The Arranged Marriage (2 page)

Argarth took the opportunity of the
bustle to whisper a request across to King Roscaar, who nodded in
response and followed him to his study chamber not far down the
hall. No one noticed their disappearance, and neither of them spoke
until they were certain of that and the chamber door was shut
firmly behind them.

Argarth led Roscaar to the chairs
positioned by the fire and gestured for him to be seated. He poured
them both a chalice of wine before taking the chair opposite him.
Roscaar was the first to break their silence.

“So my dear friend, what can I do for
you?”

“Times are changing Roscaar.” He spoke
in a booming voice that matched his domineering appearance. He was
a short man but his demanding air more than made up for it when
sitting next to Roscaar who towered over him.

“That they are Argarth, that they are.
I will raise a toast to that.” He raised his chalice. “So, why the
urgency to meet?” He continued. “Any word of the
rebels?”

The rebels were an unknown group of
people who had made it their ambition to attack the Kingdom of
Dondayas as and when they could. Their attacks were petty but still
harmful to their targets as they stole livestock and trashed
farming land, leaving no trace of them behind. So far, they had
left Ecripian alone, and Argarth and Roscaar were working together
in smoking them out; efforts of which were still proving
futile.

“No, no,” He replied, his thoughts
obviously elsewhere. “It is not the rebels, not yet
anyway.”

“All is well with Rohesia I take it?”
He guessed. He was rather fond of the girl.

“She is well of course; she may not be
after what I’m about to do but she will live.”

Roscaar frowned in confusion. It was
obvious to everyone how much he and his daughter adored one
another, Argarth would do anything to make her happy.

“What is the matter? You are worrying
me my friend.”

His words seemed to break through
Argarth’s reverie as he shook his head.

“I am sorry if I worry you, that is
not my aim. Maybe first I should explain myself.” He stood up from
his chair and began to pace the floor as he spoke.

“You know of the small risk that
befalls me with only having an unwedded daughter as heir; hence why
I married Yena to put any threats at bay.”

“
Well,” He continued as
Roscaar nodded. “Until Rohesia marries I am afraid that this threat
will still hold.”

“Argarth? What is going
on?”

“I have had to keep it silent for a
long time. Maybe I am better off showing you.”

He put his chalice on the large wooden
desk before removing a key from a chain around his neck. He swiftly
opened a small drawer and removed a piece of parchment.

“Read this,” He prompted as he handed
the piece of parchment to Roscaar:

I, King Argarth, do declare that as of
the 15th day of the Centurian age 105 it was announced to me that I
would be unable to sire any further children due to an injury that
occurred during the Centurian age 95. This leaves standing my only
daughter, Princess Rohesia Grace Swan of Ecripian, the heir to the
throne through marriage. If Princess Rohesia Grace does not wed by
the time the throne is unfilled, it will be open to the bloodline
against my will.

The chosen one to wed Princess Rohesia
Grace Swan of Ecripian will dutifully become King upon the time of
my passing or retirement of my position.

I only request that my daughter, who
will become Queen beside her King, be given the equality and
respect that one deserves when one respects the people and the
kingdom as she does.

Notification given faithfully
by;

King Argarth Questri II of Ecripian,
Centurias

Nani Gledana, healer to King of
Ecripian, Isle of Centurias

Jasper Anston IV; Honorary of
Sanctuary, Ecripian, Isle of Centurias

Roscaar waited a moment to let the
information sink in.

“Does Yena know?” He said finally
after clearing his throat. “Rohesia?”

“No, only those people on the
parchment you hold are aware of my inability to father anymore
children.”

“And there is no possibility
whatsoever?” He prompted, not wanting the news for his friend to be
true.

“Do you remember the incident when I
fell from the horse all that time ago? Rohesia would have been
three of age.”

He nodded and remembered the time when
Argarth had been trampled on quite badly and left for
dead.

“Once I had recovered, Marianna
decided that it was time for us to try for another child. Aside
from being sick from worry over me, she worried for Rohesia being
left alone with the burden of the kingdom.”

“You tried for another
child?”

“We would have tried for many if only
another had been born. She desperately wanted a son so our daughter
could marry for love. She did not want Rohesia to be pressured into
marriage for duty.” He smiled at his deceased wife’s memory. “We
tried up until she fell ill with the fever that killed her. Rohesia
was thirteen when her mother passed and still no other heir had
been born.”

“Maybe it will be different with
Yena?” He suggested, to give hope if nothing more.

“Nani, our healer, was the one to help
me with the recovery after I sent those fools from the Foreign
Lands packing. She was the one to discover I was badly damaged and
she doubted my ability to have more children, even from that day.
Both I and Marianna were determined to prove her wrong
however.”

Roscaar shook his head in disbelief at
the burden Argarth had been carrying all this time. He for one did
not have to worry about that with two sons to his name.

“I am sorry Argarth, with all my heart
I am.”

“Do not worry so.” He pointed to the
empty witness space at the bottom of the parchment. “I would like
to request you be third witness to my statement. It would then be
legitimate to stand in the courts of Faudaga should it ever come to
that.”

“Of course I will be witness to this,”
He paused. “With no hesitation.”

“But?” Argarth had sensed the
pause.

“There is no ‘but’ Argarth, only a
question.”

“Then ask away my friend.”

