Andronika and Kreznik
Co-Written with @Dyelli BeybiKreznik had rapidly come to the conclusion they were overstretched. And by “they” he meant the spy’s and scouts that made up his little domain of Andronika’s camp.
He had no one to spare for her latest foray out. Which meant Kreznik would probably accompany her.
A prospect he found both frustrating and in an odd sensation, eager. It was in this state of mind when he passed through her cordon of menacing guards and even more menacing secretaries, courtiers and aides to speak to her.
“Good evening your hig- Andronika.” The near slip of the tongue even odds nowadays.
Andronika had been lounging in one of the plush armchairs by the fire, one leg slung lazily across the arm. It wasn't ladylike, scandalous some might say, she held a goblet of wine in one hand and for once neither of her 'ladies in waiting' were with her, "Kreznik," she greeted him without getting up, "Anything exciting going on in the wider world... apart from the fact we're about to cross the border?"
"Nothing I can confirm for you yet." He strode closer before coming to a stiff halt a few steps from the fire. " I'm mainly here to inform you my.... your agents are rather scattered at the moment. We have no one available to ride ahead of your march."
Like most times where he admitted his faults he practically was spitting the words. As if rushing them would make someone less likely to understand his failings.
"So I came to inform you I'll be heading out to Ebengrenzstadt tomorrow."
"What are you hoping to achieve by doing that?" Andronika asked. She placed the goblet on a side table, stretching languidly, "Our forces will have scouts deployed."
“Gauging the populace. Making sure there’s no one conspiring openly. Spy hunting.” The last part had a bite of regret to it. “Besides it’s not as if I’m crucial here. Seamus can run the agents as easily as me.”
The spymaster made it a point not to linger on the slight shift of Andronika's dress to a temporarily lower position. A distraction he could ill afford at what he assumed would be resistance to his wishes. As well as her, rather terrifying, ability to turn any conversation her way.
"Spy hunting... to be honest, I'm more worried about spies here," she declared, nodding towards another chair, "Take a seat, have some wine," she paused for a long moment before asking, "Do you know why I'm particularly happy about this 'Ebengren-whatsit' development?"
Kreznik took the proffered seat though he made no moves for the wine. Instead, regarding Andronika as he gave what was probably wrong answers. “Change of scenery and a power base away from a king trying to get you to marry?”
"Half way there, I am now honour-bound to play my hand before accepting a marriage offer," Andronika gave a small shrug, "It's still in the King's interest to support me, but it means it's harder for him to make support contingent on the marriage. This, however, makes this moment interesting... I can't say what moves are afoot or even who the players are," she leaned forward slightly, "I won't tell you what to do, but I'd suggest that if you want to go to that unpronounceable town, talk to the Garrison Commander and make sure nobody makes a move against him before we can get there. That would involve moving openly... at least until you get there." She paused a moment before adding, "A worst-case scenario would be to arrive and find the doors barred because some Empire-loving underling had hanged our friend."
“ I’ll try to make sure the loyalists keep their head down… at least until you can win them over.” The assassin leaned forward, matching the heir’s movement. “Probably in some foolhardy display of bravado that we will fall over ourselves trying to get ahead of.”
He tried not to notice the faint scarring on her neck. Or how her eyes seemed slightly more guarded then when he had first met her in the aftermath of the slave caravan. A seeming lifetime ago.
"It's all a risk," Andronika replied, with a playfulness that hadn't changed, "Roll the dice. Maybe we win, maybe I end up dead... or needing to dye my hair and sneak away. Any thoughts on colour?" she asked, tilting her head to one side.
“Blondes the easiest to dye.” Kreznik offered. Though the thought of Andronika without her dark curls was a contrast he couldn’t really imagine.
He waited a beat; unease prickling at him before he did something unusual for him. He blurted what was on his mind.
" How do you do it? How do you get used to it?"
Andronika looked a little surprised at the question. She paused momentarily before giving a small sigh and a wry smile, "I'm not, but I don't have much of a choice in all of this. I feel like a ship being steered by a crew... so I pretend I'm in control, put on a smile, make a joke and try not to stop and think too much; because, if I do, I'll either scream, or cry, or end up in a stuporous ball in the corner."
Kreznik's face shifted a bit at her confession. Crestfallen, the most apt description, to those who knew the man.
" I see....." His gaze shifted to the wine bottle.
Andronika seemed to read the gesture, straightening up in her chair before leaning over to pour a second goblet, filling it almost to the brim, more than the vessel was really designed to hold, before passing it across to Kreznik, "So tell me, what in that answer makes you look so glum?"
The assassin took the glass and seemed to regard its contents. A habitual sniff before an experimental swig of the alcohol.
“The Hounds. The scouts. We keep losing some…… not every time I send someone out. But….. the ones we do lose.”
His expression became visibly pained.
“The last one was so young. She was so eager…. I thought she would do fine.”
He took a gulp of the wine. The slightest of sheens in his eyes.
“I’m sending others to do their deaths and I don’t know how to keep it up. Killing or being killed…. I have no problem. But sending others…. it’s not… I don’t…..”
