Chapter 5

After retiring to her quarters, Hester had waited for the knock that would announce her visitor. Her lover and companion. Dargo.

He knocked on the door when he arrived and she let him in.

“Good evening my Lady,” Dargo smiled as Hester closed the door behind him. He wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly planting light kisses on her face and lips. Finally, their lips met and they shared a long kiss saying nothing and simply enjoying each other’s presence.

“I saw you at dinner,” Dargo said as he poured them each a glass of wine.

“How could you miss the queen?” Hester joked.

“That is impossible. I have to admit though, I was tempted to ask the King if I could have a date with his underappreciated wife.“

“That would not have been very wise,” Hester replied matter of factly as she sipped her wine. Dargo was trying to raise the issue of what they both wanted which was to have Hester leave Atomas so they could be together. Dargo raised it often of late as his feelings deepened for Hester and it was becoming a contentious issue between them. While it was the issue that would cement their love if Hester could be free of Atomas, it was becoming an issue that also threatened to tear them apart.

Hester knew it was an impossibility and did not want to discuss it for she knew it was futile.

“From where did you observe the queen?” Hester asked. “Was it a seat reserved for the important people? The high society? Did you shake Atomas hand?”

“No. I chose to be low key tonight and I blended with commoners. It is often more fun.”

“That I will agree to,” Hester smiled. “But I will deny it if ever you say I said that. Perhaps even have you beheaded.”

“You drive a hard bargain but I assure you, your secret is safe with me,” Dargo smiled. Then he stood and held out his hand to Hester. She eyed him curiously wondering what he wanted. Then she put her glass of wine on a table and gave him her hand.

He led her outside onto the balcony of her chambers.

“Do you hear that?” Dargo whispered as he pulled her close.

“Hear what?” Hester asked not sure what Dargo was referring to. There were many sounds that drifted up from the festivities in the palace courtyard.

“The music,” Dargo almost whispered.

Hester listened and heard the strains of the orchestra music as it reached them clearly on the balcony.

“Yes. I hear it.”

“Good. Now dance with me,” Dargo said as he began to lead Hester across the stones of the balcony making sure they stayed well clear of the balcony’s edge so no-one would see them dancing together even though they were not clearly discernible in the light of the moon and stars.

They made small talk as they danced until finally they tired and stood together watching the festivities in the palace courtyard below them while they sipped their wine. Then, shortly before the bells signaled the end of Kelaspin for this circle, they retired inside.

They made love and laid in each other’s arms talking mainly about the night’s festivities.

“Something troubles you, my love.” Hester sensed unease in Dargo.

He was silent a moment before replying.

“At times I wish our lives were different,” Dargo sighed.

“How so?” Hester raised herself on one elbow to study Dargo’s face in the moonlight that entered her chambers.

“At times I get tired of having to sneak around. I wish we could be out in public like other normal lovers.”

The frustration in his voice was obvious. They had spoken about this before but it had been in a lighthearted manner. It was clear now though, that Dargo could no longer deny his feelings for Hester made him want more. A sense of normalcy in their relationship.

“That is not possible my dear. We discussed this a long time ago.”

“Indeed. But there may actually, be a way.”

Hester was intrigued. “Pray do tell what idea has crossed your mind?”

Dargo had thought about ways to free Hester from Atomas and he now believed he was actually close to a solution.

“Why does Atomas keep you as his wife?”

“Because the people love me and I am the buffer for their anger through my activities, charity and compassion.”

“Exactly,” said Dargo. “So….. if we found someone who could replace you, someone who would be loved as much as you, loved and respected by the people, then the transition could occur and you would be free.”

“Easier said than done. Why would the people trust a newcomer who has yet to prove herself?”

“Ahhhh! But that’s my point! You see she would prove herself to the people first. The people would know and love her already when Atomas marries her.”

“When Atomas marries…,” Hester’s voice trailed off. She sat up leaning on one arm. The covers dropped from her but she was oblivious to the fact that she was naked. Her next comment took Dargo by surprise. “Have you taken leave of your senses?”

“Why? It is the perfect plan.”

“You know as well as I do how he amuses himself. Why will he cast his eye somewhere else?”

“He did with you. Why won’t he possibly do it again or, even better, why not ask his mistress to replace you?”

“Sometimes you are most kind,” Hester replied sarcastically rising from the bed and crossing to look out the window.

“I…I did not mean it that way. I am thankful that he cast his eyes somewhere else and wandered from the path of faithfulness. If not for that, would I have the pleasure of being with you?”

“Even so, you should not be grateful for the pain of others.”

“I am sorry my love. I meant no offense.” Dargo studied Hester’s silhouette in the moonlit darkness. He loved her curves and could never stop staring when he had the opportunity to see them.

“What was meant and what has been taken are two different things.”

Dargo left the bed and approached Hester. He wrapped his arms around her.

“I beg forgiveness, my sweet.” Dargo pressed forward with his idea. Hester was silent.

“If we embrace Gelyn and encourage her to start doing your activities she can replace you. Once the people accept her, Atomas can release you and marry her…….”

“She is a common whore,” Hester said angrily shaking off Dargo’s embrace as she turned to look at Dargo. “The people will never accept her!”

“But the people will forget that when she does good deeds. The deeds you do. Do you not think Atomas would like to see a better situation than what he has now? Gelyn would surely like to be queen? Surely you would prefer to be free?”

“Enough!” Hester replied angrily. She was sensitive tonight. She could not put her finger on what it was that made her sensitive but she was sure it was related to what they were talking about. She was not in the mood for this discussion or anything related to Atomas’s unfaithfulness right now. Perhaps it was because to cry foul was to be a hypocrite. She was unfaithful too. While she had not been the first to be unfaithful she was still unfaithful. And doing it because it had been done to her, did not make it right. An eye for an eye was not the way to fix problems. But despite her sensitivity, she wondered if Dargo was perhaps suggesting something worth listening to.

She was angered though at Dargo’s thought that a prostitute could, or would, even want to do the good she did for the people of Kyrshom.

“Who says that Gelyn will want to do what I do?”

“Well we won’t know unless we ask.”

“Even if she wants to, she is still a whore. The people of this city and Kingdom will never accept a whore as their queen! Besides I was already married to Atomas when I began my work which is why I have been accepted. I fit the people’s model of a queen. She does not.”

“Well perhaps she does not need to marry Atomas….”

“Even worse! For someone who is as great a merchant as you, your thinking is severely flawed. I question how you do business.”

Hester lapsed into silence and ignored Dargo. Dargo did not reply but instead threw up his arms in a sign of hopelessness and left the room.

Hester watched him go. No matter. Everyone had lover’s arguments. They always passed. This one would too.

When Dargo returned, he had dressed. He knew there was little point in pressing the issue any further tonight. He would have to be gentler in his approach to what was obviously more sensitive to Hester than he had imagined.

Hester had returned to the bed and pulled the sheets over her. He left her in the room. He had much on his mind tonight and was not going to get much sleep anyway. He poured himself a cup of wine and returned to the balcony from where he had watched the festivities of the night earlier with Hester.

Alone with his thoughts, Dargo froze when he saw the three flaming arrows launched in quick succession from beyond the palace gates.