Kethaias read the latest letter and wasn’t sure what to feel.  Whatever the trick was Ryland spoke of was destined to fail.  Whether he liked it or not, Ryland was going to be made to behave, and he would eventually have to marry.  There was always the possibility that he would find another with similar problems, some prince or noble from another land who was also being forced into courting rituals.  So long as neither family realized the error before marriage…  What an unfortunate pairing that might be.<br/><br/>But then Ryland seemed to be the exception among the upper classes, apart from the more barbarous, such as the nomadic tribes Kethaias’ forces fought against so often, and it was doubtful one of them would be trying to court in Banque.  Even if it were possible for one to pass as proper royalty, Ryland would end up in more a harem situation than as a husband.  The thought of what Gharreld would have done to the wayward fool put an amused smile on his lips.<br/><br/>Once Ryland was married, the letters would have to end, wouldn’t they?  No more lascivious gifts.  No more reminders of their short time together.  Ryland would have to move on and accept his fate in life or renounce his title, and by the sound of it that time was coming all too soon.  Gharreld was not an unkind man, but he was trying to do the best for his kingdom and his family, even his bratty little brother.  Unless it was particularly cruel, Keth had no reason to step in or make protest.<br/><br/>Days passed, and he couldn’t think of what to write.  He kept the pipe in his room and broke it out only when he’d retrieved someone from his harem.  The stone he kept closer.<br/><br/>He had his own company to entertain for a short while.  Leaders he had appointed to help watch over and govern his lands with just laws and help those in need came to tell about their unique problems and solutions.  Some asked for more money, others did not.  Some nearer his borders requested more armed forces to keep raiders out.<br/><br/>The day he sent them off was when he finally sat down to write a letter.  Knowing that it was possible that Ryland was promised to someone else, if not fully wed, by the time the letter would arrive would prevent him from being inappropriate.<br/><br/><i>I know not what to say, other than I hope you find happiness in your new life once it begins.  Perhaps it will not be as bad as you fear, so long as he is kind and admires you.<br/>
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Despite everything that happened, I do and will always think fondly of you. <br/>
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You, who made me smile. <br/>
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I will send you one last gift once you are married.  As expected, I will make it a lavish one.  I doubt it would be acceptable for you to write.  If you must, ask Kata to send word.</i><br/><br/>He sat there in front of that letter as the ink dried, rubbing the stone with his thumb.  It would be the final one.  He didn’t like it, and he wanted it to say more.  He wanted to say that he would make another offer for Ryland’s hand, a serious one.  He wanted to say that he remembered every tiny detail of the blond’s face, the sound of his voice, and the exact shade of green his eyes were.  He wanted to admit that he could remember the softness of Ryland’s lips and the way they tasted.<br/><br/>Inappropriate indeed for a letter to someone he suspected engaged.<br/><br/>“My king!  An emergency message from Cruvaria!”<br/><br/>It was Rijek bursting through his door, holding a letter tight in his hand.  A messenger must’ve ridden all night to deliver it.  Keth frowned and straightened in his seat, tucking the precious river stone into a pocket in his shirt before stretching out a hand to receive the message.<br/><br/>Marauders?  Probably the Durasha people from the hills.  The weather had gotten cold, and in that area it would get bitterly so within the next month or so.  They might’ve been seeking supplies, since the warmer weather had been particularly dry for the Durasha.  They were not typically vicious, but they would use force if it was necessary for their benefit.<br/><br/>But instead of threats and theft, he read of violence.  Slaughter.  Whatever was going on was not the act of desperation.  This was either retaliation (though he hadn’t been out conquering for a year or better now) or an attempt to test him.  By the time he could arrive, the entire town would have been wiped out.<br/><br/>He slammed the message down and looked to his short letter.  He hadn’t even signed it, yet.  What was he to do with it?  Sighing, he folded it, stamped on his seal, and handed it to Rijek.<br/><br/>“Send me Zephryn.  Have this sent to Prince Ryland,” he instructed.  “Then call together enough men to march against the attack.  I’ll ride ahead with the<i>Peregrines</i>.”<br/><br/><br/><br/>Weeks passed.  An initial clashing between the two forces resulted in agitation on both sides.  By the time Rijek made a showing with the army he’d brought to his king’s aid, the opposition had also called forth their full force.  They fought back what turned out to be the Ozuirin, a longstanding and powerful enemy.  He thought of his fresh alliance with Banque, of Ryland, and made sure to tell his messengers—<i>do not let word of this travel.</i>It wasn’t a mere skirmish for territorial boundaries, it wasn’t vagrants causing problems.  It was war.  The only message he ever sent back was for Zephryn, whom he had raised from a tender age, and it was only enough to let the man know that he was alive.<br/><br/><i>If anything happens to me,</i>he had told the beautiful elf,<i>Rijek will take good care of you.<br/>
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And what if something happens to him?</i>had been the retort.<br/><br/>It had almost been enough to insist that Rijek stay at the palace and assist from there.<br/><br/>The war was not yet over when Kethaias received the note from one of his messengers.  He’d have expected it from Zephryn, but the timing was off.<br/><br/>“I was told it was of the utmost importance.  Urgent, from Banque,” the messenger insisted.<br/><br/>When Keth opened it and saw the ear cuff, he wondered if it had to do with marriage.  Not an offer for him, but a sign that Ryland had been successfully paired with someone who would not tolerate these such remnants from an old fling.  He’d hardly call it<i>urgent</i>, but then what Ryland considered tragedy was far different than most.  He read over the short message, then stared at the map.  What did that mean?<i>Make good on this</i>…?  That would require Ryland know what the cuff meant, and he wasn’t the studious type.<i>Kata</i>, he then thought with a silent sigh.  Of course he’d sent one of the few who could inform them all of what that meant to part of her own heritage, and he’d kindly informed Ryland that they shared that much.  So the prince had found out about his clever little gift’s secret connotation.  That he wore it did not make them married.  And perhaps he’d have thought nothing of the letter at all, if it had not seemed hasty and completely uncharacteristic of Ryland.<i>I am calling in my winnings.</i>The wager.  As far as Kethaias knew, only he, Ryland, and Rijek were privy to the details.  Was that so he would know it was really the prince asking for him?  Perhaps it was as he’d feared and another foe sought entry into his empire through Banque?  If the enemy was present with enough force, the peaceful little kingdom would have no hopes of holding them off, even with the aid of mountains.<br/><br/><br/><br/>It took time, but he left and gathered enough fresh troops.  He sent a number of them to help on the main front and kept the rest to march with him into Banque.  He was mindful of traps, warning the men to watch the ledges above for an ambush of archers, to be prepared to hoist their shields high.  But the path, while uncomfortably narrow for such a force, was empty and quiet.  They filed through without incident, then made their way toward the castle.  Everything looked fine.  So why had he been summoned as if there had been crisis?  Kethaias was perturbed, or he would’ve liked to be.  The truth was he was badly wounded during his long battles, and it had left him pale and miserable, so his remaining strength was going toward being ready for a surprise attack.