Sworn To Defiance (18 page)

“Blasphemy,” said a man with spiky hair farther down the table. Ciardis wasn’t sure if he was objecting to the lower rates, the thought that she would want to give up her guild membership at any time in the future, or all of the above.

Melina Hibblebottom looked unfazed. “You drive a hard bargain.”

The prince heir smiled. “I’ve seen individuals taken to town by greedy fools who they thought had their best interests at heart. I won’t see that happen to my wife.”

“Very well.” They launched into a terse debate. Ten minutes later, the contract was inked and signed after Thanar handed it over, with a eleven and a half percent rate in the first year, inclusive of all of Ciardis’s annual income, but with the promise that she would pay seven hundred shillings for the next four years, and an eight-hundred-shilling cap for the last half of her first decade as a companion regardless of whether or not she ascended the throne. The guild heads hadn’t been too eager to sign a contract with royalties based on her title as Princess Heir. She could be princess heir for one year or fifteen. Heaven forbid it but there was no guarantee when the emperor would die. In other words, they wanted their money regardless of whether or not she ascended the throne by Sebastian’s side.

Shocked at the rates, Ciardis had leaned over to whisper into Sebastian’s ear, “This all sounds like quite a lot of money. Are you quite sure I can
afford
to pay them seven hundred shillings a year?”

Ciardis was well aware that seven hundred shillings could pay her rent for a year in a nice part of town. A
very
nice part of town.

Sebastian sent an amused flicker through their mind link.

Without turning from his locked stare into the head pro tempore’s eyes he said,
Quite sure. You’ll receive an annual allowance as both my wife and companion from the imperial treasury. In general it’s at least five thousand shillings a year for jewelry and clothing. To ensure that you have a proper household from the beginning, I will pay for the first two years of set-up including the salaries of the mistress of the household, at least three lady’s maids, and the general servants.

Ciardis nearly choked.

Or at least I intend to
, he teased.
It’s up to you to negotiate that into our marriage contract. I intend to be very difficult at first.

You better not!

But that’s half the fun of it, dear.

May I remind you that we’ve got ravenous nobles that are waiting to eat us alive in their afternoon courts? We don’t have time for your little pleasures.

True
, he said with a rueful sigh.
Oh and the wedding should be factored in.

What about the wedding?
she asked.

My father’s public approval means he will pay for all costs associated with the affair
.

He’d better, seeing as my mother is locked up and I’m not so sure she’d be amenable to feeding half of Sandrin in a wedding banquet even if she had her freedom.

That...would be an interesting conversation
.

“Very well,” said Melina Hibblebottom as Ciardis leaned back in her chair with her eyes twinkling with laughter. “I pronounce Ciardis Weathervane a full member of the Companions’ Guild, hereafter titled Companion Ciardis Weathervane.”

Everyone was happy.

“At least for the next five minutes,” joked the silver-haired man while a few chuckled alongside him. “This next contract will make her a Lady Companion and the one after that will be Princess Heir. My, Ciardis, how fast you rise in the world.”

Ciardis cracked a smile even if she felt that the laughter was almost at her expense. Sebastian lowered his hand underneath the table to squeeze her hand.

To keep from asking the question aloud, Ciardis turned to Vana and scribbled quickly on a notepad, “Shouldn’t I already bear the tile of Lady from my mother?”

Vana glanced down and scribbled back. “No. Your family is wealthy and influential but they’ve irritated a good number of nobles down the line like ticks on a dog. They’ve been given hereditary titles and had them stripped away so many times now that for the last sixty years the imperial court has refused to designate a new one for the Weathervanes. Your mother received her title from her friendship with the late empress, but it was honorific rather than titular.”

Ciardis sat back digesting that information. She saw Sebastian read it with aplomb, but he said nothing.

“Now,” said Melina Hibblebottom, “shall we proceed to the second part of the proceedings?”

Sebastian and Ciardis nodded.

