Post by Idleness on Jun 24, 2018 20:19:36 GMT 10
To: Rosie
Message: As us Antipodeans would say… Happy Midwinter Christmas! (it is actually cold here now). I'm afraid I haven't edited this, so hopefully it's not too rough!
From: Idleness
Title: A slow courtship
Rating: G
Word Count: 2995
Wishlist Item: 1. Gary/Cythera
Summary (and any warnings): Gary courts Lady Cythera
“I hear you’ve been shadowing your father a lot these days.”
Lady Cythera dimpled as she spoke, and Gary struggled and failed to summon a reply that wasn’t inane.
“Oh—yes—I have. For a few weeks now.”
Cythera smiled and paused, and Gary hastily offered his arm. He was attending one of his aunt’s early evening garden parties while the warm late summer sun still lasted. The Queen was still weak and preferred to retire early, after which the rest of the court would move indoors to continue their revelry until the early hours.
“I had wondered at first if you were avoiding us, but then I realised that Duke Gareth was just keeping you busy. Well, I’m glad you where able to attend today. It means a lot to the Queen, you know.”
“I know.”
Cythera dimpled again and they strolled down from the terrace and into the garden.
“So, have you been enjoying the work with your father?”
“Yes—much more than I expected. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks; one of the first things being that I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did,” admitted Gary, ruefully. “It’s daunting. I never really considered before just how much Father does and know much he has to know to do it. You should see the stacks of documents he has to read nearly every day! And then on top of that he’s still training master for the pages and squires.”
“I can barely imagine,” murmured Cythera. “But ever since I came to court, the Duke always struck me as someone who likes to be busy.”
“To a point. I know he would like to spend a lot more time with Aunt Lianne lately.”
“I suppose that might be one reason he’s drafted you in. I think it’s wonderful, though. He must think highly of your ability and trust you very much. I’m sure you’ll make him proud.”
“Thank you,” said Gary, bowing. “It means a lot to me that you think so.”
“Oh look, the new Marenite roses are flowering. How splendid!” Cythera released his arm on reaching the bed, to bend down and draw an open bloom to her face. “Mmm, lovely. Don’t you agree?”
She was dimpling at him again, and Gary once more found himself incapable of witty or profound speech. Thankfully, Cythera didn’t seem to notice his stupidity and beamed as he too drew a bloom to his face. He agreed that it was in fact quite lovely.
“Let’s cut some for the Queen,” said Cythera, clapping her hands together. “I’ll ask the servants to arrange them in her dressing room for her to enjoy in the morning.”
And so Gary found himself gingerly stepping between rose bushes in his court shoes (he did know that the gardeners used manure on these beds), while Cythera stood on the grassy verge and issued instructions about which blooms were best and where to cut them. He knew in that moment he would do almost anything for Lady Cythera of Elden.
***
Gary was reviewing reports when his father found him the next afternoon. He looked up from his papers to greet him as the Duke settled himself into a chair.
“You should call on Lianne before supper tonight; she would like to thank you for the flowers.”
Gary looked up, surprised.
“Flowers? Oh that—It was Lady Cythera’s idea. She couldn’t do it without snagging her gown, so I cut the ones she selected.”
“I’m pleased you learned something of Chivalry while under my charge,” said the elder Gareth, drily. “Are you squiring her about, these days?”
“Uh..."
Duke Gareth smiled.
“Have you made it through the reports from Legann?”
“Yes—they’re on your desk. I’ve placed my notes on the covering sheet,” said Gary, pleased for the change of subject.
They spoke for another few minutes on the issue of a merchants’ dispute in the port city. Gary summarised the players and their positions, the likely contributing factors, and the other issues at play, and answered his father’s probing on different points of information.
“Well summarised, son. What do you recommend?”
