King of the Seditious

THE NAUVREE

Dimurah came down the stairs. Her hand clinging to Savage Jack’s as he walked behind her. Staring at the back of her head. Face unreadable as always.

What happened?

What is he thinking?

Rhyers took in the sight of them and shook his head. “I will never understand romance.” He blinked in bafflement.

“I don’t think that’s romance.” The Nauvree tossed a quick look over his shoulder back at the couple who soundlessly walked behind them. Their heads lowered as they were both lost in thought. Dimurah still leading Savage like a woman with a pup on a rope.

What in Ardae?

“I’ll go have some dinner prepared.” Rhyers walked away. “Can you take them to the Dining Hall, and I’ll have some refreshments sent in.”

The Nauvree nodded. Butler for a day. He thought ruefully.

The Nauvree waved over his shoulder, and they followed demurely as he took them a couple rooms over. Into the sunlit room. Tiled in white and gold with opulent sweeping gold vinery winding the floor and walls. Whimsical silver curtains, looking very much like spider webbing swept in with the light breeze through the expansive open windows. The big marble sliding doors resting on each side of it.

They must take a dozen servants to close each night.

Does he ever close them? The Nauvree pondered. They’re always open when I get here…

Why am I thinking about doors? Because he was evading thinking about how complicated his relationship with Riaura had become. He could admit that…To himself.

“I need to speak to your friend, Nauvree.” Savage Jack announced.

The Nauvree grimaced. “For what?”

“That is my business.”

“He is my brother.”

Savage Jack blinked at him.

“Don’t kill him.” He pointed toward the kitchens.

Savage Jack walked that way.

He didn’t agree. The Nauvree looked over his shoulder furtively to watch Savage Jack leaving. Finally, turning to watch him go. But unable to read if the assassin’s body language was aggressive or not.

“He’s not going to hurt him.” Dimurah reassured absentmindedly.

“How in the hell do you know that?”

“He always gives me a long look before he does something I won’t like. He didn’t look at me.”

“Why does he look at you?”

“I’ve never figured that out…I always wondered if in some way he’s apologizing…Or at least trying to warn me…I don’t know.” She shrugged. Sighing.

“Dimurah?” The Nauvree said quietly. Peering sideways to verify Savage Jack hadn’t reentered the room.

“Hmm?” She moved some dishes. Inspecting the finery curiously.

Hasn’t she seen enough of them by now?

“Do you know what Savage Jack’s is doing in Ardae?”

She turned to look at him fully. “What are you asking Nauvree?”

He sighed and glanced toward the doorway. “Can you call me The Nauvree, while we’re here?”

Red brows lifted but she nodded. “What is it you’re asking me?”

“What is he doing to Grier?”

“To?” She looked at him quizzically.

“Do you know why he’s feeding the commoners?”

“Feeding them!” She looked more shocked than she had upon hearing he was at Rhyers House. “Why is he doing that?”

“That’s what I’m asking you!”

“Everything he does is based on carefully planned strategy. He says he is always playing chess.”

“That I believe.” The Nauvree nodded grudgingly. “Is it possible he may be very different than any of us think.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Could his ulterior motives be pure?”

“No.” She shook her head firmly. “They can’t be. He’s never-he would’ve-no, he wouldn’t have-Maybe…” She subsided in confusion.

“So, why would he do it?”

“I don’t know!” She huffed. Stomping a blue slippered foot. “He doesn’t tell me anything. Nothing regarding his plans!” She subsided into tears.

Uh…oh…The Nauvree looked around slowly.

He won’t like coming back to find his woman in tears alone with me. He glanced in every direction for a way out. Feeling very much like a cornered animal.

Why do I have this effect on women? He was very frustrated. Feeling a bead of sweat emerging on his forehead.

I should just avoid the bloody lot of them.

Just as The Nauvree had worried would happen, Savage Jack returned to the room to find Dimurah with her hands over her face. Sobbing uncontrollably as she sat hunched in a chair.

“What did you do?” His head whipped to Alazar.

Nope. No. Na-uh. Lifting his hands, he shook his head adamantly.

Pointing at her, he added. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“Don’t you dare blame him!” Dimurah leapt to her feet. Pointing at the ground in her fury.

Savage’s brows lowered as he looked at her. Scanning from her to The Nauvree.

Her defending me looks all the worse! He knew what the man was thinking. This is going downhill fast!

“This is your fault!” She insisted, shouting.

Oh, he’s not going to react to that well. The Nauvree felt his stomach sinking. Movement in the doorway, slightly behind Savage Jack drew his eye.

Rhyers stood there shaking his head in disgust.

He hates emotional scenes. The Nauvree sympathized. He and I were always very much alike…

Rhyers looked up and they exchanged a prolonged glance. How do we get out of this?

“What precisely is my fault?” Savage Jack asked in a dangerous tone.

The Nauvree strode toward the doorway. But a flat palm against his chest stopped him. Savage Jack’s head turned slowly to settle that vicious blue gaze on him. “Where are you going, Nauvree?”

“My Brethren needed a word with me.” He tossed his head toward Rhyers.

Savage Jack’s head turned so slowly, the beads in his hair creaked. He glanced over his shoulder at the slim man in the doorway.

Rhyers stared jaw agape before composing himself. Clearing his throat with a fist over his mouth, he linked his hands behind his back. “Quite so.”