The Dream Oath

Chapter 5.2

Edgar followed his brother into the King's chamber as he cleaned up.

"What couldn't be written in a letter?" Ralse asked as his brother helped him strip off his armor.

"Before you married The Queen, she was informally engaged to the late king's friend and commander of his armies. It seems the king was using their relationship to keep the commander following his raiding orders. While presumed dead, we have not been able to confirm this."

Ralse considered this for a moment. Maria was clever, talented, and beautiful. He wanted to win her affections. He had thought that through first working on her respect he stood a chance. He could be a pillar through her tragedy and try to show her the joy in life once she began healing. But fighting a ghost or worse, a coup, would irreparably damage any progress he made.

"Does she know?" Ralse asked turning plans over in his mind.

"She has never mentioned a word of him or shown any indications of searching for him. She's careful. I caught her one night singing a goodbye to him - although the words 'forever yours' were also mentioned. I believe that she thinks him dead."

"Is there evidence he isn't?"

"His body was never found. Only his sword brought back from final battle."

"If he was alive and presumably knew Maria was marrying me, why did he not make a move before the wedding? Or while I was away?" Ralse mused.

"I agree. It's odd. He's likely dead since there haven't even been whispers of a coup. But we should plan for the contingency that he is injured, just in case."

"Poor woman," Ralse sighed as he hopped into the bath to scrub the smell of horse off himself as quickly as possible. "How did she do?"

Edgar smiled the smile of a teach about to sing the prises of a promising pupil.

"She was not born into statecraft like us or our sisters, but she's picking it up with remarkable speed. Treat her well. I'd hate to see you wake up dead some morning."

"Edgar! How could you say such a thing? Who would dare murder a handsome face like this?" Ralse paused for a moment, pretending to think. "Aside from a lover forced to watch his love marry another man or a woman given an ultimatum of marry or be executed. Oh wait, that one is your problem."

"Let's try not to die then."

"Agreed. On a serious note, keep your ear to the ground for this commander of hers. I need to go woo my wife's affections away from a ghost."