“I agree with Sir Imrah’s take—normally it would be an issue for his father, Lord Petar, to adjudicate on. It never should have come this far. But after Lord Petar’s accident… some opportunists are testing Imrah’s authority to act on behalf of his father by petitioning the King. I will ask a clerk to draft a letter to say we have looked into the issue and are satisfied that the situation does not warrant our intervention and refer them back to Sir Imrah of Legann. If they are still not happy, they are welcome to test it in front of a magistrate, but I doubt they will bother to risk the expense of having their claims thrown out.”
“Very good. Have it done and ready for the King’s signature in the morning,” said Duke Gareth, eyes twinkling. “That young Sir Imrah—he will be a good Lord when he inherits. Cultivate that relationship.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Duke pushed himself from his chair, groaning. “Don’t be cheeky. And don’t forget to visit your aunt.”
The following week, Coram returned to court without Alanna.
Shortly afterward, Jon enlisted Gary’s help to convince his parents to let him travel with Sir Myles and Coram. Gary knew his cousin well enough to realise there were things he wasn’t being told. It was also clear to Gary that Jon needed to get away—there had been a subtle shift in Jon’s attitude that had left Gary feeling exasperated with him at times. He hoped Alanna would tell him to pull his head in.
“So, my father told me to keep in touch with Sir Imrah,” explained Gary, “which I have been doing. I like him a lot, so it hasn’t been a trial. And you know, he talks a lot about his wife, whom he clearly adores, but I didn’t realise until recently who his ‘Annie’ was. Can you guess?”
“Nope,” said Raoul, who didn’t even try.
“Lady Roxanne.”
Raoul guffawed. “The Lady Roxanne you kissed for ten gold nobles?”
“Yes,” said Gary, drily. “The Lady Roxanne. I wasn’t aware there were any others.”
Raoul grinned. “How did you find that out?”
“Well, I came across them promenading hand in hand along Temple Way.”
“And then you had to stop and talk, I suppose.”
“Well, I could hardly avoid it. Imrah spotted me first.”
Raoul chuckled. “This is too funny. What happened next?”
“Small talk, the usual. Then Imrah asked if I had met his wife, and she looked me strangely and said we have.”
“Did she tell him about the bet, I wonder?”
“Who knows? Anyway, it was the most awkward thing. I could barely meet her eyes. Then afterward, just to make things worse, Cythera asked what that was all about and I had to explain the bet to her.”
“Wait—so you were out with Lady Cythera when you ran into Imrah and his lady?”
“Yes.”
“What did Cythera say?” Raoul finally managed between gasps of laughter.
“Not much, but I don’t think she was very impressed. She said, ‘Lady Roxanne is a cousin on my mother’s side. She may be homely, but she has a very kind heart and I’m pleased she’s found someone who dotes on her.’ I felt like a real ogre.”
Raoul finally gave in to incontrollable giggles.
Gary decided not to tell his friend the rest of his conversation with Cythera.
He had said, “You are right; it was an unkind thing to do. I may not have appreciated that when I was fifteen, but I do now.”
Lady Cythera had dimpled and said, “I know.”
Jon returned to Court. Gary suspected almost immediately that something had happened between his cousin and Alanna. Jon brooded, and then immediately set about courting Princess Josiane, who had arrived from the Copper Isles.
Gary took an immediate dislike to the willowy, golden-haired princess, in spite of his Aunt’s fondness for the daughter of a childhood friend.
“Have you spent much time with Princess Josiane?” asked Gary. He often sought Cythera out at parties now, and had lost his tongue-tie around her.
Cythera frowned and smoothed the skirt of her ball gown. “A little. She’s often sitting with the Queen of late.”
“What’s your impression of her?”
“I haven’t had much opportunity to converse with her, though I will own that I don’t seek it,” said Cythera, frowning. “I have noticed she spends a lot of time with Lady Delia’s set.”
Gary had also noted that Josiane very quickly gravitated toward Delia of Eldorne and her set on her introduction to the Tortallan court. It confirmed to him that his impressions were right. Gary had admired Delia once; he’d even fought with Raoul over one of her riding gloves, though it was clear she had her sights set on Jon. Once the infatuation wore off, Gary started to see her for what she was: a vain and conniving social climber. Several months cooling off at the border after that duel helped him put things in perspective; he was embarrassed at his behaviour over a woman whose character he had so badly judged--and who obviously wasn't interested in him.
