Jill Williamson: To Darkness Fled

Sir Caleb continued, "Lady Halona Pitney of Nesos, age twelve-"

Kurtz blew a raspberry. "Oh, come on! The lad won't even be able to-"

"Kurtz," Sir Eagan said, "silence your useless comments."

"I'm just pointing out what none of you are bold enough to say. How many of you would wish to marry a child, eh?"

Sir Caleb sighed. "And finally, Lady Glassea Hadar of Armonguard, age fourteen."

"Prince Oren's daughter?" Achan's forehead wrinkled. "Isn't she my cousin?"

"Aye," Sir Gavin said.

"It would be making a strong blood match," Inko said. "A Hadar and a Hadar."

Achan's eyes bulged like he had swallowed a fly.

"Let us talk this out," Sir Eagan said. "The ladies from Nesos, Armonguard, and Berland are all heirs to duchies?"

"All but Glassea," Sir Caleb said. "Achan will rule that duchy."

"So marrying Glassea gets him nothing," Sir Eagan said. "He already has Prince Oren's support and rule of Arman Duchy. There is no bonus in this match. Cross her off."

"Thank you," Achan said.

"That leaves us Nesos and Berland," Sir Caleb said.

"Both of which voted for Achan as king," Sir Gavin said.

"Is one stronger than the other?" Sir Eagan asked.

"I see them as equal," Sir Caleb said. "Both have decent control over their duchy. Neither are the strongest. Nahar has Nesos, Xulon, and Walden's Watch. They're also in a civil war with the Ebens. That could divide their service. Therion has Berland, Meribah Corner-which we now know is useless-Zamar, and Har Sha'ar."

"A bunch of nothing, eh?" Kurtz said.

"True," Sir Caleb said. "Berland is strong, but Darkness has weakened Therion, I fear."

"Well, Pacey? What do you think, eh?" Kurtz asked. "Aged twelve or twenty-six? Personally, I'd go with the twenty-six-year-old. At least she'll look like a woman, she will."

"You'd be surprised," Achan said. "She's quite…brusque. Six feet tall and built like you. Tough as nails and a little scary. Nice, though. I vote against her because Shung dotes on her."

"Achan, Shung would never be permitted to marry her," Sir Caleb said. "He's a peasant."

"Not if I knight him."

Vrell smiled. Achan would make an excellent king. He cared about all people, down to the peasants and strays.

"Oh, lad," Kurtz said. "You're just a bleeding heart, you are. We can't let that get out."

Achan stood and approached the table. "Shung is a good man and a great warrior. Why shouldn't I knight him?"

Kurtz reached across the table and grabbed a handful of grapes. "Knight him if you want. Marry the child. I don't care, eh? Just don't come weeping to me when all falls to dung."

Achan sighed. "Is there truly no one else?"

"None we deem safe, Your Highness," Sir Caleb said.

"What of Lady Averella?" Sir Eagan asked.

The room fell silent.

Vrell stiffened. A chill flashed over her arms. What was Sir Eagan doing?

Sir Caleb shrugged. "I don't believe she is an option."

"She's not," Sir Gavin said. "She's betrothed already."

"Bran Rennan," Achan said. "though he has proved himself unworthy of such devotion, in my opinion."

An ache passed over Vrell at the rawness of these words, and from Achan of all people.

"Well now, none of that matters any, eh, Eagan?" Kurtz said. "A prince beats a local lord any day, it does."

Vrell stifled a gasp. Kurtz deserved a slap. What a horrible thing to say in light of Sir Eagan and her mother's past.

Yet Sir Eagan did not seem bothered by Kurtz's audacity. "I will speak to the duchess about it. It is my understanding the engagement has been broken."

Vrell could not bear it. Bring her home to Carmine, then betray her? What was Sir Eagan's game?

"Carm is being the strongest duchy in all Er'Rets. Both Therion and Nesos would be siding with Carm," Inko said.

"That's true," Sir Caleb said. "But what of Sitna?"

"Many would side with Achan given the chance," Sir Gavin said. "There's little love for Esek or Lord Nathak there."

"Plus they're traveling," Inko said. "Who's ruling in their absence?"

"Likely Lord Nathak's steward," Sir Gavin said.

"If she were an option, I'd vote for Lady Averella," Sir Caleb said.

"Agreed," Inko said. "Esek was having that plan, after all."

"As would I," Sir Gavin tugged his braid, "yet I don't think that's the case."

"How old is Lady Averella?" Achan asked.

"Now you're thinking along the right lines," Kurtz said.

"Uh…seventeen, I think," Sir Gavin said.

"Eighteen next month," Sir Eagan said.

Heat swelled in Vrell. Sir Eagan knew her day of birth?

"Oh, that's much better." Achan took a long breath and sighed. "Okay. I vote for her too. To ask, anyway."

"Then you must give her a token," Sir Caleb said. "If the wedding is not to take place until after the war, you must offer something that will assure the young lady you're serious."

Vrell slid the peephole shut and laid her forehead against the wall. She would have to talk to Mother right away to stop this discussion from going any further.

*

Unfortunately, when Vrell sought out Mother, the duchess was in a meeting of her own. And when Vrell returned before dinner, Mother was already meeting with Sir Eagan.

Vrell stormed through the inner walls of Granton Castle, keeping to passages where she would not be seen. The peephole overlooking the great hall was low since it looked out of the second story of the hall. Vrell never liked this location. She had to sit on the floor and stomach rats and spiders that might scurry past. But if she wanted to look on the great hall, this was her only option.

She set her candle a few feet from her skirt and peeked through the slot in the wall. No celebration tonight. Achan sat alone at the high table, looking forlorn. Shung stood against the wall behind him. Shung should sit. Achan needed company.

"Still shadowing the prince?"

Vrell cowered. "Mother! You scared me." She clapped her hand over her heart and felt its rapid beat through her gown. "What are you doing here?"

Mother set her lantern beside Vrell's candle. "I would ask you the same question."

Vrell turned back to the peephole. "Well, I asked first."

"Seeking out my reclusive daughter. Shadowing the Crown Prince could be considered treason should the wrong person find out. Dearest, why not confess and end all this?"

"Mother! I am trying to save him a broken heart."

"I can attest it is far too late for that, Averella. I sense great sorrow in him."

"Which is why I will not parade out there in my finest dress and give him false hope."

Mother stepped up to the wall and looked down on Vrell, blocking the light. "Master Rennan came to visit me yesterday."

Vrell winced.

"He said you are no longer interested in his proposal."

Vrell looked up. "I never said that! Bran told me I was not interested. What kind of thing is that to say to a lady?"

"A very noble thing, I should think. Dearest, he is willing to give you up to see you happy. He knows, as well as I, that you care for our young prince."

"Do not try to make Bran look noble. He has fallen in love with a peasant and changed his mind about me."

Mother folded her arms. "Do you know, I found His Highness in the kitchens last night. He was sitting under a table, barefoot, eating a bowl of stew."

Vrell looked up to Mother's shadowed face. "Was he? Why?"

"He confessed he is trying but cannot erase his past. To him, sitting under the kitchen table feels like home."

Vrell found Achan's face in the peephole again. Two maidens walked by his table and giggled. He simply stared straight ahead, as if seeing nothing but his own thoughts.

"He is an interesting and honest young man," Mother said. "I know you do not wish to be queen, but if you are no longer interested in Master Rennan, I have no reason to deny the prince's offer of marriage."