The High King: Book Two of the 'Riothamus' trilogy (9 page)

Aran felt
crestfallen, his face wooden, “Then I don’t have a choice…”

Maran gazed
out of the window and a secret smile hovered about his lips. “I
didn’t say that. The mages of Glaive have always delighted in
upsetting and hindering ridiculous Council plans and power plays.
There’s no reason why we can’t have our own way in this too.”

Aran looked up
hope flaring in his eyes, “You’ll support me in this?”

Maran nodded,
“As I said before, if the girl is from a good family and comes to
you a maiden then there is no reason why she shouldn’t be your
Queen. I only hope you’ll at least do me the courtesy of giving me
her name before you present her at your betrothal day.”

Aran smiled
for the first time that day, “I wonder you haven’t guessed already,
for it is Alissa, daughter of Captain Taran.”

Maran spun
around and stared sharply at Aran, “Alissa? I thought you
considered her but a friend. You would choose her? She is a
commoner, not nobly born.”

“Does it
matter?” Aran spoke harshly. “I know her well and would choose no
other.”

Maran frowned,
“It has not been custom for a king to marry a mage.”

“Then I will
start the custom!” Aran flared, irritated. “Besides Alissa is not a
Glaive trained mage, she has a latent Ability only.”

Maran stood up
and paced the room, “True, I can see no objection beyond the fact
that she is not nobly born of Haulgard. She has strength of
character and uncommon sense in one of her age and sex.” He stopped
his pacing, and stared at Aran. “Do you think she is a maiden
still?”

Aran’s face
reddened, “I would assume so. Captain Taran is very careful of his
daughter. I doubt she has had opportunity or reason to gainsay his
wishes.”

“True,” Maran
mused, “She has been protected and cherished all her life. Yet you
believe she will accept you and the position that comes with being
your mate.”

Aran stared at
the Archmage, “I have not yet asked her. I wanted to make certain
that I was free to choose my Queen…” Aran frowned, “I don’t know
how she’s going to react as I’ve scarcely seen or spoken to her
over the past few days,” he worried.

“You will need
to forewarn her of your intentions,” Maran said, “In case she has
no feelings for you. Then after you have been crowned you will need
to confront the Council and let them know that you will not be
accepting their candidate.” He smiled grimly, “They will not back
down quietly on this matter for it has been custom in the past for
the Andurian line to choose from the Old Families of Haulgard, and
the Council is wholly made up of members of the Old Families.”

Aran stared at
Maran, his mouth tightening and deep in his belly he felt a sudden
surge of the familiar anger, “They will soon learn that I am not a
weak-willed man,” he growled angrily. “I will fight for the things
I want and believe in.”

Maran’s lips
curled upwards, “I
believe
you. Andur was of a similar mind
when he went to fight for the hand of Baranta…and
he
won.”

“I hope their
memories are long,” Aran muttered his anger coursing through
him.

Maran walked
over to the door, “However I must go and ask Mage Theaua to start
the search for Trevan. The sooner he is found the better,” he
mumbled.

“And of
Alissa,” Aran asked standing, his eyes like grey flint, “Do I have
the mage’s support in this?”

Maran gazed
over at the young man, “Aye, on the condition that she is maid
still.”

“How will I
know?” Aran replied bewildered, his quick anger immediately fading
with sudden embarrassment, “I mean I just can’t go up and ask her.
She’ll murder me!”

Maran smiled
grimly, “If she accepts your proposal then she will need to be
examined by one of the Healermages. Mage Anesta is a discreet
woman. She will be able to provide utter proof of Alissa’s
maidenhood.”

Aran grinned
wryly, “Despite what I must ask Alissa, at least I now have hope.
Before then I was resigned to marrying a woman I didn’t know or
love. I couldn’t bear that, I must have some feeling for the woman
I am to spend my life with.”

Maran
grimaced, “Then my hopes and wishes go with you Arantur, for you
will have a hell of a fight with the Council over your choice.”

Aran nodded
firmly, “I will fight…I will not be swayed in my decision.”