“You don’t spend much time with Lady Delia’s set, I have noticed.”
Cythera made a face.
“There are others whose company I much prefer.”
“Hm,” said Gary.
“Are you worried for your cousin?”
“Jon? I think he will tire of her,” said Gary. “In fact, I have a quiet bet on with Raoul that it won’t last longer than three months. Josiane is not clever or interesting enough to hold his attention for long.”
“For ten gold nobles?” asked Cythera, throwing him an arch look.
“No, just one gold noble is at stake for this bet,” replied Gary, grinning. “I think Jon’s trying to prove something, so I wouldn’t put it past him to cut off his nose to spite his face.”
Cythera rolled her eyes but laughed, dimpling.
“In this case, I hope you win your bet,” she said, then paused. “What do you think of Master Lord Thom?”
It was Gary’s turn to grimace. “I don’t think of him at all, if I can help it,” said Gary, drily.
“You’re close with Lady Alanna, though?”
“Alanna is one of my closest friends,” agreed Gary. “But it doesn’t follow that I have to like her brother.”
“No, it doesn’t,” agreed Cythera, frowning. “It’s just—he is a vexing character, don’t you think? He disdains most people, but also craves admiration. It just seems such a lonely way to be, and I sometimes feel very sorry for him.”
“I might feel sorry for him if he weren’t such a prat,” said Gary. His antipathy for the arrogant young sorcerer was such that he really wasn’t interested in unpacking why Thom behaved as he did.
“He has also fallen in with Lady Delia’s set, you know,” continued Cythera.
“I’m so happy he’s found some friends.”
Cythera frowned.
“I find it quite concerning. I have overheard…” she trailed off, as the din of conversation in the ballroom abruptly dropped.
They could clearly hear the subject of their conversation screech, “...and of course I can do anything Kerel the Sage could do! And anything Denmarie the Earth-Shaker could do for that matter, too!”
Delia’s melodious laugh tinkled into the silence that followed.
“Master Lord Thom, do be serious now… Surely that’s quite impossible...”
The din of conversation rose again as courtiers turned back to their dance and conversation partners. Gary noticed Sir Myles and Duke Baird talking in urgent whispers, occasionally shooting glances at the Lord of Trebond.
When he turned back to Cythera, he noticed she looked weary.
“Gary, let’s find a different party.”
Gary was not in attendance on the night the fruit of Thom’s endeavours was revealed to the court. He had gone to dine with Sir Myles at the latter’s town house, where they were discussing trade over port when a hooded figure swept into the library.
It was George.
Just as Gary realised that of course Myles would know George, the thief spoke. “Roger. He’s brought Roger back.”
Myles went white. Nobody had to ask who had done it.
“You’re joking,” said Gary. “Please say you’re joking.”
“I wish I was, lad,” said George, grimly. Turning to Myles, he said, “That's what he was up to on All Hallows. Stefan sent a messenger. Said you’d be here, an’ you’d want to know right away.”
“Yes, of course. Please thank him for me. Gary, we’ll be needed back up at the Palace,” said Myles, pushing himself out of his seat.
Against all advice, King Roald restored all of Roger’s lands and titles. It was clear to Gary and many others that the resurrected Duke was not quite the same man he had been before Alanna had killed him. The only good thing to come out of the whole affair was that Jon seemed to snap back into his senses. He dropped Josiane, and Gary collected a gold noble from Raoul (who grudgingly admitted he was quite relieved to lose that particular bet).
The restoration of Roger’s lands and titles caused a rift between Duke Gareth and the King. This was the man who had attempted to kill the Queen, slowly and painfully, and the Duke could not understand how the King could pretend as if nothing had happened. Aunt Lianne put on a brave face but she was shaken, and Gary knew from the discussions between his parents that his father considered it an acute betrayal of his sister.
