Four: Zargis

Otreg and Zargis return to Korgenyegia two days later, relieved to be home at last. As the King suspected, his thoughts of the slavery in Sellan have been washed away and Otreg is now content with the numerous women surrounding him. Women also surround Zargis, but he ignores them, politely rejecting their offers as he climbs the stairs to his chamber.

Lord Thiebaut waits for the King in his office, his graying hair much lighter than the last Zargis saw him. "King Zargis. Glad to see you once again," he greets, giving me a low bow.

"Thiebaut, good to see you."

"How was the journey?"

Zargis thinks about this question for a moment. "Insightful and frustrating."

"How so, Your Majesty?"

He sits behind his desk and give Thiebalt a raised brow. "Well, Citron can be very stubborn when it comes to alliances he doesn't want his leaders to sign."

"But…?" Thiebaut inquires.

"But, I met a woman."

It was all Zargis needed to say for Thiebaut's face to transform into a young man again. "Do tell!" he encourages, acting like a gossiping woman.

The King chuckled. "There isn't much to tell, honestly. We didn't have much time to talk before I had to leave."

"Why not?"

"She's a slave," He says with solemnness. "Worst of all, she's Citron's slave."

"I see."

Zargis pours some brandy from the glass decanter and pours it down his throat, welcoming the burn. "There was a moment when I was talking with her that I thought she could be it, but then I remembered what my parents did."

"You aren't your parents, Zargis. Your parents made mistakes that I know you will never make. Marrying each other is not one of them. That, perhaps, was their smartest move they ever made."

"I can't bring war upon this kingdom again, Thiebaut. Not over a slave."

"So, you're telling me you're going to let her go?"

Zargis glares at him. "I'm telling you I'm not going to ruin the lives of so many people because of what I want."

"What does your dragon want?" he asks, his hands folded behind him.

"My dragon hasn't met her yet, but I know he feels something towards her as well. My eyes kept turning amber."

"Ah…" Thiebaut said dreamily. "So, it's not just you who wants her. Your dragon has found something it's been yearning for."

"We can't have her, and he knows that."

The Lord tilts his head to one side. "Can't you?"

"No."

He smiles as someone knocks on the door. Zargis lets them in and they both look to see Lady Unda smiling at the king with emerald green eyes in a dress that was too small for her. "Your Majesty! What a pleasure it is to see you returned safe and sound!"

Zargis furrowed his brows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Lady Unda shrugs and clambers over to him, purposely falling into his lap like a newborn fawn. "I missed you so much! You have no idea how dreadful it is without you!"

Thiebaut snorted at her comment, making Zargis smirk at him. "I'm sure it is very bleak when I am not around, but duty calls."

Unda ran a manicured hand down his cheek, her big eyes adoring him. "Do you think you can save me the lonely night? After all, I didn't sleep a wink while you were away."

Zargis stood, pushing her gently off him. "I'm afraid not. You see, as King, I have to be up early in the morning to attend my men. After that, I have meetings all day. I'm afraid I won't be able to do much while I'm here. You're going to have to find someone else until I am caught up."

Lady Unda pouted, her bottom lip sticking out like a sore thumb. "But you promised!"

Again, Zargis furrowed my brows. "I don't remember promising you this night!"

"Sire, maybe I should escort the Lady out so you can bring your thoughts back to order?" Thiebaut suggested.

The King opened his mouth to answer, only to have Lady Unda crash her mouth onto his. Zargis didn't respond right away, shocked by her movements. But then he melted and brought her closer. Thiebaut glared at the woman outwardly and sighed at his King for being so gullible to someone so horrid.

When the two finally pulled apart, Zargis couldn't look away from the woman, but he managed to tell his Chief Advisor, "I think she'll be fine for tonight, Thiebaut. You're dismissed."

"But Sire-"

"You heard the King," Lady Unda said snidely. "You are dismissed. Go!"

Putting on a strained smile, Thiebaut bowed and left the room. Zargis forgot all about his trip to Sellan, Sad, forgot about the slave he met and had adored, and he forgot about all the duties he had for the next few weeks.

Zargis felt something nag at the back of his mind, but he didn't so much care. He let the Lady Unda lead him out of the office and deeper into the castle. And that was his routine. He did everything she said and more, deaf to his friend Otreg and Lord Thiebaut.