Chapter Twenty-Seven

“I got your message and I thought I’d find you in here.” Avalon slipped into the small spa room that was only used by the King, shaking his head at his father. “Does the idea of hosting such a major event fill you with so much anxiety you couldn’t forgo your hot soak for one night?”

“My man Hopkins has already got my clothes laid out, so all I have to do is step into them.” The King’s mostly naked form was completely submerged in the soft green water, lit only by magical crystals. “I won’t be late, and neither will you. Is your husband resting?”

Avalon nodded as he took a seat on the stone bench which was the only other piece of furniture in the room. “He had messages he wanted to respond to from Queen Fiona and Princess Felicity. The tailor also wanted to make some last-minute adjustments to his new uniform.”

“Good, then we won’t be disturbed for a short while.” His father’s keen eyes sparkled. “Would you like to tell me how it was that I sent you off to get married to someone who by all accounts was a terrified and badly wounded victim of horrific assault, and you come home with a glowing and very beautiful young prince with excellent manners?”

“I did marry the right prince, in case you’re wondering, Father.” Avalon chuckled, quickly filling his father in on all the details that hadn’t made the official reports concerning Cijan’s brief invasion of Lowenthorp.

“So, our new consort has magic?” The King of Cijan looked surprised.

“Powerful magic. Father, you should’ve seen it. Jasper is incredible in what he can do.”

“It’s clear you’re taken with him, and I’m glad for that. But I know Jasper’s parents on record don’t have any magic. Are you telling me Queen Fiona…?” The King made a motion like someone hopping over a fence.

“Never.” Avalon didn’t mention he’d thought the same thing. “It was the King of Lowenthorp who apparently donated the necessary genetic material required for all three of his children to be legally his, without Queen Fiona having any part of it. The tribe concerned was under contract. I doubt anyone expected the news to spread.”

“Well, it won’t spread from me.” The King swished his arms through the water. “I’d never seen anyone as in love with their Queen as Harry was. Honestly, they were devoted to each other. I can only imagine the intense courage it took for Fiona to take on her husband’s children and raise them as her own, knowing she would never feel the joy of giving birth herself. That must’ve been heartbreaking for her, yet she loved Harry as much as he did her.”

“Is that why the deal came about, do you think?” Avalon rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward slightly. “If the King was as in love with Fiona as you say, and yet she was unable to have children naturally, would they perhaps have agreed together that was the best way? Rather than risk the King being forced by his council to discard the woman he loved in favor of someone who could give him children?”

“It’s possible. Highly probable, actually,” the King agreed. “Even approaching a back-hill tribe with an enforceable contract makes sense when you think about it. If the royal family approached any of the society families with a similar deal, they could effectively be blackmailed for the rest of theirs and their children’s lives. That sort of thing could have ramifications for generations. But enough about that. That’s ancient history now and has nothing to do with us. What about you? Are you a happily married man?”

“Yes, Father.” Avalon was quick to assure his father. “I know, I know, you’re probably itching for me to mention something along the lines of ‘you were right, Father’ or similar.” He smirked. “You probably were. Jasper is like a breath of fresh air to me, I feel very deeply for him, and I look forward to us spending many long and happy years together.”

“As long as he’s not keen on hanging around the castle, the way his sister might’ve done if you’d married her.” The King leaned back and sighed. “I enjoy this pool far too much to have to give it up to complete royal engagements out of Cijan.”

“Your skin will wrinkle like a prune if you stay in there much longer,” Avalon warned as he stood up and straightened the seams on his pants. “Thank you, Father, for steering me into a marriage I wasn’t sure I needed until I did, and for making Jasper feel so welcome when we arrived. I’ll see you before the next bell in the Grand Hall – dressed this time,” he added, as he bowed low and left, keen to get back to his husband.