Jon looked thunderous when Gary mentioned it to him.
“You don’t need to tell me about it,” he snapped. “How could he do that to Mother after all she’s been through? And it’s not like restoring his lands and titles achieved anything, except allow him to feel less awkward and make everyone else think we’re quite mad!”
Duke Gareth spent more time with Aunt Lianne, and Gary took on more of his work. He and Jon both took on more responsibility while their fathers were distracted. Raoul felt left out, so they put him in charge of the King’s Own.
Gary rarely got to see Cythera alone during this time, which annoyed him, though she was often waiting on his aunt when he visited. They did spend half an hour together each week in the gardens, as Cythera solicited his help to cut roses for the Queen’s bedchamber, which she now only rarely left. There were so few topics that were pleasing to talk about of late that they mostly went about this task in silence. It was companionable silence, however, and Gary thought it was something of a solace for both of them.
Then winter came, and the Queen passed after a series of illnesses. The court went into deep mourning, and Gary picked up the rest of his father’s duties. After the King followed the Queen, Jon picked up the rest of his.
The next months were a blur. Gary was thankful for the time spent shadowing his father over the past year and half; without that experience, he suspected he might have drowned. As it was, his days became an endless rotation of meetings, audiences, paperwork, and what Jon euphemistically called ‘quiet evening get-togethers’. Gary’s mother, Duchess Roanna of Naxen, thankfully stepped in to organise the latter. He’d never before been so pleased with his mother’s imperious manner.
He was at one of these events the day that Alanna returned.
“Alanna returned to Corus today,” said Gary, taking a seat by Cythera. “Jon’s eager to catch up with her.”
Cythera nodded. “You need to wind down the party so he can escape without being rude.”
“Pretty much.”
“Leave it to me,” said Cythera, dimpling.
He watched her confer briefly with his mother and then work her way around the room. Within an hour it seemed emptier. He quizzed her when she joined him again.
She dimpled at him again. “Easy. As soon as enough highly ranked people leave, the rest start trickling out; once enough people of rank have retired, then Jon can slip away. There’ll be hardly anyone left soon. Also, your mother asked the kitchens to slow the wine and food.”
“Clever,” said Gary, impressed.
Cythera beamed at him and then covered a yawn. “Oh dear! It does feel quite late.”
Gary took his cue and offered her his arm. They left together, and Gary walked Cythera to her rooms. When they reached her door, he thanked her, and instead of kissing her hand, leaned in and kissed her cheek. He felt dimple under his lips.
The following day, Gary learned about as much of Alanna as he did of the beautiful exiled Princess of Sarain. Jon was smitten.
He ignored Jon’s raptures until the next time he saw Cythera, who greeted him by reaching up on the tips of her toes to return the kiss he bestowed on her a couple of nights prior. So when Jon complained of Thayet’s guard refusing to play chaperone, Gary quickly suggested inviting Cythera.
From there, it took barely any time at all for Gary and Cythera to slowly build romance on the friendship they had developed. Gary was pleased that his courtship seemed to for once be going smoother than Jon’s; Thayet kept him steadily at arm’s length.
“I like Thayet a lot,” Cythera told him, one time they went out riding. “She would be good for your cousin.”
“Want to make a bet on it?”
A look was her only response.
“All right, I’ll ask Raoul instead,” grumbled Gary.
“You’re incorrigible.”
Gary thought there were few who were present who would forget Jonathan’s coronation day. He was at the infirmary with his father when the earth abruptly stopped heaving and the last fighting stopped. He later learned that was the moment that Alanna’s sword ended the Duke of Conte for a second, final time.
Duty attended to, he raced back to the Hall of Crowns.
He found Cythera sitting with Thayet. They both appeared to be propping each other up.
“Cythera!”
She opened her eyes and scrambled to her feet, and he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her soundly, not caring who saw.
They married as soon as the mourning period ended.
