Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Biting her lip, she gave him a hot, needful look. "Would you like for me to prep your room while you're away, Highness? I could easily be here on your return." I'd make the best mistress you've ever seen. I could and would gladly suck your nectar until you're blind from it....

She was beautiful and tempting. But right now, his mark was still plainly obvious. He'd been lucky the physician hadn't seen it. The last thing he wanted was her gossiping to the rest of the servants about their whore prince.

"No, thank you."

She poked her lip out into a seductive pout. "Perhaps later, Highness?" If I could carry a royal bastard, I'd never have to work again.

That quelled his erection better than an icy bath. Unlike his progenitor, he didn't believe in abandoning the children he fathered. The world and people were far too cruel for that. "No. Thank you."

He left her and headed to where his father was waiting out in the bright sunshine that split his head with pain. Holding his hand up to shield his bloodshot eyes, he stopped next to the cushioned chair his father reclined on. "You summoned me, Majesty?"

His father snorted. "I'd hoped it would take you longer to answer."

"How so?"

"You were supposed to be enjoying the charms of the little minx I sent you. I'd hoped she would please you. She's extremely talented. One of the best we have."

Great. Just what he wanted. One of his father's cast-off whores.

"Forgive me, Father. In the past, whenever I dawdled after a summons, you didn't take it well."

His father laughed. "That is true. In the future, when I send a man or old woman for you, come swiftly. Should it be a winsome maid ... take your time." He gestured to the seat beside him. "Come and sit with me for a while. I have some things I wish to discuss with you."

His head still messed up quite a bit, Styxx moved to the chaise and did his best to keep his father from detecting his condition.

A servant came forward to pour his wine then returned to a distance out of hearing range.

"We may be going to war soon."

Styxx arched a brow at that. "With whom?"

"The Arcadians. They're encroaching on Corinth, and as you know, the Corinthians have long been allies of ours. King Clietus has requested a commitment of forces from me so that he can repel the Arcadians."

"Why are you conferring with me?"

"I'd like to know what you would do if you were king."

"Meet with my advisors and not my inexperienced son."

His father actually laughed at that. "I have met with my advisors, and I've made my decision, but I wanted to know what you would do in my place."

Ah, that explained this futile lesson. "You're testing me."

"I am, indeed."

"And if I fail?"

"I'd rather you fail as prince than as a king."

Styxx took a small sip of wine and laid his head back while his thoughts whirled about. "What did your advisors say?"

"That we owe it to the Corinthians to help them. They have been vital allies for a long time. They don't believe we should make a new enemy when we don't have to.... So tell me, boy, what would you do?"

Make the decision when I'm not high.

But he couldn't tell his father that. So he answered to the best of his fogged mind with the lessons Galen had taught him. "The decision to go to war isn't just about thinking what will happen if you win. It's mostly thinking about what will happen should you fail, and weighing the benefits of winning against the consequences of losing. What I wouldn't do is send good Didymosian men out to die for a king too weak to hold his throne on his own. If the Arcadians are set on Corinth, they won't stop. They never do, and like the Dorians, their soldiers are fiercely trained professionals who are ruthless to their bitter cores." Meanwhile the bulk of the Corinthian and Didymosian soldiers were ordinary citizens who only trained a few days each month, or two weeks a year. "The Arcadians hold much more territory and have four times the army of the Corinthians. Even if we send all we have trained, it won't be enough to stop them, and the Corinthians will fall. Then, angry at us for our alliance and aid, the Arcadians will turn their sights to Didymos, knowing we're now weakened from war, and unable to repel their greater army. Rather, I'd send an emissary, and tribute, to the Arcadian king to start an alliance with them. Especially since the Arcadians border the Dorians, who are our biggest threat. Should the Dorians ever turn their eyes on our wealth and lands, it would benefit us to have an alliance with the kingdom that borders them on the north and east while we have them on the south. Even with their greatly trained forces, the Dorians can't win a war on three fronts against a united enemy with mutual disdain for them."

"Why should the Arcadians trust us after we've just broken an alliance with the Corinthians?"

"What fool truly trusts an ally? The Arcadian king's smarter than that, and he will understand and respect that you are too intelligent to be pulled into a losing war. Besides, he knows that an alliance with us could help him should the Dorians ever come after his holdings. If that's not enough of a reason, the Arcadian king is recently widowed. Your virgin daughter is one of the most beautiful of all women in Greece. Offer her hand to sweeten the tie."

I should have thought of that.

Styxx pretended not to have heard his father's mental comment. "So what did you do, Father?"

"I went with my advisors' suggestion." I wonder if we can call back the emissary.... He lifted his cup in salute to Styxx. "Perhaps it's time I appoint you as one of my advisors."

Styxx scoffed. "Your advisors would be highly offended to have me in their ranks, given my age and war experience. They'd take it as a personal affront and think you're mocking them with my presence."

His father frowned. "When did you become so good at diplomacy?"