Chapter 177: Call it off
Lucius’ eyes followed Ayla as she hurried out of the study.
He did not say anything immediately. He simply watched the door after it closed behind her.
Alistair remained seated, staring at his brother. He had noticed it too, the way Ayla had rushed out...the strange excuse she had given and the nervous look in her eyes.
"What do you think that was about?" Lucius finally asked.
Alistair shrugged.
"Her woman cycle?"
"Hmm." Lucius’ eyes remained fixed on the door.
Alistair knew that look.
His brother was thinking and when Lucius started thinking about something, he rarely stopped until he had squeezed every possible answer out of it which could be a problem for him.
He could almost see the wheels turning in Lucius’ head.
Alistair shifted in his chair.
He needed to redirect him.
"Anyway," he said casually, "back to the planning."
Lucius finally looked away from the door.
"Yes." He turned toward the table. "The feast."
Alistair nodded.
Lucius picked up one of the parchments spread across the table.
"We will not be doing too much, considering we are at war." His eyes moved over the list. "I do not want the people muttering about our celebration instead of investing in pushing the enemy back."
"Of course." Alistair leaned back. "It has simply been so long since we thought about our family and the reason that brought us to this moment."
Lucius looked at him.
For a moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes then he nodded.
"You are right, brother." Lucius sighed. "I am sorry that I have not had the time to honor our family properly and for not paying you more mind"
Alistair froze in alarm, staring at his brother. He had not expected that.
Not now or ever.
For as long as he could remember, Lucius had always been the one standing in front.
Lucius received the praise.
Lucius made the decisions.
Lucius gave orders and Alistair followed.
When they were children, it had been Lucius who their father praised. Lucius who seemed destined for something greater.
Alistair had learned very early that there was no point fighting for attention.
"I am sorry if I have made you feel forgotten." Lucius’ voice brought him back.
Alistair swallowed.
"It is nothing, brother." He forced a smile. "You have a lot of weight on your shoulders."
Lucius nodded.
"Thank you for understanding."
Alistair’s smile remained.
He had prepared himself to betray Lucius but this...this was different.
Lucius was being kind or at least pretending to be and Alistair knew his brother well enough to understand that there was always a reason behind what Lucius did.
Still, it felt strange hearing those words. It sounded almost sincere.
Lucius picked up another parchment.
"After all of this is over..." he said. "I hope to make you rule alongside me. When we are standing on the ashes of our enemies."
Alistair stared at his brother.
Rule alongside him? Was this some sort of joke?
Was Lucius truly offering him a place beside him? After everything?
After being used whenever Lucius needed something? After being ignored whenever he did not?
Alistair forced his expression to remain neutral.
He could not let Lucius see how much the words affected him. He could not let him know how badly some part of him wanted to believe them.
"I cannot wait."
"Neither can I." Lucius smiled.
An awkward silence followed.
Alistair shifted in his seat suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.
The room seemed smaller and the walls seemed closer.
He cleared his throat.
"I should leave." He rose to his feet. "I have to prepare for the feast."
He walked toward the door, his fingers wrapping around the handle.
He only needed to get out.
"The letter."
Alistair froze, his hand remained on the doorknob. He slowly turned his head.
Lucius was still standing beside the table.
"You delivered it?" He asked.
Alistair’s heart began pounding.
"Yes, I did."
Lucius watched him.
"Good."
Alistair nodded and turned back toward the door, his fingers tightening around the handle.
"Why did you return with a cart?" Lucius spoke again.
Alistair froze, his heart dropping into his stomach.
"What?" Alistair turned again.
"The guards said you returned with a cart." Lucius’ eyes narrowed slightly. "And you refused to be searched. Why is that, brother?"
Alistair’s mouth went dry, his mind racing for an answer.
He had been so focused on getting Ares through the gates that he had not considered the possibility that someone would mention the cart.
And now Lucius knew.
The guards had told him.
Alistair needed an answer... a very convincing one. One good enough to satisfy Lucius.
His mouth opened to speak but Lucius stopped him
"Never mind." He smiled. "I am sure it was nothing."
Alistair stared at him.
"I trust you." Lucius said, his expression calm.
Alistair forced himself to smile.
"Thank you, brother."
Lucius nodded.
Alistair turned and opened the door, stepping outside.
The moment it closed behind him, the smile on his face disappeared. His heart was pounding so hard that he could hear it in his ears.
He began walking.
"Fuck."
He dragged a hand down his face.
What had he done?...
He had made a mistake...a terrible mistake.
He should have known better. His brother was not a man who suddenly became sentimental... not in the middle of a war when his territory was surrounded. He had believed he could defeat his brother, outsmart him and take the throne from beneath him.
But now he understood something he should have understood from the get go. Lucius was not the fool and if he was not careful then he would be the one standing on the ashes when everything burned.
He needed to find Ares.
Now.
They had to call everything off.
...
Lucius stared at the door his brother had just walked out of.
He was up to something.
Did he think him a fool that he would not notice when he had something up his sleeve.
Even as kids, he had always been so obvious that it hadn’t been hard defeating him both at games and training.
As for Ayla, he had not smelled blood on her but he had no reason to find her suspicious. Willow’s watch on her was still ongoing and so far asides her training with Amara which was taking a lot of her strength, there was nothing else.
But still Lucius could not get rid of that niggling feeling that something was wrong.
Whatever his brother was planning would not succeed and he hoped to the goddess he was wrong and would not have to put to death his only family for treason