by R. J. Price
“That's different of you,” Jer said, frowning at a tree before he smoothed his features and looked to Em. “Normally when you say to mate them off, you simply want them gone.”
“There is a lord to the far south who has been looking for a good woman to run his lands with him. He is fairly rich but is not under the palace. Perhaps we could use Aren to ally ourselves with him, add to palace lands,” Em murmured, rubbing a hand over her heart.
It felt wrong to send Aren so far away, but Em could only feel that it was for the best. Not in her chest but in her mind. Best to get everyone away from the palace, as far away as possible.
Jer sighed. “That may not work.”
“Why ever not?” Em asked. “She is a young woman, and this lord is not old. His lands are gorgeous, his niece has described them often enough to me, there is wealth in the land, and in the people. A good culture is developing down there. Aren may be satisfied to live out her days in the warmth of the region.”
“It may not work because I believe my brother has taken to Lady Aren. And she would never admit it, but I believe Lady Aren may be taken with Av. Likely thinks the master is beyond her, or that no man would ever want her, thus why try?”
Em considered the pairing, at how well it seemed to feel. The throne wanted that pairing, which meant little for Aren's abilities and a good deal more about the breeding, the children of Aren and Av. There had been many times Em had that feeling and blessed a mating, only to have it produce ranked children. Queens and warriors and healers, that was what Aren and Av would produce.
“But I want her as far away as possible,” Em said.
“Well, we could send Av on a tour,” Jer said, motioning with his head down another path.
Em nodded and turned down the path. “Why would he be touring?”
“Because your daughter is mated, of course,” Jer said. “As Mar's step-uncle, Av is the next logical choice, besides her father, to tour the lands and see to the lords who cannot get away to attend court. He could reassure the people that the queen is alive and well, that she is looking out for all the peoples, and not just those who fall under the abilities of her magic.”
Would she even live that long? Em was stronger than others, who had seen their plants die and then passed themselves within weeks but was she strong enough to see the year out?
“All the lands, even those not under the palace,” Em said. “I want him to act as ambassador to these other lands. To take them gifts that I give to them out of bliss of my only child being mated and on her way to being a mother herself.”
“Of course, I can speak with the treasurer and arrange such a thing,” Jer said.
“No, send them with wine, from the vineyard. Aren and Av can make their first stop at her father's vineyard and pick up wine for so many stops. Just bottles, not casks, and deliver it to the outlying lands. Tell them that it is offered freely not only of the throne, but the lord. Perhaps we can start new trade with them.”
“That would put her father out thousands; the vineyard produces a good quality wine,” Jer said. “Most of the time.”
“That is the point,” Em said. “I also want it known that anyone who abandons a girl at court, while their purse is not empty, will suffer such consequences and do it with a smile on their faces for I have mercifully not murdered their entire family and made them watch. When even a queen must fear abandonment, it is time to draw a line.”
“Aren is not a queen,” Jer said.
Em stopped and glared at Jer. “Do you think that would have stopped her father? Had he known she was a queen, do you believe it would have stopped him from getting rid of her any way possible?”
Jer considered. “No, I've read the missives from the man, dimly remember him from when he was at court. If he is anything like he once was, he wouldn't care if Aren were queen, if she did not kneel to him, he would rid himself of her. One of those patriarchal types.”
“They should all be slaughtered.”
“That would be taking it a bit far. We've already pushed for matriarchal families to have tax reductions, and done what we can to boost their businesses, but the throne focuses on equality, not one gender or the other being a step above,” Jer said. “Oh, Lord Went and Lord Delenor are having problems on Went's lands. The minor lords are refusing to acknowledge their adopted son as heir because of the mated pair.”
“What is wrong with the mated pair?” Em asked.
“They are both male.”
“And this is a problem?” Em asked.
“Not for me, but it is for them.”
Of course it was not a problem for Jer, who had taken male lovers to his bed for the comfort Em rarely offered. Em had given her blessing, because Jer at least had sense not to take a woman who might get herself with child. After declaring Mar a bastard, how could she question Jer publicly for cheating on her?
“When Av goes through, he can support the idea,” Em said.
“Ah, yes, of course,” Jer said. “This is why I bring these things to you instead of acting on them.”
“What would you have done?”
“Sent in a small army and slaughtered someone.”
“A fault of your rank, nothing more,” Em said. “What of the kitchen staff? You didn't slaughter any of them.”
“It felt wrong to make physical threats,” Jer muttered, stopping to finger a flower in full bloom. “Even Av telling them to speak truth or leave felt wrong, but it was the correct course of action.”
“Felt wrong how?” Em asked.
Jer sniffed the flower, considering. “Like, how I feel when I lie to you. That sort of wrong. You did enjoy the sweets they made. Perhaps that was why I felt uneasy.”
“Things have been happening since Mar came to court,” Em said. “I never should have given in to Av's insistence that she come. She should be as far away from the throne as possible.”
“She is your daughter,” Jer said gently.
“You want your daughter near the throne?” Em countered. “To have it picking at her mind, deciding whether she is better than me, whether she should be the one leashed to the throne, wasting away while her mother's body burns in the training yards and the remainders buried under a rose bush? You want her dead before she turns twenty, is that it?”
