Bonded

Chapter 25

"..bonnie and blythe their angelic smiles.."


Tarquin hummed softly under his breath but Jza heard him all the same which she was certain was his intention. His accent stood out more prominently now. Hearing Goridans after so long made her realise how different he sounded from them. The Somerlian language was a harsh one with gutteral and sharp sounds but ironically when Tarquin spoke Goridian his accent was very melodious. It was a wonder she hadn't noticed earlier although being in captivity did allow her the leeway not to be enamoured by her enemy's voice. 

Jza placed her parchment on the desk with fraying patience at the infernal noise he was making. She belatedly noted the room had emptied while she had been engrossed in her fervent letter writing. The rundown desk in the corner of the prison room proved a good place as any to keep her father abreast of the new developments. In the middle of the room were weapons the men had collected for the journey. The mission was for every man to have at least one weapon on their person. 

"Are you truly singing that abomination at a time like this?" The Princess asked incredulously, unable to contain herself. Tarquin sat on a tatty chair in his corner looking particularly smug.


"It's not the only song I know about the twelve famous beauties. The bards were rather popular in my court. I wonder why they never mentioned the thirteenth princess?"

"When I say I look nothing like them I truly mean it. They are ethereal and deserve many songs written about them while I do not," Jza informed him plainly and tried to divert her attention away from him but failed miserably.

 

"Liar!" Tarquin said with a callous grin although she could not understand what prompted his exclaimation. He continued, with his gaze fixed on her face, "You have your father's eyes. I knew I could see him in you but I did not know the relationship was that close. My mistake. He cannot have hid you just because of your looks since you favour him tremendously. Was it because of your mother?"


"No, he never differentiated between his children and was quite surprised by my decision to keep away from court affairs. He married my mother after all even if it was in secret leaving no taint on my existence. It was my grandmother that hid every trace of my mother and her repeated attempts at communication after my father returned to the castle. Perhaps there would have been more kindness shown if I were a son or had noble blood..." Jza trailed off speculatively. She was glad her old bat of a grandmother was dead and buried long ago. What she had done to her parents was unforgivable.


"Would not having a secret third wife and an unexpected child make a scandal?" The injured man asked curiously.


"No, not in our country especially with his marital history. His first two weddings were arranged at a very young age. He had his first child at fifteen. No one would begrudge him happiness except his own mother," Jza paused and gave him wry smile, "That is why Cassandra at thirty two is still unwed which is almost unheard of in both your kingdom and in mine. He would not force his daughters into marriages they did not want and certainly not at the age he was."


"It was good of him to give you the respectability of his name. I had to bloody my hands to attain mine." Tarquin gazed at the floor, pensively, "Maybe you are correct that King Samuel is the worthier king. His actions certainly show why his people are devoted to his cause."

"It took him a while to uphold the true virtues of the king he was vowed to be. Maybe if you could hone your social skills you could regain your position..." Jza wondered almost to herself. It was turning into a habit to solve other people's problems even if that person was her enemy. 

"Are you trying to coax me back to my throne? Surely you do not consider me such a burden you would want a tyrant back in power," Tarquin laughed, harshly at her naive nature. She has cursed his very existence since the day they had met and now when he had rid himself of the troubled weight upon his head she was trying to fix his fallen fate.