The Queen, the Murderer, and the Governor's Wife

Chapter 16

Susannah remembered waking up at some point that night and beginning to cry because she realized that York was going to be leaving soon. It had awoke him, but he only snuggled her and promised that he was coming back. When he finally got her calmed down, she asked him when they could do…that again and he only laughed and promised when he got back, that would be the only thing they did all day, every day.

That morning when he left, she was still tearful and upset, but he only told her it was his duty and that she would be fine on her own, that she had been without him forever prior to their wedding. Then he kissed her and he was gone. It was over.

She moped around for days. She went to the hospital and then she would go home, to be alone. She knew that her family was expecting her to go be with them, but she was actively avoiding that. She knew that she would have to see Hamnet when he brought York's pay to her, but other than that, she was prepared to spend the weeks or months in solitude.

Then, not a week after York left, Judith showed up. She just appeared, really, only a few guards with her, at the doorway to her sister's apartment. She was clearly concerned, as she was not certain if that was the place or not. Susannah was just as shocked to hear her sister calling out her name from behind the partition, not believing it for a moment.

"You may wait out here," Judith told her guards when Susannah greeted her at the curtain. "It is not a very big place. And even if she tried to harm me, I could easily subdue her."

"J-Judith," Susannah said slowly, staring at her with a tiny amount of astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

"Lucien says that I do not leave the palace enough and Mother is worried sick about you. Why not kill two gnawers with one slash, hmm?" She came further into the apartment, closing the partition behind her. The second the rest of the city was blocked away from them, Judith relaxed some, letting out a long sigh before walking around her sister and going over to where York kept his ale. "It is not wine, but it will do."

"Y-You said Mother was worried over me?"

"Mmm." Judith frowned down at the cup she picked up, sniffing it before shrugging and pouring some ale into it. She assumed she couldn't catch whatever filthy things York had just from using the same cup as him…could she? Oh well. The alcohol would kill the disease. And if not, life was not that great to begin with.

"Me?" Susannah repeated, still hung up on that. Judith just took a large gulp of the ale before letting out a slow breath. Then, turning from the countertop to face her sister, she rolled her eyes.

"If you are only going to ask me the same questions, Susannah, I am not going to-"

"But Mother told York that if we were not going to divorce, then she did not care for either of us. That-"

"Oh, sister, stop talking. Please." Judith took another look around. "Quite the…shack you have here, Susannah."

"Yes, well, York's father believes in him making his own way and living off his pay from the military."

"Charming." Judith went over to the couch then before slowly sitting down. "Sit, sit. It has been some time since we have been able to talk, baby sister. Tell me, what have you been doing while we have been sourly parted?"

Susannah was suspicious, but also knew that she couldn't very well order her sister out off the apartment. She was just going to have to play into her.

"Well," Susannah said slowly as she went to sit down. "I mostly have only focused on my studies since York-"

"Oh, dear sister, tell me that you have not become one of those women."

"T-Those women?" Susannah repeated slowly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean do not become one of those women who just shrivel up and die when their men are around. Do you think that when Lucien is gone I just sit around and sulk?"

"Well, you drink when he is home and drink more when he is gone, so I-"

She got a look for that before Judith took another gulp of ale.

"My point, Susannah, is that you are more than just York's wife. You are going to be a doctor. Right?"

"R-Right."

"Not r-right, Susannah. Right. Say it with confidence. Say it with an authoritative tone of voice. You are going to be a doctor. A doctor. No one can ever take that from you." Judith looked at her again, staring into the eyes that mirrored her own. "Now say it again."

"Right."

"Good girl." At least she still followed direction well. Hmmm. Maybe York hadn't gotten to her like they had all feared. At least not to the extent that Judith couldn't still manipulate her. "You are much like Solovet."

"What?"

"Solovet. Our mother? You are like her." Judith was staring down at her cup again, wishing that she had brought the container of ale with her to the couch. She did not feel like getting up to get a refill.

"In what way?"

Judith glanced at her little sister before frowning. She was still talking. Sigh. She would have to respond.

"In your career field, Susannah."

