town throughout the land that this King Aydrian is a friend to the folk of Honce-the-Bear, and that I will serve you as your king with the same love and affection of my worthy predecessor, King Danube!"
It was all he had to say. The folk erupted into great cheering, calling out the name of King Aydrian. All signs of nervousness and fear were flown now, in light of his assurances. He had told them exactly what they had desperately hoped to hear.
And now he could move on, confident that he had secured his kingdom just a little bit more.
The town's grandest house - which wasn't much of anything, really - was gladly turned over to Aydrian soon after, and he entered with Sadye by his side, both glancing toward the small chapel, into which Marcalo De'Unnero had disappeared with the parson.
"With each town taken, your relief grows more evident on your face,"
Sadye remarked, as soon as they were alone.
"Each town is farther removed from Ursal, and so more likely to offer resistance to the change."
"Resistance?" the woman asked doubtfully. "Against the army you carry in tow? Duke Kalas would burn Pomfreth to the ground so quickly that your march through would hardly be slowed. Aye, more quickly than the little speech you are required to give at every stop."
Aydrian's fast-souring expression stopped her abruptly. Sadye put a hand on one hip and leaned a bit, studying the young king.
"Or is that it?" she asked. "You fear having to kill people."
"Fear?" Aydrian echoed with the same tone of doubt Sadye had just used.
"No, I do not fear anything or anyone. Nor will I hesitate to trample anyone who gets in the way of this march I intend to make from one end of the world to the other. But I do wish to keep the slaughter at a minimum, you see. I take no pleasure in killing - that joy is reserved for those like your lover."
Sadye stiffened a bit at that remark, though neither she nor Aydrian were quite certain of which part of the comment had stung her - the statement that De'Unnero took pleasure in killing or the mere observation from Aydrian that De'Unnero was her lover.
"I do what I must do," Aydrian explained. "I walk a road of greater purpose and design than these peasants could understand - greater even than any of the nobles and generals can understand."
"Greater than Marcalo can understand?" Sadye asked.
"His purpose is narrower," Aydrian replied. "His purpose is determined by the weight he carries from his bitterness toward the Abellican Church. It takes less to satisfy him. The prize of St.-Mere-Abelle, of executing those who moved away from the vision he embraced for the Church, will suffice. So yes, greater than Marcalo can understand."
"Greater than Sadye can understand?" the woman asked, without missing a beat.
Aydrian's blue eyes, so much like those of his mother, bored into her, and a wry smile grew on his handsome and strong face.
Sadye shrugged, prompting an answer.
"No," Aydrian said with a shake of his head. "Sadye understands. She wants no less for herself. That is what drew you to Marcalo's arms, is it not? The search for something greater, something more exciting and more gratifying?"
Unsure of the young man's direction, Sadye put on a frown and assumed a more defensive posture, turning one shoulder toward Aydrian.
"What will Sadye do when Marcalo's vision pulls him to St.-Mere-Abelle, I wonder?" Aydrian teased. "Sovereign Sister Sadye?" He laughed as he finished, but Sadye did not find the preposterous title so very amusing at that moment.
"Where will Sadye look, I wonder?" Aydrian went on undaunted, and he walked around her, reaching out one hand to play with her hair as he moved behind her.
He pulled away quickly at the sound of someone approaching, and he was glad that he did when the door opened and Marcalo De'Unnero strode in.
"The town fell under our embrace easily," said the monk. "Though I do not trust the parson. He claimed allegiance, but if our enemies find their way to him..."
He stopped and looked hard at Aydrian, then at Sadye. "What is it?" he asked.
Sadye blew out a big sigh and managed a laugh. "Our young Aydrian became quite defensive when I observed that he was relieved to learn that there would be no fighting this day," she explained, and she hopped over to De'Unnero's side and wrapped her arm playfully about his waist.
De'Unnero gave a snort. "As we all should be relieved," he