"Thank you to all the devoted readers who have avidly followed this story. Sorry it took so long for this chapter. --Sincerely, kitazkitten & smegger_29
Chapter 22: The Proposal
Kennice stopped her work on the flowerbeds and wiped away the trickle of sweat that ran down her face. It had been two months and true to his word Rhys had left her alone. He still talked to her but he didn't harass and hurt her like he use to. She was beyond relieved but she puzzled too. What had brought on the change of heart? Lately he had been leaving her a different type of flower outside her room. And the surprise breakfast a week ago had been a shocker. She lovingly patted a flower and tried to sort out her thoughts. She still thought about Cyrus but now it felt more like a memory sometimes. Not once had he come to see her or try to contact her. Her only thought was that their night of sex had left him finding her lacking and it hurt. She had believed he truly was the one and only for her.
Rhys smiled to himself as he watched her from a shadowy window, all was going to plan and soon Kennice would be his. That peasant Cyrus would be left out in the cold and his heart would be shattered. His face darkened for a moment though. Erykia had visited him two months before and told him to act this way, that she had plans for Cyrus and that the best way to turn him from the light would be to seduce Kennice kindly. This was far from what he wanted to do, he preferred to show his mate how superior he was and recently he had found himself having to restrain himself significantly lest he feel Erykia's wrath. Why she didn't just kill that fool Cyrus and let himself fulfill the prophecy he didn't know. He knew inside that he could easily fulfill the words of the prophecy better than that lowlife Cyrus.
Kennice put the gardening tools back in the bucket and stood up. She stretched and her pale lavender shirt stretched tight against her body, outlining the curves of her breasts. The pants she wore clung enticingly to her legs. She fanned herself once before picking up the bucket and heading for the shed.
Rhys was so deep in his brooding that he almost missed his chance to build himself up more in her eyes. He straightened his shirt, put on a pleasant smile and quietly walked into the warm sun with a package behind his back. He made his way across the grass and called out for Kennice in a jovial tone as if he had no idea where she was.
She turned and gave him a smile. "Rhys! I didn't know you had come back from your errands. I was just finishing up the weeding and replanting," she told him as she pointed at the garden.
His smile widened and he rocked slightly on his heels as he put on an air of happy secrecy. "I wanted to surprise you with an early return and a special gift..." He left the last part open ended, waiting for her to take the bait.
"Gift?" This surprised her. He hadn't given her any real gifts, just flowers and the breakfast. Her eyes were bright with curiosity as she looked at him.
He nodded and smiled wider, bringing the package from behind his back. It had the label of an expensive and high-class dressmaker upon its surface. "I must apologize but I had to have the maid sneak a look at your size so that I would get it just right for you."
Kennice blushed but she took the package and opened it. The glittering silver gown flowed out and spilled over her fingers. She gasped in happy delight as her eyes devoured the silk's finely made design. It must have cost him a small fortune. She blinked and then gaped at him when she noticed who had made the gown. "You managed to get Madame Naway to make this!" she squeaked.
He nodded and beamed at her delight, "Of course, only the best is worthy enough for such a beautiful flower as you Kennice. I was hoping that perhaps you would wear it tonight for the dinner with Erykia? She has missed your company so much recently and wishes to apologize for the ill treatment she foolishly used upon you. She finds it hard sometimes to remember that her own training was not the correct way to train a high priestess, she also wished me to pass this on to you as a token of further apology." He took out a small package from his right pocket and opened it. The light glinted brightly off the antique, ornate looking ring. It was the ring symbolizing that her training was almost complete.
Kennice gave him a wary glance when he had mentioned Erykia but when he showed her the ring she stilled and stared at it for a long moment. Her training might be complete but she wouldn't become high priestess until Erykia stepped down or die. And she couldn't picture her doing either of those two things any time soon. She didn't take the ring but she did hug the gown to her chest. "I will be at the dinner." She handed him the package with the expensive dress. "Please can you see that it gets put in my room? I don't want to get it dirty."
He nodded and bowed to her, "Of course, Kennice. I will make sure that not a speck gets upon it. I look forward to seeing you tonight." He turned away and headed indoors, being careful to not let the dress touch anything.
Kennice quickly put up the gardening tools and headed inside. She would shower first and then rest. She was going to need her strength for the dinner.