“Good,” Maran
replied dryly. “I will look forward that that battle. However I
believe you ought to speak to Alissa about this. Make it soon you
are to be crowned at week’s end.”

Aran walked
over to stare out of the window, “Then I will speak to her this
very night.”

*

It was after
dinner, and Andur’s heir paced nervously around the confines of the
royal chambers. It had been too many days since he had time or
opportunity to speak with Alissa, and he felt distinctly unprepared
for this interview with her. He knew within himself that he could
not accept any other woman to share his life, and even had he a
simpler life to offer her he knew that he would have been no less
nervous about asking her. It was a life altering decision she had
to make, and Aran was even now uncertain what her final answer
would be. Aran knew that he would not blame her if she refused him,
for he knew only too well how much his life had changed in the past
week, and even now he was not certain if she still felt affection
or even desire for him. He could only hope that the deep friendship
she professed for him would be the deciding factor in her
decision.

“Aran?” Her
voice came from the door, “You wanted me? Are you not well?”

Aran turned,
“Come in, sit down…I need to speak with you about something.”

She nodded
closing the door. Aran waited until she had selected a chair near
the fire then sat down hurriedly across from her.

She stared at
him in consternation, “Whatever is the matter? Is something wrong?
Are you ill?”

He shook his
head, “No…nothing is wrong.”

He chewed his
bottom lip in frustration at his inability to get the words
out.

“You know I am
your friend Aran,” she said leaning forward, “There ought not to be
secrets between us.”

“I know
Alissa,” he answered hurriedly, “I just don’t know how to say this
correctly, and I am certain this is going to come out all wrong,
but…”

He paused then
plunged in recklessly, “I want you to be my Queen.”

Alissa sat
back and regarded him candidly, “I am not nobly born Aran, you know
that.”

He nodded.

“And the
Council has selected another woman to be your queen.”

“I know, Maran
has told me.”

“Yet you would
choose me. Why?”

Aran looked
up, desperation written clearly in his grey eyes, “Because you are
the one woman I know who supports me, who is my friend and
companion, and who has been a tower of strength to me. I feel
comfortable with you Alissa and we both share Abilities. Another
woman would not understand how the Abilities can rule your
life.”

She nodded at
that.

“Besides with
you, I can be myself…there are no false pretensions between us,” he
added quietly.

“What about
love?” she asked simply.

Aran gazed at
her helplessly, “I have never been in love before so I don’t know
what love is supposed to feel like. I believe that I love you,” he
said quietly, “All I know is I want to spend my life with you and
the thought of choosing another over you is like poison to my heart
and soul,” he added desperately, heroically.

Alissa closed
her eyes and sighed, “That is all I need to know.”

Aran looked at
her anxiously, “I need to know… Will you accept me?”

She opened her
eyes and gazed at him steadily, “You wonder that I am not surprised
at your offer.”

He nodded
dumbly.

“I have long
suspected your regard for me,” Alissa explained simply, “A man’s
regard for a woman is something that all females know.” She smiled
gently at his embarrassment, “I did not think anything would come
of it…especially since your elevation.” She shrugged, “That is why
I have kept away and did not resume the closeness we had before you
were named heir.” She paused, and her green eyes were solemn, “I
believed that after you were crowned you would choose a wife from
the Old Families of Haulgard… it has always happened that way,” she
added softly. “I thought that you did not want to continue our
association, since I am only the daughter of the Captain of the
Guard and not nobly born.”

“That does not
matter to me,” Aran grated.

“I did not
know that,” she replied simply.

“Then will you
have me?” he asked yet again.

She put up her
hand, and he fell silent, uncomfortable, suspecting she was going
to refuse him. “I do love you,” she added, “I have done so since
the first time we met. Ah that surprises you, I thought it would,”
she smiled again at his discomfiture.

She stood and
walked over to the window, “Do you believe that I would be a fit
Queen?”

“Of course,”
he replied adamantly, “I can think of no other woman more suited to
the role.”

