Chapter Twelve #2
“Agreed, nothing comes before ensuring the witches are mollified. To that end…” Aelir said before taking a seat next to me in front of the fire.
His blue eyes held mine. “…I will insist we read the proclamation that the dewraiths’ arrival interrupted.
Then we shall have a small fete here in the castle to officially introduce you to the nobles that you will be interacting with once you take up residence at Castle Willowspirit.
” My face must have given away my thoughts on a fancy dinner with uppity cockers wearing goose dust on their tightly puckered arses.
“As a newly crowned,” his gaze darted to the coral crown resting on a side table, “prince of both realms, the people and the nobility will wish to welcome you. We can get things ready for tonight in the seafarer’s ballroom.
The gala will not be as grand as we would have liked, but—”
“We in the royal we?” I asked over a richly scented cup of tea. Aelir tipped his gold head in confusion. “You say we would have liked, but to be honest, I never wished for a gala in my honor.”
“But you’re a prince of the realm. A newly found brother of the king, the ruler of the vills of Renedith. Surely you wish to take your seat on the council of vills owners and the court of—”
“No, Aelir, no, I don’t wish to take those seats. I never did.”
The room fell into stilted silence. Not even the gulls were noisy outside, even though the storm had abated to gift us with blue skies.
“Coelum, you…you never said a word to disagree. I thought you wished to leave the life of a pirate in the past. That you would sign on to sail for the navy, to be a spokesperson for the privateers and the lowly fisherfolk as you joined in the negotiations with the Sandrayans on the ports projects.”
My sight flew to Raewyn, who gave me the slightest of nods, thick dark hair sliding over her shoulder.
Mahouk Nouradi graced me with a smile. Fukkate.
Had they all planned this out already? Of course they had.
My brother was nothing if not eager to pin me down on land at his side.
I wanted to be angry at him but found I couldn’t be, not really.
“That is…I’m not a diplomat,” I argued weakly.
“Nor am I a man made to bow to the rigid dictates of the imperial navy. Your Majesty.” I placed my mug on the floor then offered him my hands.
He slowly slid his between mine. “Aelir, I never disagreed because I wanted a brother. And a sister and another brother and sister and a niece and nephew. So I let you steer me along into unfamiliar waters, even though I had no wish to sail those seas.” I gave his smaller hand a squeeze.
“I came here to find my brother. I have no need for the frippery of the rest of it. I came here for you. For this family that you have grown. That is what I wish. No jewels or riches or titled lands. Just family.”
His blue eyes grew dewy. “I understand. That is what I wish for as well. A sibling who I can lean on when the weight of this crown becomes too heavy. A brother to drink with, sing with, play games with. I never had that as a child. Umeris stole you from me. Ihdos knows the joys we could have had as young boys.”
“Aye, we would have driven that old bastard mad,” I teased. Aelir smiled. “So, no crowns or galas or lands? The twins would grow to hate me if I took Renedith.”
“The twins adore you already. And Alfina will inherit the kingdom, as she was born ten minutes before her brother. The vills would have gone to Al’fur, but as you are the eldest, it is rightfully yours.
There are several lodges on crown lands he may settle on if he wishes to leave the castle.
As for the other issues, we need to make the announcement and entertain the nobles lest they grow irritable.
” I glanced at Le’ral, who nodded. By the witches tits, there was no escaping this courtly bull-wallow, it seemed.
I inclined my head. Knowing when to fight versus when to concede was the trait of a good captain. “Fine, read the damn paper and throw this gala. Then I shall leave on the morrow for Renedith.”
“I would have Asdren ride with you, as he is a dwarf and will command the respect of the masons and stonecutters of Renedith. The druids should go as well, for their input will be invaluable. Also, a royal contingency will accompany you.” I blinked at my brother.
“The new ruler of the vills would not arrive without ceremony. A raven will be sent to the seneschal and the staff at Castle Willowspirit to ready the keep for you.” I may have rolled my eyes, for my brother snickered.
“You will do well. Le’ral will be by your side tonight in case of any gaffes.
Most in attendance will be eager to speak to you. ”
“Most will want to see me run through with a rapier,” I mumbled before tossing a look at the queen. “Speaking of which, I would ask that my crew be signed on to sail to Light’s Keep.”
