The High King: Book Two of the 'Riothamus' trilogy (14 page)

“Secondly I am
about to embark on a war. This will not be some minor border
skirmish, but a full-fledged campaign from which many will not
return. Thus my future Queen must be strong as steel with a quick
and ready mind. She must also possess a character which is able to
endure battle, hardship and privation. This woman must demonstrate
some understanding of battle tactics, be able to ride for many
hours and many days without tiring or delaying the column, and at
the end of it she must be able to wield a sword or spear to defend
herself from ambush or attack.”

Aran saw the
dismayed glances of the Councillors and pressed on. “Thirdly and
lastly I insist that my Queen be of a similar age to me. You say
that Terea is just turned fourteen, in Andur’s name she is still a
child! How can you in all honesty expect a child to come ready to
the marriage bed? Not only that, how can you expect a child to
possess the mind and maturity to rule a nation if I were to be
killed at this war?”

The spokesman
stood up. Aran motioned him to speak.

“Sire, do you
really intend your Queen to ride at your side to war. Would it not
be safer for her to reside here at the Keep?”

Aran shook his
head, “No…history has shown that the Keep is not a safe haven. Have
you forgotten already the terrible deeds done here to my ancestor,
King Alexi and his family? As a Warriormage I believe that the
safest place for my future Queen is at my side.”

“It has always
been custom for the Andurian line to choose from those at
Haulgard!” the florid Councillor burst out unhappily, realising
despairingly that his high ambition for his daughter was coming to
naught.

Aran shook his
head again, “Not so Councillor,” he said quietly, “My esteemed
ancestor, Warleader Andur, hierarch of the Andurian line chose his
own Queen from the common people.”

The Council
spokesman glanced at his fellows, then finally turned and addressed
Aran. “Your conditions are heavy my lord king but they are not
unreasonable given the crisis we are facing.”

The spokesmen
turned to his companions, “With this new knowledge and conditions,
I must now ask Council to vote whether or not we should continue to
petition our King with Terea’s name for Queen, my lord Archmage
could you please count the votes.” He sat back down.

Maran stood,
“Councillors of Andur raise your hands if you wish to continue this
petition.”

Aran sat back
and watched as three hands were held aloft. The most stridently
waving hand belonged to Terea’s father.

“Councillors
of Andur, raise your hands if you wish to withdraw the
petition.”

Nine hands
were slowly raised. Aran sighed in relief.

“There is a
majority vote,” Maran said finally after carefully counting the
hands, “Despite the two abstaining…you will withdraw your
Candidate.”

The spokesman
stood again, “Sire, if you will grant us just a little more of your
time?”

Aran nodded,
the tightness easing from his face.

The spokesmen
turned back to the other Councillors, “Lords and ladies of the
Council search your minds and memory. Can you think of any one
woman of Haulgard who meets these strict conditions.”

Aran scanned
the faces before him. Most were blank, a few brightened then
frowned. Finally after several minutes of low discussion, a heavy
silence fell upon the Councillors. With a resigned sigh the
spokesman turned back to Aran.

“My lord King,
we cannot put forward another name. There is none that we know of
who meets your strict criteria.”

Aran smiled
for the first time in what seemed an eternity, “Then my lords and
ladies of the Council I would ask you to consider the one I would
put forward as my Candidate for Queen. She is a woman whom I
believe is well suited to this role. She is a woman who has showed
uncommon sense and strength of character. She has also been scanned
at Glaive, and is possessed of the latent Earthmage Ability. She is
a woman who is adept at weaponry, and has demonstrated a deep
understanding of battle tactics and has a keen mind and decided
opinions. She is honest, forthright and mature, and her beauty,
which in my mind is considerable, goes beyond her skin to her very
soul.”

“Sire, I
believe you speak of Lady Alissa, daughter of Captain Taran,” one
of the Councillors replied.

Aran stared
intently at the Councillor, “You are correct. I do speak of Alissa.
Is there any serious reason why she should not be considered a
Candidate?”

“She is not
nobly born! She is not of Haulgard!” the florid Councillor burst
out then was hurriedly hushed into silence by his peers.

