Sixteen

“I will not be parted from my sister.” Gaeleath held her hand firmly and remained perched on the edge of her bed. “She was poisoned and unable to refuse Prince Myrin’s advances. It will not happen a second time.”

“His Majesty wishes to speak with you of the terrible mistake his son made. No one will harm her Highness.”

“Do you feel well enough to take an audience with King Merin?” He looked down at his exhausted sister.

“I don’t feel ill anymore, just tired. It might do me some good to walk.”

“She should rest!” One of the healers that had been hovering protested.

“I will not be parted from my sister. Either she comes with me or King Merin will have to wait. I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone here.”

The servant bowed and left.

Marravae teased in Cemiriss, “I should have asked to borrow Volas’ knife then you could leave me without worrying.”

He laughed and squeezed her hand. “I’d have to worry about being stabbed if I startled you awake and so would the healers. Close your eyes and rest. When you’re feeling awake and well, we’ll be on our way home. Let the diplomats sort matters out once you’re safely at home shouting at the bears again.”

She gave him a doting smile. “I only did that once.”

Gaeleath smiled warmly down at her as she settled in, closing her eyes and keeping a firm grip on his hand. After a short time it loosened and her breathing became slow and even. The door pushed open and King Merin entered looking sour with his children in tow. At the sight of Marravae asleep clinging to her brother’s hand, his face softened somewhat.

Keeping his voice low, King Merin spoke gently, “In your place, my son wouldn’t leave his sister's side either. This terrible mistake must be remedied. I would have our families become one. The trading of daughters seems perfect now that it’s been suggested and my son has come to adore your sister in a very short time. I’ve taken the liberty of sending to your father to advise him of your sister’s sudden illness and to assure him that she is receiving the best care from my healers.

“This matter can be smoothed over here and now if you’re willing to be reasonable. We can negotiate a fitting punishment and the matter can remain quiet.”

Studying the King and glancing at the insincerely concerned expressions on Myrin and Myrae’s faces, Gaeleath had the feeling he was playing Fyra with the man again and this time for much larger stakes.

“It isn’t unreasonable to be upset when my sister is poisoned and the poisoner admits not only to having been in her bed but to having intended the poison for me. The matter should be left to the cooler heads of diplomats. My most pressing desire is to get my sister home safely. Once things calm they can be smoothed, I have no doubt. I have not sent to my father requesting he cancel any arrangements or make any demands-”

“You asked Volas to send to your father?” Myrin tilted his head. “He sent a healer that we turned away, and we observed him sending two messengers. If we stopped one what would we have read?”

“I can only imagine. I made no request of him, you can ask the guards who rode with us. Though, I accepted his offer of an escort home as soon as my sister is well enough. Poisoning either of us was unwise, but to do it in the presence of an Arek who expressed an immediate desire to marry my sister… You may not know them well, but you were on the brink of war the moment he decided my sister should be the roots of his tree.

“She went out of her way to make it clear that there was an arrangement and that she would see it stand. Had you behaved as I would have expected a Prince to behave you would be enjoying his envy and a small measure of respect. Marravae would have seen to it.” He glanced at his sister as she stirred in her sleep squeezing his hand and furrowing her brow. Lowering his voice and putting on a more pleasant tone he added, “She’s dealt with Arek delegations almost as much as I have, she’s had more offers for her hand from Areks, including Volas’ younger brothers, than you’ve had letters from my father, I can promise you that.”

“Your father mentioned that.” King Merin spoke in a similar tone, “It was one of the reasons I was so adamant we find a way around the difference in traditions and make the match. The entire matter is one of delicacy, and I hope you take my greater experience in diplomacy into consideration when I assure you I see a way forward.” 

Gaeleath waited for the King to make his gambit. 

“We will have the wedding immediately. Your sister will be married to my son as soon as she’s well. It will satisfy the matter of my son’s impatience and your sister’s lost virtue. Prince Volas will have no further reason to make trouble and the matter of the tainted Zophin can be addressed privately between myself and your father.”

“Prince Volas would assume my sister was forced. You’d be at war in a month's time. The matter cannot be addressed here. For my sister to marry Prince Myrin she needs to return home for a period of time. After my father and the diplomats have addressed the matter of the tainted drink the wedding would be able to go forward if both she and Prince Myrin wished.”

