To Make a Kinder Children's Tale

24: The Meeting

The Prince had spent his days with his cousin Rileus, whenever he managed to escape his betrothed-all the easier to do when they were fighting. It left Esme staring at the walls, as she had never put herself forward. Not like anyone came to see her, either. She felt ridiculous trying to visit strangers in the castle on her own, finding it difficult to connect with any of them. The walls were beginning to get to her, fiercely, so it was with a mixture of that bitter resentment of the man as well as abject gratitude for rescuing her from monotony that greeted him when he came in earlier than usual. It was a hell of a combination to live under.

"Now, this is going to be a small luncheon followed by serious questions on what he knew, when. Rileus will be there, as well as Grandfather. I believe he mentioned having the Elder there as well."

"Quite a gathering for only knowing my mother. He's acting like there is something grave at stake." The former thief was trying to emulate her lover's bland tone rather unsuccessfully.

The man chose to ignore it-safer, considering their arguments."There may be. I don't know what, but the people he chose does lead to that conclusion."

"Very well. What do you need of me?" She already felt the attack of nerves beginning, unfortunately. Something was finally starting to move, after all.

Althalos frowned, trying to think of anything that could give her an edge in the meeting. "What I would like to do is display you as the enchanting creature you are-oh don't start laughing, dear. I mean for you to wear something that ensures that all there cannot mistake you for the child he may weave into his tale, but I think that traditionally attractive clothing would serve less than ensuring that it suits who you are."

Esme had genuinely started to laugh, shedding a hair's breadth of her tension. She may finally have felt pretty enough due to the way people were treating her, but the idea of being herself sobered her. Women didn't wear leather pants as far as she had seen-let alone light armor-but she had a set made. They were a cross between the functional she had always known and the finery a woman without a damn thing to do should wear. She had been tempted to go for a delicate blue leather, but had settled on a moss green and buttery tan combination as it was more durable and for hiding the inevitable stains that such gear gathered. He was right to say that the set was entirely new but it stung a bit more than she cared to let on.

Althalos winced in silence, having finally learned that she did not want to address every negative feeling the bond foisted on him. Honestly, she had to admit that he was doing fairly well in dealing with her.

It didn't take her long to dress, but it was strange to have him escort her to Truebell's suite. Normally he took her arm in his and slowed his pace for her to walk comfortably in all the trippy length a proper gown held. He had caught her, a few times. But in pants? He rested his hand just above her belt line, and took a much faster pace. She guessed he felt like she could handle herself in more familiar clothes.

"You know this is a little maddening."

Althalos chuckled overhead. "I've wanted to peel you out of a set of leathers for months. I'm surprised I have the strength to behave this well. But then you'd pick a fight if my hand strayed, right now."

"You're probably right," she sighed-as much as she could, at this pace."Just how far is his suite, in this maze?"

"Back wall, first floor. He has access to the gardens, like many younger sons who have not built their own homes."

"Whyever not?"

"He's only a couple decades older than me, at most. He's not married and travels too much to care for his own property. Many a young Aelif is restless. If Rileus had not wound me up in his affairs, I likely would have become a wanderer as well. There's not much for a single man to do in our culture."

The minor conversation flowed better than their discourse had for days, which made the walk round the castle's halls pleasant and over far too soon. Althalos raised a hand to knock, then paused to pull her into his side for a brief hug. "Are you prepared for wherever this leads?"

"Yes."

He knocked. A nondescript creature lead them to a sitting room much like their own, but larger. A round table where four people sat took over a good chunk of the extra space. The bondmates were late.

Truebell stood and bowed over her hand, clasping it in both of his. "Greetings, Tal-bit. You look much like I suspected you would grow to be."

She bowed slightly. "Is that my real name, Truebell?"

He pulled out a seat for her as he responded. "Tal-Anan refused to name you anything. I had to call you something, so I gave a diminutive of your mother's to you. But Esme suits you well enough."

Truebell waited until Althalos seated himself, then sank back into his chair. "I haven't called you all here lightly. This will basically be a confession of a crime or a breaking of the treaty, instigated by me."

Rileus frowned. "How so?"

"I'm responsible for keeping a bondmaid from her mate. Further, this action on my part lead to her addiction to far more than alcohol and eventually her death. And I'd do it again-hopefully with more success in preventing Tal-Anan from ending her life, but we cannot change what has been done."

"I'm interested in how you managed all that, son-in spite of knowing most of the information you're giving out beforehand." The king being the first to respond to the blunt confession was no surprise as he had the most authority over the outcome. "And please, leave out the levity."

"That's fine father." Truebell shook his head. "I just wanted that part out the way, and any other approach would have taken more patience than I wished to wield right now.

"It was about a quarter a century ago-no, longer. I remember it was Rileus' thirty-second birthday, and the both of you must be in your sixties, by now. I watched Tal-Anan entice a very young man from the crowd of boys and into some side-room with the intent of seducing him. A very drunk young man, not of legal age to be touched. Packed the boy back into the party and found out she was in the throes of a bond with him. Her defense for this action was that he touched her heart-whatever she meant by..."

A chair crashed to the ground. Althalos had stood so fast that his seat couldn't maintain it's legs. His wide chest was heaving as he fought and failed to keep himself calm, staring all the while at this uncle with a dawning horror. It was a brief expression, as he quickly turned from the table and left the room out a side door.

"As I was saying..."

"Excuse me, I want my betrothed in here for this-why did he leave like that?" Esme had failed to notice the door until her braw Prince ran off through it. She was slipping if she wasn't noticing such details.

Truebell looked at her with a truly grieving look-which made little sense to her. "Tal...Esme, Althalos was your mother's bondmate before you-unconsummated, yes, as you're his only betrothed. It's rather a shock to him, given everything. If you give him time, he'll come in on his own."

Esme understood how that would be a disturbing surprise-if you did not know for yourself. Given how unquestioning he was of her or this new reaction, she wasn't so sure that he was that shocked and not otherwise panicking as he always seemed to do when it came to that time in his life. The former thief stood to follow him as she was more confused than disgusted for the moment. "I'm not passively waiting this out. I do enough of that already. This is too important for me, and now it's clearly important for him. You're not doing this without him."

She didn't look back at the table as she followed Althalos' chosen path. But if she had, she would have been startled by the looks that ranged a spectrum of admiration. But she didn't because she wasn't used to searching for praise-ducking out on punishment was more her habit.