As soon as I reached my room I took out the Marquise's letter and reread it, even though by then I knew it word for word. It seemed impossible that Branaric's arrival on the same day--with Shevraeth--was a coincidence.
I sighed. Now I could not ask my brother outright about this letter. He was as tactless as he was honest. I could easily imagine him blurting it out over dinner. might find it diverting, though I didn't think Shevraeth would, for the same reason I couldn't ask him his opinion of Arthal Merindar: because the last time we had discussed the possible replacement for Galdran Merindar, I had told him flatly I'd rather see my brother crowned than another lying courtier.
Remembering that conversation--in Shevraeth's father's palace, with his father listening--I winced. It wasn't just Bran who lacked tact. I thought glumly, The problem with gathering my courage and broaching the subject was the very fact of the kingship. If I hadn't been able to resolve those misunderstandings before Galdran's death, when Shevraeth was just the Marquis, it seemed impossible to do it now when he was about to take the crown. My motives might be mistaken and he'd think me one of those fawning courtiers at the royal palace. Ugh!
So I asked Oria to tell them I was sick. I holed up in my room with a book and did my best to shove them all out of my mind--as well as the mysterious Marquise of Merindar.
I sighed. Now I could not ask my brother outright about this letter. He was as tactless as he was honest. I could easily imagine him blurting it out over dinner. might find it diverting, though I didn't think Shevraeth would, for the same reason I couldn't ask him his opinion of Arthal Merindar: because the last time we had discussed the possible replacement for Galdran Merindar, I had told him flatly I'd rather see my brother crowned than another lying courtier.
Remembering that conversation--in Shevraeth's father's palace, with his father listening--I winced. It wasn't just Bran who lacked tact. I thought glumly, The problem with gathering my courage and broaching the subject was the very fact of the kingship. If I hadn't been able to resolve those misunderstandings before Galdran's death, when Shevraeth was just the Marquis, it seemed impossible to do it now when he was about to take the crown. My motives might be mistaken and he'd think me one of those fawning courtiers at the royal palace. Ugh!
So I asked Oria to tell them I was sick. I holed up in my room with a book and did my best to shove them all out of my mind--as well as the mysterious Marquise of Merindar.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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