Gods of Blood and Fire - A. J. Strickler Page 0,19

little strength left there is something I want you to help me do.”

She wiped the tears from her face. “You know I will help you with anything you ask father. Just tell me what I can do.”

The old King looked at his daughter. “I would like to sit on my throne and hold court one more time.”

“Why would you need me for that, just order you servants to handle the details? I am happy to help, but I don’t understand why you would need me?”

“Finn and Marin won’t let me. They said I am too weak and the strain would be too hard on my body. I have come to think they know more about my health than I do. My servants have been instructed not to follow my commands on anything but my personal needs.”

Raygan’s eyes flashed with anger. “How dare they, an over blown priest and a barber. Just because they are council members gives them no authority over their King, ill or not.”

The King smiled sadly, “When you grow old and weak your rank becomes less important. They all know I am finished. I am starting to think they know it for a fact now.” Raygan looked at her father confused. “What do you mean they know for a fact? Only God know things like that.”

They brought your brother back from his studies in Asqutania, and now I’m told they have been trying to curry favor with Cain. They know he will be King soon. I suppose it’s the way of things.”

Raygan pushed her father’s wispy hair to the side and began to smooth the top of his head with her hand. “When the time comes, Cain will make a fine King. It’s all he has ever dreamt about. Even when we were small children, he always talked about the day he would rule Bandara, but even at his best he will still never be as good to his people as you have been.”

The King took hold of her wrist with his shaky hand and eased it from his head. “Don’t you love your brother, dear?”

“Of course I love Cain, he’s just so boring—going on and on about armies and taxes and the trade guilds. He is no fun at all.” She slumped over on the bed and rolled her eyes. “He makes me tired, Father.”

King Aaron laughed that deep rich laugh Raygan loved so much. It made her happy to hear it, even if he was laughing at her. “Don’t you care about the Kingdom, dear? Directing the future of Bandara is important, Cain knows this. Do you?”

She looked into her father’s eyes, not as a Princess but as his daughter. He had never asked her a question like that. “I know it is important, Father, all that courtly business keeps the country together, but it’s the land and the people I love. Bandara is like a part of me just as much as I am part of it. I adore the very air of your Kingdom.” She smiled slyly. “And I do think about taxes, sometimes.”

The King looked at her quizzically. “When is it you think about taxes?” he asked.

“Right before I ask you for the coin to go shopping in the trade district.” They both laughed at that.

Raygan took the King’s liver-spotted hands in hers she leaned over and kissed the backs of both of them. He smiled at her sadly. “You must listen to me now and no arguing. Since your mother died, you have been my greatest joy. It has been a true gift watching you grow into a young woman. I wish I could be here to see your children play in our garden like you did as a little girl, that would have brought me great pleasure. I will miss many things, but it is you I will miss the most when I am gone. I just wanted you to know that I love you, and I am so very proud to call you my daughter. You, my dear, are Bandara’s greatest treasure.” The King tried to say more, but he started to weep.

Raygan’s eyes filled with tears as well. She hugged him around the neck like she did when she was a girl. “Shhhh now, Father, it’s okay. I know how you feel about me. I have always known. You have been the best father anyone could ever have. And I love you too, but if you leave me I won’t know what to do. So I won’t allow