The King's Chamber

By C.V. Walter

The king is looking for a bride who will let him have his cake and eat it too. When his two oldest friends team up to find her for him, things get a bit complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aphrodite's Pearl
• Release date: Mar 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310068713

Book preview

The King’s Chamber

C.V. Walter

Copyright C.V. Walter 2014

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is a coincidence.

Please remember to practice safe, sane and consensual sex.

♚

Lord Palmer stood in the king's ante-chamber nervous, though he didn't show it, and trying to ignore the sounds that were coming from the king's chamber. It was good the king was lusty, he reminded himself. He simply needed encouragement to apply that lustiness to a queen.

A familiar roar of completion told Lord Palmer he wouldn't be waiting much longer for the king's attention. Several minutes later, the king appeared, covered in a gently worn velvet robe, sweat dotting his brow.

Palmer, the king greeted him jovially. I hope I didn't keep you waiting long.

No, sire, Palmer answered. Not too long.

But I did keep you waiting. Accept my apologies and sit. The king sat and Lord Palmer could see he was naked under his robe and, for the moment at least, satisfied.

Yes, sire. I took the liberty of dismissing the servants, he said.

Good man. Now, tell me everything I'm not supposed to know.

Lord Palmer collected his thoughts and started. There have been some issues with graft in the places that were flooded this spring. There's always a little but this is becoming excessive, the people are starting to grumble and the worst offenders received money from the crown to do the things they're charging the people for.

Perhaps a visit from a royal auditor? To make sure royal funds are being spent appropriately.

Yes, sire, I believe that should curb the worst of it, though some may require a replacement or two.

I'll keep that in mind. What else?

The privateers you authorized several months ago have been spotted off the coast of the continent and appear to be heading home.

Any sign of damages?

No, sire, they have, by all accounts, been very successful. One would imagine the captains are coming with the hopes of a reward.

No doubt you're correct. I'll put my clerks to work finding suitable rewards for the faithful.

I've a few ideas in that regard, sire, which I will pass on discreetly.

You're always discreet, Palmer, it's why I entrusted you with this job.

Thank you, sire, I do my best.

You always have. But these are small matters, Palmer, and things that would have come to my attention eventually without you here to whisper them in my ear. There's something else and you don't want to talk about it.

Yes, sire, he said, no longer surprised his king knew him well enough to tell he didn't want to talk about something.

Well, out with it man, do what I pay you for.

If you weren't such a wise and just king, there would be no amount of money worth continually risking your displeasure.

Unpleasant truths do not stop being true because I wish them so. My father and mother forgot that, I have no intention of doing the same.

I'm sure a general wish to not acknowledge your own proclivities went far into convincing them to ignore certain truths.

The king chuckled. No doubt, though the habit of ignoring unpleasant things had been developed long before my sex life became one of them. Out with it, old friend, though I'm sure I can guess what it is from your face.

It's the problem with the succession, your highness, Palmer started and the king gave a gusty sigh. You have no clear heir, sire, and no wife to sire one upon.

And no wish to take a wife, either, Palmer, though that doesn't mean much in these matters.

"The populace doesn't really care much about you taking a wife, sire, as long as there is some child