Andronika set her goblet aside, leaning forward to rest her fingers on Kreznik's wrist, "Can I suggest you refocus their energy on protecting our own high value people. We can decide the rest in embassies and on battlefields, so long as our key people stay alive to do so."
Kreznik took a breath, glancing at Andronika's touch.
" If that is your wishes.... I will relay it...I just thought..... Offense over defense..."
The impulse to take another gulp stilled momentarily by the slight grip on his wrist.
"The problem for our Court is that its centred around a small number of charismatic people," Andronika replied, "If a significant person is taken off the board then the enterprise will fail. Vestele, for instance, if someone gets to her then our ability to treat with Orrian is compromised. If we cannot form an agreement with Orrian then we become a small dog nipping at the heels of two fighting giants.
"What we want to see happen is for Orrian to allow us to suppress Mitteland. Even if that involves paying him tribute or swearing fealty. We assist him in driving his brother East, if necessary and we build up our power base amongst the Mittelvolk before we move to secure the allegiance of my sister and my... well I think she's probably my cousin. The pirate anyway.
"There's nothing wrong with an offensive strategy, but imagine winning dozens of battles but with everything collapsing because one link in the chain disappeared."
“I apologize…. I’m not… I was never trained for this.” The admittance seeming a great confession in his mind even if his delivery was rather anticlimactic.
"I'm a farmer's daughter will dellusions of grandeur," Andronika gave a winning smile, letting her fingers linger on Kreznik's wrist for a few moments before drawing them away, "We're all working out how to play our roles as we go along. For now take the security of the court and our embassies as the top priority of the Hounds."
He tried not to notice the lack of warmth her now absent grasp had left. His uncertain resolution prior to the battle seeming more pointless now.
“I will do as my lady commands.”
"Only if that's what you want," Andronika gave a small laugh, "Don't forget Kreznik that you're a free man. I exchanged a steel cage for a gilded one, but it's a cage nonetheless."
Kreznik paused for a second. Regarding Andronika as he pondered.
Why did he stay?With his Order abolished and the Empire collapsing no one would notice one assassin fleeing. It wasn’t as if the rest of escapees turned Andronika’s council welcomed him. The only one who didn’t appear to despise him in sight currently lounged no more then an arms length away.
Which was odd given that he had almost succeeded in killing her once.
“What would you do then if I left tomorrow?”
"Pay you out, give you a kiss on the cheek and wish you the best," Andronika replied, with a raised eyebrow that seemed to ask what else he thought she'd do, "I'd rather you didn't though."
“Pay me?” He seemed rather shocked at that concept. The faint heat on his neck at her second action he left unsaid.
“Can’t see why you want me around. Osonia can replace my duties. There are far more experienced killers than me in your employ…. and none have attempted your death.”
Kreznik looked slightly sheepish as he admitted the last.
“Honestly, I expected Vassos would have had me fitted for a noose by now.
"That would be dishonourable. When a debt is forgiven you can't go and claim it back later," Andronika smirked slightly, "And you really can't think of why I'd want you around?" she let the question hang for a moment before adding, "Like it or not, we've been through a lot together, you and I."
“We have… the escape, the dungeon, your attempted murder….” He tried a smirk with the last one, finding it rather foreign, but pressing in anyways. “…this town…”
The assassin trailed off at that. A moment of silence before leaning forward in his chair.
“I can guess why. But I thought you and the prince.”
"The Quinians see me as their chance to put their own house on the Imperial throne," Andronika said before adding, "He hasn't even tried to seduce me which I find quite odd."
“So what you are saying is you are not besotted with the Quinian heir at this very moment?” Kreznik said the last part with what he hoped concealed a small amount of relief.
Andronika gave a guffaw of laughter, "I've barely met the man. This is political machinations, nothing more, nothing less. Though I'll admit I'm loathe to commit to a marriage," she paused, before adding, leaning forward and lowering her voice conspiratorially, "Seduction is a weapon as . Why would I trade that away if I don't need to?"
“So if we picked up where I left us? Before the battle…” He was on the edge of the chair as he leaned forward; the slight tingle of the wine on his lips and down his spine.
This was such a bad idea. Vassos would definitely fit him for a noose.
The comment drew a throaty laugh from Andronika, "Before you told me I needed to focus on the task of claiming the kingdom?" she asked, before adding, teasingly, "Why don't you test your luck and find out?"
“Your chambers or mine? Or is that too …presumptuous?” He reached a hand out to cup her cheek. Waiting, hesitant.
This was such a bad idea. He knew it and yet it felt natural…. or at least easy.
Andronika smirked slightly, leaning forward, "That depends, can you be very, very quiet?"
His only answer was a cocky smirk and a slight lean forward. “Where are we going?”
Andronika leaned back in her chair, setting her goblet to one side, "Well in that case," she said, her dark eyes twinkling, her tone teasing and heavy with promise, "I don't see any reason to move rooms at all."
“Bold move my lady.” Kreznik set his goblet aside as well as he rose and put his hands on either side of her shoulders.
His personal misgivings and doubts shoved away for the moment. He could lose himself in here if but for a minute.
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