This is ridiculous, Trogar thought, I shouldn't be getting called to carpet like I'm a child. By my brothers no less! Trogar fumed as he made his way to his mother's apartments, where she, Grotok, and Belkor would be waiting for him. The summons had come last night after the display at the feast. Clearly the Council of Guilds was not going to be as tractable as he had hoped.
It didn't help that his brothers had tricked him into humiliating himself at the competition the day before. How was he supposed to win Lyriena if they were going to undercut his every move? Now they were probably going to give him even more grief, as if there wasn't enough pressure already. It just wasn't fair; his brothers were great warriors with thrones of their own. Why did they have to begrudge him his?
At least his mother was fair. She never minded that he wasn't as large or powerful as her other sons, and she certainly was doing everything she could to make sure he got the throne he wanted. He just had to make sure those damn merchants couldn't poison her against him with their prophecies of doom and gloom.
The two guards stationed outside the entrance to his mother's suite moved aside as he approached, giving him access to the Queen's receiving room. It was far more lavishly decorated than his, with flamboyant silk drapes in red and purple hanging from the ceilings and across doorways. One of the Queen's favorite games was to let them all hang down and create a silken maze through her suite. You never knew what you might find waiting for you when you brushed one aside, he thought as he pulled back the drapes over the entrance and stepped inside.
Inside the room, Jeanette was sitting between Grotok on Belkor on a small sofa. When Trogar entered, she smiled and rose up to greet them. "Trogar! Welcome!" Jeanette approached her son to give him a hug.
Trogar stirred uncomfortable as he felt his mother's body press against his. The Queen's shirt was mostly open, connected only by two strings that buttoned onto the opposite side, baring much of her chest and stomach as she held him. He wrapped her in his large arms and gave her a squeeze. "Good morning, mother. Congratulations on a successful opening to the festival. I think it went quite well."
Grotok scoffed, but was quickly silenced by a look from Jeanette. "Thank you my dear. Come and join us, we have much to discuss and more to plan."
Trogar followed the Queen to his brothers. The sway of Jeanette's short pleated skirt caught his eye and brought his attention to the way the hem brushed over the top of her thigh high red boots. He quickly pulled his gaze up, just in time to catch Dorian stepping out from behind another set of curtains.
"Good morning Your Highness." The impudent bodyguard said with a smirk as Grotok and Belkor started to snicker again.
"Good morning, Dorian. So you're going to join us today? How delightful." He shot another glare at his brothers, before turning to his mother. "So it seems the Guilds are not as bought off as we had hoped. Master Weylan must have been quite persuasive to convince the rest of them to support his little move."
"What can you expect from merchants? Pay them a million marks and they'll thank you and ask what you're buying next." Grotok spit out. "You're lucky you don't have to put up with them, Belkor."
"I wish I were that lucky. They may not be formally established in Heste, but they have investments all over the Duchy of Braden. Their complaints about Henry Ousten and his ravages are endless. When are you taking care of that, Dorian?"
"In due time. You should have a reprieve for the time being anyway," Dorian smirked and nodded towards Trogar, "word is he's much more interested in Prince Trogar's elfish Princess than he is in your gold."
"She's not his Princess yet. When are you going to seal the deal, Trogar? Now that you've failed to get the Guilds in line you need to move quicker. I don't need you destabilizing my Kingdom with your schemes." Grotok grinned mockingly. "If you want to call it quits now, I'm sure I can find an official position for you at court."
Belkor snickered. "Not as a commander, of course."
"Or even sergeant-at-arms. No, we need something more in line with your talents. I suppose you could be the royal procurer? You seem much more apt at paying whores than anything else." Grotok laughed even louder as Trogar scowled.
"That's enough!" Jeanette glared at her sons. "Both of you. This is serious. The Council of Guilds isn't aggrieved enough to revolt any time soon. They just want us to know they're not going to sit by indefinitely while we impoverish one of their members. I'm more concerned about Ousten's interest in Lyriena." Jeanette looked at Dorian for answers.