“You did speak to Volas and have him send to your father.” Myrin took a half step forward.

“I didn’t. What do the missives say? I assume you stopped both messengers?”

“I only allowed my son to stop the one going toward Cemir.”

Gaeleath tried not to betray his horrified amusement, knowing the Areks, they’d just made things worse. “What did it say?”

“Would you be surprised if he suggested King Gaeramith send a force to free you?”

“No. You greeted us with too many guards. To any Arek it would appear we were being taken prisoner. If he told my father he was writing on my behalf that was why. When someone threatens one of us Arek and Cemir stand shoulder to shoulder. You truly only stopped one messenger?”

King Merin sighed, lifting a hand to his temples. “He sent the same to his father and insisted your father be supported.”

“Yes. My father will get the message but not from Prince Volas’ messenger. You’ve made things worse. There is only one way to salvage anything, prove him wrong. Show him that we are not prisoners. We will leave and he will escort us home. It will seem that he overreacted.”

“If she leaves and the matter of the damnable wager hasn’t been settled…” Myrin looked as if he wanted to strangle someone. 

“Wager?” The King turned to look at him.

“I made a wager with Volas, if I failed to kill a boar I would free her from the arrangement and he could press his suit, if I won he would give her Bridgeburn as a wedding gift.”

“Go kill a boar.” King Merin scowled.

“Marravae, Volas, and I need to be present.” Gaeleath interrupted. “The wager was meant to be fulfilled during the hunt but since it was ended a day early-”

“I won’t hunt with the two of you. I’ll be the one on the end of the spear.”

“Take guards to ensure your safety.” Gaeleath gave the furious Cuphisian an annoyed look, “I was angry when we spoke this morning and I didn't mean to appear threatening.”

“Marravae is the only one I need there to see me kill the boar. He won’t challenge her if she says I succeeded.”

“I can speak to my sister. The matter of the wager can be settled after war has been averted. And you are facing war.” Gaeleath gave them all a frown. “As soon as my sister is well we should leave for home. Volas will accompany us and after that all of this can be smoothed over and settled.”

“I saw the way the two of you looked when you brought your sister back from the river.” Myrin hissed stepping closer, “If you leave with her she’ll be married to Volas in a month. If you had genuine intentions of peace between Cemir and Cuphisia you would be giving me your sister and-”

Gaeleath calmly came to his feet with as cool and stern an expression as he could summon, releasing his sister's hand. He took care to keep his tone even and unemotional, “You were the one who made the wager. You put your arrangement at risk. According to propriety, and knowing that you joined her in her bed, no wedding could take place for at least six months if an arrangement was agreed upon by King Varas and my father. To do otherwise would risk putting another man’s child on his throne.

“Whether you see it or not, I’m attempting to prevent a war.”

“I won’t claim any child unless she remains. How can I trust that she hasn’t bedded someone else?” Myrin gave him a pointed look.

“A matron could be sent.” King Merin sounded thoughtful. “To look after the Princess’ virtue and to instruct her in court matters. It would maintain her ability to marry promptly if my son’s impatience results in a child.”

“Or you could give her something to prevent a child-” Myrae started and then stopped as eyes turned incredulously toward her.

“‘Giving her something’ is how your brother put us all in this predicament, there will be no giving anyone anything unless they request it.” King Merin spoke firmly, offering Gaeleath a conciliatory look. 

“In her state, I wouldn’t advise it even if she were to request it, my King,” one of the healers interjected.

Gaeleath turned to look at him and he gestured at Marravae who was still soundly asleep.

“Her Highness is clearly sensitive to the sleeping drops. Some women who have such sensitivities have been known to react to otherwise harmless remedies as if they were deadly poisons.”

“She’s rarely ill and like our father she prefers bracing teas to medicines and draughts.” He took his seat again and brushed her hair back from her face. “Had I known you poisoned the cup and one of us was going to drink it, I would have. Seeing her ill and helpless is like a knife in my heart.”

“Had I known she would drink it I would never have poured the drink, Gaeleath. Once I spoke to her candidly and we warmed toward each other…” Myrin approached the bed and Gaeleath thought he looked genuinely regretful, “I want to marry your sister. If I had known what a pleasure she can be to trade jests with and how firmly she would support me I would have demanded the wedding be held when she arrived.”