"I do not-"

"You are a woman doctor, something that is very prestigious. Just as Mother is a female soldier. You see?"

"I suppose so."

"She is so…proud of you," Judith said slowly, the words not tasting just right on her tongue. "So proud that you are a…a…pioneer in your own career such as she is in hers."

"Really?"

Gosh, no. Solovet hated the fact that her daughter would be dealing with injured soldiers instead of being one of the injured herself. Hated the fact that Susannah could not even hold a sword, much less swing it in a correct manner. No, no, Solovet was not proud of Susannah. Judith did not think she even liked her, really.

Still, she had a job to do.

"Oh, yes, Susannah."

"She has never mentioned it to me," Susannah said. "In fact, I think that she might even hate the fact that I am going to be a doctor."

Most certainly. The most expensive waste of time Solovet had ever spent any coins on. She thought schooling was for others. Not for her children. Especially after she knew she was shipping Susannah off to the Fount with York. Why would she waste money on making Susannah a doctor if she was just going to become a governor's wife?

"No, Susannah," Judith said with a shake of her head. "You know that Mother is not the type to let her feelings be known."

"I-"

"Her deep feelings," the Queen corrected. "Her true feelings. When she is pleased, she has a hard time letting it be known. You know that. She is just so, so proud of you and your accomplishments."

"Well," Susannah said slowly. "It is not an easy profession."

"No. And for someone such as yourself? Someone so timid? It is almost ludicrous. But you are willing to try and make it work. That is almost, well, almost honorable." Judith needed to get a lot more intoxicated if she was going to continue saying nice things about her sister. It was about killing her as it was.

Susannah only sunk down though, looking rather dismayed. "I would like to go speak with her, but…but York told me to stay away from her."

Judith blinked. Then she made a show of looking around. "York," she called. "York? Nope, Susannah. No York."

"Judith-"

"If he is not here, Susannah, then you can do as you please."

"He told me not to though, Judith. He-"

"Is he your master, sister? Huh? Is he?"

That made Susannah laugh, shaking her head slightly. "No. He's my husband."

"And? That does not mean-"

"It means that he is in control of our life. If he has chosen for me not to-"

"Susannah-"

"York and I are very traditional. At least we wish to be," Susannah said through a smile then as she thought of him. "In most ways, I mean. I like for him to…to control me. I am his. I want to be his."

"You want to be his," Judith replied slowly. "You want a man to-"

"Oh, yes. And York has to be the best husband there is." Susannah giggled into her palm. "I would do anything he told me to. He only has my best interest at heart, after all. He knows that Mother gets me upset and thinks that it is best if I do not spend any time with her."

"Me either then?"

"Well, Judith," Susannah began, glancing at her before letting out a sigh. "You are quite…boisterous. And I am not a loud person. I-"

"Your husband is not a loud person then? Huh, Susannah?"

"He is. But he is a good kind of loud." She giggled again. "He is funny. He-"

"Ugh." Judith could hardly contain herself. "Tell me sister that it is not what Hamnet says. That you do not honestly think you are in love with this man. Please tell me it is not true, that Hamnet is only delusional. Please-"

"I do love York." Susannah paused then, as she had never said it aloud. "I do. He is my husband and shall remain my husband. I love him."

"Susannah, you do not love him. You do not know what love is. You are only…well, yes, you very well could if you were anyone else, but you are just you. You do not know what love truly is. You only-"

"And you do? You love Lucien?"

She almost choked on her ale. "Of course not. The thought alone disgusts me."

"Then-"

"But I do not delude myself in believing that I am in love either."

"That is what it means to be married, Judith. To-"

"Do not tell me what it means to be married when you have not even six months under your belt." Judith made a face at her. "You do not love York, Susannah. And I will not tell you again."

"You do not have to. It would not matter if you did anyhow. I love York. I love him. You can say what you want, but I do."

"What has made you love him, Susannah? Huh? The fact that you see him constantly now? That he appears to be taking a stand against us in your honor? Is that it?"

