Bargaining (3)

"I don't understand what you mean by that," Talia lied, brushing past him to enter the room.

She paused to take in her surroundings. The Prince's quarters in the palace were luxurious indeed. The marble floors and columns were shot through with veins of sparkling gold. Thick woolen rugs colored with expensive red dyes led from the sitting area into the bedroom proper. All the furniture had been carved with fanciful designs- dragons and flowers, fruits and vines, winged cherubim, and all of it covered in gold leaf. The chairs, set at conversational angles to each other, seemed entirely too large. She was certain that if she sat on one, her legs would dangle as if she were a small child.

She glanced furtively at the Prince and realized that, of course, all the furniture in his room was scaled to his size. At the inns and taverns they had been to while on the road, he had always looked like a grown up at a child's tea party, hunched uncomfortably on a bench or stool that was far too low for him. It made him seem... less threatening somehow.

She glanced toward the bedroom and the giant bed with its tall carved walnut posts and its thick mattress as wide as a small room itself. If she stretched out upon it, she would barely take up one corner.

"At the tavern," he began, his familiar deep voice sent a shiver up her spine, "at the tavern you said-"

"Oh yes, the tavern," Talia cut him off. "Yes, I'm sure I said a lot of nonsense at the tavern. I was quite drunk, wasn't I? You can't expect me to remember-"

Talia's breath caught in her throat as he snatched her by the arm and spun her to face him.

"Is it a catapult you've built, Princess?" He muttered, the corner of his lip turning up in a taunting smirk.

He did not let go of her. He held tight to her shoulders, holding her so close that though their bodies did not touch, she could feel the heat from him. She was forced to tilt her head back to see his face.

He was entirely too close! The way he stared down into her eyes was far too intense! Almost unconsciously, she tried to swallow the nervous lump that had risen in her throat but found that her mouth was too dry.

Seeing them twitch, his gaze moved to her lips, and she knew with absolute certainty what he was thinking. He was going to kiss her.

"Unhand me this instant!" she rasped, her throat still dry.

"And if I don't?" he taunted, his face dangerously close to hers.

"You... you're filthy from travel. You smell of sweat and horses. Your hands are so dirty, you've probably left marks on my new gown," Talia remarked coldly.

"Is that why you're trembling, Princess? Are you afraid of a little dirt?" he murmured. His lips were now so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her face.

She was trembling, and she hadn't even realized it! How embarrassing! Her body always seemed to betray her brain when it came to this man!

An irrational surge of anger suddenly flooded her. How dare he even put hands on her! Unaria had broken the treaty, and had done so with no fear of consequences. Now that Vezda had allies, they should be treading with extreme care around her, and still Prince Mikhail attempted to tease her like one of his many brothel girls!

"You have a great amount of energy for someone who's traveled day and night without sleep from the north," she scoffed. "Perhaps you could find a brothel in which to expend that energy. When Vezda's allies arrive, I hope I don't have to report that I was violated by the Emperor's own brother."

She jerked her shoulder back fiercely, and he released her.

"You've heard," he confirmed, as she brushed past him and entered the bedroom.

"I've heard many things," Talia replied nonchalantly, glancing around the space.

Heavy intricate tapestries hung from the floor to the ceiling, covering almost every wall. A bank of tall arched windows led to a balcony which gave fantastic views of the barren east garden. She lifted one of the tapestries and noted that it covered a door.

"Bathroom?" she guessed.

"Servant's quarters, actually. That one there leads to the bath, and over there to the office," he said, pointing at different tapestries. "What other things have you heard, Princess?"

"And where am I to sleep?" she demanded.

"In... the bed," he answered slowly, as if it were obvious.

"No. I'm afraid I would find it too uncomfortably large," she shook her head.

"I have no doubt you would at first, but you'll find you soon get used to it," he said.

She glanced back quickly at him, surprised by the strange tone of his voice, almost as if he were trying not to laugh. The double meaning of his words occurred to her then, and she felt her cheeks burn as she realized it.

"Plenty of women prefer a large... bed," he continued, keeping his face entirely expressionless.

"Is that so? I'm sure the sort of women you show your bed to will tell you whatever you like to hear. Money makes most people a great deal more agreeable," Talia scoffed.

She noticed with great satisfaction that he flinched, surprised perhaps at what she had learned about him.

"However, I am not the agreeable sort-"

"I am well aware of that, Princess," he said, and though he did not smile, something about his expression suggested he found her words humorous.

Mikhail pulled a short tasseled roped attached to the wall, and a moment later, Talia heard the door open from behind the tapestry nearest to her and a servant stepped out.

"My Prince?" he bowed his head.

"Bring me a pitcher and a basin for washing and my court robes," he ordered.

"Would my Prince prefer me to draw him a bath?" the servant asked, bowing again.

"No. If I wanted a bath, I would ask for a bath. Once you've returned, empty your room and tell the other servants to do so as well. I'll need those quarters for my Bludston staff. They are arriving soon," he snapped.

The servant bowed again and disappeared behind the tapestry.

"You haven't answered my question," Talia reminded him. "What are you doing in the capitol? Did the Emperor summon you?"

"I had to make report on what I was sent to do in the Highlands," he admitted and shrugged, "but I confess that what drove me to make the journey so quickly was when I learned that the Princess had been summoned to the court in my absence."

"And your aide... have you contacted him and set his mind at ease? He was very concerned you should know," she frowned.

"I've spoken with Ilya, and he informed me of your eagerness to speak with the Emperor," the Prince said and crossed his arms. He was disapproving in tone and posture.

"Hmmm... yes, well... it seems that Vezda may hope for better terms now that he may face an inquiry from the council over his handling of the treaty," Talia replied.

"And what better terms do you believe Vezda can hope for? Do you trust the Emperor to send more food once the council hears your testimony supporting his handling of the treaty?" the Prince asked lightly.

"Of course not. I am well aware that the Emperor will lie to get what he wants from me. No. I will demand gold and see that it is on its way to Vezda before I agree to anything," Talia said.

"And what do you believe the Emperor wants from you? Your testimony alone?" Mikhail growled.

"What more than that can he ask of me? All of Unaria believes I am his brother's whore. He will not make the same offer to me that he did to Ora," Talia snapped, glaring accusingly at him.

"And what if he does? What if he does offer you exactly what he offered Ora? The King of Blackside must want something from Vezda in exchange for his support... he wouldn't willingly pick a fight with the Empire for no reward..." Prince Mikhail reasoned. "He must stand to gain something from Vezda if the treaty is found to have been violated. Our Emperor is not a fool. He knows that it doesn't matter whether the treaty is valid or not if the Princess of Vezda becomes one of his wives."

Talia nodded as if this did not surprise her in the least.

"Then I will hear what he offers in exchange for my hand," she answered simply. "It had better be very generous."

Mikhail winced as if she had raised a hand to him, but his face betrayed no other emotions.

"What?" she scoffed. "Did you expect me to recoil in disgust? I am a daughter of Vezda, and of House Eosin, just as Queen Ora was. We will always choose our people over our pride or our lives."

"What if I gave you another option? What if you could achieve the same benefits for Vezda without having to marry the Emperor?" he asked quickly.

"How?" she replied, raising an eyebrow.

"You could marry-"

The tapestry was swept aside suddenly, causing Talia to jump in surprise.

Three servants entered carrying a small basin, cloths, and several steaming pitchers.

"My Prince, your water as requested," the first servant said and bowed.