“Very well,” Melina said. “Lady Vana Cloudbreaker, as Companion sponsor of Terris Kithwalker and friend of Lady Serena, do you agree to stand for Companion Ciardis Weathervane in the negotiation of her patron contract to Prince Heir Sebastian Athanos Algardis?”

Vana nodded simply. “I do.”

“Then let these official proceedings begin. All in favor?” intoned a different woman with red hair done the table. She reminded Ciardis of a Fire Mage she used to know.

“Aye,” said the silver-haired gentleman who was busy rolling up Ciardis’s guild contract and instructing a servant to make three copies.

“Seconded,” trumpeted a big man down the line.

Melina looked over at Ciardis with a smile. “Then the Patron Hunt has officially ended and negotiations have begun.”

Ciardis’s eye nearly twitched at the language. She didn’t think they enough time for all of this. But she had no choice. She kept her seat and held her tongue.

Vana looked over at Ciardis with an almost fond expression on her face. It was scary as hell. But she didn’t flinch back. Instead she pasted a smile on her face and tried to calmly look up at Vana as the woman stood.

“Ciardis Weathervane,” Vana said delicately, “I have watched you enter the world of the Companions’ Guild with all of the aplomb of an unsteady stork and leave with the grace of a swan just earning its wings.”

Ciardis wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not.

“Nevertheless—” continued Vana.

Definitely not.

“I do believe you have flourished in your own way and I am proud to stand as your sponsor in the stead of Lady Serena,” said Vana. She looked down at Ciardis expectantly.

Sebastian squeezed her hand.

Ciardis choked out, “Thank you, Lady Vana Cloudbreaker.”

Ciardis had never felt so insulted in her life. With a firm nod, Vana turned to the gathered guild members. “I hereby honor and declare that the Patron Hunt for Ciardis Weathervane has ended and the negotiations for the patron contract have begun.”

Twelve months later
— Ciardis told Sebastian wryly.

Well, you know what they say, dear—better late than never.

W
ith that announcement, Vana sat down and Sebastian spoke from where he sat. He was careful to bring their intertwined hands above the table so that all could see that they were going into the union as one mind.

Speaking carefully, Sebastian said, “Lords and ladies of the Companions’ Guild, I thank you for welcoming into the heart of your home. When I first met Ciardis I was masquerading as a wealthy noble and living a lie. I was desperate for hope, desperate for a dream, and I hoped to find my savior in the form of the newest court sensation. I found that and more. Ciardis Weathervane has changed my life in more ways than I can count and I am honored to sit at this table and petition for you to grant a patronage contract between the two of us.”

The silver-haired gentleman said, “Your Imperial Highness, I’m not sure you understand the technicalities of the relationship—”

Sebastian held up a hand. The man fell silent.

“I understand fine. But I don’t want to
just
be Ciardis Weathervane’s patron. I’ve made it clear that I wish to be her husband but more than that I want to be her equal. We come from different stations in life, different homes, different situations, and vastly different powers, but I believe fate has found us a way to show the other to the one who completes them.”

Laying it on a big thick, isn’t he?
questioned Thanar.

Hush!
Ciardis admonished. Although she had to admit she was thinking the same thing.

Melina Hibblebottom asked, “What are you suggesting, Prince Heir?”

Sebastian turned to Melina. “I’m suggesting that in the same sense that Ciardis is to be my companion, I will be hers. A contract for life.”

The members around the table exchanged confused glances. Ciardis was right there with them. Even she didn’t get what he was going for.

Sebastian smiled. “There is a saying among companions, yes? ‘Patronage is for life but marriage is by contract?’ One’s a commitment based on the unique bond between patron and companion. The other is an agreement based on mutual affiliation, and for nobles, blood rights passed by inheritance.”

Melina Hibblebottom nodded while peering at him intently.

“Then,” Sebastian said while looking over at Ciardis intently, “I propose a union of spirit and mind with Ciardis Weathervane. I ask to that you recognize our patron contract as
seeleverbindung
.
Soulbond.
”

The members around the table let out shocked gasps. Whispers erupted.

What in god’s name did you just ask for?
Ciardis said in exasperation.

