Chapter 41
Late in the morning of the next day, the head butler gave Annalise a tour of the castle. The smooth stone walls, giant tapestries, and coordinated red and gold color scheme were quite impressive, as was the sheer number of fireplaces. As the butler explained and Annalise had already experienced, the winters were bitterly cold in Rhinnea, and there was more than enough wood in the surrounding forests to keep the fires burning.
Soren followed behind them, his face closed and mouth pressed into a flat line. Prior to finding him waiting outside her chambers with the head butler, Annalise hadn’t seen Soren since the evening before. She’d waited nearly an hour after the eyeball incident before excusing herself on the grounds of being exhausted after a long journey—the last thing she wanted was for King Nelan to sense any squeamishness in his new bride, as she suspected that any perceived weakness on her part would be promptly exploited for his own entertainment. She’d only spent a few hours with King Nelan, but Annalise already sensed that if she needed a skin of iron in her father’s court, she would need a skin of diamond to live under the thumb of the Rhinnean king.
After she’d thrown up much of her dinner from the delayed shock of the entire ordeal and was resting in her chambers, Annalise had mentally girded herself for the rest of her life. If the Rhinneans only respected brutality and strength, then she would be the strongest queen they’d ever seen—ruling with a firm but gentle fist. It may be a different strength than what the Rhinneans expected, but she would not let them break her, and she hoped that perhaps with time and her good example, her future husband would soften.
As they neared the end of their tour, the butler led her down a long hallway to a pair of large wooden double doors, which he informed her led to the castle library. When Annalise expressed interest in entering, the butler bowed and stated that he would wait for her in the hallway. Soren followed her into the library, and the Rhinnean guard who shadowed him elected to sit on one of the overstuffed armchairs near the entrance and propped his feet on a table.
Annalise had spent several minutes wandering the library and marvelling at the rows of tall bookcases when the sound of giggling reached her ears. She followed the sound and, when she turned a corner, found King Nelan whispering with a noble lady she recognized from the night before. The woman wore a low-cut dark green silk dress with gold trim. King Nelan had one hand on her small waist, and while he whispered to the lady his eyes never moved from her decolletage.
“Good morning, King Nelan,” Annalise said.
The couple startled and jumped apart. At a glance, Annalise took in the woman’s starry eyes and pink blush and could guess at what King Nelan had whispered in her ear.
“Oh, hello, Princess Annalise. I didn’t realize that you would be in the library today,” he said while looking everywhere except directly in Annalise’s eyes. When he saw Soren, his mouth twisted into a frown. “Where is your guard, Captain Kierson?”
“At the front of the library, last I saw. He wasn’t very interested in walking through stacks of old books.”
“Your butler offered me a tour of the castle so that I would feel more at home. He said that it was your idea,” Annalise interjected, desperate to say anything that would distract King Nelan. She remembered how he and Soren had sized each other up the previous day, and considering the bloodthirsty nature the king had exhibited the night before, she wished to avoid any conflict between the two. She dipped into an elegant curtsy. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
The distraction worked, and King Nelan turned his full attention to her. “I am glad that you’re making yourself at home, although I’m surprised you’ve taken such an interest here, of all places.”
“What do you mean, ‘here’?” Annalise looked around, but couldn’t see anything immediately off-putting that might keep her away.
“The library, of course.”
“I love books. I spent many an hour in our library in Dovelan, although as much as it pains me to admit it, I believe your collection is even more impressive than ours,” Annalise said as she ran her fingers over the leather book spine nearest her.
King Nelan frowned and leaned closer, peering at her as if she was an inscrutable mystery. “Do you mean to say that you can read?”
Annalise jerked back, stung at the disbelief in his words. “Of course I know how to read. Why would you think otherwise?”
“Many Rhinnean noblewomen never learn. They may be taught the basics when they are still girls, but reading is considered a masculine thing to do, and they know their role in court is to be beautiful, to make advantageous marriages for their families, and to bear children. Those who prefer to entertain themselves with stories employ a servant to read aloud to them.”
“I…understand,” Annalise said, without actually understanding anything.
“I’m glad; perhaps you’ll learn to fit in well here after all. If you’d like, I can show you a few books that I believe you’ll enjoy?”
