Rijek glanced back at the crowned prince as he followed and tried to state his position.  Kethaias couldn’t be bothered to do even that much and simply rolled his eyes as he continued his angry path down the hall.  Where before he might’ve agreed with everything Gharreld had to say, Keth only grew angrier the more he heard.  That might have had a lot to do with how the Warrior King felt less his title and more the young lover caught sneaking around by a disapproving parent.<br/><br/>He was shoving his things into a chest.  Rijek was helping, though he kept a close eye on the situation in case he needed to step in.  That moment seemed imminent when the heavy chest lid was slammed closed.  Kethaias spun around.<br/><br/>“Oh, come off it, Gharreld,” he spat at the man.  “Ryland has a bad reputation because he flaunts it any chance he gets.  He makes a show of his loose morals because he’s proud of it.  Which makes me wonder why he feels it so much an accomplishment.  Does he have nothing else to be proud<i>of</i>?”<br/><br/>He sighed and rubbed his hand over his face.  This was devolving.<br/><br/>“What we were doing is the right of any free man,” he tried to reason more sensibly.  “The only reason anyone found out about it was because you and your lap dog decided to burst into his rooms unannounced.  Otherwise, it would have been kept where it was intended.<i>You</i>were the ones who made it into a spectacle this time, not Ryland.”<br/><br/>He turned to gather the rest of his things, pausing to look at the mechanical bird Ryland had told him he could keep.  He motioned to Rijek to see that it was packed, too.  It wouldn’t sing forever, but he’d enjoy it while it lasted.<br/><br/>“For the record, it was in his best interests I withdrew my offer of marriage,” he stated, his voice lower now, the anger eased.  “I knew it would make him miserable.  I would want him to myself, but he isn’t ready for commitment, for that kind of loyalty.  It would be creating in him a slave.  Despite my reputation, I’m not in the practice of enslaving anyone, and that goes double for my bed.  In fact, cultures like that are those I tend to target first.  Think about that when you’re sifting through his… strategic and respectful marriage offers.  Or, should I say… who you’re preparing to sell him to,” he said.  A thinly veiled warning, though even Keth wasn’t sure how he would retaliate if Ryland would find himself in a forced marriage, or even if he’d feel like it by then.  Who would even<i>want</i>to marry Ryland?  Who would want their son or daughter to be wed to him?  Those who were unfamiliar with his reputation would get one hell of a rude awakening when they came to visit, and it was likely Ryland would make sure to display every unappealing quality to prospective suitors to keep them away.<br/><br/>“I will make it easier on everyone.  I do not ever intend to return to Banque,” he stated, moving around the room and looking behind cushions and under furniture.  “You know my reasoning for wanting this alliance, and none of them involve me actually being here.  Trade has already been discussed, as has the exchange of ambassadors.  The final treaty can be sent to my palace and I will sign it once I return from dousing the fires of this rebellion.”  At last he scooped up a little white ball of fluff from under a chair and tucked it against himself.  It had been a gift from Ryland, so why wouldn’t he keep it?  He handed it off to his man, wishing he had the ability right then to find the resulting sounds of pain from tiny kitten claws digging into Rijek’s hands funny enough to smile.<br/><br/>“Thank you for your hospitality,” he said, though there was little feeling behind it.  Then he was nudging his way past so he could go get his horse.  Rijek would make sure his other men were alerted and everything gathered to leave within the hour, but Keth himself intended on departing immediately.