Post by opalgirl on May 3, 2009 16:03:27 GMT 10
Title: Conte Women Will Rule The World.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 582
Summary: Kalasin is driving Kaddar mad. She's turned the court on its ear - and now she wants to do it again.
Notes: I was having some fun with Kaddar, the poor tormented soul.
There was a thirteen-year-old on the throne of the Copper Isles, his cousin Zaimid had only recently returned (now married to the older sister of the Isles' new queen), his own wife seemed intent on driving his mother mad, and his sisters were of no help. His advisors seemed to want his attention or presence constantly - even more so than usual - and his court was very much divided in their opinion of his Tortallan wife.
Kaddar Iliniat was stressed. Actually, that was an understatement. He rubbed his eyes, wearily and stretched. His wife had managed to pry the rings from her swollen fingers and now sat across from him, going over what appeared to be personal letters.
"Kally?" He asked, seeing her yawn.
Kalasin raised her head, dark circles visible under her blue eyes, even with her tan. "Something for you?" She asked, folding her hands on the curve of her belly.
"You've developed a wandering eye," he teased, gently. She had been observing the men of rank closest to them at dinner. "Does someone other than me strike your fancy, my dear?"
She glared at him, letting him know what she thought of that in no uncertain terms. "Don't be ridiculous. They wouldn't want me like this," she indicated the curve of her abdomen, a visible sign of the fact that she carried Carthak's heir within, "and your mother would skin me."
He cringed; his mother and his wife fought constantly, usually about matters of decorum. Those arguments were bad enough to be witness to. "So?" He probed.
"For my parents - they're looking at potential husbands for my sisters," she replied, yawning once again. "Father asked me to look at suitable candidates here."
Sisters. She had two, both younger, Kaddar recalled, and all from the same unconventional royal family. He didn't know how much more of that particular family the court could handle.
"Two of you, here? At once?" He asked, worried by this prospect.
Kally and her 'odd' ideas and their products - like the schools and hospitals she'd opened - had turned the court on its ear. Zaimid's Lady Sarai was in the process of shocking them once again and scaring them half to death at the same time, with her swordcraft and her fiery attitude. Would his nobles, in particular the older families, tolerate another woman of their like? Hag's bones, he thought and groaned.
She only shrugged and removed her slippers, apparently oblivious to his distress. She hadn't been able to fit her feet into sandals in weeks and had resorted to northern-style slippers, despite the heat.
"We might as well bring Daine back and let her tear down the palace - again," he said, dryly, "if your father intends to marry your sister here."
Kalasin raised her eyebrows, elegantly. Had she learned that trick from his mother? No, his older sister. "We can't," she told him, a tiny smile ruining her serious expression. "Daine's pregnant again."
She reached across and patted his arm. "Father's looking at the princes of Maren and Galla for the girls, too - don't fuss. Yet."
Kaddar sighed, seeing the mirth on her face at his expense. "I hate you," he grumbled. She was mostly capable of being diplomatic and charming, but in private she had a wicked sense of humor. And, as usual, she was intent on making his life difficult.
"You do not," she retorted, levering herself to her feet and crossing to her dressing room. "You just think you do."
Rating: PG
Word Count: 582
Summary: Kalasin is driving Kaddar mad. She's turned the court on its ear - and now she wants to do it again.
Notes: I was having some fun with Kaddar, the poor tormented soul.
There was a thirteen-year-old on the throne of the Copper Isles, his cousin Zaimid had only recently returned (now married to the older sister of the Isles' new queen), his own wife seemed intent on driving his mother mad, and his sisters were of no help. His advisors seemed to want his attention or presence constantly - even more so than usual - and his court was very much divided in their opinion of his Tortallan wife.
Kaddar Iliniat was stressed. Actually, that was an understatement. He rubbed his eyes, wearily and stretched. His wife had managed to pry the rings from her swollen fingers and now sat across from him, going over what appeared to be personal letters.
"Kally?" He asked, seeing her yawn.
Kalasin raised her head, dark circles visible under her blue eyes, even with her tan. "Something for you?" She asked, folding her hands on the curve of her belly.
"You've developed a wandering eye," he teased, gently. She had been observing the men of rank closest to them at dinner. "Does someone other than me strike your fancy, my dear?"
She glared at him, letting him know what she thought of that in no uncertain terms. "Don't be ridiculous. They wouldn't want me like this," she indicated the curve of her abdomen, a visible sign of the fact that she carried Carthak's heir within, "and your mother would skin me."
He cringed; his mother and his wife fought constantly, usually about matters of decorum. Those arguments were bad enough to be witness to. "So?" He probed.
"For my parents - they're looking at potential husbands for my sisters," she replied, yawning once again. "Father asked me to look at suitable candidates here."
Sisters. She had two, both younger, Kaddar recalled, and all from the same unconventional royal family. He didn't know how much more of that particular family the court could handle.
"Two of you, here? At once?" He asked, worried by this prospect.
Kally and her 'odd' ideas and their products - like the schools and hospitals she'd opened - had turned the court on its ear. Zaimid's Lady Sarai was in the process of shocking them once again and scaring them half to death at the same time, with her swordcraft and her fiery attitude. Would his nobles, in particular the older families, tolerate another woman of their like? Hag's bones, he thought and groaned.
She only shrugged and removed her slippers, apparently oblivious to his distress. She hadn't been able to fit her feet into sandals in weeks and had resorted to northern-style slippers, despite the heat.
"We might as well bring Daine back and let her tear down the palace - again," he said, dryly, "if your father intends to marry your sister here."
Kalasin raised her eyebrows, elegantly. Had she learned that trick from his mother? No, his older sister. "We can't," she told him, a tiny smile ruining her serious expression. "Daine's pregnant again."
She reached across and patted his arm. "Father's looking at the princes of Maren and Galla for the girls, too - don't fuss. Yet."
Kaddar sighed, seeing the mirth on her face at his expense. "I hate you," he grumbled. She was mostly capable of being diplomatic and charming, but in private she had a wicked sense of humor. And, as usual, she was intent on making his life difficult.
"You do not," she retorted, levering herself to her feet and crossing to her dressing room. "You just think you do."