“She’ll demand you kill a boar before she lets you make amends.” Gaeleath put on what he hoped was a mollifying expression, “Be prepared to visit and cover yourself with glory on a hunt with her and my father.”

Myrin breathed a laugh. “I will be more prepared for the next boar hunt. Your father can serve my kill at the wedding feast.”

“I will have a matron arranged for.” King Merin patted his son’s shoulder. “Myrae come with me. Let Myrin and Gaeleath have a private word.” He made a gesture and the healers filed out as well.

“What private word do we need to have?” Gaeleath smiled faintly. He had an idea of what it was already.

“Without bringing up any… potentially dangerous topics, I wished to ask how Cemiri men prevent pregnancy when they bed a woman. Here we often use draughts, as you call them.”

“In Cemir we prefer a…” He tried not to flush, “It’s referred to as a lambskin glove. It’s a covering made from the intestine of a lamb, you can barely feel it and the seed is trapped safely inside.”

Myrin grinned and threw up his hands, “Ah. I once had a girl ask me if I had a lambskin glove and I was baffled.”

Gaeleath chuckled. “I can give you some. You don’t have to pull away and it makes it more enjoyable. I assume you pulled away.” He let his smile fade as Myrin flushed.

“I’m not accustomed to needing to. The draughts are very effective and I was bedding the woman I intended to wed on my return to the palace. I had every intention of summoning the priests to make certain her virtue was protected and giving her a public wedding as soon as possible.”

There was a moment of silence. “Forgive me for broaching another delicate subject but… I noticed that your sister is… She’s not a quiet woman.”

At Gaeleath’s flat look he added hurriedly, “I only bring up the matter because she had intended to sleep in your tent. It might have been noticed.”

“There wouldn’t have been anything to notice, Myrin. We’d have remained chastely on separate cots. My sister hates to fail at anything and father sent her to become your wife. She would have done nothing to put that at risk. We are, however, very close and she enjoys spending time speaking with her brother as I’m certain Myrae will wish to do if she should be sent to visit.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Though, I suspect, part of her reason for coming to visit us was duty. If she can’t make the kill in the forest it can’t be done.”

Myrin broke into laughter and then gave Marravae an affectionate glance, “She made her kill. The moment she put Volas’ knife against his balls I knew I needed her for my wife.”

“I suspect Volas came to the same conclusion. He looked lovesick when she pulled the blade away.”

“Only an Arek…” Myrin shook his head with a smile.

After a moment Gaeleath spoke in an almost friendly tone, “I’m not pleased with you, Myrin. We weren’t the best of friends but I trusted you not to poison me.” 

The Cuphisian Prince nodded slowly, “I wanted more time alone with your sister. I should have been more patient. It was the wrong choice and I do regret it. For a moment I could see my life laid out before me, I would be successful in killing the boar without a doubt, married to her the moment we returned home, and children within a year.” 

“Our mother fell pregnant easily. Father always spoke of it as being his virility but every woman in my mother’s family insists that if they don’t use a lambskin glove… Father cautioned me and Mother and our aunts cautioned her.”

Myrin took a deep breath. “You swear to me-”

“Never.” He’d never bedded his sister. Swearing he’d never bedded her without a lambskin glove wasn’t exactly a lie and it would be more believable to a man who thought such relations were commonplace. 

“Why did your mother stop at two?” Myrin asked after a moment. “She didn't die like mine did.”

“She had difficulty with Marravae. They told her it was because she had us so close together but Father decided he’d rather have a living wife than a second son. No son should ever have to hear his father confess to using lambskin gloves with his mother.” Gaeleath shuddered and Myrin broke into laughter again.

Another long moment of silence stretched, “I hope that we can become friends again, Gaeleath. I want to be brothers. I beg you to encourage your sister to think better of me.”

An Arek was shown into the room and Gaeleath inclined his head to the man.

“I would have been here sooner, your Highness, but I was turned away at first.”

“I’m grateful that you're here now. My sister has never slept so deeply.”

“She should be woken and made to stay awake.” The Arek moved to rub her back roughly as Prince Volas had done and Myrin darted for the door.