Something that we already have in place.
Her mind flashed back to the soulbond between herself and Sebastian as well as herself and Thanar. Little did her husband-to-be know, there was a third wheel in their relationship. One she planned to squash as soon as she could.

Then why...
she said in confusion.

They don’t know it’s already there. If we can negotiate this in, trust me, the guild will be forced to support us. Marriage or not.

How do you know that?

History always finds a way to repeat itself.

Don’t be cryptic with me. I know where you live.

He stopped talking to her as he focused his gaze outward. The chatter had died down.

The silver-haired man leaned forward intently. “That kind of patron bond has not been instituted since the Initiate Wars. I’m not sure we can.”

Thanar leaned back with an unimpressed look and caught Ciardis’s eye,
Notice, Golden Eyes, that he didn’t mention there used to be a rule about even trying to instigate such a bond before the intended parties have spent a decade together.

In other words his hesitation is with the implementation’s process rather than moral ambiguity,
she said.

Exactly. You’re learning.

“What’s more, a process like this is permanent.” said Melinda. Her face was lined with worry. “Even if we could attempt this...it would be a crime to bind two people who are so young for life. As much as we joke, a patron contract can be broken if the two parties are willing. This cannot be undone and isn’t to be taken lightly.”

A decade? Why so long?

For the reason she stated. As well as the fact that it is a very invasive process. Like your soul link to me.

How invasive?

Prior attempts have been known to kill one or both interested parties.

Ciardis didn’t hold back.
You son of a bitch.

If you’re going to snipe at me, I suggest you hold your precious prince heir accountable as well.

That was an accident fostered by the Cold Ones’ damn magic. You deliberately put our lives in danger.

In case you’ve forgotten, our lives were already in danger,
he said dryly.
There was a black dragon chasing us through the skies and trying to kill us, if you don’t remember.

Oh, I remember very well,
she said.
But I don’t recall you being too worried. In fact, you seemed eager.

Thanar outwardly shrugged, causing his wings to flutter up and rest back down.
I’ve always been in favor of killing two birds with one stone. I wanted you. I now have you. Mind and spirit. I told you your marriage to Sebastian doesn’t and wouldn’t matter to me. Because wherever you go, Weathervane, I will be there.

You’re a creepy asshole, you know that, right?
Ciardis fumed as she did her best to redirect her attention back the present conversation.

“Nevertheless,” Sebastian said carefully, “we’d like the contract written as a
seeleverbindung
. If we find a person to implement the bond safely at a later date, we’ll consider moving forward.”

After a few murmurs and a “Why the hell not?” from farther down the table, the Companions’ Guild agreed to Sebastian’s request.

Then he sat back with a satisfied smile. Turning to Vana, Sebastian said, “The ball’s in your court.”

Ciardis leaned over to whisper in Vana’s ear, not wanting Melina to overhear. “Why didn’t you tell them?”

Vana scribbled out a new note. “
This will work to our advantage and right now I am an advocate for
you
, not the guild itself.”

Then Vana looked up. “We will add the
seeleverbindung
agreement into our negotiations.”

The silver haired gentleman nodded and waved a hand as a scribe who sat in the far corner. He paused making the third copy of Ciardis’s membership contract and hurried to amend the patronage contract.

Leaning forward with an inquisitive look in her eyes, Melina asked, “Is there anything more, Prince Heir?”

“Yes,” said a black-haired woman. “If you’d like her soul, too, we’re sure we could draw that up.”

The silver-haired man waved a calming hand at his fellow member. “Ah, Faris, we don’t have too much time for jokes now.”

The woman with short-cropped black hair replied, “I’m not sure I was joking.”

She shot a dark look at Sebastian. “Any patron who wants this much control over his companion’s life force, especially a weathervane’s, shouldn’t be trusted.”

“Prince heir or no?” Melina asked coolly.

“History has taught us that especially those from the imperial line are not to be trusted. Or have you forgotten what happened to this girl’s great-grandmother?” replied Faris.