyes and purposeful in his walk.

“No” I said as I ran after him. “Orel, you need to calm down pleased and think. You cannot kill the merchant queen she is too powerful for you to pluck off that way.”

“She will die Themis, no one can survive a sword swing.”

“Her husband will retaliate. There will be war between the two of you.” I cried out as I ran to Orel front and prevented him from going further.

“There is already war between two of us. Lillian made sure of it when she sent that snake. She wanted to kill my queen, my bride, for that she can never be forgiven.” With that Orel took my shoulders and moved me to the side and entered out tent.

I hurried after him and entered the tent too only to see him frozen by the door when I went to face him, I saw the rage and anguish in his face. “Orel” I said softly as I laid my hand on him in a soothing manner.

Orel seethed as he said through clenched teeth. “She attacked my bride as soon as she woke up, she made my bride defend herself in the comfort I provided her, and she dishonor my tent.”

“I know husband, I know.” I said as I rest my head on his chest which was where my head could reach.

“Your maid was scared and I know you were too even though you didn’t scream.” Orel said as I paused then relaxed against him as his arms wrapped around me.

“Yes, I was.” I answered truthfully. “I was really scared because I knew that I might not survive in that venom got to me, the snake would have escaped and Dyane would be blamed for hurting me, she is the only one to help me but she will be killed because she was the only one in the room with me.”

“She cannot be allowed to live after what she just did.” Orel said through clenched teeth as I reached up and used my hand to loosen his jaw.

“When we get back to the capital, we will deal with her but for now I will settle with sending her a message and you should send the king a message too.” I said stroking Orel jaw unknowingly “And what will your message be?” Orel asked as I gave him an evil smile.

“A present of wrapped silk material…which is wrapping the head of the snake.” I replied with a cold look in my eyes that Orel approved of with the sound he made in his throat.

“Good, I will wrapped the snake head and the silk and select a messenger to deliver it while you think of the message you want to give her.” Orel said as I nodded then moved to leave as he stopped me by holding the hand that was on his jaw, when I looked at him in question, he replied my unspoken question.

“I am a hot blooded male Themis, please refrain from touching other men both in my presence or not, I don’t want to kill any man but know that, that is what I will do if I suspect that the man will have your affections, the only males I will allow that to happen are your brothers or father but I understand that they are no more and also any man that saved you but not for long. The only reason I didn’t bury my dagger in his heart was because he saved you.”

I smiled at Orel. “It isn’t my intention to touch any male, apart from you and also thank you for being jealous.” I teased as Orel stared at me with intense eyes.

“I am a man, no man would to see his lady showing affections for another.”

I nodded, not ready to share with him that although no man would like it, he will not show any concern regarding it either.

“And the only person clothing you are allowed to remove is mine.” Orel added as my cheeks went red.

“Orel.” I exclaimed as Orel laughs then became serious again.

“And it is not good to say your opinion about certain people out loud where anybody can hear you. You can get an enemy for life without your knowledge.”

I nodded as Orel gave me a chin jerk and released my hand and I left as quickly as possible, when I got back to the tent Dyane was in, I could tell that the damage was done, Elison knew that I could see bits of danger in the future through my dreams, it would not be long before my husband knew too.




OREL POV.

I looked off into fields before me as my camp dismantling are already slowing down without really seeing anything, I was still staring at the space where the rider had ridden off.

He was kin of Boan, the guard who went down to save my bride. Although he is not as high ranked as Boan but his ranking was not why I chose him, he will carry out my orders to the letter and with disgust in his eyes, the merchant king needs to know the enemy which was disguised as his wife.

Elison stood close to me as I stared off, he was okay to keep quiet with me for a few minutes before he started fidgeting, one thing which Elison cannot do is stand still for long without doing anything or feeding his eyes.

“What is it?” I asked finally as Elison nodded.

“Dyane told me more about her earlier statement.” Elison said as I turned to him to give him my full attention.

“Go on.” I ordered

“Admon was right, your wife can see the future.” Elison said as my eyes widened in shock.

“What.” I asked.

“When your wife dreams, she dreams about the future and she could change it if she wanted.” Elison said as I nodded.

“If she could change it, then why did they still open the box?” I asked confused.

“That was Dyane fault, Themis begged her not to open the box but she did because she didn’t believe Themis when she said something was in the box.” Elison explained as I nodded.

“Lady Themis.” I corrected.

“What?” Elison asked confused about why I was calling my wife lady.

“That is the way you should refer to her, she isn’t just a woman, she is your Warlady and very soon, if I am too busy, I want you to always teach her how to fight.” I said as he nodded.

“What if I become close friends with her just like I am with you, since I can call you by your name, I think she would allow that.” he said as I chuckled.

“For the sake of our friendship and your life, I would suggest that you do no such thing because if you do, I will see you as a threat in gaining her affections…”

“Okay.” Elison conceded when he saw that I was not joking around with what I was saying. “What are you even doing to gain her affections or even to let her know that you are interested in her that way.”

I looked at my friend weirdly at his question. “I got married to her, I am still in the process of letting her settle in the camp before I say anything.”

“You should know better Orel, you need to inform her of your intentions towards her, do things to get her to like you.”

“I got her Tyra, bought her weapons and many jewelries and fine clothes too.” I listed as Elison shook his head.

“Ever tried feeding her, having conversations with her about anything and everything, have you ever tried to give her things or do things for her that comes from your mind.” Elison questions as I grew tired of this conversation. How did we even deviate to this?

“All the things I got for her all comes from my mind, you know that I don’t do anything that I don’t want to do.”

“You are still not getting me…” Elison said as I growled

“And I would not get you so please no more talk of this today, if I do need your opinion on how to court my bride then I will inform you.” I tell him and I left to the tent where Boan was getting treated, where Themis was in.