Elizabeth Haydon - Destiny - Child of the Sky

“Oh, no. Not at all. It’s just that I’ve grown up and come to understand what is attainable and what isn’t, Anborn. I find that practicality costs me less than idealism did, and I’ve grown weary of wanting things I can’t have. All I desire now is peace. And for the Earth to survive what is coming.”

Anborn rested his chin in his hand and studied her. “What a shame,” he said at last. “Although I will admit that I find you far easier to take like this, I have to say that I rather miss the other you. You are far too young and beautiful to sound so old and weary.”

“I am old and weary, Anborn; much older than you, by the way.”

“Only technically.”

“Point conceded. But I don’t want you to think that I am always this pragmatic. There are still things I care deeply about, and I still have my music. As long as that remains I think I will not be too boring.”

Anborn watched her a long time; she did not avert her eyes or look uncomfortable, but lifted her goblet and finished her wine. Finally he spoke.

“No, I would guess not,” he said, with a slight smile. “Well, without committing, since that was not part of the discussion, I would have to say that I am very interested. And honored, by the way. I think you would be almost the perfect wife for me, Rhapsody. As long as you allow me the freedom to come and go, I would enjoy the prospect of being your protector and guardian. I expect that we would share a good many interests. There are many things we could teach each other. And I know I certainly would relish a physical relationship with you—I’d have to be dead not to. You are right; love in a marital relationship is overrated and certainly not the most important factor.”

“I never said that,” Rhapsody said seriously. “I just said I didn’t think it was the most important factor for us.”

“Indeed; I stand corrected.” His eyes wandered over her face and upper body as if searching for something; a moment later he seemed to have found what he was looking for. “The Lirin don’t like me much, you know; an understandable hostility, left over from the war. Won’t this be a problem for you?”

Rhapsody smiled. “If the Lirin have a problem with it, I will abdicate gladly. One of the things I love best about Tyrian society, one of the main reasons I agreed to take the throne, is that they don’t dictate who anyone marries. And perhaps we might be responsible for a small part of the healing process from that war, an undertaking that is long overdue.”

A look of frank admiration crept into his eyes. “You are an amazing woman, Rhapsody—er, Your Majesty.”

She made a comically sour face. “Oh, please.”

“And I am well and truly honored by your interest. So yes; if you decide you want a husband, and you are foolish enough to want that to be me, I would be interested in the position.”

“Thank you,” she said, smiling and sitting up. “I will ponder what you’ve said, and I appreciate your candor.”

“If this is the sort of discussion topic I can expect whenever you invite me to lunch, I would like to make it a regular occurrence,” Anborn said, rising and bowing politely. “I believe you know how to reach me if you come to a decision.”

“Yes,” she said, rising with him. “Thank you for coming. I will walk with you to Oelendra’s house. I have a few things I need to see her about.”

“Give her my best,” Anborn said, taking her arm in the crook of his own. “By the way, have you discussed this with her yet?”

“Of course not,” Rhapsody answered. “I felt you deserved to be the first to hear about it.”

Anborn laughed. “We will get along just fine, Rhapsody,” he said, and together they strolled back to Oelendra’s house.

At the crossroad path to the Lirin champion’s cottage Anborn took Rhapsody’s hand and kissed it.

“Goodbye, Your Majesty.” He nodded politely to Rial, who was coming up the path as well. The Lirin viceroy nodded coolly in return. “Thank you for an interesting lunch. I will ponder what you said.”

“Thank you. Travel well.”

Rial waited until Anborn had disappeared into the forest, then came up to her.

“By your leave, Your Majesty—”

“Rhapsody, please.”

“Yes—sorry. There are a few matters I was hoping to consult you on.”

Rhapsody turned and continued to walk down the path toward Oelendra’s house, motioning for him to follow. “Such as?”

“The plains Lirin are asking for your aid in gaining tariff relief on their agricultural exports to Manosse and the Great Overward. Now that the realms are united, you are the controlling authority of—

Rhapsody quickened her pace. “Do you think I should grant the request, Rial?”

“Well, there are many good and—”

“So do I. Please take care of it. What else?”

“The battlements on the southern breastworks are in need of refitting.”

“Thank you for handling that as well.”

“The border patrols are requesting the building of two new longhouses—

Rhapsody stopped walking. “Rial, who took care of these things before I became queen?”

The elderly viceroy blinked. “ ’Twas I, Your—Rhapsody.”

“And, quite honestly, do you think I have any special knowledge of the details of refitting breastworks merely because I am a woman?”

Rial chuckled. “No.”

“Surely you must be able to see that I am underqualified there as well, even if you are too polite to look directly. You were the Lord Protector of this kingdom for a hundred years before I came, Rial. You know far more about these things than I do. Continue to make those decisions on your own. Please don’t take the time to make me feel important by asking me questions that you know the answers to and I don’t.” A hoot followed by a round of raucous laughter went up near the outer gate from the place where the suitors were still gathered. Rhapsody looked off in the direction of the gate, then back at Rial.

“I have a few other things on my mind at the moment.” a pleasant surprise,” Oelendra said, smiling, as she opened the door. “It’s always wonderful to see you, Your Majesty.”

“Oelendra, I love you, but if you don’t stop calling me that I will have you beheaded.”

The older woman laughed. She spoke her reply in Ancient Lirin: “With the help of what army?”

“Your own, actually,” Rhapsody replied in the same tongue, smiling.

Oelendra put an arm around Rhapsody’s shoulders and led her inside, tossing her cloak over the edge of a chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

“I have a number of things to go over with you. Is this an inconvenient time?”

Oelendra sighed in mock despair. “Rhapsody, you’re the queen now. There is no such thing as an ‘inconvenient time’ for someone where you’re concerned.” She went to the fire and ladled out two mugs of dot mwl , then turned and handed one to Rhapsody. “I take it you’re still not enjoying the privileges of your new office?” Her smile faded as she looked in the Singer’s eyes, and found a closed, distant look in them. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Rhapsody answered, sipping the mulled mead. “Do you know Anborn ap Gwylliam by more than just reputation?”

“Aye,” Oelendra answered, settling into one of the chairs before the fire. “Of Anwyn and Gwylliam’s three sons, he’s actually the only one I really do know. I attended all of their Naming ceremonies when they were infants, but they were only young men when the war began.

“I had seen them occasionally as children, but after the war Llauron spent much of his time at the Circle tending the Tree and leading the Filids, and I have not seen Edwyn Griffyth since before the war began. I hear he apprenticed in the forges of his father, and then went to sea. But as a child Anborn was always keen to learn the ways of the sword, so his mother sent him to me. I trained Anborn, and so know him rather well. Why do you ask?”