Aran nodded,
“That is true, but does it matter that I choose not from Haulgard.
High King Andur chose outside that city and Queen Baranta was well
loved and respected by the population despite her lowly origins.”
Aran looked up and met the eyes of Terea’s father, “Remember my
lord Councillor that I was raised by kind, simple, country folk…I
have no prejudice against the common people.”

Maran stood
abruptly, “Yet Alissa is not wholly untitled.”

Aran turned to
stare uncomprehendingly at the Archmage.

“Aye Sire,”
Maran said intercepting Aran’s wondering look, “You remember that I
told you that Alissa’s mother was of the plainspeople?”

Aran
nodded.

Maran smiled,
“However what is not generally known is that Dela, Alissa’s mother
was the daughter of a minor Clan Chief. The Clan Chiefs are the
equivalent of Haulgard’s Old Families, and although we do not
normally recognise the plainspeople’s complex structure of nobility
and hierarchy, generally speaking Alissa is as nobly born as any in
Haulgard.”

Aran was
astounded, “If Dela was the daughter of a Clan Chief, why did she
leave her people?”

Maran laughed,
“Because Aran she fell in love. Besides she was not a strong woman
and the rugged, uncompromising life on the plains did not agree
with her health.” Maran sighed, “Even life itself was too heavy for
such a gentle soul. For the mere act of birthing such a fiery
little daughter took the last of her strength, and she died upon
the birth bed. Even Healermage Trevan, who is quite strong in his
power was unable to pull her back from the final darkness.”

“Lord Maran,
Archmage of Glaive.”

Maran met the
eyes of the Council spokesman.

“Yes, Lord
Tuuvam?”

“Does Glaive
support King Arantur in his choice for Candidate?”

Maran stared
for a long moment at each Councillor then replied, “Glaive
unconditionally supports this Candidate.”

The spokesman,
Lord Tuuvam nodded and pursed his lips, “Is she a maiden?”

Maran nodded,
“Aye, she has been examined…there is no doubt that she is maiden
still.”

Tuuvam sighed
and turned back to the other Councillors, “Then we must vote again
if we should support or not this new Candidate. My lord Archmage,
will you again count the hands.”

Maran faced
the gathering, “Councillors of Andur, raise your hands if you do
not support this Candidate.”

Two hands were
raised.

Maran spoke
again, “Councillors of Andur, raise your hands if you support this
Candidate.”

Six hands were
swiftly raised.

Maran
carefully counted the hands, “We have six abstaining. It is a drawn
vote. I am sorry Councillors, you must vote again. We must have
resolution on this issue.”

Aran gnawed
his lower lip in frustration, dreading that the abstaining votes
would go against Alissa.

Maran faced
the Councillors yet again, “Councillors of Andur, raise your hands
if you do not support this Candidate.”

The same two
hands were raised.

Maran spoke
again, “Councillors of Andur raise your hands if you support this
Candidate.”

Eight hands
were slowly raised.

Maran
carefully counted the hands, “We have four abstaining votes but
this does not affect the count,” he said. “We have a majority
decision in favour of the new Candidate.”

Aran sighed in
profound relief.

Lord Tuuvam
stood again, weariness etched clearly upon his face, “Then my lord
King Arantur, the High Council of Andur formally recognises Alissa,
daughter of Captain Taran of Andur’s Keep as our rightful and
recognised future Queen. There will be no further Candidates, the
betrothal will be arranged directly, and the marriage will be
announced for six months time.”

“In six months
time I may well be on the battlefield, lord Councillor,” Aran
replied quietly.

Lord Tuuvam
stood and bowed, “I am sorry Sire, we cannot unbend in this. It is
ancient custom that there is a six month engagement. Even if you
are on campaign you must still wed…that is the tradition and the
law.”

Aran nodded,
“Very well I will accept this ruling.” He looked across at the
Councillor, “When is the betrothal to take place.”

Tuuvam glanced
at Maran who nodded and stood, “The betrothal will take place this
time tomorrow evening in the throne room.”

Aran stood, a
clear sign that the audience was at an end.

