Chapter Text
The Queen of Attolia entered her husband’s apartments and dismissed her attendants with a wave.
“My Queen?” The King looked up from his desk.
“Teleus has tendered his resignation. He will remain in the palace long enough to train his replacement.”
The king offered his silent sympathy. There were few people who had been at her side for the entirety of her reign, and losing one was difficult, let alone two. After returning from his troubled stay in Pent, Relius had declared his intent to fully retire to a villa on the coast. Teleus had not voiced his intent to follow Relius, but he had not needed to.
“You are not surprised.”
The king shrugged. “It was a possibility. Teleus is nothing if not loyal, and Relius…” he paused, “Well, a man’s second time in prison can really change him.” He turned back to his scroll.
“You have not asked about a successor,” She pointed out.
“For Teleus?”
“So.”
“Did Teleus name a successor?”
He continued to pretend at his paperwork as the queen gave him a look from across the room that told him he already knew who Teleus had chosen.
The king sighed. “We don’t have to listen to Teleus,” he suggested.
“The guard loves Costis.”
“They do.”
“He is qualified for the position.”
“He is.”
“You love Costis.”
“So.”
“So, what is the problem?”
“Kamet.”
“Ah.” The queen hesitated. “We still need to replace Relius.” The current Secretary of the Archives, Baron Orutus, had not excelled at his job and did not seem to share the former secretary’s long-term dedication to his craft. The Baron would be rewarded for his service in the war and sent home with a prize and some stories about how he helped defeat the Mede. Kamet was an undeniably good fit to take over as Secretary of the Archives, and it would allow him and Costis to both work in the palace while Costis led the guard.
“No,” the King said.
“Why not?”
He thought. “Costis would be a liability,” he decided.
The queen entertained him. “You believe Costis would brag and pass secrets to our enemies?” It was absurd to suggest that either Kamet or Costis were capable of the type of indiscretion that had seen Relius removed from official duty, and the king knew it. The queen shook her head.
“It would put him in danger.”
“No more than he is already in.”
“Pheris has been training with Relius,” he offered.
“Pheris is a child.”
The king resorted to truthfulness. “I will not have Kamet pressed into service.” By promoting Costis, who was already sworn to their service, they would be tying Kamet’s hands as well. Kamet had already spent so much of his life with no control over the outside forces that plucked and pulled at his fate. “It would not be fair.”
The queen stepped behind her husband to put her hands on his shoulders, watching his guilty reflection as he feigned interest in the lack of activity outside his window. “You could not have known they would grow so close,” she said. The king tilted his head all the way back to look at her, skeptical. She continued, “And if Kamet makes his decision out of love,” she kissed him on the forehead, “it is because he is as free to do so as any other man.”
“As any other fool,” the king grumbled.
“You are a fool.”
“I am the first to admit it.” Eugenides sighed with the weariness of a man who knew what he needed to do and did not want to do it. “We ask them separately. Kamet first. We will find him a place in the palace regardless, and he must know so when he decides.”
The Queen nodded her approval. “We cannot demand an immediate decision from Kamet,” she said. Catching the glint of plan forming in the king’s eye she warned, “And you cannot prevent them from discussing this with each other.” The king scoffed. She bent to rest her head against his shoulder and wrap her arms around him fully. “Have faith, my King, that they each will act in the other’s best interest.”
“I will ask Kamet tonight," the King said.
“I will ask Kamet, you will tell Costis.” The king turned. “Costis will not be as nervous with you,” she explained.
“Fine, I will ask Costis.” he conceded, “But I am doing it on the roof.”