****
Erykia waited impatiently in her study for Rhys to return. She hated doing things the nice slow way because it took forever. They didn't have time for that. But she had to grudgingly admit that doing things by force hadn't got them far and her old mentor had always said a good leader should always be able to switch tactics at the drop of a hat.
The sound of boots in the hallway echoed a few moments before Rhys sharply rapped upon the door. His patience was wearing thin and he was becoming annoyed at Erykia for not trusting him with fulfilling the prophecy. The voice in the back of his head was protesting that he could easily do the job, even better than even Erykia if only he was given the chance.
"Come!" She could feel his impatience and smirked. The one talent that had nearly driven her mad as a child was very useful now. She couldn't fully hear thoughts but if they were accompanied by strong emotion then she could hear them. And Rhys was too eager to lead. But he did have a black heart but was riderless. No dragon had chosen him and thus he could not be the one of prophecy. Foolish boy didn't wish to acknowledge that bit of truth.
The door was pushed open harder than he intended and bounced loudly off the doorstop as he walked inside, "Erykia why are we doing this? I can barely stand letting her think she is equal to me! She must know that her place will always be BELOW me!"
"Calm yourself. She is like all high priestesses, at least the good ones. She has fire. If she doesn't have fire the dragons and other such creatures will not respect the pair of you. It will be up to YOU to tame that fire enough to appease the dragons and still keep her in submission."
"I WAS taming that fire easily enough until I was told to be nice to her! How can I possible show her, her proper place if I am denied the right to beat the fact into her?"
Erykia resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his denseness. "BECAUSE as the saying goes you catch more insects with honey than you can with vinegar. We were using harshness and it was getting us nowhere. She just ran into that whelp's arms. But now that we are being kind, see how drawn to it she is. See how easy it is to deceive her. She is all too willing to turn to you now that the boy is gone. Her feelings of confusion have worked to our advantage. Remember, Rhys, to defeat an opponent you must understand and anticipate all their weaknesses."
"Then why can we not simply have him eliminated? It would save us a lot more trouble than we currently have, he is not the only one who can fulfill a prophecy!" Rhys was becoming agitated. The voice in the back of his head was egging him on more and more, building up his ego.
"Because our allies don't wish him eliminated. You can try to if you like but you will die by their claws. I prefer to stay alive," she countered and watched his face. "Did she take the bait? And do you have the other ring ready?"
His face twisted with frustration and he crossed his arms, "Fine but as soon as the prophecy is fulfilled I want first shot at him, and yes I have the other ring ready."
"I agree to your terms," Erykia said as a brush of her power lashed over him and then dissipated. "Dinner will be ready in two hours. The staff has been instructed to leave so it will only be the three of us."
He shivered a moment as he felt he power move over him. "Fine, is there anything you want me for?"
"Not at the moment. Just make sure what they are cooking for dinner is what you want served," she advised.
"All right then." He turned his back on Erykia and headed for the door, muttering to himself about having to be nice to an inferior woman.
*******
After taking a needed shower Kennice decided to sleep. Working in the gardens could be tiring but it was very soothing to her nerves. It had been two months and no word from Cyrus. Maybe Erykia was right. Cyrus had just used her for a quick fix. The thought hurt but she couldn't argue with the evidence. With those thoughts rambling through her head, she drifted off to sleep.
She fell into the dream and for a moment felt threatened but then that voice that had been haunting her mind of late, whispered her name and she felt safe.
"Do you delight in drawing me in like this?" she teased lightly as she looked about the room. This time it was a great hall with candlelight and soft music playing in the background. Usually the dream took place in a sunny field.
"It is always a delight to draw you in, my dear Lady Kennice, for your sharp wit and intelligence makes my lonely existence bearable. When will you join me, my dear Kennice?"
Kennice sighed as she came and sat down, the long, elegant lavender evening gown swirling about her ankles. "I told you before. I have enough male problems without adding another."
"You say that so firmly but your heart is not certain. Do you want to talk about it? I can be a very good listener."
She considered his words. "I will tell you if you will do one thing for me."
"I will not promise anything but I will do my best for you, my dear lady."
"I want to see you. Not just hear your voice in my dreams. You've been talking to me for months now. Don't you think it's time to stop playing games?"
"You are right. The "games" as you call them are at an end. I will come to you at the midnight hour. Then I will reveal myself. Is that acceptable to you?"
Kennice smiled and nodded. She blushed when she realized she hadn't answered aloud. "I will meet you down by the brook. Do not be late," she warned as she stood. "Now I must go. I have a dinner date."
