by Holly Law
“And who will tell him, Viora,” Corden asked her with faint amusement in his voice. “You certainly will not be alive to tell him any such thing and I know the members of this village have a high opinion of Lairk. They won't betray him.”
“You…” Viora began and Corden pressed the sword more tightly to her neck. Viora went silent as a small trickle of blood ran from a prick in her neck.
“Your orders, Lairk, are as follows: You will gag the prisoner and see to it she is securely on one of these horses. You will bring her personally to Velshire. Once there, you will turn her over to the Corscan army and report to me directly. If you do so, I will see to it you are rewarded for your service and that you will be capable of seeing your sister once we are back in Corsca. If you fail, your life and the life of all in this village will be forfeit. Am I understood?”
“Yes,” Lairk said softly. He looked very troubled and Elara felt the same way. At that moment, she felt like she barely knew Corden. He was so cold and aloof, it was the same view of him she had gotten during their breakfast with Viora. Elara regretted her choice and did not feel she could keep the promise she had so recently made.
Without saying a word, Elara let go of Corden and slipped out of the saddle. Corden's attention turned to her instantly as she stepped onto the ground. “What are you doing, Elara?” Corden demanded. “Get back on the horse.”
“You threatened my brother,” Elara said, glaring at him.
“Get back on the horse.”
“No,” Elara said firmly.
“I don't have time for this, Elara. Get on the horse.”
“No.”
Corden looked at her for a long moment. “Don't do this, Elara. You don't want it to be this way.”
“You threatened my brother and my village. And after seeing this…” Elara blinked back tears. “You are every horrible story I have ever heard about Corscan soldiers.”
“Elara, you don't want it to be this way. Get on the horse. Nothing has changed.”
“Just go with him, Elara,” Lairk told her softly.
“I…”
“Use your head, Elara,” Lairk told her. “He is going to take you either way. This was a battle, in case you have forgotten, and this village is on the same side as the soldiers he just killed. He has every right to take you, if I understand this situation correctly.”
“You do,” Corden said simply.
“Go with him, Elara. It will be alright,” Lairk urged her.
“But…” Elara began.
“Elara, either you get back on this horse on your own or will drag you back on,” Corden told her. “If I must do that then you will find yourself my prisoner bride and your situation will be markedly different when we return to Velshire.”
Elara hesitated a moment and reluctantly climbed back into the saddle behind Corden. Corden did not pause a moment before guiding Scratch down the road in the direction of Velshire. When they were out of sight of her village, Corden cleaned and sheathed his sword.
“I threatened your brother and village for a reason, Elara. I know Lairk will do what I asked him to do. I said that so your village would not interfere with him. I had no intention of hurting your brother,” Corden told her. “You know me better than that.”
“I thought I did.”
“And why have your thoughts changed so quickly? You were fine with your decision before we arrived at the villagers. They were so willing to betray you, Elara. How can you doubt your choice after that?”
“Those soldiers asked for your mercy and you still killed them. I thought better of you.”
“As a man, yes, I am better than that. As a soldier and king, no, I am not. The traditions and customs of Corsca do not allow for any mercy in battle outside of taking a prisoner bride. And as king, it is against tradition to grant mercy when it out right asked for. The idea is meant to originate with me and no other. Tradition bound me and as the king of my people I am bound to uphold tradition.”
“And if they hadn't asked?”
“I am still a soldier. I could grant them no mercy.”
“Then why did you have mercy on my brother and Lady Elisa after the battle? Why did you let all of us live?”
“The battle was well over by then. I could work around tradition then, but I have had several question me on it. I have had to defend my decision among my people. I have it in me to be merciful, Elara. If the opportunity allows for it I take it.”
“And what about Viora? You let her live.”
“For now. She…her fate will not be pleasant, Elara. She was involved with what happened to my father. Very directly involved. It was at a meal he was having with her privately that he was poisoned.”
“And yet you ate breakfast with her.”
“A test or sorts. If she knew to anticipate your presence then I would not have eaten a bite—nor would you. I would also have known I had someone less reliable close to me who let her have that information. Have I cleared up our misunderstanding?”
“I don't know.”
Corden sighed. “I'm sorry that bothered you, Elara.”
Introduction to Politics
Setting up camp that night was awkward. Corden left Elara to start the fire as he went out to see if he could find any game for dinner. Elara managed to get the fire going and was thankful Corden was not there to see how long it took her. He returned with a pair of fat rabbits. He was polite enough to clean them for her. Elara saw to cooking them as Corden removed his armor. He stretched afterwards and watched her for a moment before he checked over all his equipment.
Corden quickly discovered Elara's lack of skill when it came to cooking. The rabbit didn't taste too horrible, but she didn't doubt he was used to far better. Corden made a face briefly, but said nothing. “I told you I was a bad cook,” Elara reminded him as she ate her own dinner.
“Yes, you did,” Corden agreed. “You won't have to cook again after this trip.”