"No," she said before looking off. "He is very kind to me. And he likes to pay attention to me. He likes to talk with me. He likes to…to…kiss me-"

"Oh, Susannah." Judith went back to her ale. "I could buy you a pet for that. It would even lick your face."

Making a face, the younger woman then turned her face up and said, "You just do not understand because you have never experienced it."

It took everything in Judith not to get up and walk out then, if not slap her younger sister as their mother would have. Love. Ugh. The thought alone made Judith feel completely ill inside.

"How long have you been in love with York, Susannah?" her older sister asked then, slowly.

"Um…well…"

"How long have you known that you were in love with him?"

"Oh." She giggled again. "Since his last night here when we-"

She stopped herself before blushing. That made Judith suspicious enough to frown.

"Since you what, sister?"

"W-Well-"

"Tell me. Life will only be better for you if you tell me."

"We…we…" Susannah was blushing so deeply that Judith could more or less drawl her own conclusions to what exactly they did. It was rather blatant at that point. Still though, she wanted her to say it. Even if it mortified her. Especially if it mortified her.

"Say it, Susannah."

She took a deep breath before turning to her sister and whispering something in her ear. Judith only rolled her eyes at what Susannah told her.

"That? You did that and you love him?" Groaning as she got to her feet, Judith went to go get more ale. She was going to need it. "Susannah, that is something children do."

She was still red, every inch of her, and only hung her head. "I rather liked it."

Judith only sighed at the comment. "I'm sure you did, dear sister. However, that does not equate love. Now you are the one that has no experience and is mistaking feelings."

"I am-"

"You are not in love and that is the end of it."

"But-"

"Now." Judith paused to drink some more ale before turning to face her sister once more. "Tomorrow I wish for you to come to dinner at the palace."

"W-Why?"

"Because, Susannah, it has been quite some time since you have done so. Lucien, Edward, Valeria, they all worry about you. They ask me about you. Do you want to cause them to worry?"

"Well no, but-"

"Good. Then you shall be at dinner tomorrow. We will have your favorite, yes?

"But Judith-"

"Now I must be going. A queen's day is not something to waste."

"O-Okay." Susannah got to her feet then, watching as her sister headed to the door. "Goodbye, Judith."

She only sat the cup down before leaving. She was slightly unstable on her feet then and one of her guards had to help steady her as they walked down the streets of Regalia.

Love. Ha. Susannah was stupider than originally thought.

Oh well. At least that completed phase one. And she had all night to run over the next phase in her mind before that dinner. Without a doubt, things were going just as planned.

And she planned to keep them that way.

"You cannot walk around the streets intoxicated, Judith. It is bad enough that you do it in the confines of these walls, but-"

"I am not drunk, Lucien," she argued with a frown. "I only-"

"When a guard must come and get me to-"

"Oh, who needs guards anyhow?"

"You," he told her flatly. "A drunk woman roaming the streets most certainly needs them."

"I told you I was not-"

"Quiet then," he sighed as he stopped pacing and took to just standing in front of her. She was seated on the couch before him, arms folded over her chest as she glared at him. Honestly, she was just waiting for him to leave so she could go back to drinking.

"What were you doing out of the palace anyhow?"

"You are the one that always tells me I should get out more."

"What were you doing, Judith?"

"Soliciting whores," she said, not slurring in the slightest as she sat up taller, looking him dead in the eye. He was not to be one upped so easily, however.

"Men or women?"

"Which would bother you more?"

He clinched his jaw rather tightly then before turning from her. "If you will not tell me what you were doing, fine. I find that I do not truly care."

"Your stance says different."

"Judith-"

"If you must know, I was visiting my dear baby sister," Judith told him then as she relaxed back into the couch.

"Your sister," he repeated slowly.

"My dear baby sister."

"And for what reason would you do that?"

"Because, Lucien, I no longer get to see her. I know that her husband has just been sent off to war once more. She is a frail, useless little human being. What sort of an answer do you want? Because I have plenty more." Judith rolled her eyes then. "She is coming to dinner tomorrow, by the way."

"Why are you bothering Susannah, Judith, when you know that she is happier without us?"

"Us? There is never an us. And do not forget that." She huffed then. "Besides, with her husband gone, my sister would love nothing more than to see me."

