He looks down at me and smiles, “This wasn’t how I had planned to have you thrown over my saddle bow again.”
I blush recalling our jaunt back from the Old Forest and into Imelenora. Kenric laughs at my blush as he swings his leg over Anvindr’s neck.
He drops lightly to the cobbles, still cradling me, before he sets me on my feet. “Come, my treasure. Let us go quash a rebellion, prop up my king, and save our marriage.”
I take his arm and march into the central hall, back straight and fury barely contained. Doerr is just presenting his petition to have our marriage annulled.
The whole court goes quiet before murmurs break out. Doerr stops and turns to see what is causing such a disturbance.
Oskar sees me and frowns. "Ah, Viscount Kenric. And the charming Viscountess Víl?. Your sudden reappearance is timely. These men have brought a petition here, claiming that you have abandoned your post.”
I regard Oskar and smirk for a moment, “I would suggest, Your Highness, that what they bring you is trouble. Was it not your authority that granted us two weeks to visit Kenric’s family?”
Oskar nods slowly, “It was. Most magnanimous of me, I think.”
I bat my eyes at him, “Oh, it was truly and how long have we been gone, Your Highness? It has only been a few days and not the full two weeks, has it not?”
“That is also true,” Oskar concedes.
“Does dissolving this trade agreement aid you in some way?” I ask.
Oskar shakes his head, “No, it's been quite stabilizing to our economy.”
When I speak again, I make sure that my voice can be heard all through Oskar’s throne room, “So this duke and this earl are attempting to destabilize your throne, your economy, and flout your authority?”
Oskar’s glare at Doerr and Vellam is utterly satisfying. This amateur has vastly overplayed his hand.
“Kenric’s not financially solvent,” Doerr hisses at me.
Oskar’s glare recedes a bit, and he eyes me, wondering what I’m up to. I
paste on my most saccharine smile, “While I appreciate your concern, Kenric’s finances are backed by the full faith and finances of my family, several members of the Hloir? Aralli? Court, and at least in part, by Ellisar himself.”
Doerr goes a pasty shade of grey at this statement.
“You can’t prove that,” Vellam snarls.
I laugh as if someone has just told the most amusing story. I reach into the sleeve of my dress and pull out several scrolls, rolled together. They’re all written in High Fey, and none of these dunces will be able to read them, but it’s good enough for this theater. If they could read them, they’d find pledges of support with sums so vast, I could probably buy Centis. They are, however, also signed by Amer, Fylson, Elora, Shenarah, Anlyth, my parents, and Ellisar.
Even these dimwits should be able to manage to make that out.
I take the scrolls and tap Vellam on the nose. “You didn’t think I’d come here without access to my wealth back in Imelenora, did you? Or the support of my friends?”
“Doesn’t your king support you?” Doerr sneers.
“I mentioned my friends. Must I list them all out for you? Or are you too obtuse to realize that I am permitted to call my king by his given name?” I ask.
Oskar snickers a bit at this, but Grethe elbows him.
Doerr’s angry red goes back to the pasty grey color.
“You insist that we are impoverished,” I snort.
I should give Queen Grethe her midwinter present a bit early. Let me demonstrate what you are calling impoverished, you fool. “Inaba, please bring the chest here so I can retrieve Queen Grethe’s present.”
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Inaba and Usami bring the chest forward. I open it and pull out the box that holds Grethe’s coronet. Inaba and Usami remove the chest. It’s inlaid and done in a very Fey style.
I speak clearly, and once again, the entire throne room can hear me, “It seems a demonstration of how not impoverished we are is required. I would be honored, Queen Grethe, if you would be the recipient of that gesture.”
I stop for a moment and smile at Grethe, who inclines her head, permitting this.
I hold up the box, “This was to have been your midwinter present from us, Queen Grethe. I ensured it was created specifically for you. I think it will suit you. I do hope you like it. May I approach?”
Smiling, Grethe waves me to her. I hand her the box and retreat. Grethe waits for me to return to Kenric before she opens the box. An instant of shock rolls across her face, but she covers it up quickly.
She throws the lid back and looks at the coronet in awe. “Lady Kenric, it is simply stunning.”
I smile at Grethe, “There is only one question left. I wasn’t certain what the correct size would be.”
Grethe laughs, “Let us test it then.”
She signals for one of her ladies to come.
They rearrange her hair and pin it into place. It is truly gorgeous on her. I can hear the mutters around the room. “Are those diamonds?” “What are those other stones?” “It looks so lifelike.”
I nod, smiling. “It does suit you. May you wear it in good health.”
“Why give me such a thing?” Grethe asks.
“I am Fey. We remember those who are kind to us,” I reply.
