Una Slap Maxen: A Short Story

So the next week went with Audra wanting to punch Una, slap Maxen, and curse the gods for everything wrong in her life. Instead, she focused her energies on constantly bedding her husband and trying to make Maxen jealous, because that was the type of woman she’d become – petty, jealous, and disloyal to her own husband. She did not want to be this woman but couldn’t stop herself. And there was no one with whom she might share her inner turmoil, not unless she wanted to find herself without a head.
One sunny winter morning, Audra went to call on Maxen, as the weather was ideal for training, sunny and still, but found he was bot in his quarters. When she asked about his whereabouts, Jac said Maxen had traded a patrol shift so he could take Una out riding.
“I see,
Jac. Then I shall… wait for him.”
After an hour passed, Audra sat on the floor next to Maxen’s chamber; he turned up after lunch (which Audra had skipped) with a flushed, cheerful, and windblown Una walking beside him, holding his arm. Gods Audra was losing Maxen to this girl. She struggled to her feet but caught her heel in the hem of her dress. As she stumbled with a total lack of grace, none other than Una caught her.
“My queen! Are you all right?” asked Una, appearing genuinely concerned.
Yes, you tiny bitch, I’m fine. “Quite fine, quite fine.” Audra stood up tall. At least she towered over Una.
Audra turned her gaze to Maxen. “Are you ready to train right now?” she asked curtly.
“This very moment, my lady.”
“Yes,” she snapped. “This moment. The weather is agreeable and we must take advantage.”
“Of course.
Allow me to escort Lady Una to –”
“Jac!” shouted Audra, sounding like a shrill beast. He rushed over.
“Your Highness?”
“Please escort Lady Una to… wherever it is she’d like to go.”
Una turned beet red and averted her eyes. Was this bitty, beautiful woman already so in love with Maxen she couldn’t bear to be parted from him?
“Of course, my lady.” Jac offered his elbow to Una, and with a shaky hand, she accepted his arm and wandered away.
“Armory!” Audra barked, and stomped off well ahead of Maxen. He didn’t bother trying to catch up.
Audra changed clothes quickly, pulled on mail, and didn’t bother with armor. When she went for her sword, Maxen objected, and said they needed a few more sessions with the practice weapons. Perhaps Maxen worried Audra would take off his head otherwise, as she all but radiated hostility.
Again, Audra trained as if her life depended on it. Out in the ring, she blocked, lunged, and swung her wooden sword with such ferocity she scared herself. For the first time, she understood the reality of battle lust, because she sure had it.
After a long sparring session, Maxen suggested a break.
“Fine.” Audra drank from her waterskin. “But a run next.”
“If that’s what you
want.”
Audra didn’t wait for Maxen. She dropped her skin and ran not to Hael, but to the seaside. She didn’t care if her heart exploded in the process, because it already felt as if had. And as her feet pounded against the hard ground, she wondered how she might become a better woman, wife, and queen. No answers came.
By the time she made it to the cliffs, her breath came so fast and her heart battered in her chest so quickly she her head spun. She leaned forward and rested her hands on her knees. Maxen arrived at her side, and seemed as if he’d gone for a pleasant stroll.
“So what do you thnk of her?” asked Audra immediately, her breath still coming hard and fast.
“Of whom?”
“Don’t play stupid with me. The Lady Una.”
“She’s lovely.”
Despite being short of breath, Audra ran back to the castle and did not speak to Maxen for the rest of the day.