"That explains why you had to go seek her out, right?"

It was her turn to clench her jaw. Then, slowly, she said, "Perhaps it is best if you leave, Lucien."

"Me? It is best if I leave?"

"Yes. You wished for me to be sentenced here, to the royal wing, and here I am." She gestured around the sitting room. "Now, if you would only bring me some wine, I would gladly spend the rest of the day here. I have some intense plotting to do, after all."

"Over what then?"

"I am sorry; did I miss the part of this being any of your business?"

"If it has to do with my brother's wife-"

"Ugh. Do not mention her." Judith held her stomach, as if sick. "Just the thought of that woman makes me wish to expel everything from my body."

"Vulgar. At every turn."

"That was not vulgar." She snorted then. "You are like an old man, Lucien. We have a woman as the head of the army. My mother. It is a new age. Would it have been vulgar if I were a man?"

"No, it would not have," he told her. "But that does not change the fact that you are indeed, a woman. I am overly qualified to confirm such a thing."

"You and all the whores I solicited."

That time he didn't even look at her. Only walked right to the doorway.

"I hope you do vomit, Judith. And then choke on it," he remarked as he left the room.

"How funny," she whispered as she slowly laid down on the couch. "Me too."

"Hamnet has a whore."

Vikus blinked. Then he sighed. "Hamnet has many women that he chooses to spend time with."

"Whores. He has many whores," Solovet corrected as she came further into the room. "But this one, well, I saw the two of them together. As in spending time together. Do you understand the implications of-"

"Solovet," he sighed. "I am busy. I am writing a letter, you see? To a very important man, yes? So if you would kindly-"

"Do not treat me as if I were a child, Vikus. You would still be writing worthless poetry to nobody if it were not for me."

He looked off to the side before shaking his head. "What is wrong then, Solovet? Quickly, please."

She went over to his desk and stood behind him, as it faced the wall and she could not stand in front of it. "Hamnet has found a woman, a whore, that he thinks he can form some sort of a relationship with."

"Good for him. He is getting no younger."

"Vikus-"

"Why is it fine to marry our daughters off the second they are legal, but you want to keep our son from the same happiness we have?"

She slapped the back of his head, rather hard. "The point is that I married them off. I did not let them-"

"Do you have no couth, woman?" Vikus growled as he jumped from his chair to glare at her, clutching the back of his skull tightly. "What is-"

"Ugh." She rolled her eyes heavily before looking off. "I…apologize for hitting you."

"I thank you for that," he said slowly, still rubbing his head. "I know how hard it is for you to ap-"

"I will only say this once, Vikus," she said then, looking him in the eye once more. "Either you fix this or I shall. And you will not like how I fix it."

He dropped his hand then, staring at her with a bemused face. Though he tried to hide it, his wife's antics always amused him. Always. That paired with her ambition caused him to fall so deeply for her.

Not to mention she was making money as a soldier when they met and he was hardly paying for a one room apartment. That certainly had a lot to do with it too.

And just having a woman interested in you in general for a man like Vikus was rather groundbreaking.

"How would you fix it then, dear?" he asked, searching her eyes. "Kill the woman?"

She didn't respond though, only stood there defiantly, staring him in the eyes. Slowly, Vikus' grin faded.

"Solovet, you cannot be serious," he sighed. "At least now we know where Judith gets it."

"The difference is, husband, that I do deliver on all my promises. All of them."

"Threats, you mean."

Her gaze didn't soften in the slightest. "That woman shall stay away from my son. I command it. And if she does not, she shall pay heavily for her disobedience."

"What do you wish for me to do then, Solovet? Call the woman into the palace and-"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "First I wish for you to speak with Hamnet. Then I shall. And if that does not do the trick, then I will get to this woman and eventually I shall destroy this woman. You have been forewarned of what your failure shall cause."

Vikus only stared back at her for a moment before smiling again. Solovet read the look on his face and frowned.

