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"Good to see you, Elliot. Father has been concerned since the
battle. He had every one of our servants making sure you were not among the
wounded the other night.”
Elliot rolled his eyes. “Goddess forbids he looks into it
himself, or sends someone by the cabin where he knows I’ve been staying.”Luther seemed surprised. “Of course he couldn’t do it himself. It would give an impression of weakness. Outward he has to be 100 percent in control, and trust that you would be in control. One of the servants saw you walking through the infirmary side of the coliseum yesterday with Samuel, and reported to father. I hope you weren’t there for your own injuries.” He didn’t seem concerned that his brother would be hurt, but more what image that would portray.
“No, brother. I was visiting a friend who had been injured.”
“Oh, good.”
Marshall’s brow softened. “I was going over the departed list before we came in today. I thought I saw Devon’s name. Was it another Devon?”
Elliot shook his head. “No, no it was not.”
Marshall put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I am sorry for your loss. Would you sit with us for Samuel’s jousting?”
Elliot nodded. Meredith and Adina consented, on the silent condition that Elliot made sure to sit between them and his brothers.
“I’m also sorry to hear of Devon’s passing. He was a fine ladies’ man, a skilled gambler, and a fine brewer. We shall drink tonight in his honor.”
As they took their places, Meredith attempted small talk. “So, how do you gentlemen know Samuel?”
Marshall replied, “Father had hired him to train us in horseman ship. He’s watching these competitions closely.”
“Aye, father wants to be certain we are being trained by the best. Nothing else would do.”
Elliot stiffened. “So why are you both here, brothers? I didn’t think you were entered into any competitions.”
Luther snorted in distain. “No, we are not to be judged against our inferiors. It would be unseemly.”
Marshall tried to calm the waters. “Father has decided that it’s time for us to learn more about the other kingdoms of the realm. Thought it best if we interacted with them, got to know them on their turf.”
“Like spies, like you were!” Luther nearly giggled. “It has been a blast, seeing how the common folk live, though I must say, I’m glad I’m not of their type. Too much physical labor, in my opinion. No time for appreciation of the finer things in life.”
Adina put a hand on Elliot’s arm, in an attempt to calm the seething waters inside him. She could see his fury in the colors around him, even though his face remained passive and neutral.
“I was not a spy. I was on a diplomatic journey.”
Marshall rolled his eyes. “Sure you were, brother. We believe you. Anyway, father seems to have other plans in mind as well.”
Elliot raised an eyebrow, the only motion of his face in some time.
“It seems one of us is to be betrothed. Can you believe it?”
“One of you?”
“Yes. Not sure which one of us, but it seems certain.” Luther was very put off by the idea.
“Why would you think that?”
Marshall’s shoulders drooped. “Father has been taking council with other rulers this whole week. Every meal is in conference with at least two other kingdoms. He keeps telling us he has great plans, things that will revolutionize the kingdom. Even yesterday, he was meeting with the chief of the Delta tribes, and a trio of the Sisterhood.”
Luther nodded. “We overheard him talking to the Sisterhood, about how our kingdom has no magic like that demonstrated in the battle, and yesterday as the Scions cleaned up their mess. About how he demanded that imbalance be addressed.”
Marshall shifted his weight, trying to get comfortable on the bench. “The sisters said that, quote, an arrangement can be made, unquote. Everyone knows all Scions are female. They must mean an arranged marriage, one of us and one of them.”
Elliot tried to keep an impassive voice, though hope surged in him. “How do you know it wasn’t to me, or Phillip?”
“Phillip has been betrothed for a few months now to the princess of the kingdom on the other side of the mountain pass. Father insists this insures our control of the pass, and it’s trade, for generations to come. Phillip seems pleased, she is nice enough, though a little plain.” Marshall took a swig of wine from his canteen.
Luther eyed Elliot, “As for you, father has been talking about how you will assure our trade stability. I’m assuming he already has a bride picked for you. Sorry, brother.”
Elliot nodded, his last hope of Ivy floating away on his brother’s words.
Luther patted his arm. “Cheer up. It’s just marriage, after all. It doesn’t have to mean anything. It’s all political, anyway. As father always points out, our economy relies on trade.”
Marshall quoted their father easily, eventually in unison with all three brothers. “You can have all the gems and lumber in the realm, but your people can’t eat money.”
Elliot was tense all throughout
the jousting competition, which did not go in Samuel’s favor. Though he did end
up being high ranked, he was just outside the score needed to get him into the
finals. Meredith seemed proud, since it was very difficult to even get this
far. The other gentlemen seemed very disappointed, and bid farewell till the
afternoon competition. Once they were gone, he told the ladies that he would
need to excuse himself, for he had to prepare Samuel.
Meredith seemed confused. “I don’t
understand, prepare him for what?”
Elliot held her hand, trying to
find the words. “Didn’t you hear my brothers? Father is watching Samuel, to
assure himself they are being trained by the best. By losing in jousting today,
he may have also just lost his job.”
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