"As you know, Your Highness, he tried to abduct the Princess on her way to Ruar. He hasn't been sighted returning to Heste or raiding anywhere on the coast. It's likely he's going to try again, while she's in the city."
"Trying to kidnap the Princess was a blunder on his part, for which we should all be grateful." Jeanette said. "All he's done, or could have done, is turn the elfs against him and for us. If he had used his ship to transport elfish goods up to Thesta he could have opened a rival trade route and made himself a fortune while undercutting us. Now they won't have anything to do with him."
"He still remains a problem. If he does manage to get his hands on Lyriena he could force a marriage between them and win elfish support for retaking Heste." Belkor noted.
Trogar shook his head. "Even if he captured and married her, the elfs don't have the capability to help him reconquer Heste.
"Not on their own. But Henry isn't the biggest problem facing Heste right now." Dorian said, causing everyone to turn towards Belkor.
"The northern lords are causing problems."
"Surely they're not planning rebellion already?" Grotok asked.
"No, even worse; they're making friends and allies."
"Aaah." Trogar said, understanding dawning. He grinned nastily at Belkor. "Let me guess: they're reaching out to the orc lords and inviting them to attack the Catabrian Tribes." The Catabrian Tribes had long been the enemy of the northern Hesten lords, and long been the allies of Thesta.
"If the orc lords start raiding the Catabrian Tribes, it will drive a wedge between us and Thesta." Dorian finished.
"That cannot be allowed to happen. We must consolidate our control over Heste and our relationship with the elfs." Jeanette looked to Trogar again. "Which brings us back to you."
"Well, if Belkor can't control his own subjects, I suppose I will have to move quicker to win my bride." He suppressed a snicker as Belkor growled. "Progress is already being made with Lyriena. She may not like it-"
"Or you." Grotok interjected before Trogar continued.
"-but she is going to come around to the inevitable. She's already showing signs of submission. It is only a matter of time."
"Time is not something we have in abundance, brother."
"I am sure Trogar is more than capable of bringing the Princess to heel, assuming he has the opportunity. What steps have been taken to ensure Ousten doesn't grab her?" Jeanette asked.
"She is under constant surveillance, Your Highness." Dorian reassured her. "He won't get the chance, and when he tries, we'll be ready to grab him."
"Then it seems we have everything in order. I suggest you get to work, Trogar."
****
Trogar clenched his jaw and grinded his teeth as he left his mother's rooms. He had quite enough of his brothers. The sooner he got out of this city and into lands of his own, the better! But first, he had to deal with Lyriena. He had barely seen her at all yesterday, and had no opportunity to press his suit. Luckily, that would be rectified today. She would be coming to his quarters to continue their negotiations.
Well, that was what she was thinking, anyway. In reality, he needed to put her in her place. She had shown promising signs by giving in to stroking his cock so readily the other day, but now he had to build on that. In addition to being groomed for his sexual pleasure, he also had to work on getting her to be more submissive and the defiance she showed Soleil needed to be curbed.
By the time Trogar reached his quarters, the elf twins had nearly completed the preparations. He had a special Zentaran dress made for the princess, which he couldn't wait to see her in. He also still had the whipping frame in place, though for the moment it was covered by a tarp. He didn't want to scare her off too quickly.
The look on Soleil's face might though, he mused. The elf had been in a mood since Lyriena had slapped her. Well, she's going to get her chance at revenge, he thought. Trogar paced about the room, eager for the princess to arrive. His cock was already stiffening from the anticipation, and he had to fight off the urge to have the sisters take care of it for him.
Finally, the princess arrived. She swept into the room looking haughty and imperious. Apparently she's regained some of her nerve after putting Soleil in her place. Well, it won't last. Maybe it will be even more fun this way; the higher she rises, the harder she'll fall. "Princess Lyriena, how good it is to see you again. I missed finishing our 'conversation' after you slipped out from the banquet last night. It was so stimulating." Trogar gave her a lecherous grin.
