Another couple of days passed since Lucas executed the two men and whether it was because of Stannis' advice or their own fear or whether because they knew that it would not really matter, none of the members of the small council raised the issue in front of Robert and the matter died a quiet death. Even Lucas was a bit surprised by this lack of reaction. He had expected some reaction, at least a few words and complaints to the king but nothing happened finally.
The sound of steel clashing against steel reverberated throughout the courtyard in the quarters of the Red Keep.
Lucas and Gary stood facing each other with swords in their hands. The spar between them had been going on for more than a couple of hours, and neither was ready to back down.
Gary was already gasping hard, his entire body drenched in sweat. Lucas, though bare chested and equally drenched, was in far better condition. His sculpted muscles glistened under the sheen of sweat.
"You would not be able to keep this up much longer, Ser Gary," Lucas grinned.
Gary did not deny it. After his body had been purified by Lucas, his strength had risen significantly. And while two hours was not an extraordinarily long time, it had to be remembered that his opponent was Lucas, and the duel had been nothing short of intense.
"I cannot believe how strong you have grown in just a few months," Gary said, a hint of disbelief in his tone. "It feels like I am fighting an entirely different person."
Even so, he did not back down. He had strength left for at least one more bout. He knew that he could not defeat Lucas. But he had one final attempt left inside him and he would not give up before that final attempt.
Lucas had been a brilliant swordsman from the very beginning. But in the past few months, he had grown to such an extent that Gary could hardly comprehend it. And it was not just Lucas, Gary himself had felt his own strength growing. He was faster than before, his stamina was on a different level. Compared to his previous self, he was many times better.
Soldiers he once needed effort to defeat no longer posed the slightest trouble. He suspected that all this had been caused by his lord, but he never voiced his opinion. His loyalty ran too deep.
Both were about to launch at each other when crisp, rhythmic footsteps broke their focus. To their surprise, it was Cersei. Not a lot of people could enter the courtyard without the explicit permission of Lucas.
"Cousin," Lucas mumbled, raising an eyebrow. He had expected a summon, not for her to come directly to his quarters.
Cersei's throat tightened as her eyes fell upon Lucas' chiselled and sweat drenched muscles. Her face flushed, and a shiver of excitement coursed through her body. Why could she never have enough of this man?
"Leave," she commanded sharply. To her surprise, none of Lucas' guards moved. They merely looked at Lucas, and only when he nodded in agreement, did they begin to walk away from the courtyard.
"Your guards are too loyal to you," Cersei muttered. "So loyal that they are not afraid of offending the queen of the realm. I could have their heads for such insolence."
Lucas shrugged and stepped closer to Cersei and a redness crept on her cheeks.
"What can I say? I am just too charming. When the queen herself cannot stop falling for my charm, what hope do they have?"
Cersei blushed even harder.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked, changing the topic.
The question snapped Cersei's attention back to the purpose of her visit. She had not come here to ogle Lucas' body or ger herself fucked.
"I heard that you would be leaving King's Landing and traveling north, to Winterfell," she remarked.
"Yes," Lucas nodded. "For a couple of months."
"And why so?" Cersei pressed. "What would you even find among those savages and in that wilderness?"
"They are not savages, Cersei," Lucas replied calmly. "And since it is wilderness, that is exactly why I am going there. Resources. Coal, ores, metals. The North should have them in abundance. I want to strike a deal with Lord Stark for them."
"And you could not send someone else?" Cersei scoffed.
"I could," Lucas smiled. "But I also want to feel the weather of the North. I rather like snow and the cold. I think I am going to enjoy the wilderness of the snow."
"And what of all the work you are doing here?" she demanded. "Who will look after it?"
"And what of the influence you have accumulated in these last months? Everything you have built will vanish. Your allies will turn against you. The soldiers you recruited might switch their loyalty to someone else. The politics of King's Landing is very harsh. Loyalties change here even faster than clothes."
"Maybe," Lucas shrugged. "But I was never here to build loyalty for myself or any kind of influence."
"I was here to rebuild King's Landing," he continued. "And that work will go on smoothly even in my absence. I have experts stationed here for that very purpose."
"Besides, I have a royal charter from the king himself granting me all those privileges. I doubt he would go back on his word."
"You…" Cersei clenched her fist in frustration. "It is not about the charter."
She did not have words about how she could explain to him. Maybe this cousin of hers was not as sharp as she had thought. Or maybe deal and trade and wealth was all that he cared for. He had never cared for the influence in King's Landing.
"Have you spoken to Robert?" she asked, her tone sharpening with irritation. "Will he allow it?"
"I do not think the king will have any problem," Lucas replied. "I will speak with him."
"You seem to be struggling with the idea of parting from me," he teased, leaning closer to her face.
"You know," he whispered, his warm breath brushing her ear. "You could come with me. Fucking you in the cold winds of the North might be a different kind of pleasure altogether. It might be kind of cozy after all."
Cersei's body shivered at his words.
"Do not speak nonsense!" she bellowed. She wished how he could ravage her then and there. But she did not have the luxury.
"When will you leave?" She demanded.
"In a fortnight," he answered as one of his hands moved and groped her ass.
"Lucas," she trembled but nonetheless freed herself from his grip. Reluctantly. This was what her body had been demanding. But this was not the appropriate time.
"Visit me at night," she said. "I have something important to discuss with you before you leave King's Landing."
With this Cersei turned and walked out of the courtyard leaving a smirking Lucas behind.
"Something important to discuss, huh?" he mumbled to himself. "It seems that these last few days we will have a lot to discuss."
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