“My lady,” Ajax’s horse thundered beside her as he reached for her reins. “Stop.” He managed to slow them both, the logging site far behind them. “Are you okay?” 

A gloved hand cupped her cheek and she leaned into the touch. Her lungs still heaved and her eyes stung with tears. 

“I didn’t do anything…” 

“It was an accident, my lady. No one is at fault,” Ajax brushed leaves out her hair as they spoke. 

“Then, why did he curse at me?” Gyla gazed up at him to see the frown on his lips and pity in his eyes. She turned to look down the path. 

“I am sure he was frightened.” Reassured, Ajax pulled away. “He did not mean to blame you.” 

“That makes no sense.” Gyla shook her head and kicked her horse forward. This time, they trotted along. 

“I know,” he whispered, but he did not elaborate. 

Gyla didn’t know if he truly knew what he meant or if he couldn’t explain it to her.

When she was eight, Gyla had run into the forest, leaving a young Ajax behind. He’d been assigned to her for the day to see if they could get along. He wouldn’t become her official guard for another six years. She’d been blind in a rush for freedom and adventure, kicking up the leaves on the ground and spooking birds from the branches. A fool of an eight year old that didn’t understand the true dangers of the world she lived in. 

Her father hadn’t scorned her upon her return. Dress muddy, hair in knots, and tears down her cheeks, he had pulled her into a bone crushing hug. She’d been stupid and thick headed and nearly gored by a discus. Yet, he never cursed her. Not for that, at least. 

Duke Dominis was not Baron Rooke. He had no attachment to her. He only saw her as Lady Gyla, an honored guest of Queen Farida during the visit to Aedon Castle. A lady he danced with during the banquet and spun her into the arms of other suitors so that he could vanish. 

“I hate this,” Gyla said as the castle came into view. 

“You don’t have to pursue the duke, my lady. We can go home,” Ajax reminded her. “One word from you and Naomi will pack your things.” 

“I like the duke, Ajax,” she guffawed, “I just do not like this guessing game. I made it clear, I think, that I wanted to converse and the conversation was good. Now, I question if he was only being polite because of Queen Farida.” 

Ajax did not answer. He knew he could comfort her and tell a lie or hurt her and say the truth. He thought the duke a little intimidated at the thought of a suitor. Surely, he would be more amenable to a plain correspondence of an arrangement than actual courting. But, at the end of the day, the duke appeared nothing more than palacting the queen’s secretive nudges and amusing the Baron’s daughter until the end of the trip. 

“He was only being polite,” Gyla said after a long stretch of silence. “Humoring me at Her Majesty’s behest.” 

“That seems like an unfair conclusion after one incident.”

“You think so too,” Gyla accused. 

Ajax could only nod. 

Back at Aedon, Gyla rushed back to her rooms and tried to tame her hair. The door opened moments after she sat down to produce Her Majesty. Naomi and Ajax bowed and quietly left. 

“What happened, my dove?” Queen Farida approached on quiet footsteps. 

“There was an accident at the logging site.” Gyla yanked at the tangles in her hair. 

Farida stopped her hand with a gentle touch and pulled the brush from her. She began unknotting the crimson locks, nails scratching soothingly at the abused scalp. 

“What happened?” Farida asked again with nothing but gentleness. 

“The men wanted to show me how they toppled the trees and the duke approved of it. It fell the wrong way and nearly hit me and the duke.” The queen gasped quietly behind her but otherwise did not interrupt. “He pushed me out of the way and thankfully, Ajax behind us did not get hurt.”

“But that is not what upset you...”

Frightened her? Most certainly. Upset? Not even close. 

“When Duke Dominis help me to my feet, he said ‘dammit, woman!’” Gyla slammed her hand on the table. “Dammit, woman, really?! Ajax was the first to ask if I was alright! The entire thing was an accident. I stood where I was told and everything. I did not deserve ire, even if it was in the moment!” She smoothed a hand over the vanity, shame coloring her cheeks at her outburst. “Sorry…”

“There she is.” Farida tilted her chin up and smiled at her. “Theodora’s daughter.” She returned to brushing out her long hair. 

Silence fell over them. Gyla bit her cheek every time a knot proved difficult for the queen and she tugged too hard. Queen Farida smoothed the strands in apology after. 

“And how did you respond?” Farida stopped her work again to gaze at Gyla through the mirror. 

“I thanked Ajax for the concern and apologized to the workers for disrupting their work. I had not meant to be a distraction and left,” she heaved a sigh as her tale concluded. 

“Duke Dominis did not escort you back?”

“I told him to finish his inspection. Ajax and I knew the way back. The castle is not hard to spot,” Gyla gave a self-conscious smile that dropped immediately. 

“I agree you did not deserve such ire. A poor choice of words at the moment. Highlighted, no doubt, by the scare.” Farida brushed out the rest of the tangles before she wrapped an arm around Gyla’s shoulders. “I am sure he will come to apologize. Even he will know his words are offensive.” 

“I felt like, yesterday, I had gotten somewhere with him. A conversation while we were riding and he spoke at great length about his forests.” Farida had seen them return and smiled at Gyla when they passed in the corridor. 

“You cannot tell if he is being polite or accepting.” 

“Yes.” 

“The duke is a hard man to read. He definitely softens to you, but I cannot tell you if he appreciates your advances.” The queen laid her head atop Gyla’s. “His bird collection felt like he was reciprocating but I understand how that may be hard to believe.” 

Farida also considered Gyla to be her honorable guest. The duke would be pressured, no doubt, to not appear presumptuous, but also, to be approachable to Gyla’s attention. 

“I think for now, I would much rather enjoy my visit than continue on these musings. I know what it is like to humor a suitor, knowing full well I will reject their offer.” A pang of guilt that now haunted her. 

“Well, then…” The queen smiled almost devilishly. “There are other entertainments to be had in this castle. We shall exploit it to the fullest!”