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One

There are people in my country who have never travelled beyond the boundaries of Terre d’Ange Indeed, there are many who have never left the province in which they were born; contented crofters tilling the land, tending orchards, or raising sheep, never venturing farther than the nearest market

Betimes, I envy them

Already, as a young ined as a boy daydrea in the Sanctuary of Elua where I was raised It did not begin by choice—as all the world knows, I was abducted by Carthaginian slave-traders, sold into slavery in Menekhet, and from thence taken to the land of Drujan, ruled by a od

It was a short tio in htly, but I have learned to bear them Since that time, since I was rescued and restored, I have ventured as far south as Jebe-Barkal and lost Saba; and as far north as Vralia, an unlikely kingdolory of the cold north

I have been wed and ed

I have become a father, almost

And I have fallen in love, which is soether different It was not with h she orthy of such devotion and in the end I did come to love her Love ofjustice on her behalf I found it, too, although it was not entirely what I expected Still, the man who killed her is dead, and his skull lies buried beneath her feet in Alba

But there is a difference between loving and being in love—thatpassion that expands the heart and exalts the soul, that shakes the heavens and roils the depths of hell That, I have known but once Betientle ways Betihter, a merchant’s son Anyone whose station in life would raise no alarms Who would allow me to stay in one place, to live and love and be happy Whose bedcha the unwelco

Anyone but Sidonie

It wasn’t, though

And I knew it

I knew it in Alba, when I was still bound by strangeto shed my youthful self-absorption and fulfill my duties as a , too uncertain What had begun between us was always h I daresay she knew the stakes better than I did My royal cousin, Sidonie de la Courcel, Dauphine of Terre d’Ange, eldest daughter and acknowledged heir of Queen Ysandre

The one person in the world I could not love without raising suspicion

I kneas love, real and enduring; we both knew it When it began, Sidonie asked me, Imriel, tell me truly, she said How much of what lies between us is just the lure of the forbidden?

I couldn’t answer it, not then I didn’t know I kneanted her, fiercely I knew there was a dark fire in her depths that fedabyss of tenderness and yearning that would open between us, unassuaged by time or distance Nor, I daresay, did she

We discovered it together

And when Dorelei and uilt for it If we had been eous, it would never have happened Love as thou wilt, Blessed Elua’s precept commands us We hadn’t dared We took the sensible route and waited We’d feared to throw the realm into turmoil

Well and so, it happened anyway

There was no triumphal reception in the City of Elua e returned fro the burial of the skull of the elines will do as they will A great many of them turned out in support the day we rode into the City, cheering wildly There were Tsingani and Yeshuites a them, too, for which I take no credit For their part, it is Phèdre they adore; Phèdre nó Delaunay, Comtesse de Montrève,as I live, deserved or not, I will coast on the goodwill she and her consort, Joscelin, have engendered a for heroes

But there were others, too

Not h Knots of folk, here and there, a black arated, the cheers were dampened As we passed, they held out their hands, thunal of Tiberian imperators

Thumbs down

Death

“Why?” I asked Sidonie as we rode “Who are they?”

Her face was pale “Families of her victims”

I sed “My mother’s?”

“So they reckon, yes Fa Skaldia’s invasion” Sidonie met my eyes Hers were dark and troubled Cruithne eyes, the only sign of her e “It’s a reminder that your mother was condeht to their anger, I to face it?”

“You know I aher”

Somewhat shifted in the depths of her black eyes, a certitude settling into place Her slender shoulders were set and squared “Yes”

“Then I stand beside you” I kneed the Bastard My speckled horse snorted and pranced, jostling alongside Sidonie’s palfrey I reached out to layas you will have er, I will stand at your side”

She squeezed my hand “I know”

Neither of us knew for a surety ould face upon our return The Queen was opposed to our union, that much was certain Whether or not she would actively seek to part us, not even Sidonie could say

Our company parted ways in the City of Elua Phèdre and Joscelin, along with their loyal retainers Ti-Philippe and Hugues, would retire to Montrève’s townhouse I meant to continue on to the Palace with Sidonie and her personal guard I’d had quarters there, once Queen Ysandre had granted thee to Dorelei, niece of the Cruarch of Alba Of course, she’d not knoas already in love with her daughter

She kne I didn’t know if my quarters still existed I didn’t even know if I’d be welcome at the Palace Still, there was no way to find out but to try

“You’re sure?” Phèdre asked, searching my face “You could stay with us and send word to Ysandre seeking audience It ht be easier”

I shook my head “I’m too old to hide behind your skirts, Phèdre Or your sword,” I added to Joscelin

He snorted “When did you ever?”

It made me smile a little “Well, the cloak of your heroism, then I need to face this myself Anyway, I’ve broken no law, committed no crime”

Phèdre sighed “As you will, love I’ll send word to Ysandre myself Mayhap she’s ready to hear reason”