mount forward.
Back at the palace the Princess raced off to show her sister her new gift while Coran went in search of his father. The King was meeting with some Holdonese and could not be disturbed. The guard at the door assured him that Lord Oran was not present. Coran found that odd since his father was always there when Stemis met with officials of any sort. Unable to locate him, Coran abandoned the search for later and returned to his own rooms.
He had rejected the notion of accepting the larger, plusher rooms adjacent to the royal family. His father stayed there only out of necessity, the King might need him at any time. He much preferred the rooms he had. They were simple enough for his tastes while still remaining dignified. The surprise was that his father sat in one of the chairs waiting.
“I thought you would be back by now,” Oran commented casually. “Did you get lost on your ride?”
“Ah, no,” Coran replied, feeling a little uncomfortable at his father’s implied tone, then wondering why he felt that way. That was when he realized what was being implied. He had gone off alone with the princess. How that had to look to others. “I was looking for you. I thought you would be with the King.”
“I wanted a chance to talk with you before you left.”
“About that,” Coran interrupted. “I should have spoken with you before accepting.”
His father raised a hand to silence him. “It is all right. You are a man now and you have to make your own decisions. I wanted to let you know some things that are going on.” He gestured to the empty chair and waited for Coran to sit. “The situation is more dangerous than you know. The trouble to the east is serious, so serious that Gelarus is seeking help.” Coran whistled at that. “We cannot afford to have any strain put on the Alliance right now.”
“You are talking about Voltia and Katelyn.”
“Yes, but I do not want you to worry about that. I just think you should know what is happening. We could be in for some very dark times.”
Something about the whole thing wasn’t making sense. “I understand that Stemis doesn’t want either of his daughters forced into marriage, and about Torvilin and his pride, but what is so important about the King’s second daughter. Not that she isn’t important, but why is Stemis so upset about it?”
Oran was silent for a time as he thought. “I don’t know. Stemis said some of the other kingdoms might sympathize with Voltia.”
“That may be, but can you see any of them except Voltia going beyond verbal protest? Westland and Summerhall have been close for a long time. No one has said anything before.”
“You are right. Considering that, Stemis has been overreacting.” Oran leaned forward in interest. “The question is why? Torvilin will make it difficult for another suitor, but refusing him will only anger his father. Cranus is always difficult to deal with anyway.” He snorted the last.
Coran didn’t have an answer. He was thinking that Stemis might be terrified at the thought of Torvilin and Katelyn together. That reminded him of why he had sought out his father. “Do you know how many will be in the escort to Westland?”
“Loras and twenty guardsmen. Why?”
“I saw Torvilin leaving the city. He went out the west gate.”
Oran looked sharply at his son. “The west gate? I will inform Stemis and suggest he double the
Back at the palace the Princess raced off to show her sister her new gift while Coran went in search of his father. The King was meeting with some Holdonese and could not be disturbed. The guard at the door assured him that Lord Oran was not present. Coran found that odd since his father was always there when Stemis met with officials of any sort. Unable to locate him, Coran abandoned the search for later and returned to his own rooms.
He had rejected the notion of accepting the larger, plusher rooms adjacent to the royal family. His father stayed there only out of necessity, the King might need him at any time. He much preferred the rooms he had. They were simple enough for his tastes while still remaining dignified. The surprise was that his father sat in one of the chairs waiting.
“I thought you would be back by now,” Oran commented casually. “Did you get lost on your ride?”
“Ah, no,” Coran replied, feeling a little uncomfortable at his father’s implied tone, then wondering why he felt that way. That was when he realized what was being implied. He had gone off alone with the princess. How that had to look to others. “I was looking for you. I thought you would be with the King.”
“I wanted a chance to talk with you before you left.”
“About that,” Coran interrupted. “I should have spoken with you before accepting.”
His father raised a hand to silence him. “It is all right. You are a man now and you have to make your own decisions. I wanted to let you know some things that are going on.” He gestured to the empty chair and waited for Coran to sit. “The situation is more dangerous than you know. The trouble to the east is serious, so serious that Gelarus is seeking help.” Coran whistled at that. “We cannot afford to have any strain put on the Alliance right now.”
“You are talking about Voltia and Katelyn.”
“Yes, but I do not want you to worry about that. I just think you should know what is happening. We could be in for some very dark times.”
Something about the whole thing wasn’t making sense. “I understand that Stemis doesn’t want either of his daughters forced into marriage, and about Torvilin and his pride, but what is so important about the King’s second daughter. Not that she isn’t important, but why is Stemis so upset about it?”
Oran was silent for a time as he thought. “I don’t know. Stemis said some of the other kingdoms might sympathize with Voltia.”
“That may be, but can you see any of them except Voltia going beyond verbal protest? Westland and Summerhall have been close for a long time. No one has said anything before.”
“You are right. Considering that, Stemis has been overreacting.” Oran leaned forward in interest. “The question is why? Torvilin will make it difficult for another suitor, but refusing him will only anger his father. Cranus is always difficult to deal with anyway.” He snorted the last.
Coran didn’t have an answer. He was thinking that Stemis might be terrified at the thought of Torvilin and Katelyn together. That reminded him of why he had sought out his father. “Do you know how many will be in the escort to Westland?”
“Loras and twenty guardsmen. Why?”
“I saw Torvilin leaving the city. He went out the west gate.”
Oran looked sharply at his son. “The west gate? I will inform Stemis and suggest he double the
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