Message: As us Antipodeans would say… Happy Midwinter Christmas! (it is actually cold here now). I'm afraid I haven't edited this, so hopefully it's not too rough!
From: Idleness
Title: A slow courtship
Rating: G
Word Count: 2995
Wishlist Item: 1. Gary/Cythera
Summary (and any warnings): Gary courts Lady Cythera
“I hear you’ve been shadowing your father a lot these days.”
Lady Cythera dimpled as she spoke, and Gary struggled and failed to summon a reply that wasn’t inane.
“Oh—yes—I have. For a few weeks now.”
Cythera smiled and paused, and Gary hastily offered his arm. He was attending one of his aunt’s early evening garden parties while the warm late summer sun still lasted. The Queen was still weak and preferred to retire early, after which the rest of the court would move indoors to continue their revelry until the early hours.
“I had wondered at first if you were avoiding us, but then I realised that Duke Gareth was just keeping you busy. Well, I’m glad you where able to attend today. It means a lot to the Queen, you know.”
“I know.”
Cythera dimpled again and they strolled down from the terrace and into the garden.
“So, have you been enjoying the work with your father?”
“Yes—much more than I expected. I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks; one of the first things being that I didn’t know nearly as much as I thought I did,” admitted Gary, ruefully. “It’s daunting. I never really considered before just how much Father does and know much he has to know to do it. You should see the stacks of documents he has to read nearly every day! And then on top of that he’s still training master for the pages and squires.”
“I can barely imagine,” murmured Cythera. “But ever since I came to court, the Duke always struck me as someone who likes to be busy.”
“To a point. I know he would like to spend a lot more time with Aunt Lianne lately.”
“I suppose that might be one reason he’s drafted you in. I think it’s wonderful, though. He must think highly of your ability and trust you very much. I’m sure you’ll make him proud.”
“Thank you,” said Gary, bowing. “It means a lot to me that you think so.”
“Oh look, the new Marenite roses are flowering. How splendid!” Cythera released his arm on reaching the bed, to bend down and draw an open bloom to her face. “Mmm, lovely. Don’t you agree?”
She was dimpling at him again, and Gary once more found himself incapable of witty or profound speech. Thankfully, Cythera didn’t seem to notice his stupidity and beamed as he too drew a bloom to his face. He agreed that it was in fact quite lovely.
“Let’s cut some for the Queen,” said Cythera, clapping her hands together. “I’ll ask the servants to arrange them in her dressing room for her to enjoy in the morning.”
And so Gary found himself gingerly stepping between rose bushes in his court shoes (he did know that the gardeners used manure on these beds), while Cythera stood on the grassy verge and issued instructions about which blooms were best and where to cut them. He knew in that moment he would do almost anything for Lady Cythera of Elden.
***
Gary was reviewing reports when his father found him the next afternoon. He looked up from his papers to greet him as the Duke settled himself into a chair.
“You should call on Lianne before supper tonight; she would like to thank you for the flowers.”
Gary looked up, surprised.
“Flowers? Oh that—It was Lady Cythera’s idea. She couldn’t do it without snagging her gown, so I cut the ones she selected.”
“I’m pleased you learned something of Chivalry while under my charge,” said the elder Gareth, drily. “Are you squiring her about, these days?”
“Uh..."
Duke Gareth smiled.
“Have you made it through the reports from Legann?”
“Yes—they’re on your desk. I’ve placed my notes on the covering sheet,” said Gary, pleased for the change of subject.
They spoke for another few minutes on the issue of a merchants’ dispute in the port city. Gary summarised the players and their positions, the likely contributing factors, and the other issues at play, and answered his father’s probing on different points of information.
“Well summarised, son. What do you recommend?”
“I agree with Sir Imrah’s take—normally it would be an issue for his father, Lord Petar, to adjudicate on. It never should have come this far. But after Lord Petar’s accident… some opportunists are testing Imrah’s authority to act on behalf of his father by petitioning the King. I will ask a clerk to draft a letter to say we have looked into the issue and are satisfied that the situation does not warrant our intervention and refer them back to Sir Imrah of Legann. If they are still not happy, they are welcome to test it in front of a magistrate, but I doubt they will bother to risk the expense of having their claims thrown out.”