“Archmage
Maran, will you speak to my bondsman Alem and ask him to send to me
Captain Taran and his daughter Alissa—once you have done this
please return here.” The Archmage nodded, smiling.

Aran turned to
the Councillors, “Lords and ladies I thank you for your time and
decisions. Please give my kindest regards to Lady Terea and tell
her that she has no further obligation to me, and may with royal
and parental consent, find a husband of her own choosing.” Aran
smiled a tight smile at the overly ambitious Councillor Ordac and
added, “For I believe truly that is how the best of marriages come
about.”

Councillor
Ordac grimaced, and his normally florid face paled under the hard
scrutiny of his king.

“Councillor
Tuuvam,” Aran continued. “I would ask you to wait with me, and add
your voice with Archmage Maran as witnesses to the outcome of this
meeting. The grey haired Councillor bowed and nodded.

Aran raised a
hand in dismissal, “Then you may all go. However I would ask you to
refrain from relating to others what has happened here until first
light tomorrow morning. I would rather that Alissa and her father
learn what has happened from me, and not from rumour or hearsay.”
Aran watched as the Archmage and the remaining Councillors filed
out of the room and then sat back with an exhausted sigh. He passed
a tired hand over his eyes then looked over at Councillor Tuuvam
sitting quietly in the now empty circle of chairs,

“Councillor,”
he said quietly, “I thank you for your leadership and decisions. In
all truth I had been dreading that meeting but I am so glad it has
come to such a happy conclusion.”

The Councillor
smiled tiredly, “Ordac will long hold a grudge against you for
refusing his daughter…but that is only a small thing to be borne by
a man such as yourself.” He looked up at his king, “Sire, do you
love her so greatly that you would dare all for her?”

Aran stared at
the ancient wall hangings and nodded, “I have not lied to you.
Alissa will make a fine Queen and consort, but yes I love her. She
is my best friend,” he added simply.

The Councillor
nodded, “Then I am glad that your Alissa was chosen. I have been
married for over forty-five years and I still love my wife as
dearly as when first we met. So many in the nobility marry to join
together great houses, or for obscure political reasons. I know
that many in those marriages seem to be happy, but in my mind there
are few that are together for love or friendship.”

Aran nodded
and looked up as Maran came back in the door. “Sire, I have spoken
to Alem. He will bring Alissa and Captain Taran directly.”

Aran smiled,
“Good, please sit Maran. Take your ease until they arrive.”

Maran quickly
moved the remainder of the chairs to their usual places around the
table and up against the wall and brought a chair to its customary
place opposite the fireplace.

“Shall I light
the fire Arantur?” the Archmage asked gently, seeing the lines of
fatigue on the young king’s face.

Aran shook his
head and held out a hand, “No…let me, I need the practice.”

Aran closed
his eyes and concentrated, immediately his hand was suffused with a
soft glow which loosened and sped to the waiting logs. Seconds
later the logs were burning brightly.

The Archmage
shook his head, “As often as I see it I still find it remarkable
that your power manifests itself that way. Can you explain it?”

Aran shook his
head whilst massaging his hand, “It’s just the way it happens. For
some reason it always leaves my hand stiff…every time I practice it
the muscles and joints lock up and it takes a while to free
them.”

Maran pursed
his lips in contemplation, “Sounds like you still have a residue of
a block. Remind me to teach you some more of the aids to
concentration. There is a set that is strictly to be done by the
hands and fingers. Performing them may help to loosen up and make
your joints and muscles more flexible.”

Aran grinned
suddenly, “Thank you Archmage. I’d appreciate it…” Aran was
interrupted by a quiet knock on the door.

“Come in,” he
called.

Alissa stuck
her head in and smiled at Aran, “Father is only a few minutes
behind me Sire. He was deep in discussion with the two company
leaders.”

Aran indicated
a spare chair, and Alissa promptly sat herself down. Aran saw her
eyeing off the Archmage and the Councillor and immediately shot
Aran a curious look. Aran gave her a reassuring smile. A few
minutes later there was a louder knock on the door and Aran called
out again. The door swung open and Captain Taran stepped inside,
“You asked for me my lord king?” he said questioningly.