The implication being that we will also remember those who are not.
Doerr and Vellam get a bit paler at this statement, but I’m now ignoring them. They do not exist. They’re no longer relevant to the Centis court. Oskar hates them and will no longer participate in their schemes.
Grethe laughs delightedly. “All I’ve done is introduce you to several members of Oskar’s court.”
I smile back, “You took the time to make a foreign princess feel welcomed. That’s been a far warmer welcome than most here have given me. That is my thanks for your kindness.”
Doerr bows and goes to leave, but Oskar stops him. “I can’t imagine where you think you’re going.”
Oskar waves at his guards, “Arrest the traitors.”
I curtsey deeply and turn to leave, but Doerr grabs at my arm. “Help us.”
I look at him and cock my head, “What’s in it for me?”
“Whatever you want,” Doerr promises.
I trust him no further than I can fling Oskar’s palace, but consider for a moment, “Fifty percent of your gambling operations,” I reply.
Vellam’s eyes bug out, but he nods.
Doerr mutters a curse but also nods.
“Have the papers drawn up and delivered. I’ll see what I can do,” I reply.
I start to walk away again, but Doerr tugs at me, “Do something.”
“I shall,” I reply quietly, “but now is not the time or the place.”
I shake his arm off and turn to face Oskar, curtseying again, “If it pleases Your Majesty, I should like to return to my honeymoon with a few extra days tacked on to cover the extra travel from this incident.”
“Where are you staying?” Oskar asks.
“I believe, Your Highness, that it’s called Ketra.”
“Your uncle’s, then?” Oskar asks Kenric.
“Yes, Your Highness. Víl? wanted to meet my family, and they’re the closest that are still living,” Kenric replies.
“Lord Eldert’s passing greatly saddened us,” Oskar says, “You have our condolences.”
Kenric ducks his head for a moment, “Thank you, Your Highness. Víl? and I both appreciate your concern.”
The big question is, will Oskar let us go, or will he make us remain here, now that we have returned?
I wait with bated breath to find out.
“Why travel when you can simply remain here? Surely your family can join you here?” Oskar says.
“It’s a most inconvenient time for them, Your Highness. I believe that Inga is with child and unable to make such a rigorous journey.”
Oskar considers this for a moment before he speaks, “A shame your time with them has been cut short, then. I am loath to let you travel. There are such dangers on the road.” Is Oskar threatening me?
“I should rather keep you both here to keep trouble to a minimum,” Oskar continues, “I know that the are many things afoot and it would behoove you to be somewhere safe. With Doerr in the dungeons, I’ll need a new gaming partner.”
It’s all I can do not to roll my eyes. Basten and Nelis have been rigging games and cheating the king for years. He’s heavily in debt to the two of them. It’s probably one reason Nelis is in the dungeons. Then Oskar doesn’t have to pay him back. That means, in Oskar’s mind, he’s free to gamble more because a big chunk of his debt has just been erased. That’s why he wants a new gaming partner. I doubt he even knows that Nelis was in on rigging the games to trap him into debt. That’s the kind of logic that Oskar comes up with on his own. How is this man in charge of an entire country? I wonder if I should just kill kings simply because anyone in that position is so corrupted by the power that they’ve done something that merits death.
I’m still pondering all this when Kenric replies that he’s not much for gambling. I could kick him. If Oskar’s busy losing all his money playing cards and dice, he’s not chasing me around. I can do a few things to make sure that Kenric doesn’t lose much. Does Oskar realize that all the nobles hate him because he’s bedded all their wives? If Oskar caught on fire and it were up to the women of the court to put him out, I think we’d all be dragging up logs and bear fat. Grethe, his own wife, would likely lead the singing and dancing.
I can’t think of any of the women who don’t bear him some ill will. That thought almost makes me giggle, but I manage to keep it off my face and out of my voice.
Instead, I smile sweetly at Oskar, “I’ll convince him to go with you, Your Highness.”
Oskar’s eyes narrow just a hair, as he wonders what I’m up to.
“I wouldn’t want you to be lonely, Your Highness, and I’m sure that Kenric would love to discuss our plans for his estate.”
Once I say this, the rest of the court realizes what I’ve done. Now, they want to participate. They realized that I’ve just ensured that Kenric will have multiple, extended private audiences with the king. The dukes watch this with mixed reactions. Jellema beams like a proud father. Aart seems to be mildly amused. Basten is practically chortling with glee because he’s planning to try to fleece Kenric, now that we’ve demonstrated his wealth. Keimpe looks as if he’s bitten into a lemon. The earls and other viscounts are now in a flurry to offer their services as a gaming companion.
- Would you call this courage or pure madness?
- If you were her advisor, what would you say right now?