Present Day
Macedius was frowning, the expression at odds with the sun that gleamed off his golden hair, and the beautiful roses that nodded their heads behind him. He sat upon one of the ornate, cushioned seats attended by Gerica and his chief of staff, whilst two servants cleared the table of the breakfast dishes.
As was the king’s preference in fair weather, they had taken their breakfast in the garden surrounded by Fae roses. He then had Gerica admit those of his staff that needed to see him, working his way through the business of being king whilst sitting in the sunshine, and whilst Verina attempted to teach Yelena to use her magic in the approved, Fae way.
When the king’s business was done, the magic lesson would end, and Macedius would have the mages dismiss everyone else from the garden so that he could make love to Yelena with the sky above and the Fae roses overlooking.