"Vikus, no. I-"

"I love you," he told her with a sigh as he wrapped his arms around her. He had to stand up on his toes to be able to rest his head atop hers, but it was worth it. Solovet resisted for a moment before just giving up and in. It was just easier that way. She didn't reciprocate well, but that was okay for Vikus.

"What do you say we go to dinner then? Together?" Vikus did not let her go, but he did take a step back and fell back on his feet. "Or lunch? Or even breakfast? I truly have no idea what the hour is. So I shall go find us some food and-"

"No, Vikus. You imbecile." She shoved him off her then. He was still grinning though. He always liked that she was stronger than him. "You're supposed to go talk to Hamnet."

"I will talk to Hamnet, sweetheart, but at this moment, I want to be with you. Solovet. Solovet. I-"

"Now you have become a nuisance to me." She turned from him then, closing her eyes tightly before counting slowly to calm herself down. One of the things that most people feared about Solovet was that nothing shook her. No one shook her.

The people that thought that though had never seen her and Vikus when they were not fighting or putting on to keep up appearances. There were rare moments when they were both young again and became playful with one another. Solovet usually killed those moments as quickly as possible, but Vikus seemed to thrive off them. They were not supposed to be in love any longer. They just weren't.

"Solovet," Vikus sighed then, clearly knowing what was coming. "I was only-"

"Take care of her, Vikus," she said before heading out of the room. "If not, well, I am sure there shall be enough blood for both our hands as well as our son."

The woman quickened her pace the second she was out of her bedchamber, heading quickly to the war room where she had left Caius to attend to things in her absence. He was there when she got in there, of course he was, and he happened to be reading a scroll. At the sound of her entrance though, he looked up.

"You are flushed," he observed before stepping away from the table. "What is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, Caius," she said with a frown. "I only-"

"Then are you…blushing?"

"No," she hissed at him. "Of course not. For what reason would I be blushing?"

"I do no know, I-"

"Fix your hair, Solovet."

She turned then to see her daughter coming in through the doorway behind her. Judith. If there was someone worse than Vikus when he was feeling…loving, it was Judith. Just in general.

"What?"

"Your hair," Judith said as she came further into the room, walking passed her mother. Then she rubbed the top of her own head. "The little you have, it is a little…rough at the top. Eventful afternoon?"

If she was flushed before, she was downright red then. And it was all stupid Vikus' fault. When he laid his head on hers, he must have ruffled her hair in some way. Ugh. The man was more than useless, more than a nuisance. He was a complete and utter waste of space.

"What do you want, Judith?" Solovet asked with a frown as she turned from them both, trying unsuccessfully to smooth out her hair. It was cut rather short, almost like a male, having not grown much since her trip to the Dead Lands to kill the gnawer king. "Make it quick. I am a very busy person. Considering I do all your work for you as well as your husband, that is."

"Mmmm. Mother, you almost sound as if you are displeased with me."

"Very."

"And to think that I have already completed the first portion of your assignment."

That got her to turn back around, slowly dropping her hands from her hair. "Assignment?"

"Mmmhmm. I have already gotten Susannah to agree to have dinner with our family tomorrow. I do hope you shall be there."

Solovet narrowed her eyes. "Just getting her to agree to be somewhere is not going to make her do what I want her to do, Judith. The assignment is to-"

"I understand the mission, Mother," she hissed at her in response. "And before you know it, I will have my dear baby sister back and you will have your naive daughter under you command. So either show up to dinner tomorrow or kiss your involvement in this farewell."

Solovet narrowed her eyes, starring down her daughter for a moment before shaking her head and heading back over to the table.

"Leave us, Judith," she said with a sigh. "I will be at your dinner. Be forewarned, however. I am not in the mood for games. I expect Susannah to be at my side willing to be led once more by the end of the week."

It was Judith's turn to glare, which she did before just turning on her heel. "For future reference, Mother, I find anything you and Vikus choose to do together disgusting and wish to never have to have firsthand knowledge of it again."

Solovet didn't even look up as she stared down at her map, didn't even deny what didn't happen. Instead, she only said, "Considering you came from such a thing, I have to concur."

Bleh. Lateness. I threw in a really cute Vikus and Solovet moment though, so there's that.