Tor wasn’t convinced. But it had become increasingly apparent over the years that Tor didn’t share his brother’s feelings on many such issues.
Fernila seemed to think he harbored some resentment about not being High King, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He didn’twantto rule, not if it meant political marriages for himself and his siblings, not if it meant putting the realms abovetheir well-being. No, Tor was happy just the way he was—or at least he had been until so many people had told him his life was terrible.
The sour grapes of Fernila and her influence over Varex was one thing, but Ada wouldn’t ever say something with the sole intent of hurting him.
It was true that Tor resented his brother’s order. He’d have liked to join his troop in their drinking. But part of him already recognized that it had been a habit… or a way to stave off boredom. It felt less necessary on this visit as he spent time with his sister, Par, and Hena, and tried to figure out how he was going to get out of this particular coil.
What exactly had Varex said? He’d stopped short of ordering Tor to marry and said simply that he needed to court Terila… hadn’t he?
Tor frowned, wishing ruefully that his head had been a little less fuzzy when he’d had that particular interview. That wasn’t quite right either, was it?
Varex had broken it down into short sentences, like he worried Tor couldn’t follow along otherwise.
He’d said that Tor needed to visit Vayrin. That he needed to seriously consider his marriage prospects… and that he needed to make a serious effort at courting.
Tor jerked upright. He reviewed the interaction feverishly, straining his mind to make sure that he hadn’t missed anything, that he wasn’t mis-remembering because he was desperate. But… no, he wascertainthat was what Varex had said.
He’d no doubtmeantto link all those ideas together, but he’d been angry and curt, and each order had come out separately. Meaning the solution had been staring Tor in the face this whole time, and he’d missed it.
All Tor had to do was set foot in Vayrin, and then he could go find someone else to court. Just the act of doing the latter would be considering his marriage prospects—but he’d already refused Varex once, and that hadn’t worked very well. The whole point was to convince Varex that the best possible outcome was for Tor to stay as he was. So he needed to pick someone that Varex wouldn’t want him to bond with.
Since Tor needed to make an actual effort at courting, it couldn’t be someone who was too young or anything like that. It would need to be a royal, or Varex would just dismiss it as Tor not taking the matter seriously. So, who was left of marriageable age who was so inappropriate that Varex would be happy to grant Tor his freedom?
Marwila wouldn’t do because she was a reasonable choice. She was Sovereign Gornexi’s sister in Bessar, and if Varex was worried about Vayrin’s influence there—since Gornexi was bonded to Terila’s sister—then there was an argument for Tor courting her.Tor definitely didn’t want to get her hopes up, and he was pretty sure she was about the same age as Terila. Still too young for him.
No, he needed someone whom Varex would dismiss immediately but who technically fit all the requirements.
Tor was going to do exactly as he’d been told, just his way, so he’d get the exactwrongresults. Varex would see how foolish and arbitrary it was, how that was no way to pick marriage prospects.
He grinned. That was it. Tor should have thought of it before.
Tond was the smallest and most northerly realm, one that had lost a chunk of its land when the war ended. Vayrin and Lotar, who’d both allied themselves with Alossa in the end, had been expanded, and Bessar, Filon, and Tond had shrunk. Plus, Tond had lost more people than any other realm when some of its citizens had rebelled and fled, declaring themselves to be without Fealty. To keep the peace, Tor’s mother had declared the land over the mountain in Tond to be the land of the Exiles. They weren’t allowed in the United Realms, but as long as they stuck to themselves, they would be left alone.
On the complete opposite end of the Realms from Alossa, Tond was generally discounted in Varex’s political machinations. King Forex had three children. Bavil was the heir, so he was potentially too eligible if Tor wanted to ensure this didn’t actually end in marriage. The youngest, Larexa, was Extraordinary, so that probably bumped her up in consideration. Plus, if memory served, she was around Terila’s age, maybe even younger. She definitely wouldn’t do.
But Pelun was Unremarkable, and that made him perfect. He was a middle child with insignificant magic. And there could be no children out of that union without intervention from the High King and his magic. Tor had trouble thinking of anyone his brother would think waslesssuitable to be his partner, even though Tor could easily argue why he was a valid choice.
Tor could claim with perfect truthfulness that he’d chosen a royal from a realm with whom they didn’t currently have any ties, and it would be impossible for Varex to gainsay that. Tor was already Extraordinary, so it wasn’t like he needed Larexa to hopefully increase his magic with a bond. He could probably even claim that it was the thoughtful thing to do, elevating someone who had Unremarkable magic.
All of that was perfectly accurate, but he knew full well Varex wouldn’t approve at all. He would want someone of more consequence and standing. He’d be able to scold Torfor being a fool, and if the choice was Tor unmarried or badly married, he’d be relieved to go back to the former.
Tor couldn’t stop smiling, relief washing through him in a powerful wave. Yes, he could definitely do this. He just had to figure out how to get away from his retinue, because even if his guards had been hand-picked, he would definitely not put it past Yomil to have slipped in a spy or two amongst the servants. Framed as helping the High King, who could argue?
Tor needed enough time to actually court like he’d been instructed. This would go better without a royal summons immediately recalling him.
The obvious thing to do was to request the aid of Rin, so the next morning, he chased his best friend down and pulled him away from breakfast with the troops. Rin pouted, and Tor showed him the bag of snacks he’d absconded with from the kitchen.
Once they were seated in one of the out-of-the-way rooms that assured them of privacy, Tor laid everything out.
The other man’s face creased into a broad grin as soon as Tor told him the bare bones of the plan. “I knew that you’d figure this out, Tor. I like it already. Of course I’ll help.”
Tor wasn’t so sure that his friend was going to like the next part, and he was right.
Straightening sharply, Rin snapped, “You can’t go haring off on your own! You’re the High Prince!”
Rin was always up for a lark, but he had a few hang-ups, and this was one of them. There was no limit to what the two of them could do together, but if Tor tried to head out on his own, then all bets were off.
“I’m perfectly able to take care of myself,” Tor reminded him.
