Ryland had been having a miserable time.<br/><br/>His period of isolation had extended well beyond mourning, at Gharreld's kingly command, and anyone who visited him had to be vetted. Gharreld was weeding out every unsavory acquaintance, and his definition of unsavory was extremely prejudiced. By the end of the month, Ryland had been ready to tie his bedsheets together and scaled down the wall. Except that he'd already tried, and his beloved Banque's mountainous landscape had proved bedsheets--even from a bed as large as his own--were woefully short to reach any sort of safe distance.<br/><br/>He had toys and wine and smoke. And letters. Gharreld didn't deny him that, at least.<br/><br/>But the crankier he got, the less the suitors came around. Gharreld was in more than once to lecture him on acting like a spoiled brat, which was nothing new, but which ended quite disastrously when Teleyard was one of the only ones who stuck around.<br/><br/>What had been a fun wind up for a teasing letter to Kethaias had become dangerously real. No amount of sobbing, or tantrums, or threats swayed Gharreld, and Teleyard, encouraged by a the royal blessing, would not be discouraged for the world.<br/><br/>"He's smitten," Gharreld told Ryland. He was beginning to show dark circles under his eyes, but Ryland was not inclined to be whatsoever sympathetic. "It's more than you deserve."<br/><br/>Even less inclined.<br/><br/>"His brain is the size of a hummingbird's eye, he's jealous and violent, and the only reason you like him is that he has his fingers in half the trade of Banque," Ryland said, lip curling.<br/><br/>"Jealous and violent has never stopped you before." That made Ryland bristle. Kethaias had been<i>different</i>. "He's extremely smart, and wealthy, and has shown an interest in you, and will keep you in the sort of wealth and splendor you enjoy, right here in Banque. Were I you, I'd set about trying to please him. You're engaged. Set about to the reality of it."<br/><br/>Which was the last Gharreld would hear of it. Ryland didn't see him, was reduced to conveying complaints through their siblings, until they grew tired of the feud as well and besides that, were being subjected to much the same. He would have gladly helped any of them, if he wasn't chained like a dog, his every cultivated relation gutted away like a trophy being dressed after the slaughter, choicest bits trimmed up and ready on offer and nothing else.<br/><br/>He set about making himself the vilest creature to grace anyone's presence, and even that didn't work.<br/><br/>They let him attend the formal balls out of tradition, and because Gharreld, deep down, still feared Kethaias would swoop in on them, no doubt, if Ryland made a peep about mistreatment, and Kata was there to report back even if he didn't. Kata, it turned out, was goddess sent. And backed into a corner, Ryland knew there was only one recourse, and so, he made a peep.<br/><br/>Weeks passed. Preparations were well underway, to the point where the wedding had been announced, Ryland had been forced to appear at an engagement celebration in which he'd avoided Teleyard the entire time, and he'd briefly contemplated packing a bag and seeing if anyone would hide him in their rafters for the rest of his life. He begged and cried to Gharreld again, sincerely, on his knees, and Gharreld told him if he did not have Teleyard at this point, he would be charged with treason.<br/><br/>Three days before the planned wedding when a messenger had barged through the castle, informing that a contingent of soldiers had snuck up toward the castle walls and looked to be preparing to breach the place.<br/><br/>Ryland had no idea until Gharreld, red-faced and scowling in the highest temper Ryland had ever seen him, standing on the ramparts, summoned him.<br/><br/>And there below them at the gate was a weary Kethaias.<br/><br/>Ryland's joy broke out into a wide grin, and then he was laughing, and laughing. When he stopped, he said, "Well, what are you waiting for, Gharreld? Let him in. Unless you want us crushed under his boots."<br/><br/>"Do you know," Gharreld said lowly, intensely, "what kind of fiasco you are about to leave me in?"<br/><br/>"Very near the kind of misery you have subjected me to since you became king. My, my, Gharreld. Don't you know?" Ryland gritted his teeth in savage smile. "Kethaias is smitten, and wealthy, and more than I deserve, who will keep me in the comfort I am used to, and he's<i>here</i>. Best you set about the reality of it and try to please him."<br/><br/>If it had been an option, Ryland thought Gharreld might have broken his neck then and there and shoved his body down to Kethaias' feet. Instead, he signaled the gate open, and Ryland rushed down the steps to be the first to greet Kethaias as it did so. Behind them, the splendor of a rich kingdom preparing for a royal wedding had the castle bedecked in both the royal and Teleyard's banners, strings of flowers, flags, and general bustle. In front of him, Kethaias was sweaty, tired, smelly, and salvation.<br/><br/>"You were almost too late," Ryland informed him, hands on hips. "Where is my engagement earring? Put it on me."