The Court of the Swan

Chapter 2: Part 2

"By the Spangled-Scepter, Lachlan!" his Grandfather cursed as Lachlan entered the family solar, flanked by his brothers. Tal'Draith Drimir was an imposing man, even at sixty-plus years, even sitting down in a simple ladder-backed chair. His hair grazed his collar and was more silver than black now; his full beard was pure silver. He had the strong cheek bones that Lachlan's father, Lachlan himself and his two brothers shared, yet Draith's had a harshness that was solely his own. Draith's eyes were the color of a threatening storm cloud, that right now threatened his youngest grandson with a look of equal parts hot anger and cold calculation. If Lachlan dared admit it, he was in fact the most like him, boiling anger like this morning or the cool-headed thinker he felt he could only be around Aeldred. 

"All you had to do was pick one," his Grandfather declared. "Any one of those girls would have done. Just a nod from you and, before the gongs ended, I could have broken the news. The people would have cheered us. Toasted their king and this family." He stood up and waved his hand around at them. Lachlan groaned inwardly as he felt a lecture coming on. "The people like, no, need auspicious tidings. Its like feeding pies to the pigeons - they eat it up. And a contented city is a lawful city. And lawful cities are quiet cities. Then the focus can be on what it needs to be, the nobles and their damnedable ever-present scheming."

Dranneth Drimir, Lachlan's father and Draith's only-born, put a hand on Lachlan's shoulder, maybe to head off a full-blown tirade by his father. "I know you have might have other interests, but our family needs the security of as many allies as can be managed. There seems to be a restlessness in the air. I feel it."

Lachlan wanted to seize the moment and tell them about what was truly important, what he had seen in the night sky!

"Father, Grandfather," he turned to them both in kind, "I wasn't trying to subvert your plans. You know that last night was not just the eve of the New Year.  Last night-"

"You knew I spent weeks, weeks, visiting those families to see which of their daughters would be a fit for you." Lady Phedra, his mother and quite a formidable woman herself, could no longer remain silent. "Lachlan, Drake's own betrothal is to be finalized and a wedding date set for early summer. Maybe even late Spring if Astrae gives birth early like her ever-expanding belly is predicting."

At mention of his wife and the size of her, Raynor's face grew unreadable. Phedra continued nonplussed. "I'm done with your boyhood whims, Lachlan. You are eighteen. It is past time you act with us and not against us."

"Eighteen." Draith harrumphed.  "With seventeen, I had already taken the banner from Chaldar and stopped the Mindoans from advancing. Lachlan, your Mother will pick one from the lot. Your say is done. The announcement will just have to be part of the formal invitation for the Naming Tourney along with Drake's nuptials. It would have been better to have it undiluted, but that choice is over now." 

He pointed to Drake who was leaning against a wall. "As it is, you and Firella's daughter are scheduled to marry on the second day of the Tourney. It is important that everyone feel they must attend. The cost of this whole endeavor will be immense, and yet, it will deliver me worthy dividends for future fealty."

Lachlan could wait no longer, "Grandfather, please hear me for just a moment."

Draith gave the barest of nods. "Briefly."

"I would never put something before my family. It was family that I was thinking of when I went to heed the stars. Master Aeldorn may no longer be welcome in your court, Grandfather, but I tell you truthfully, he does not want to see you fail." 

With mention of Aeldorn's name, Lachlan knew he would need to choose his next words carefully. "The Wanderers spoke and gave dire warning to the Crown, to your heir, to Raynor's child. " The Wolf. "There is a betrayer near to us, Grandfather. And a cult might be on the rise." The Snake. "A reborn prophet. Maybe they are linked," The Crows times three. "But there will be deaths, so many deaths, Grandfather, like that of a great battle or even a massacre."