She batted her eyes at him as if she wasn’t seething inside. “Yes, thank you, I would appreciate it. This library is so large I fear I’d get lost without some guidance.”
“Of course. I am glad to be of assistance, my darling fiancée.” King Nelan offered Annalise his elbow, and she took it; the other lady had long since disappeared in a swish of skirts.
He led her to a rather bare bookcase near the front of the library. A brief perusal gave Annalise the impression that most of the books were instructional for feminine crafts such as embroidery or painting, although a few sported titles of children’s tales. King Nelan motioned to the top shelf, where a handful of worn books sat. “Several years ago it was fashionable for the court ladies to have their servants read romance novels to them, but eventually the fad fell away, as such things do. You’re more than welcome to them. I doubt anyone else has any use or desire for such things anymore.”
“Do you know why it fell out of fashion?” Annalise asked as she stepped closer to get a better look at the faded covers.
“I believe it involved a minor lord killing a servant. His wife acted without discretion and ordered a manservant to read to her, and the lord suspected an affair.” King Nelan shrugged, one corner of his mouth tipping up. “As I’m sure you can imagine, the dramatics fed the rumor mill and caused quite a stir in court. Don’t worry though, the book in question was burned.” His eyes flicked over her face, then over her shoulder and back again. “I hope you understand that our marriage is entirely a diplomatic one, meant to be a union between our countries. I would appreciate your affording me certain liberties and remaining discreet.”
She bit back her first retort about his taking liberties with or without her permission and forced a smile to her face. “And if I wanted to also take certain liberties, would that also be allowed?”
His thick black eyebrows rose in surprise. “I was under the impression that you could not because of your curse.”
“The curse that you promised me on our ride through Rea that you would help me break?” At the time, his promise had been a welcome surprise. Now Annalise recognized it for what it was—a platitude meant to soothe a nervous bride-to-be.
“Of course, of course. This is just until we can find someone suitable to break your curse. Never you mind, dear, I have my best people working on the problem,” King Nelan said, patting her hand before he paused, his brow furrowed. “However, as General Anar said yesterday, I think it would be best for you to act with the utmost propriety. While I wouldn’t necessarily have a problem with you taking liberties, I’m sure the people of court and the peasants wouldn’t look on it with a kind eye, especially with you being new and from such a backwards kingdom. With that in mind, it is also for the best that you don’t find yourself alone with another man while you are here. We wouldn’t want rumors started that might endanger your reputation, would we?” He ended his speech with his eyes looking to the side, towards the door of the library.
Annalise turned to follow his gaze and saw the barest sliver of green silk, as if the woman waiting outside had taken a sudden step back. She nodded as she returned her attention to the king. “Of course, Your Majesty. I understand the unique obstacles that my curse engenders, especially when it comes to providing an heir, if your learned scholars and mages are not up to the task of breaking it. When we marry, I will be a citizen of Rhinnea, and as such I wish to ensure that it remains strong and prosperous so that our kingdoms may forever be on equal footing. My only request is that I may keep my title and status as your queen, no matter your heir, and that I be allowed to use both as I see fit for charitable purposes.”
King Nelan still wasn’t looking at her. “If that is your request, then so be it. Now, if you will excuse me, I believe I have other business to attend to.” He bowed, then exited the library, and Annalise pretended not to hear the swishing of skirts followed by a short giggle cut off by a gasp.
“I think that went well, all things considered,” she muttered as she turned away from the romance shelf.
Behind her, Soren laughed low under his breath. “Did you see King Nelan’s face when you said that you knew how to read? You might as well have told him that you wanted to live with his messenger pigeons so you could learn how to fly.”
Annalise pressed her lips together to keep herself from chuckling along. “Yes, well, as unfortunate as the Rhinnean prejudices are, at least they have books.”
With an unspoken agreement, the two of them walked further into the library. They were nearing the back wall, which was full of historical tomes about the Rhinnean tax code, when Soren spoke up. “I’m sorry you had to catch him in such a way. For as much as he talks of discretion, he put you in a very difficult position. I thought you handled it admirably well.”
He spoke so quietly she almost didn’t hear him, but the pity in Soren’s words stopped Annalise in her tracks and she sighed deeply.
