The Ippos King (Wraith Kings #3) - Grace Draven Page 0,146
to a Beladine nobleman seeking to rise in power.
Brishen had nodded. “Not someone like you. You specifically. Such a marriage would only be tolerated if Serovek remained a margrave. The Beladine people will never accept a Kai queen consort, even if she were the wife of a popular usurper.”
She had instantly accepted the risks and dangers of acting as Serovek's champion in a fight to the death. Done so without a second thought. But a marriage...
Brishen had encouraged her to take an entire day to consider it before she gave him her answer, and she'd used the entire day to ponder over her choices. She had never stooped to coyness and loathed it in others. She'd faced death without looking away many times. Facing life and doing the same was much harder, but she didn't turn from truth, and the truth was she'd fallen in love with a handsome-ugly human man of immense courage and unwavering integrity. If Serovek was worth dying for, he was certainly worth marrying, and once past the upheaval of her own heart and thoughts at the realization her life would irrevocably change if she became his wife, she embraced the idea. Only the question remained if he'd embrace it as well.
“Of the many things I might have expected you to say, I didn't expect that,” Rodan said. “Let me ask you this first. Why would you want to marry Serovek? Surely, the Khaskem wouldn't approve of such a match between his sha and one of my noblemen?”
The words stuck in her throat for a moment, but she forced them out and past her lips. “I would no longer be his sha, nor will I be allowed to remain in the Kai army.”
His frown deepened. “Surely you'd give up more than that. Are you not third in line for the throne after the queen regnant and the Khaskem?”
The question surprised and sent a spike of unease through her. How had he known she was related to Brishen through his father's line? Even most of the Kai only thought of her as his sha, nothing more, and those who knew otherwise didn't discuss it, especially with humans. “I'm not in any line, Your Majesty. I'm gameza, a bastard; the daughter of King Djedor's sister and a stablehand.” She described her heritage without embarrassment. She didn't place her personal value on her bloodlines. “Kai inheritance laws bar gamezas from succession of any kind.”
“Interesting.” Rodan's face had soured even more with her explanation. Anhuset prayed it wasn't because he didn't believe her but because he suffered from the same prejudices against bastards many of noble birth possessed. Disdain in this instance was of no importance. Disbelief was a problem. “Why,” he said, “would a high-ranking Beladine like Serovek choose to bind himself to you? Granted, his debt to you for saving him should you win the trial would be immense, but such debt can be satisfied with payment, and he's a wealthy man.”
Disdain it was, and Anhuset almost fell to her knees to thank the gods for Rodan's prejudiced haughtiness. “I believe he desires such a bond as I do, Your Majesty,” she told him with a shrug. “And what is the harm in asking? If he says no, I still offer myself as his champion.”
And for your sake, you better say yes, Stallion, she thought.
The king stared at her for so long, she began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep on the throne with his eyes open. Did humans sometimes sleep that way? She hadn't witnessed such a thing before, but those strange eyes did things no Kai eyes did. With any luck, he was still wide awake and concluding what she and Brishen had hoped to impart: that with a Kai wife destroying any chances of Serovek pursuing the throne, it would benefit Rodan more to keep his capable margrave alive and governing the hinterlands.
Finally, he spoke. “Fascinating. I'll consider your words and take council with my advisors regarding the request for trial by combat as well as a marriage.” He tilted his head to the side, regarding her with the intensity of a man trying to figure out a baffling puzzle. “I'm undecided, sha-Anhuset, if you're very brave or very reckless.”
“One can be both, Your Majesty.”
For the first time in this unending audience, Rodan gave up a small huff of amusement. “Very true. You're welcome to take lodgings in the palace if you wish it.”
Anhuset couldn't think of any place in this entire city she'd rather