“Very good. Have it done and ready for the King’s signature in the morning,” said Duke Gareth, eyes twinkling. “That young Sir Imrah—he will be a good Lord when he inherits. Cultivate that relationship.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Duke pushed himself from his chair, groaning. “Don’t be cheeky. And don’t forget to visit your aunt.”
***
The following week, Coram returned to court without Alanna.
Shortly afterward, Jon enlisted Gary’s help to convince his parents to let him travel with Sir Myles and Coram. Gary knew his cousin well enough to realise there were things he wasn’t being told. It was also clear to Gary that Jon needed to get away—there had been a subtle shift in Jon’s attitude that had left Gary feeling exasperated with him at times. He hoped Alanna would tell him to pull his head in.
***
“So, my father told me to keep in touch with Sir Imrah,” explained Gary, “which I have been doing. I like him a lot, so it hasn’t been a trial. And you know, he talks a lot about his wife, whom he clearly adores, but I didn’t realise until recently who his ‘Annie’ was. Can you guess?”
“Nope,” said Raoul, who didn’t even try.
“Lady Roxanne.”
Raoul guffawed. “The Lady Roxanne you kissed for ten gold nobles?”
“Yes,” said Gary, drily. “The Lady Roxanne. I wasn’t aware there were any others.”
Raoul grinned. “How did you find that out?”
“Well, I came across them promenading hand in hand along Temple Way.”
“And then you had to stop and talk, I suppose.”
“Well, I could hardly avoid it. Imrah spotted me first.”
Raoul chuckled. “This is too funny. What happened next?”
“Small talk, the usual. Then Imrah asked if I had met his wife, and she looked me strangely and said we have.”
“Did she tell him about the bet, I wonder?”
“Who knows? Anyway, it was the most awkward thing. I could barely meet her eyes. Then afterward, just to make things worse, Cythera asked what that was all about and I had to explain the bet to her.”
“Wait—so you were out with Lady Cythera when you ran into Imrah and his lady?”
“Yes.”
“What did Cythera say?” Raoul finally managed between gasps of laughter.
“Not much, but I don’t think she was very impressed. She said, ‘Lady Roxanne is a cousin on my mother’s side. She may be homely, but she has a very kind heart and I’m pleased she’s found someone who dotes on her.’ I felt like a real ogre.”
Raoul finally gave in to incontrollable giggles.
Gary decided not to tell his friend the rest of his conversation with Cythera.
He had said, “You are right; it was an unkind thing to do. I may not have appreciated that when I was fifteen, but I do now.”
Lady Cythera had dimpled and said, “I know.”
***
Jon returned to Court. Gary suspected almost immediately that something had happened between his cousin and Alanna. Jon brooded, and then immediately set about courting Princess Josiane, who had arrived from the Copper Isles.
Gary took an immediate dislike to the willowy, golden-haired princess, in spite of his Aunt’s fondness for the daughter of a childhood friend.
“Have you spent much time with Princess Josiane?” asked Gary. He often sought Cythera out at parties now, and had lost his tongue-tie around her.
Cythera frowned and smoothed the skirt of her ball gown. “A little. She’s often sitting with the Queen of late.”
“What’s your impression of her?”
“I haven’t had much opportunity to converse with her, though I will own that I don’t seek it,” said Cythera, frowning. “I have noticed she spends a lot of time with Lady Delia’s set.”
Gary had also noted that Josiane very quickly gravitated toward Delia of Eldorne and her set on her introduction to the Tortallan court. It confirmed to him that his impressions were right. Gary had admired Delia once; he’d even fought with Raoul over one of her riding gloves, though it was clear she had her sights set on Jon. Once the infatuation wore off, Gary started to see her for what she was: a vain and conniving social climber. Several months cooling off at the border after that duel helped him put things in perspective; he was embarrassed at his behaviour over a woman whose character he had so badly judged--and who obviously wasn't interested in him.
