decided to raise and army and attack his brother.
"There were some people for one prince, and others who preferred his brother. In the beginning, everyone thought the war would end quickly. But you see, every time a soldier dies on one side, his family revolts against the side of the prince who killed him. In this way, whole cities have started to fight each other. Even in the countryside and in small villages the strife has separated friend and family alike as more and more people die, and more and more families grieve and want vengeance.” The wizard shook his head, an expression of frustration on his face.
"Can you do anything to stop this? Surely with your powers..."
Sir Wulfe silenced him with a wave of his hand. “My powers don't include making miracles, but I'm trying. I thought to unite the kingdom in a wedding ceremony. Perhaps it was presumptuous of me, but I'm popular with both sides. I organized a huge wedding and invited dignitaries from the two armies. Both princes agreed to come to my wedding, and they haven't met face to face for over three years. It was the first glimmer of hope for this kingdom in ages."
"So it is important I find your betrothed.” Sylvain hesitated, then boldly said, “Sir Wulfe, does she want to marry you? Why did she flee?"
The wizard sighed. “She fell in love with another."
Bile rose, stinging Sylvain's throat, but he managed to shrug and say, “Does she care for you at all?"
"She has known me since she was a child, and though she does not care for me, I admit to hoping she would come to appreciate me. When I saw her, I was struck by her beauty, but more than that, her goodness. She is pure of heart, and I count on her to appease the war between the princes. I am sure that she will be able to somehow bring them together."
"But how?” Sylvain shook his head.
Sir Wulfe leaned forward. “What did you think when you first saw her?"
That was easy. Sylvain would never forget his first sight of her as she came down the stairs in the rainstorm. His thoughts had fled. He couldn't think of a thing, except about the lovely woman standing before him. She'd chased everything else from his mind. His brother, the storm, his cold feet, everything had faded into nothing compared to her. A sort of warmth emanated from her, and at the dinner table, he'd had the most absurd urge to protect her.
"I wanted her to smile,” Sylvain admitted.
The wizard nodded. “She has a certain charm, and it entrances everyone. When the two princes see her, they will...” He paused, then said, “They will start communicating with each other again."
"But if she has no wish to marry you, why force her?” Sylvain paused when he caught sight of the magician's furious glare. “Begging your pardon, sir."
"She is a young, easily influenced maiden. She will do as I say, and everything will be fine. The two princes will meet and sign a truce ... with my urging. And the people shall acclaim me as their benefactor. The king does as I say. And when the two princes are under my power they will do my bidding as well."
"Do your bidding?” Sylvain suddenly felt very uncomfortable. The wizard quaffed more wine; his fifth glass, Sylvain noted.
There was an awkward pause, then, “Of course, I mean to bid them to make peace,” the wizard hastened to add.
Sylvain kept his voice light. “Ah, I see.” But something sounded wrong in the magician's words. Or perhaps it was the crafty look that gleamed in his eyes. “Will the two princes rule together then?"
The wizard looked at his empty glass and sighed. “How can two rulers rule at once? They would spend their time bickering, especially after they see Leonie.” He coughed and said, “I mean, they will not be able to put aside their quarrel unless there is but one ruler."
"Will their father, the king, choose between them?” Sylvain prodded.
"Perhaps."
The tall, dark green candles in the center of the table sputtered and wavered as they neared the end of
"There were some people for one prince, and others who preferred his brother. In the beginning, everyone thought the war would end quickly. But you see, every time a soldier dies on one side, his family revolts against the side of the prince who killed him. In this way, whole cities have started to fight each other. Even in the countryside and in small villages the strife has separated friend and family alike as more and more people die, and more and more families grieve and want vengeance.” The wizard shook his head, an expression of frustration on his face.
"Can you do anything to stop this? Surely with your powers..."
Sir Wulfe silenced him with a wave of his hand. “My powers don't include making miracles, but I'm trying. I thought to unite the kingdom in a wedding ceremony. Perhaps it was presumptuous of me, but I'm popular with both sides. I organized a huge wedding and invited dignitaries from the two armies. Both princes agreed to come to my wedding, and they haven't met face to face for over three years. It was the first glimmer of hope for this kingdom in ages."
"So it is important I find your betrothed.” Sylvain hesitated, then boldly said, “Sir Wulfe, does she want to marry you? Why did she flee?"
The wizard sighed. “She fell in love with another."
Bile rose, stinging Sylvain's throat, but he managed to shrug and say, “Does she care for you at all?"
"She has known me since she was a child, and though she does not care for me, I admit to hoping she would come to appreciate me. When I saw her, I was struck by her beauty, but more than that, her goodness. She is pure of heart, and I count on her to appease the war between the princes. I am sure that she will be able to somehow bring them together."
"But how?” Sylvain shook his head.
Sir Wulfe leaned forward. “What did you think when you first saw her?"
That was easy. Sylvain would never forget his first sight of her as she came down the stairs in the rainstorm. His thoughts had fled. He couldn't think of a thing, except about the lovely woman standing before him. She'd chased everything else from his mind. His brother, the storm, his cold feet, everything had faded into nothing compared to her. A sort of warmth emanated from her, and at the dinner table, he'd had the most absurd urge to protect her.
"I wanted her to smile,” Sylvain admitted.
The wizard nodded. “She has a certain charm, and it entrances everyone. When the two princes see her, they will...” He paused, then said, “They will start communicating with each other again."
"But if she has no wish to marry you, why force her?” Sylvain paused when he caught sight of the magician's furious glare. “Begging your pardon, sir."
"She is a young, easily influenced maiden. She will do as I say, and everything will be fine. The two princes will meet and sign a truce ... with my urging. And the people shall acclaim me as their benefactor. The king does as I say. And when the two princes are under my power they will do my bidding as well."
"Do your bidding?” Sylvain suddenly felt very uncomfortable. The wizard quaffed more wine; his fifth glass, Sylvain noted.
There was an awkward pause, then, “Of course, I mean to bid them to make peace,” the wizard hastened to add.
Sylvain kept his voice light. “Ah, I see.” But something sounded wrong in the magician's words. Or perhaps it was the crafty look that gleamed in his eyes. “Will the two princes rule together then?"
The wizard looked at his empty glass and sighed. “How can two rulers rule at once? They would spend their time bickering, especially after they see Leonie.” He coughed and said, “I mean, they will not be able to put aside their quarrel unless there is but one ruler."
"Will their father, the king, choose between them?” Sylvain prodded.
"Perhaps."
The tall, dark green candles in the center of the table sputtered and wavered as they neared the end of