Thera and Vasha rode on talking of common things with one another and she thought he was pleasant enough company. Thera could see herself naked with him, but one thing was lacking in her vision, there was no passion or danger with the Admiral, like the feelings which stirred in her heart for King Vyakles. Now, no matter the subject, war, horsemanship, her homeland etc... Thera's thoughts always flowed back to the king. Thera found herself for a great while wondering what had become of Vy since he crept from her bed.
As it so happened the King of Sparta did creep from her bed, but it was not to his bed that he returned. The King, instead left the path which led to his home and he ventured down to the sea. Vyakles walked into the cold, moonlit waters wrapped with the red crimson, stained fabric around his waist and he washed the scent of Thera from his skin and beard. Many thoughts raced through his mind as he swam in the cold deep blue sea. After awhile, when he could stand the cold no longer, Vy swam back to shore soaking wet as he, exhausted, fell fast asleep on his back on the sand with sound of the waves crashing against the beach. In what seemed to him but a moment of rest he awoke to the rays of the sun warming his skin and he awoke to see the glorious sunrise as he sat up to behold the magnificent scene. The fresh ocean wind was strong with the warm air currents up from Africa, from the Sahara. Vyakles awoke with a deep sense of unrivaled satisfaction in his heart and mind. However, when the guilt of shame was realized again all his happiness was dashed away and he knew that happiness he had achieved would never return again.
So the king had at this point resigned to return to his wife and face her pains. When he did finally return to the bedchamber, he had been hours gone from, he found his wife Keeva asleep in her bed. Here he noticed a cup of medicine dispensed by Kaderios, this was a common sight as his wife's excruciating endometriosis kept her in much pain most of the days of her life. Vyakles often wondered what curse had befallen him that he should be rewarded with the most beautiful, intelligent, barren woman out of all the women of Greece. Now the king did love his queen but had Vy known of her ailment he would of chosen the younger Arcadian Princess instead. But the king knew the past was long in it's grave and so he bade his wife to awaken, nudging her gently. She awoke with a deep yawn and a stretch, a bright cheerful smile upon her face as she hugged her husband, who smelled of salt and the sea, saying " Good morning my king." she kissed him softly and sweetly. "Your guest, the Princess Thera how is she? Your Physician said she was in terrible pain and you had to escort her back to the encampment." she asked with great concern in her voice for the welfare of his guest. "I was so worried, I myself was unable to sleep."
"Your concern is deeply appreciated and as you, she could find no rest. I stayed most of the night talking of common things with Commander Thera." Vy smiled, lying to his wife. "I finally brought her to rest with one of my boring stories, then I went for a swim before dawn then fell asleep on the beach." he smiled with a laugh.
"Yes my king, come I will draw a bath for you and wash your body, for reek of seaweed." Keeva laughed as her husband embraced her transferring the odor onto her night gown and long black hair. So it was, the king found himself but moments later in his large marble tub naked with his wife who knelt in the water behind him as he reclined back onto her as she washed the ocean from his hair. He sighed deeply realizing what a perfect wife Keeva could be, but the one flaw she had was she could not bring forth a child unto Vyakles.
Then as she rinsed him off she asked Vy "Has Thera selected a partner from your warriors as of yet?"
"No. Thera has not chosen a partner from among my warriors yet." the king answered his queen, skirting the truth from her with her own words, a clever trick he learned from a politician.
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