“Aren't you glad?”
Corden gave a short laugh. “Very, but I would imagine you are too.”
“I wouldn't mind being able to cook well.”
“I can arrange for you to be taught in Corsca, if that is how you choose to use your time—after you have become more acquainted with Corsca and its customs at least. That will take a fair amount of study.”
“I could imagine after you spent a whole afternoon simply trying to teach me how to eat and walk. I still never managed those completely, did I?”
“Near enough. You will have to keep working on it, but that's alright. I don't expect perfection.”
“How far is Corsca from Velshire?”
“Three months to get to the border of Corsca. Half a month until we reach the capital of Silcor after that.”
“That's a long time.”
“A very long time,” Corden agreed. “News from Silcor is slow for the most part. With the exception of a few more important bits that come through carrier pigeons.”
“You have birds that carry you news?”
“Yes, but only tiny bits. The information it is vital I know. Things in Corsca have been quiet for the most part.”
“Good news for you then?”
Corden gave a short laugh. “Very good news. I'm looking forward to seeing Koldre's face—one of my advisors—when he finds out I'm married. He's been putting noblewoman after noblewoman in front of me for as long as I can remember. He'll probably take this personally, which is fine by me.”
“You don't like him?”
“Koldre is the definition of a politician. He's always testing to see how far he can go before he gets in trouble. My father trusted him, but he's always rubbed me the wrong way.”
“Then why do you still have him as an advisor?”
“Because he knows people and people are used to dealing with him. They know how to deal with him. He technically hasn't done anything wrong and he does good work. He just isn't my most favorite person--which he is unaware of.”
“So don't menti
on anything like that to him.”
“Right. I'm going to enjoy having you with me in Silcor. It will be refreshing.”
“You just want to laugh at me being overly blunt to everyone.”
Corden laughed again. “I do look forward to that, yes. Private laughing though. I have a reputation to maintain in front of the general populous.”
“Which is?”
Corden finished his rabbit and leaned back against a tree. “What you have seen when I've been near Viora. The kings of Corsca are meant to be viewed a certain way. Generally, we are meant to come across as very aloof and unreadable. Most consider us cold and uncaring.”
“Why?”
“Tradition. The people of Corsca know what to expect when they meet their king. It makes the kings of Corsca more formidable seeming to outside nations. It also ensures that if there truly is a king with those characteristics that no one will know. It is generally acknowledged that a king's personality is truly little like what he publically portrays.” Corden grinned then. “Granted, I've already ruined some of that. I understand it has become widely known that I am more easygoing than the general guise of kingship allows for.”
“Then I was right in thinking you act a little different around other people at times then?”
“Yes, for example breakfast that morning and today when dealing with Viora. That was not me so much as the guise tradition dictates I take. Judging me on those moments is a very poor decision. I couldn't explain that in front of Viora. I'm sorry if you felt you knew me poorly because of that.”
“Are there any other oddities about Corscan culture I should be aware of?”
“That I can think of at this moment? Hmm.” Corden thought for a long minute. “Nothing pops into my head at this moment. There are probably more, but we'll deal with them as we get to them, I suppose. I truthfully know little about this part of the world. We do little trade here and have had little reason for political contact.”
“And yet you invaded it.”
“The killing of my father required action.”
“And you're certain it was the king of Brogden who did this?”
“Yes, or at very least Viora acting on her own.”
“Why would they do that though? I mean Corsca is so far away.”
Corden sighed. “I courted Viora for a time. Brogden was a border nation and it made sense even if Brogden is a lesser country. I think the relationship lasted a total of three months. She was surprisingly tolerant of our customs and would visit me even though I was working in trade at the time. But ultimately, she could not hide her disdain for the family I was living with—a family I am still close to. So I ended things and she was extremely unhappy. She promised I would regret it. She is not one to snub. My father was found dead—poisoned—after having dinner with her one night. A little investigating proved the suspicions that caused to be accurate.”
Elara yawned. “I suppose that makes sense—a weird and twisted kind of sense.”
“Get some sleep, Elara. We have several long days of travelling left.”
“I suppose we do.”
Elara woke the following morning covered in a spare cloak. She looked at it confused for a moment before a yawn escaped her. She sat up sleepily and saw Corden sound asleep not too far away. Elara yawned again before she walked over to him. She gently shook him. Corden looked up at her sleepily. “It's well after sunrise. Did you want to get going?” she asked him softly.
Corden yawned. “We probably should.” Corden sat up and looked at her for a long moment. “Did you sleep well?”
“As well as can be expected outside.”
“Well, let me get Scratch taken care of and we can get going.”
They rode for two and a half days before the soldiers from Velshire caught up with them. When they saw Corden they instantly stopped and saluted. A soldier rode forward on a horse and took off his helmet. It proved to be Rushal. “A Brogden lady came to Velshire and informed us you might be having some trouble, sir,” Rushal informed Corden crisply.