“You don’t spend much time with Lady Delia’s set, I have noticed.”
Cythera made a face.
“There are others whose company I much prefer.”
“Hm,” said Gary.
“Are you worried for your cousin?”
“Jon? I think he will tire of her,” said Gary. “In fact, I have a quiet bet on with Raoul that it won’t last longer than three months. Josiane is not clever or interesting enough to hold his attention for long.”
“For ten gold nobles?” asked Cythera, throwing him an arch look.
“No, just one gold noble is at stake for this bet,” replied Gary, grinning. “I think Jon’s trying to prove something, so I wouldn’t put it past him to cut off his nose to spite his face.”
Cythera rolled her eyes but laughed, dimpling.
“In this case, I hope you win your bet,” she said, then paused. “What do you think of Master Lord Thom?”
It was Gary’s turn to grimace. “I don’t think of him at all, if I can help it,” said Gary, drily.
“You’re close with Lady Alanna, though?”
“Alanna is one of my closest friends,” agreed Gary. “But it doesn’t follow that I have to like her brother.”
“No, it doesn’t,” agreed Cythera, frowning. “It’s just—he is a vexing character, don’t you think? He disdains most people, but also craves admiration. It just seems such a lonely way to be, and I sometimes feel very sorry for him.”
“I might feel sorry for him if he weren’t such a prat,” said Gary. His antipathy for the arrogant young sorcerer was such that he really wasn’t interested in unpacking why Thom behaved as he did.
“He has also fallen in with Lady Delia’s set, you know,” continued Cythera.
“I’m so happy he’s found some friends.”
Cythera frowned.
“I find it quite concerning. I have overheard…” she trailed off, as the din of conversation in the ballroom abruptly dropped.
They could clearly hear the subject of their conversation screech, “...and of course I can do anything Kerel the Sage could do! And anything Denmarie the Earth-Shaker could do for that matter, too!”
Delia’s melodious laugh tinkled into the silence that followed.
“Master Lord Thom, do be serious now… Surely that’s quite impossible...”
The din of conversation rose again as courtiers turned back to their dance and conversation partners. Gary noticed Sir Myles and Duke Baird talking in urgent whispers, occasionally shooting glances at the Lord of Trebond.
When he turned back to Cythera, he noticed she looked weary.
“Gary, let’s find a different party.”
***
Gary was not in attendance on the night the fruit of Thom’s endeavours was revealed to the court. He had gone to dine with Sir Myles at the latter’s town house, where they were discussing trade over port when a hooded figure swept into the library.
It was George.
Just as Gary realised that of course Myles would know George, the thief spoke. “Roger. He’s brought Roger back.”
Myles went white. Nobody had to ask who had done it.
“You’re joking,” said Gary. “Please say you’re joking.”
“I wish I was, lad,” said George, grimly. Turning to Myles, he said, “That's what he was up to on All Hallows. Stefan sent a messenger. Said you’d be here, an’ you’d want to know right away.”
“Yes, of course. Please thank him for me. Gary, we’ll be needed back up at the Palace,” said Myles, pushing himself out of his seat.
***
Against all advice, King Roald restored all of Roger’s lands and titles. It was clear to Gary and many others that the resurrected Duke was not quite the same man he had been before Alanna had killed him. The only good thing to come out of the whole affair was that Jon seemed to snap back into his senses. He dropped Josiane, and Gary collected a gold noble from Raoul (who grudgingly admitted he was quite relieved to lose that particular bet).
The restoration of Roger’s lands and titles caused a rift between Duke Gareth and the King. This was the man who had attempted to kill the Queen, slowly and painfully, and the Duke could not understand how the King could pretend as if nothing had happened. Aunt Lianne put on a brave face but she was shaken, and Gary knew from the discussions between his parents that his father considered it an acute betrayal of his sister.
