Xyrath walked further in, striding, looking everything over, including Riven.“You look like a strong breeze would knock you over, lad.Understood you were ill.Are you doing well?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”Riven said.
“Good, good,” Xyrath nodded, his blue eyes piercing.“I want what is best for the heir to the throne, you understand?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Marriage is a give and take, young friend,” Xyrath said, resuming his prowl.“Satia wants this and I want other things.So she gets what she wants and I get what I want.”He gave Riven a knowing look.“Makes for a solid relationship, built on mutual trust and respect.”
“Majesty,” Riven decided not to ask any questions, having no idea where this was leading.
“Sometimes, she makes decisions that I don’t quite agree with,” Xyrath looked almost pensive.“But that is part of the trade off, you understand.Tit for tat, so to speak.”
Riven dared to raise a questioning eyebrow.
Xyrath cleared his throat.“You know that our Chained Mage, died unexpectedly, yes?Terrible thing.His heart, so I understand.”
“A terrible thing,” Riven repeated, his own feelings rather mixed.
“Just so, just so,” Xyrath nodded, sighing deeply.“Terrible.”He went to stand by the window.“Do you perchance know how to cast a portal?”
Riven blinked.“No majesty,” he said.“I might be able to learn, but—”
“No, no, just asking.”Xyrath was clearly disappointed.
“Your new Chained Mage will no doubt know that spell.”Riven offered.
“Might take a bit longer than anticipated to get one.”Xyrath snorted.“Never mind, never mind.The obstacle is the way, yes?A challenge to be overcome.”
The door opened, and Witless entered, with the tray and the doll.“Dinner, Master,” he called with a smile.
He stopped dead when he saw the King, flinching so hard everything on the tray rattled.
“Put that down before you drop it,” Xyrath snapped.“And get out.”
Witless rushed to obey, backing toward the door, clutching the doll close and bowing over and over until he was safely through.Riven took the moment to get to his feet.
“Disgusting,” Xyrath said.“Don’t know why Satia didn’t have him exposed at birth.Kindest thing to do.”He shook his head, then turned back to smile at Riven.“At any rate, I really just stopped by to tell you that you will be housing Ritathan’s library.The Royal Librarian is reluctant to keep books of magic on his shelves.Seems to think if he mishandles them, they might blow up, or try to escape.And you’ve room here.”
“Books are not really of much use to me,” Riven said carefully.
“They are to me,” Xyrath said sharply, and those blue eyes grew cold even though the smile stayed on his lips.“Regardless, for now you focus on the Queen’s little project.Afterwards, you will aid me inmyproject.”He lowered his voice.“Atira blades.”
Riven recognized the obsession in those cold eyes.Of course the king had to crave a blade as mythical as an ehat.“Of course, Majesty.But I don’t have much experience with research,” he cautioned.“My school is more hands on.Practical, you might say.”
“Well, the less said about that, the better.Every trade has its secrets,” Xyrath clapped Riven on the shoulder and kept his hand there.“Not interested in details.Interested in results.”
Riven gripped the sandstone tight in his fist, fighting the urge to step back.
“This ‘bonding’ thing,” Xyrath grew serious and made a vague sweeping gesture with his free hand.“It worked out well for my beloved Queen, and that is all well and good.I don’t want to know any details, you understand.”
Riven nodded, recognizing self-preservation when he saw it.
Xyrath squeezed his shoulder, hard.His blue eyes, so close to Riven, were harder.“You
understand that if anything should happen, and my queen be displeased, I will see you die.Battle magics, casters, useful stuff in combat, but I was taught early on how to take out enemy mages.Quickly.Effectively.”
Riven tried not to show fear, but he must not have succeeded, because Xyrath broke into a wide smile.“Good, good, glad we understand one another.”He released Riven and started toward the door.“They should start bringing up the books shortly.I expect to hear good things about your progress, young man.”
