“That’s fine,” Ewan replied, choosing to not mask the disappointment in his eyes. “Yes, I agree – we need to wait a bit longer. Aeronwen’s passing was fortuitous – but we shouldn’t be too hasty. Instead we should focus on killing my brother.” He gave her a serious look as he took another sip of his wine. “Yes, we should work on the King himself. If we can pull that off, I can get myself named Regent.” He allowed that idea to sink in before continuing with a smile. “If that happens we are home free. His brats will never see puberty.”<br/><br/>“Oh, and speaking of puberty – Alexander will need a wife soon, or else he will find one himself. Send me your short list of potential wives. I will let you know which ones have fathers who might support my claim. We need to think ahead to these things, my dear.”<br/><br/>Whether she agreed or not, once their discussion was complete Ewan finished his wine and stepped closer to her, slipping one hand over each cheek.<br/><br/>“My darling, not a day will go by when I will not think of you. You are my sun, my moon, stars and sky. When you make love to him, think of me,” he asked before moving in to deliver a passionate kiss. “Now, I must away,” he added as he leaned in so that their foreheads met. “My love…”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: gray;background:gray;"/></div><br/><br/>Allena, still wiping tears from her eyes, snuck back into the servant’s area behind the palace kitchen. In the corridor leading to a storeroom was where her and other kitchen girls had their cots strung up. She quietly stepped over to her space and located what she was looking for.  Quickly she rustled around inside the wooden box that held all of her worldly goods until she found them: a tied-up bundle of letters from Alexander. Still blinking away the moisture from her eyes, she stole back down into the kitchens and approached the hearth. In the fireplace the evening’s blaze now smoldered, casting long shadows on those young men who slept in that chamber. Without any hesitation she cast the bundle of letters into the fire which quickly began to crackle and alight again. Not wanting to be caught somewhere she shouldn't be, Allena then hurried away as quietly as she could.<br/><br/>Her presence was not missed, however. After she had left one of the young men got up, reached into the fire and quickly pulled out the burning documents. He smothered the flames and tucked the packet away for review later. Someone, somewhere, might pay for those letters, he thought.