Jon looked thunderous when Gary mentioned it to him.
“You don’t need to tell me about it,” he snapped. “How could he do that to Mother after all she’s been through? And it’s not like restoring his lands and titles achieved anything, except allow him to feel less awkward and make everyone else think we’re quite mad!”
Duke Gareth spent more time with Aunt Lianne, and Gary took on more of his work. He and Jon both took on more responsibility while their fathers were distracted. Raoul felt left out, so they put him in charge of the King’s Own.
Gary rarely got to see Cythera alone during this time, which annoyed him, though she was often waiting on his aunt when he visited. They did spend half an hour together each week in the gardens, as Cythera solicited his help to cut roses for the Queen’s bedchamber, which she now only rarely left. There were so few topics that were pleasing to talk about of late that they mostly went about this task in silence. It was companionable silence, however, and Gary thought it was something of a solace for both of them.
Then winter came, and the Queen passed after a series of illnesses. The court went into deep mourning, and Gary picked up the rest of his father’s duties. After the King followed the Queen, Jon picked up the rest of his.
***
The next months were a blur. Gary was thankful for the time spent shadowing his father over the past year and half; without that experience, he suspected he might have drowned. As it was, his days became an endless rotation of meetings, audiences, paperwork, and what Jon euphemistically called ‘quiet evening get-togethers’. Gary’s mother, Duchess Roanna of Naxen, thankfully stepped in to organise the latter. He’d never before been so pleased with his mother’s imperious manner.
He was at one of these events the day that Alanna returned.
“Alanna returned to Corus today,” said Gary, taking a seat by Cythera. “Jon’s eager to catch up with her.”
Cythera nodded. “You need to wind down the party so he can escape without being rude.”
“Pretty much.”
“Leave it to me,” said Cythera, dimpling.
He watched her confer briefly with his mother and then work her way around the room. Within an hour it seemed emptier. He quizzed her when she joined him again.
She dimpled at him again. “Easy. As soon as enough highly ranked people leave, the rest start trickling out; once enough people of rank have retired, then Jon can slip away. There’ll be hardly anyone left soon. Also, your mother asked the kitchens to slow the wine and food.”
“Clever,” said Gary, impressed.
Cythera beamed at him and then covered a yawn. “Oh dear! It does feel quite late.”
Gary took his cue and offered her his arm. They left together, and Gary walked Cythera to her rooms. When they reached her door, he thanked her, and instead of kissing her hand, leaned in and kissed her cheek. He felt dimple under his lips.
***
The following day, Gary learned about as much of Alanna as he did of the beautiful exiled Princess of Sarain. Jon was smitten.
He ignored Jon’s raptures until the next time he saw Cythera, who greeted him by reaching up on the tips of her toes to return the kiss he bestowed on her a couple of nights prior. So when Jon complained of Thayet’s guard refusing to play chaperone, Gary quickly suggested inviting Cythera.
From there, it took barely any time at all for Gary and Cythera to slowly build romance on the friendship they had developed. Gary was pleased that his courtship seemed to for once be going smoother than Jon’s; Thayet kept him steadily at arm’s length.
“I like Thayet a lot,” Cythera told him, one time they went out riding. “She would be good for your cousin.”
“Want to make a bet on it?”
A look was her only response.
“All right, I’ll ask Raoul instead,” grumbled Gary.
“You’re incorrigible.”
***
Gary thought there were few who were present who would forget Jonathan’s coronation day. He was at the infirmary with his father when the earth abruptly stopped heaving and the last fighting stopped. He later learned that was the moment that Alanna’s sword ended the Duke of Conte for a second, final time.
Duty attended to, he raced back to the Hall of Crowns.
He found Cythera sitting with Thayet. They both appeared to be propping each other up.
“Cythera!”
She opened her eyes and scrambled to her feet, and he scooped her up in his arms and kissed her soundly, not caring who saw.
They married as soon as the mourning period ended.