Spring, Glyndwr
Nereus sat
alone in the darkened room; he had liberated the small bedchamber of its
previous occupants. One of the perks of being the crown prince was getting what
he wanted, when he wanted it. But in truth this tryst would surely see him
beheaded rather than crowned. His father, the High King Rylan, had been forced
into another marriage after the loss of Nereus’s mother. It was some age old
rule according to the brotherhood, which stated no king of Theyrn was allowed
to die without a queen at his bedside. And while Rylan was not too far off his
death, his willingness to remarry had been all but non-existent.
Nereus had
found himself in the bed of his new mother. She was a princess, from the isle
of Corraidhin. An island so small it barely deserved the title. Corraidhin was
the last kingdom to be founded, fifty years previously. Once Ryker was named
king and Lyle joined the ranks, there would be a whole of 5 kingdoms included
in the empire of Glyndwr. An empire Nereus would inherit.
“Waiting
for someone?”
Nereus
looked up, she had appeared. Her hair was like the autumn leaves he remembered
treading through as a child, with bright green eyes that stirred him inside, he
was weak to her.
“Clio”
Nereus said softly.
He watched
as she smiled and came closer, her gaze dribbling down him like fresh running
water. He wished he could blame her for their involvement, but the truth was
far less obvious. Upon meeting her at her wedding to his father, Nereus had
briefly complimented her beauty. Several nights after, she appeared to him in
her nightgown. Ever since that night she had made a habit of appearing before
him when he least expected.
“The Elder
Nerio keeps pestering the king,” she told him, finally moving close enough to
touch “Insisting that the king impregnates me, in case of your death.”
Nereus
nodded, “Makes sense. I get badgered everyday about taking a wife.”
“Will you?”
She sat beside him, peering at him with uncertain eyes.
“It’s not
as if I can’t,” Nereus shrugged. “I need an heir, else let the crown fall to
another.”
He leaned
back to take a better look at her, she was so young, he wondered at her wanting
of him.
“What if… I
gave you an heir?” She asked tentatively.
Nereus
groaned inwardly, “You’re my mother. It can’t be,” he told her solemnly as she
took a seat beside him.
She looked
unhappy, her lower lip pouting outward. Nereus smiled at her, reaching out to
clear away a stray hair. In truth, he knew who is intended was – and he knew
that he had no choice in the matter. Although the Brotherhood had not gone
public with his betrothal, it was set like a stone beneath water. And in a way
he preferred it that way, his marriage would be an agreement, a contract. He
would save his heart for others, like Clio.
“I’ve heard
your sister will be sent away soon,” Clio said, looking up into his eyes.
He gave
stiff nod, “She should have been married a long time ago, but there wasn’t
anyone particularly suitable.”
Nereus
watched her as she nodded her understanding, looking away as she considered
speaking what they were both thinking. His sister Neith was not married because
for so long her unofficial betrothal to Ryker had gone on as a huge
disagreement among the church. A great many hoped for a marriage between the
Ryker and the princess – those great many who also believed that Nereus was not
worthy of his father’s crown, being an unmarked son of Theyrn. Though it was
not uncommon for the sons of Theyrn to be unmarked, Ryker’s birth had sowed the
seeds of doubt in the kingdom.
“Well, I’m
sure she will make a beautiful bride,” Clio said finally. “And you will make a
fine husband.”
He simply
nodded his agreement, his mind drifting from the conversation. It wouldn’t be
long before everything changed, his sister would be gone and he would be forced
into a marriage bed – he would have to have a marked son, in order to quell the
rumbles of doubt about his worthiness. In the meantime, he hoped that Clio
could continue to keep him warm during the cold nights – even if her position
as Queen was hazardous to their health.