“Why the need for this document? If
you do not have an heir by the time anything should happen to you,
Rohesia would bypass Yena’s ruling by default.”

“Only if she is married, but of course
the document would still not be needed even if she did not wed.
Yena would continue to rule then until a relative blood tie is
found.”

“Then why the need for
this?”

“Call it a hunch. You know my daughter
and new wife do not see eye to eye, and I myself do not completely
trust Yena; she is young and easily persuaded by beautiful
things.”

Roscaar thought for a moment, and
understood that the only reason the document would be needed was if
Yena tried to pass off another man’s child as her own. Argarth was
obviously a lot smarter than he thought where Yena was
concerned.

“Let us sign it now and be done with
it.” Roscaar continued, changing the subject. “I sense there is
more to my visit than a signature of witness that you could have
from me anytime.”

“You are as astute as ever Roscaar. I
am glad you are my friend and not my enemy.”

They both laughed as the parchment was
signed and sealed.

“You would prove to be a difficult
enemy if the time came,” He smiled before continuing. “And if not,
just put your daughter on the borders.”

Argarth laughed with his friend as no
offence was taken. Rohesia was outspoken and smarter than most
educated men. However, this did not always go down too well with
those who had been raised in a noble home. Or those who had not
been for that matter.

“Would you mind keeping it safe for me
at Dondayas?” Argarth requested as he handed the document to his
friend. “For extra security.”

Roscaar took it without hesitation and
hid it inside his dress robes.

“Consider it done.”

“Very good. Now, on to
business.”

Both men returned to their seats with
drinks in hand.

“I need my daughter to marry Roscaar,
for the reasons we have mentioned.”

“And I take it she does not wish to
marry?”

“She does not wish to wed any of the
suitors she has seen so far, and I am sure the girl is refusing
them with ridiculous reasons on purpose.” He knew his daughter too
well.

“I thought you promised her she could
have her own choice of husband, as per her mother’s
wish.”

“Oh I did, but I know my daughter, and
I know exactly how she would translate that into how she does not
have to marry at all if she so desires,” He let out a sigh. “So, I
decided to quietly give her until her Quarter-of-a-Century ball to
find a match, or I choose for her.”

“Clever.”

“Necessary.” He smiled before his face
turned serious at what he was about to ask. “Roscaar, I brought you
here to ask you about setting up an arranged marriage with your
son.”

Roscaar was taken aback for a moment.
This was the last thing he was expecting.

“You know I would be happy for Rohesia
to be wedded into my family with no questions asked, but Hayge is
only fourteen years of age and Merryl is already
betrothed.”

“I am not talking of either of those
sons my friend.”

“Ison?” He said, not hiding his
surprise at the suggestion of his illegitimate son.

“He has returned from the Foreign
Lands has he not?”

“But only a few cycles ago, he said he
is tired of war.”

“Men of his age usually are, but he
has done good things over there I hear?”

Roscaar nodded.

“Though his reputation doesn’t exactly
help; his men adore him, women and children run from
him.”

Argarth laughed as he recalled the
rumours that had followed Ison from the Foreign Lands. He was not
exactly known for following the fashions or holding a conversation
outside of his army of men.

“He is loyal, strong and I believe him
to be the only man out there who could possibly strategise enough
to manage my daughter without the need for a heavy
hand.”

Roscaar realised what this would mean
for his son and their fragile relationship.

“It would mean my son would definitely
be king someday; he would have the one thing I cannot rightfully
give him.”

“Yes it does. There is no way I will
provide another heir to this throne. I need a good man to support
my daughter in the future.” He was pleased by the disbelief on
Roscaar’s face; he was glad he could do this for his
friend.

“He is a good man,” Roscaar
practically whispered. “A hard shell maybe, but he is loyal to the
core.”

“I know. I just hope he agrees to our
plan, you should tell him of what is in the parchment if you feel
it will help.”

"And Rohesia?”

“She has not found a potential suitor
thus far, and knowing her she will pick the weakest of the bunch
once her hand is forced to ensure her independence. She will not
choose out of love. I will refuse whomever she chooses.”

“She may hate you for it.”

“She is such a loving, caring creature
Roscaar; no matter what others believe. It would take a fool not to
fall head over heels in love with her and Ison strikes me as no
fool. If Rohesia one day has his love, she will love him in return
I am certain. She will then have her mother’s wish.”

Roscaar sighed in defeat, knowing he
could not debate such a wonderful gift that would be given to a son
whom he owed a great deal.

“Then I shall ask him upon my return
to Dondayas. He may not wish for it however.”

“If he does prove to be a fool against
my better judgment, then he does not deserve her.”

“Very good logic, then I shall make it
my utmost priority to make him say yes to this
agreement.”

Both men laughed and touched their
chalices as bond of their word.

“When should this happen,
Argarth?”

“As soon as possible." I want this to
happen quietly and quickly if he agrees.”

“He had better agree. Aside from the
fact he will be getting a kingdom of his own someday, Ison knows he
needs a good woman by his side.” He announced as he raised his
chalice for a second time. “To Ison and Rohesia.”

“To performing a miracle.” Argarth
replied as he raised his own drink, both men’s laughter echoing
through the castle halls.

Chapter Two

Sir Ison Mondar had been given the
extension of Mondar from his mother since he was a bastard born. A
status he had used to his advantage when he first reached the
Foreign Lands all that time ago.