She didn’t dare turn around; she was afraid that if she did and saw the pity in his eyes, she’d lose her composure. “It is what it is. As I told him, I am fully aware of the limitations of my curse, and what it means for the stability of the kingdom if there is no heir. I suppose I should be thankful that this gave me the opportunity for us to come to an understanding and for me to solidify my position at court. I am hopeful that one day we can develop a mutual respect for each other and our roles.” She paused, but they hadn’t seen or heard anyone else since King Nelan and his paramour had left the library and were far enough towards the back that she doubted Soren’s Rhinnean guard would hear them. “I may be a sacrificial lamb for the safety and peace of Dovea, but if Rea is to be a prison, at least it is a comfortable one. Perhaps with time and a secure position in the court, I can do some good for both of our people.”
“I sincerely hope you are right.”
They didn’t speak again, and Annalise took her time surveying the library. She picked out several books on the history of Rhinnea and its customs as well as one on medicinal herbs that she hadn’t read yet. By the time she was done, she had quite the armful, but as she walked towards the entrance, something made her pause by the bookshelf that housed what King Nelan had referred to as the “Women’s section”.
Soren sidled up beside her. “If the stack you’re carrying is too heavy, I can carry it for you.”
“No, it’s fine, don’t worry about it,” she said as she scanned the spines.
“If I hold it, then you have free hands to add more to your collection.”
Annalise turned to him, one eyebrow raised. “You wouldn’t make fun of me for it?” Her question was light, but she couldn’t keep the bite out of her tone.
To his credit, Soren appeared aghast. “No, of course not. Why would I?”
She shrugged and looked away, unable to meet his eyes.
“Princess Annalise, why do you think I would make fun of you?”
She shook her head, but allowed him to take the books from her before stepping forward to get a better look at the romances. “I love to read; in fact, I used to spend entire days curled up in hidden places losing myself in a book. I read them all—treatises on politics, statecraft and theology, even a rather thick tome on herb craft that I borrowed from the Guild of Healers.” She traced her fingers over the worn spines. “But my favorites were always the tales of adventure in far-off lands, the epic fights and the romances that told of a love so strong they shook the very foundations of the earth… they helped me to escape, to feel like for even one afternoon I could lose myself and forget my curse and dream of a dashing prince who would rescue me.”
“What happened?” Soren asked gently.
“One of the ladies saw me reading a romance about a prince who rescued a lady from an evil dragon, and she laughed. She asked me why I read so much about something that I would never have—that cursed as I was, no man would ever want to look at me, let alone risk touching me even through gloves. Before I knew it, she’d told all of her friends, and for months the entire court would titter whenever I walked by.” Annalise swallowed, the books swimming momentarily in unshed tears. “She had a point, and after I finished that romance I never picked up another one.” She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and took the books back from Soren. “I should carry these; if someone tries to attack me like you’re so worried about, you won’t be much use with your arms full.”
Soren stared at her, his eyes glistening in the light filtering in from the overhead windows and the candlelit lamp on the wall. As Annalise moved away from the bookshelf, he stepped forward, taking her place.
“What are you doing, Captain Soren?” she asked.
He ignored her, staring intently at the romances on the top shelf before pulling down several to better examine them, swapping out one for another until he had three cradled in his arm. “I’ve not read books for fun in a very long time, so please excuse me if my choices rely solely on the quality of the leather and design of the cover, but I want you to take these as well.”
“But–”
“Please, Princess.” He set his selection on top of the pile she carried, then took the entire stack from her. “You shouldn’t limit yourself just because of what some old harpy said. Read. Enjoy yourself. Dream. It’ll be good for you.”
She felt her cheeks heating. “Fine, but let me carry the books. They aren’t that heavy.”
“Don’t worry, if the difference between life and death rests solely on how fast I can drop a stack of books, I fear I’d make a very poor protector indeed.” Soren laughed, and after their heavy conversation earlier, something about the sound made Annalise feel like she’d drunk too much wine.
Soren was still chuckling when they exited the library after picking up the Rhinnean guard who’d fallen asleep in the recliner and only roused when Soren ‘accidentally’ dropped a heavy tome next to his chair. The head butler was waiting for them outside the double doors, and when he saw the large stack of books in Soren’s hands, his bushy gray eyebrows rose so high they almost disappeared into his hair. “My apologies, Captain Kierson, but I’m afraid I can’t let you take those.”
