Post by Lisa on May 17, 2009 14:53:26 GMT 10
Title: On Pain of Birth
Rating: PG
Prompt: Numbers
Category: 250 words
Word count: 250
Cross-posted: At Q-fics
Summary: Upon leaving the Conté clan, Kally has to consider the issues of her birth.
When you’re the second born, it’s not a matter of not being good enough. Birth order has nothing to do with merit, after all. We were all raised to be perfect contenders to take the throne, knowing full well that Roald would be the future king.
Being the second of two is far more important – to the realm, to your parents – than being the second of six. Should the worst happen to Roald, or to me, there were others in the line. Spares, as some so callously called us.
“It’s not what it seems.” Father’s voice broke, and he gestured helplessly at the documents Mother held. “If you marry Kaddar – as we all want – you cannot remain in the line of succession.”
“You are still a Conté, even if the documents change your status,” Mother whispered, her face pale. “Carthak cannot have Tortall – whether it’s through you or any children you have.”
The odds were slim, of course. If the crown had come to me, I would likely have abdicated in favor of Liam, anyway. Like my mother, I’ve never particularly wanted to rule.
After many years of feeling less important – superfluous enough to be negotiated into another nation – I found that a part of me reveled in the moment; with the threat of being pushed further out of succession with every thought put into Roald’s marriage, I could still be such a threat to Tortall that I would have to be denied my birthright as the second Conté child.
Rating: PG
Prompt: Numbers
Category: 250 words
Word count: 250
Cross-posted: At Q-fics
Summary: Upon leaving the Conté clan, Kally has to consider the issues of her birth.
When you’re the second born, it’s not a matter of not being good enough. Birth order has nothing to do with merit, after all. We were all raised to be perfect contenders to take the throne, knowing full well that Roald would be the future king.
Being the second of two is far more important – to the realm, to your parents – than being the second of six. Should the worst happen to Roald, or to me, there were others in the line. Spares, as some so callously called us.
“It’s not what it seems.” Father’s voice broke, and he gestured helplessly at the documents Mother held. “If you marry Kaddar – as we all want – you cannot remain in the line of succession.”
“You are still a Conté, even if the documents change your status,” Mother whispered, her face pale. “Carthak cannot have Tortall – whether it’s through you or any children you have.”
The odds were slim, of course. If the crown had come to me, I would likely have abdicated in favor of Liam, anyway. Like my mother, I’ve never particularly wanted to rule.
After many years of feeling less important – superfluous enough to be negotiated into another nation – I found that a part of me reveled in the moment; with the threat of being pushed further out of succession with every thought put into Roald’s marriage, I could still be such a threat to Tortall that I would have to be denied my birthright as the second Conté child.