She turned and
smiled at him again, “Then I accept. Now I believe that my role as
your Queen is as predestined as your heritage and Kingship. You
just surprised me by asking…I honestly did not think you were so
willing to take on the Council so soon into your Kingship.”

Aran grinned
suddenly his heart lightening, “I am not King yet, but for you
Alissa I would happily take on the entire Thakurian army.”

There was
silence for a moment, and then she asked, “When will you tell
them?”

“Who?”

Alissa turned
and stared out at the night sky, “The Council, the mages.”

Aran went to
her and put his arms about her waist, “The mages already know. I
spoke to Archmage Maran this very evening. He supports us.”

Alissa gently
removed his hands, “Until you are King, and until the Council has
endorsed your choice, I think any closeness would be a bad
idea.”

Aran stepped
away frowning, “I don’t understand.”

Alissa turned
and smiled sadly, “If you were just an ordinary man Arantur, I
would be now happily warming your bed.” Seeing his expression, she
hastened to continue. “However you are not an ordinary man, and the
man who soon will be king needs his Queen-to-be to show restraint
until everyone has given us their approval and blessing. We must be
circumspect, you and I.”

“But I love
you and want to be with you,” he said unhappily.

She put out a
hand and gently touched his face, “One of us needs to be clear
headed and sensible about this my love. If the Council agrees to
our union, then there will be no barrier to our affection.”

Aran pulled an
unsteady hand through his hair, “Very well, we will be circumspect
then.” He stared at her in some amazement, “Are you always
so…rational?”

Alissa laughed
at that, “No! It’s just that whenever I am with you I must be clear
and cool headed, otherwise I am threatened to be carried away by my
emotions and desires.”

Aran smiled at
that, “Good…” then he frowned. “By Andur I almost forgot…you must
be first examined by Healermage Anesta.”

“Examined?”
Alissa asked, puzzled. “I am not sick.”

Aran turned
away to hide his embarrassment, “It’s not my idea, believe me, but
it seems vitally important that you are a maiden still.” He turned
to face her, his features flushed, “The mages won’t accept you
otherwise.”

Alissa stared
at him, her face a study of amazement and embarrassment, “Of course
I am a maiden! No man has been near me. Didn’t you tell Maran
that?”

He nodded
unhappily, “It’s just that they need to be certain. For some reason
it is important that you come to me a maid.”

“Very well,”
she replied stiffly. “Speak to Maran, get him to arrange it.”

Aran stared
doubtfully at her, “You’re not angry with me?”

She pulled a
face, “No Aran I’m not angry with you. It’s just irritating that
they can’t take my word on this—that they have to check for
themselves…” She sighed in resignation, “No matter, I will do as
they ask.”

Aran sighed in
profound relief, “Good, thank-you”

Alissa glanced
to the door, “I must go…you and I should be circumspect about the
way we meet.” She smiled, “Until we have the full support of the
Council we must only meet whilst we are in company with
others.”

Aran nodded
asking, “Please let me hold you this one time. I promise not to ask
you again.”

She smiled and
nodded. Aran stepped forward and he took her into his arms
enfolding her within his tall strength. For a moment they just
stood there, and then Aran bent his head and touched his lips to
hers. For a heartbeat only the embrace was light, then the kiss
deepened and Aran felt Alissa’s lips softening, her body swaying
into his. For a long moment they kissed deeply, passionately, their
minds and bodies yearning for deeper contact… then Alissa pulled
away, her face flushed with emotion. Aran took a deep breath,
turning away a little unsteadily. Finally, he turned back and saw
that Alissa too had composed herself.

“I’m sorry,”
he apologised softly, “Whenever I take you into my arms Alissa, I
forget myself.”

She nodded,
her green eyes huge with leashed passion, “I too am at fault,” she
whispered. Then quickly smoothing her dark red gown she almost ran
from the room.

*

“Still no word
on Trevan?”

Maran looked
up from the papers scattered on the high table and met the worried
eyes of Arantur.

He shook his
head, “No, but Theaua has only been gone three days.”

“Tomorrow is
my coronation,” Aran reminded the Archmage unnecessarily. “I would
really like Trevan to be there.”