“Surely King Nelan told you that I could have whatever books I wanted,” Annalise protested.
“Yes, Your Highness, and you can, but I doubt his sentiment extended to the captain. Some of these books may contain sensitive information about our military, trade routes, and politics, and I would be remiss in my duties if I gave a Dovean access to such information.”
“Oh, but you see—”
“Don’t worry about it, Princess Annalise. I deeply appreciate you trying to cover for me, but it appears that the jig is up,” Soren said smoothly. When Annalise looked at him, her protests frozen on the tip of her tongue, he winked at her. He sighed heavily and handed the stack of books over to the butler. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment then, sir, I’ll take my books back into the library and then we can continue on our way.”
“Thank you for your understanding. I apologize for any—wait, what are you doing?”
Soren paused and looked over his shoulder, one hand reaching for the door, the other cradling the three romance novels against his arm. “Taking the books I was going to read back to the library, obviously.”
“But–but–those are romances. What about these?” The butler sputtered as he lifted the stack in his arms.
Soren’s eyebrows drew together as if the butler had just spoken gibberish. “Those are Princess Annalise’s, so that she can learn more about Rhinnea to better serve it and your people as its queen. Who did you think those books were for?”
“For you, of course.”
“For me?” Soren’s voice lilted up on the last word, and Annalise had to stifle a grin at how well he played being completely confused. “Why would I need a bunch of dull tomes about politics and trade?”
“You’re the son of a general—”
“Yeah, and? I was also a sea captain. You think we’re an educated lot? Half my men didn’t know how to read, and most of them didn’t care to learn.”
“Of course, sir, but—”
“You think I studied while I was at sea? That I busied myself with learning the nuances of trade and governance? My father’s entire job hinged on how well he could swing a sword and how much loyalty he could inspire in his men. You think I care one whit about how the price of grain affects the quality of wool in some sleepy little Rhinnean hamlet?”
“But the military—”
“The military secrets you were speaking of earlier?” Soren threw back his head and laughed. “You think King Everet and my father don’t have spies? The book you’re holding is what—ten years old? More than that probably, judging by the dust I can see still sticking to its cover. No, even if I wanted to spy for my country, there’s nothing in that dusty old pile of pages of use to me.” He held up the romances. “I was much more interested in what the ladies of the Rhinnean court find romantic…but alas… I suppose even those hopes are dashed.”
“Oh please, let Captain Kierson take the novels. Look at how thin he is; compared to the Rhinnean guards and noblemen here, he’s practically a stick. The man needs all the help he can get,” Annalise pleaded, batting her large blue eyes at the butler.
The older man folded like a wet piece of cloth and escorted them back to Annalise’s chambers without another word.
When they reached her door, guarded by one Dovean and one Rhinnean guard, Soren insisted on entering Annalise’s chambers so she didn’t have to carry the heavy armful of books for even a moment. Once he’d placed the stack on the table, he grabbed the top romance and tucked it into his tunic.
“Soren, what are doing? Where are you taking that?” Annalise asked.
He grinned. “To do some research, of course. Think of it as my fee for you calling me frail and thin and then insisting that I haul your heavy books back from the library.”
Annalise rolled her eyes but felt a grin spread across her face that rivaled his own. She didn’t know what had changed between them, but she was glad that Soren’s mood had improved. She would have never admitted it, but she’d been worried that after she’d rejected his offer of escape, he would hold it against her for as long as he was in Rhinnea. He’d been quiet for most of the castle tour, but his gentle teasing held great promise for a return to their previous friendship, even if in her heart of hearts she wished they could be so much more. “I’ve seen you lift a keg of beer onto your shoulder like it was a child and defeat the guards of Murana with a smile on your face. Surely you know that I don’t think of you as actually frail.”
His grin widened, and he ruffled his hair with his free hand. “You’re right, I don’t, but it’s always nice to hear. Besides, I think it’s high time I read something for fun—all those years at sea reading up on trade routes, history, and diplomatic relations to keep up with the latest news and maximize profits sure sucked the fun out of what used to be my favorite pastime.” Soren bowed and waved at her as he left the room. “If you need me, I’ll be out here for several more hours doing some research on the mysteries of the fairer sex.”