II:II

Beauty and the Beast

“I just finished stitching the embroidery on the last of our wedding linens,” Cora said to her husband. Her back was to the door, but she felt his presence. “I'm sure that pleases you, but I have bigger news to offer.” She turned halfway to him, allowing her perfect features to show in profile. “Please sit, my lord.” His footsteps fell behind her, heavy on the stone floor, and she felt the heat of his body as he came to stand behind her. One massive hand, calloused and scarred, lifted her chin and she found herself meeting eyes as gray as Thadre Keep itself. The face of her husband, once heart-stoppingly handsome, had set into the folds of middle age, and Cora found herself resisting the urge to flinch at his nearness.

“What news do you have for me, my lady wife?” Skasca asked. “It is a rare privilege to receive a summons from you, especially at this late of an hour.”

He thinks I want to sleep with him, Cora realized with a mingled sense of horror and amusement. He is ever an optimist.

“My Lord,” she said, and she drew his hand from her chin to her belly. His hand pressed warmly against her stomach, and again she fought the urge to shudder. She saw his eyes widen. “I have asked you to come to me, because I find myself with....” she swallowed hard at the look of dawning joy in his eyes. “I find that I have an heir to offer you.”

Skasca barked out a shout of happiness and seized her in a bear hug. Cora leaned pliantly against him until he drew back, suddenly aware of her delicate condition.

“My lord,” she said. “Your heir grows inside of me and will be born these seven months hence, but I offer this to you only on one condition.” Skasa frowned, and dropped her arms.

“What do you mean, a condition?” He growled. “Cora, what are you talking about?”

“You must swear allegiance to Dragonfell,” Cora said.

“That's impossible,” Skasca said shortly. His face grew cold. “What are you up to?”

“Do you see that vial?” Cora asked. “There, upon my table. It contains a potion that will rid me of the child growing within me, and I have access to it no matter what you do to me.”

“Swearing allegiance to Dragonfell is out of the question,” Skasca said. “The Dey la Conraths will bring us benefits beyond imagining should we prove our loyalty, and I will not let you stand in the way of that.”

“To the Shadowbanes with your benefits!” Cora said, sucking in a breath. “Don't you see that if we continue on in famine that your heir, and my child will inherit nothing? House Thadre is doomed unless we can leave a legacy for our son, and leaving a land in famine because of petty political games is no way to save it. If you don't swear oaths to Dragonfell, I will kill your child, but you will have killed your kingdom.”

“I'll have you imprisoned,” Skasca said.

“And the guards will bring me poison,” Cora replied calmly.

“I'll have you executed.”

“And then not only will your child die, but your land along with it.” Cora leaned forward and stroked his cheek, closing her eyes. “Don't you see, husband,” she said. “I'm not your enemy, but your lady wife and your conscious. We may not share the love you share with... with her, but I promise you that I have nothing but your own best interests at heart, and Skasca, you must believe me when I tell you that I care.”

The Lord Skasca's eyes flinched, and his face softened. “You play a hard game, Cora,” he said simply. “I must have a week to think on all this. Will you give me seven days to ponder what you have said?”

“If my movements are limited,” Cora said, “I'll...”

“I know,” Skasca said. “I know. For one week, Cora, we shall have a truce.” With that, he kissed her on the forehead and strode out of her chambers.