I thought about myself showing up on his trail, put there by servants who were--I realized now--doing their very best to throw us together, but with almost disastrous results. It was only his own faith that saved that situation, a faith I hadn't shared.
I looked at him, and again saw that assessing glance. "The throne won't be ordered until you give the word. You need time to decide if this is the life you want," he said. "Of all the women I know you've the least interest in rank for the sake of rank."
"The direct result of growing up a barefoot countess," I said, trying for lightness.
He smiled back, then took both my hands. "Which brings us to a piece of unpleasant news that I have not known how to broach."
"Unpleasant--oh, can't it wait?" I exclaimed.
"If you wish."
At once I scolded myself for cowardice. "And leave you with the burden? Tell me, if the telling eases it."
He made a faint grimace. "I don't know that anything can ease it, but it is something you wanted to know and could not find out."
I felt coldness turn my bones to water. "My mother?"
"Your mother," he said slowly, still holding my hands, "apparently was learning sorcery. For the best of motives--to help the kingdom, and to prevent war. She was selected by the Council of Mages to study magic. Her books came from Erev-li-Erval. Apparently the Marquise found out when she was there to establish Flauvic at the Court of the Empress. She sent a courier to apprise her brother."
"And he had her killed." Now I could not stop the tears from burning my eyes, and they ran unheeded down my cheeks. "And Papa knew about the magic. Which must be why he burned the books."
"And why he neglected your education, for he must have feared that you would inherit her potential for magic-learning. Anyway, I found the Marquise's letter among Galdran's things last year. I just did not know how to tell you--how to find the right time, or place."
"And I could have found out last year, if I'd not run away." I took a deep, unsteady breath. "Well. Now I know. Shall we get on with our task?"
"Are you ready for another ride?"
"Of course."
He kissed my hands, first one, then the other. I felt that thrill run through me, chasing away for now the pain of grief, of regret.
"Then let's address the business before us. I hope and trust we'll have the remainder of our lives to talk all this over and compare misguided reactions, but for now…" He rose and pulled me to my feet. Still holding on to my hands, he continued, "…shall we agree to a fresh beginning?"
I squeezed his hands back. "Agreed."
"Then let me hear my name from you, just once, before we proceed further. My name, not any of the titles."
"Vidanric," I said, and he kissed me again, then laughed.
Soon we were racing side by side cross-country again, on the last leg of the journey to Remalna-city.
I looked at him, and again saw that assessing glance. "The throne won't be ordered until you give the word. You need time to decide if this is the life you want," he said. "Of all the women I know you've the least interest in rank for the sake of rank."
"The direct result of growing up a barefoot countess," I said, trying for lightness.
He smiled back, then took both my hands. "Which brings us to a piece of unpleasant news that I have not known how to broach."
"Unpleasant--oh, can't it wait?" I exclaimed.
"If you wish."
At once I scolded myself for cowardice. "And leave you with the burden? Tell me, if the telling eases it."
He made a faint grimace. "I don't know that anything can ease it, but it is something you wanted to know and could not find out."
I felt coldness turn my bones to water. "My mother?"
"Your mother," he said slowly, still holding my hands, "apparently was learning sorcery. For the best of motives--to help the kingdom, and to prevent war. She was selected by the Council of Mages to study magic. Her books came from Erev-li-Erval. Apparently the Marquise found out when she was there to establish Flauvic at the Court of the Empress. She sent a courier to apprise her brother."
"And he had her killed." Now I could not stop the tears from burning my eyes, and they ran unheeded down my cheeks. "And Papa knew about the magic. Which must be why he burned the books."
"And why he neglected your education, for he must have feared that you would inherit her potential for magic-learning. Anyway, I found the Marquise's letter among Galdran's things last year. I just did not know how to tell you--how to find the right time, or place."
"And I could have found out last year, if I'd not run away." I took a deep, unsteady breath. "Well. Now I know. Shall we get on with our task?"
"Are you ready for another ride?"
"Of course."
He kissed my hands, first one, then the other. I felt that thrill run through me, chasing away for now the pain of grief, of regret.
"Then let's address the business before us. I hope and trust we'll have the remainder of our lives to talk all this over and compare misguided reactions, but for now…" He rose and pulled me to my feet. Still holding on to my hands, he continued, "…shall we agree to a fresh beginning?"
I squeezed his hands back. "Agreed."
"Then let me hear my name from you, just once, before we proceed further. My name, not any of the titles."
"Vidanric," I said, and he kissed me again, then laughed.
Soon we were racing side by side cross-country again, on the last leg of the journey to Remalna-city.
( Sherwood Smith )
[ Court Duel ]
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