“No, of course not. Is that why you've kept her away all these years?” Jer asked, sounding genuinely surprised. “Because you don't want her linked to the throne out of fear of what it would do to her?”
“Of course. Mar hasn't the ability to hold the throne. She would be just another in a long line of short-lived queens. I want a long life for her. One far from here,” Em said, partially a lie. The moment she had held Mar in her arms she had felt disgusted by the girl. A mark on her reputation, an end to her youthful freedom and another damned rank to contend with.
Jer considered. “I have a good friend in the south, bordering the land you were speaking of. His lands are very similar to those, but he is allied with the throne, he is also looking for a mate. He's a good man.”
“For Aren?”
“No, for Mar. I know you've been searching for a mate for her. Mating Mar to a land not under the palace would do nothing more than remove her from court permanently. You know how those lords are, not wanting the mates they claim from palace lands to write home. This way we could receive updates from her, and strengthen ties to the border lands.”
Em thought on it for only a moment. “Do it—write him and tell him we have found him a mate.”
“I will go now and write it.”
“As for Aren...” Em said as Jer walked away. Her mate stopped, stiffened at the change of the voice, but even though Em knew she was unstable, she could no better stop herself than Jer could. “I've changed my mind, I want the girl dead. As soon as Mar is mated, have it done, out of sight of the ceremony mind you. I don't want blood blessing my daughter's womb.”
“As the queen wishes,” Jer said stiffly before he strode off.
“Thinks sh
e can take my throne,” Em huffed. “Put an end to that thought before it can take flight.”
Chapter Fourteen
Em's behaviour became increasingly more erratic in the months leading up to Mar's arranged mating. With Em's instability, Jer's moods became darker. Av found his brother more willing to strike a person than to use his words. Jer could be moved to tears by the mere mention of future days.
Av might have been ignorant of the behaviour changes, but he saw how Em started to wither away. Her weight was slowly disappearing, and Em had never been a large woman. The queen had favourites, those who did her bidding without question, yet those same who were favourite could find themselves disgraced and banished from court at the smallest sign of rebellion.
Em was dying, possibly only holding on for the mating ceremony.
Being a queen, and under the domain of the ruling queen, Mar was subject to her mother's instability, and there was little anyone could do to stop the abuse. The rules for interacting with the young woman became strict and made little sense at times. No one was to touch Mar, but for Aren. Mar had to be in bed by early evening, and was not allowed out of bed before late morning. No books could be found in Mar's rooms, and the rooms were searched often.
Aren seemed the only reason Mar stayed the course and remained calm. When Mar had enough, Aren would simply touch her arm and the fight went out of the younger woman. A reminder, perhaps, that now was not the time to fight, that now was simply the time to survive, in order to be stronger in the future.
Aren's behaviour became odd. Whenever she thought Av was not looking, the young woman would eye him, never seeming to come to a conclusion as to what she thought. Av had been the subject of many a young woman's affections but those women had set eyes on him and decided to try their hand at the master, the man who had never had a public lover. Aren simply watched, and when Av turned to her, when he made it known that he had seen her watching him, her cheeks would flush, and she would look away, embarrassed.
Strangest yet was when Mar's intended mate arrived at the palace. Av had been a young man learning the ways of the palace when Perlon had first attended court. Having arrived shortly after one another, they had bonded, gotten into trouble, and finally become friends. Through Av, Perlon had met, and become friends with, Jer. Upon inheriting his father's lands, Perlon had strengthened the precarious alliance between the palace and his people.
The first day after Perlon returned to court, he followed Av around like a puppy, asking all sorts of questions about Mar. Av had been forbidden, by Jer, to share such information with Perlon. Jer thought it only fair, as Mar would not meet Perlon until a few days before the ceremony and Mar only had Aren to spy for her. Aren was always by Mar's side, therefore there was no way for Mar to receive any sort of forward information.
Av wasn't even certain that Mar knew who she was to be mated to, only that her intended was a man, about Av's age, who owned land and title.
“Ah, Av,” Aren said, cornering Av, and therefore Perlon, the moment she spotted them in the training yard. “We've been training with wood swords for months, when do we get actual weapons? You cannot honestly tell me that this light thing is how a real sword would feel in my hand. I want to be able to defend myself, not hold off an enemy long enough for you to come and save me, like some damsel in distress.”
Having never heard such a thing from a woman, Av had to take a moment to collect himself.
“Actually,” Perlon said, holding out his hand to take the sword from Aren and when she handed over the blade, he hefted it, “this is heavy enough to take down a man. Especially if you catch him about the head or neck. You don't need the fancy moves he's been teaching you, just up like this, almost like you were swinging a broom to beat a rug, and out. Put your weight behind it, and even a woman as slight as yourself could bring a man to his knees.”
“I know how to bring a man to his knees,” Aren said to Perlon distantly. Suddenly her entire attention focused on the lord, who jumped in spot.
Av hadn't had time to warn Perlon about Aren, as he hadn't counted on her wanting to speak to the lord. When Aren decided to focus her attention, decided she had been seen, she could make a man feel very uncomfortable. Mar had somehow picked up on this, and could almost imitate the look perfectly.