“There was some,” Corden confessed. “I took care of it. I was uncertain if I would have more and sent Lady Elisa ahead. There is a serf behind us some ways that is bringing Viora with him. I want a few soldiers to join him as an escort. He is capable, but I don't want Brogden to try to rescue their princess.”
“Understood, sir,” Rushal said with a nod. He chose five soldiers and gave them their orders. They marched off at a brisk pace. “Would you like an escort back to the town, sir?”
“We seem to be going in the same direction.”
Several soldiers continued along the road as the rest joined Elara and Corden. Corden seemed to relax as the soldiers fell into place around them.
“I wish you had taken some guards with you,” Rushal said, riding beside them. “You took a risk making this trip by yourself. We can't afford to lose you.”
“Guards would have slowed me down and then I wouldn't have had Elara.”
“Yes, but if you had been killed…”
“I wasn't. It does not matter. I have no further reason to take such risks in the future.”
“Good,” Rushal said then he smiled, his stern demeanor fading. He looked at Elara. “Did you choose to come with him on your own or did he take?”
“I chose to come on my own,” Elara informed him.
“Good. That makes things much less complicated.”
“Less complicated?” Elara asked.
“Being the prisoner bride of a man of my particular rank confuses things a bit,” Corden explained her. “If I were a normal lord you would clearly be lower ranking than a traditional lord until you fully accepted your position as my wife. But given my rank it would create confusion as to your exact rank. Since you chose to become my bride your rank is much clearer. When we are married you will automatically be given the title of princess. When I can have you officially crowned in Corsca then you will gain the title of queen.”
“Is everything around you so complicated?” Elara asked Corden.
“That generally seems to be the case.”
“Is there anything about you that is uncomplicated?”
Corden gave her a grin. “As a person, I would think I am relatively uncomplicated.”
“I would disagree with that.”
“As would I,” Rushal agreed with her. “Learning to read Corden accurately is difficult. I've known him my whole life and I can still only tell his true opinions about things about half the time—when he's not acting all kingly that is. Then I can't even give you a rough guess what he really thinks.”
“I thought I had a reputation for being easy to read,” Corden said with a frown.
“No, you have a reputation for being nearly the opposite of how your kingly guise dictates you act. Knowing your actual thoughts is known for being very difficult. Koldre hates trying to read you and you know he could read your father like an open book—something your mother couldn't even manage.”
“I'm glad Koldre has a difficult time, but I have never noticed you having a difficult time reading me.”
Rushal frowned and looked at Corden for a long moment. “That's news to me.”
“Have you known each other a long time?”
Corden laughed. “A very long time. Rushal is my cousin, Elara, and currently third in line for my throne, following his father and older brother.”
“I didn't know you were related,” Elara confessed, feeling embarrassed.
“We don't make an issue of it at the moment, just as we don't make an issue of Corden's exact rank. Take care that if you must address him in public in a formal manner that you do by addressing him as 'Lord Daliscas'.”
“I will,” Elara promised.
“What did you do with Lady Elisa?” Corden asked abruptly.
“Arrested her,” Rushal said with a shrug. “That is the policy you established when we come across nobility in non-battle situations. I told her if you wanted her treated otherwise it would be fixed when you arri
ved.”
“I'm not entirely certain what to do with the lady,” Corden confessed. “She has given me some measure of aid and yet her father has given unwavering aid to his king.”
“She was very cooperative. She didn't resist arrest.”
“Yes, but I think she is hoping for mercy in this case. The value of the information she gave was very little and if anything, knowing about the situation endangered my life more than not knowing. Knowing I was obliged to help Elara's village and not knowing I could have returned to Velshire without incident.”
“I don't think she meant to endanger you, Corden,” Rushal said with a frown. “She seemed genuinely worried for you. I don't think she expected you to help the villagers. I think her intent was to hurry your own flight.”
“Perhaps. I will have to question her when I get back to discover her true purpose.”
The Wedding
Arriving back in the town of Velshire went much more smoothly than the first time she had gone through the gates. The guards at the gate didn't stop them for even a moment. Elara noticed that the gate guard pointed her out to one of his fellow soldiers with a grin. Elara flushed in embarrassment.
Most of the soldiers left them when they were inside the gate. Rushal stayed with them, but said little as they rode through the town towards the familiar inn. Thought was clear in his eyes, but he didn't voice what thoughts consumed him. It was not until they were dismounting that Rushal spoke his mind.
“Do you want to deal with Lady Elisa now or in the morning?” Rushal asked his cousin.
Corden looked a bit surprised by the question, clearly he hadn't expected his cousin to be thinking in that direction. “I was planning on waiting until morning,” Corden began slowly, “but clearly this is bothering you. If you fetch her I will decide what is to be done.” Rushal bowed his head respectfully. He left his horse in the care of a boy in the stables and disappeared into the crowded streets. Corden rolled his eyes then. “That will be an interesting twist to things.”