Raewyn’s eyes rounded.
“Truly, you are not serious? We are not sailing with cutthroats who have bounties on their heads,” she replied with vigor.
“Then remove the bounties. You’ll not find finer sailors on either sea.
Pay them to sail for the navy, give them good wages, lots of grog, and some damn respect.
If you give the poor jobs that give them pride in themselves, they won’t have to resort to crime to survive.
It’s a simple concept that nobility cannot seem to grasp.
I ask that they sail with us freely after the offer has been made.
If they wish to sign on, they may. If they don’t, they can move on from Light’s Keep to other jobs.
I hope that our parlays with the Sandrayans over the ports will lift the need to steal to live from the backs of the indigent.
If we accomplish naught but that, then I will consider that a good stroke done.
What say you, Commander of the Royal Navy? ”
I released my brother’s hand, sight locked on the queen.
She glanced at Lady Merrilyn, then at Aelir, before rising.
I stood as well, wrap slipping down to my elbows, and watched as she spat into her palm before offering it to me.
Ah, a sailor, blooded and true. I repeated the age-old gesture of a deal made, spat on my palm, and slapped my hand into hers.
“Then things are settled. A small fete before you leave for Renedith. Let them see the one who is going to rule the vills as the elder Stillcloud,” Aelir announced as he got to his soft kid boots.
“If you don’t mind, I would prefer to be known as Coelum Cadere. Perhaps even Tidebound Prince Coelum Cadere Stillcloud, if we—royal we—must use musty titles?” I requested as we were all bearing our truths. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as the old washerwomen say.
Aelir looked stricken.
“We have many in the Black Sands who take on numerous surnames after weddings, adoptions, or when a soul wishes to adopt a masculine or feminine nurture,” Mahouk Nouradi spoke up from his seat at the table by the teapot.
“Also, if I may plod on?” I nodded. “The inclusion of the Cadere name will lessen the upset the three sisters are feeling, while the addition of the Stillcloud name will ease him into society with less friction.”
Aelir sat back down and drew in a long breath.
“Very wise. So be it then. From this day forth, you shall be known as Coelum Cadere Stillcloud, Tidebound Prince of Land and Sea, Hero of Melowynn, Ruler of the Vills of Renedith, and Apostle of the Three Sisters of the Sea. Does that sit well with you, brother?”
“It’s a mouthful of noble speak, but aye, it sits well enough, although I’m not sure the term hero needs to be included,” I replied, dropping back down to my chair as my body began to give up the ghost. It had been a long, trying morning.
“I disagree,” Aelir and Raewyn said in unison. That jerked my sleepy eyes from the fire to the queen. “You saved us and the children when the dewraiths appeared, leaping in to fight them off while we were led to safety. That is heroic to me. What do you think, Aelir?”
“Mightily heroic,” he agreed and gave my soggy knee a pat.
“So it is settled that Hero of Melowynn shall be included in your title.” I opened my mouth to argue.
“I would not pick nits with her over this. The queen is very stubborn when she sets her mind to something. Pasil, would you summon a court scribe so we can amend the proclamation? Oh, and have notes sent to each noble who was in the temple this morning to let them know we would see them attend a meal with us this evening to welcome my brother to the family. Someone notify Widow Poppy we’ll need dinner enough for an intimate meal for the nobility present in Avolire this evening.
I would do it myself, but she still threatens my backside with a wooden spoon even though I wear the crown. ”
We all chuckled. I nodded off. Someone to my right shook me gently. I looked over to find Le’ral’s dark gaze on me.
“You are spent, Your Highness. Let me escort you to your chambers so you can rest and recover before your gala tonight,” he said, rising and offering me his arm.
I took it, bowed gently to my brother and my sisters-in-law, and then to the commander of the guard before leaving the solar. I was far too tired to be witty at the moment. Was I now supposed to bow to the consorts or not? Only the witches knew. And Le’ral.
“I would enjoy lying down in bed with you at my side,” I said as we made our way through corridors filled with bright sun and warm winds.
The sea was peaceful again. I must keep it that way, no matter the cost. If the witches felt me to be their liaison on land, then it fell to me to ensure tranquility between both realms.