“We've not been introduced,” Aren said, holding out her hand like a commoner without title. “My name is Aren. I'm guardian to the chit over there,” she said, motioning to Mar.
“My name is Perlon,” he said. “I've come to be mated to Lady Mar.”
“Oh, let me introduce you to my ward then, since she knows Lady Mar quite well,” Aren said, calling Mar over with a, 'hey, you!'
Mar strode over looking annoyed as Perlon gave her an appreciative up and down glance.
“I have to say, the more I see of palace women,” Perlon said. “The more I regret being away for as long as I have. Are they all this beautiful?”
Av watched Perlon for a moment before he decided that his friend had no idea who he was speaking about. “No, Lady Aren's ward is well known for her grace and beauty.”
Av looked at Aren, who watched him innocently.
“Well, Lady Aren is a beauty of her own kind,” Perlon said, jabbing Av with an elbow. “How are you single, with these two walking around?”
“I'm sorry?” Av asked Perlon.
Aren and Mar had finally stopped their nonsense teasing, and Av did not need Perlon to remind them of the game they had enjoyed so much.
“I have already been promised to someone,” Mar said to Perlon.
“Not even allowed to flirt?” Perlon asked. “I find no shame in admiring, and admitting to admire, a woman when I find one that takes my fancy. I would be blessed, should my intended mate have half your beauty, or courage enough to even pick up a stick.”
Mar blushed, lowered her head. “I make no voice as to hope for my mate. It would only cause upset when I finally set eyes upon him. For surely there would be some way he did not measure up to fantasy.”
“Very true,” Av said, meaning to end the conversation, then and there. “Lady Aren, why don't you take your ward back to the palace—”
“No, no need,” Perlon said. “I can keep the discussion friendly. Tell me, lady,” he said to Mar, “do you enjoy riding horses?”
“I have never ridden a horse, my mother is very strict,” Mar said.
“Oh dear, do you enjoy dancing?”
“I do, when I choose the partner.”
Mar and Aren chose that moment to focus on Av entirely, before their attention shifted back to Perlon. Aren had been haughty, taunting Av with the knowledge of what was going on between the two, with who they were to one another without realizing it. Mar had a puzzled expression as if questioning Av.
“My,” Perlon grinned. “I cannot help but admire a woman with a voice, and opinion.”
Mar smiled openly. “Lady Aren often tells me, that a man who does not like voice and opinion should not mate a woman.”
This time Perlon laughed. Av glared at Aren, who stared back at him, placid.
“Aren, could I borrow your ear?” Av said.
“No. Darling,” Aren turned to Mar, “it's time to go.”
“But I'm just starting to have fun,” Mar said.
“Too bad,” Aren said. “Our training time is over and your mother is visiting. As it is, we will have to run and pray she is late.”
Aren pulled Mar away, the first time Av had seen Aren lay a hand on Mar for anything besides reassurance. Perlon watched his intended mate be dragged off with the annoyance of an infatuated man.
“What was that about?” both asked the other at the same time.
“Women,” Perlon muttered.
“No, you romancing a young woman when you're due to be mated to Lady Mar,” Av said.
Perlon frowned at Av. “You think me dull?”
“Yes, yes, I believe you to be very dull,” Av told Perlon, folding his arms as he glared at his friend.
“That,” Perlon motioned with his chin to the women jogging down the path that led to the palace, “was Lady Mar. As if I've never heard that line before? Whenever a woman says their friend is friends with someone, who is interested in you, it's actually the friend who is interested.”
“And then you proceeded to...” Av trailed off, confused.
“I proceeded to romance my soon-to-be mate,” Perlon said. “Rumour has it Mar is a queen. Is that true?”
“It is,” Av muttered. “Not a good idea to lie to her, either. The longer a queen is around a body, the easier it is for her to tell if she is being lied to. Thank goodness Mar didn't ask me anything. That is completely unfair to her, you realize, she has no idea who you are.”
“We mate in six days, meet formally in three,” Perlon said.
Av bit his bottom lip, stomach swirling. “Only six days?”
“Oh, Av,”—Perlon looked toward the palace, then back to Av, shaking his head—“you should stay away from that one. She'll take everything you've got, and burn you to the ground when she's through. All the men here are likely chasing her. You haven't got the lands, or titles, to offer to a woman like that.”
“No one will go near Aren,” Av said. “Until she became Mar's guardian, few even knew that the Lady Aren was alive. Since then the guards have been warm and welcoming, but by the time they noticed her, I had already let it be known that if anyone tried to approach her for courting I would slaughter them. What she'll do is worse.”
“What have you done about your feelings?” Perlon asked.
Av snatched the practise sword from Perlon, marching to the guard who was collecting items from the others. Handing over the sword, Av turned to walk to his home only to find Perlon standing there, arms crossed.
“Nothing, Perlon. It's not about courting, or romance.”
“You?” Perlon said, following beside Av as the master walked around him, then off to his home. “Really? You're going to tell me that the great master is going to bed a woman for something besides courting?”