/~/~/~/~/

It was quite a few hours later. The presentations had been made, dinner had been served and eaten, and the King had retired, likely back to his favorite spa bath. Avalon hoped his father had some company for the evening. Back in the Grand Hall, music was playing softly, providing an accompaniment if anyone wished to dance, while providing a pleasant background to light conversation. “Are you enjoying yourself?” Avalon leaned closer to Jasper as he asked. “There are a number of people here who are quite taken with you, or so I’ve overheard on more than one occasion.”

“I believe people are more honest on your ship,” Jasper said, keeping his voice low. “But thanks to you, I can enjoy the disconnect between what a person says and what they truly feel, without feeling upset about it. In fact, it can be quite amusing. Take that couple over there, for example.” He discreetly pointed to a couple who appeared to be in a heated discussion two tables away.

“Are they arguing at a royal function? That’s unheard of,” Avalon whispered. “Most people are on their best behavior at an event like this.”

“I would imagine they would have to be if they wanted to be invited back. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but he’s wishing he could be anywhere else. There is something definitely off about the scene though.”

“You’re going to be such a help to me when we’re in the middle of treaty negotiations with another country or the World Council,” Avalon said, as he had an idea. “Did you want to hear what they were saying?” He stood and held out his arm. “Shall we mingle with people who will be your subjects one day?”

“They don’t know I’ve got magic, or that I can sense what they’re actually feeling. Surely that’s deceitful.” But Jasper took his hand and got to his feet, a small smile playing on the edges of his lips.

“My father has built his rule on the concepts of honesty in all things,” Avalon said firmly, as he escorted Jasper around the royal table and out to the general seating area. “It’s something we’ll do as well when the time comes. But speaking of honesty, were the messages you got from Lowenthorp concerning in any way? I didn’t have a chance to ask.”

“No, not at all concerning. My mother wishes us both well. She understands how we weren’t able to visit while we were in Lowenthorp, and she sends thanks that you and I are both safe and happy together.”

“You must be sure to write and tell her about your first big social event, although I saw a scribe from the World Council here earlier, so it is likely it will be reported in the next newsletter anyway. And your sister, Princess Felicity? Is she well?” Avalon did feel a slight pang of guilt, well aware that Jasper’s sister had harbored a minor crush on him when she was younger.

“Yes, she is very well, by her account. She sends us her best wishes as well. I was a little surprised, as I knew she always held you in the highest regard,” Jasper added. “However, she wrote at length about how she felt you and I would be a good match for each other, given how I had never had the chance to travel, and you traveled so extensively. She assured me that when her own marriage contract eventuated, she would make sure you and I would be among her first guests in a new home.”

“That is very sweet of her.” Avalon moved them closer to where the two people were still arguing. “Good evening. Jasper, this is the Duke and Duchess of Emerald County, a small district about an hour’s carriage ride from the castle. Are you having an enjoyable evening?”

“Your Highness.” The Duke hurriedly got to his feet and bowed low. The Duchess followed more slowly and dropped a slight curtsy. The Duke pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and dabbed at his brow. His face was very red. “I confess, I am feeling a little under the weather this evening, but as my wife and I would never dream of missing such a momentous occasion…”

“Is there a magical healer present?” Jasper asked, looking around.

“Oh, I’m sure there’s no need for anything like that,” the Duchess said quickly, grabbing at her husband’s arm. “I’ll ensure he gets home safely.”

But Jasper was shaking his head. “No, indeed, what type of hosts would we be to see a man in obvious ill health having to endure… what was it? An hour-long carriage ride, Avalon? No. I insist. You will remain at the castle. I’m sure you’d prefer to accompany him, Duchess.”

“If he’s going to be ministered at the castle, I should probably go home…” The Duchess appeared to be looking for a means of escape.

“The Crown Prince Consort has said you’ll stay, Duchess,” Avalon said, raising his hand to where Duncan and Merlin were watching from their table. “If you’d like to come this way.”

“I must insist you let me go home.” The Duchess’s voice started to rise. “I don’t know what’s wrong with my husband. I didn’t have anything to do with it. You can’t accuse me of anything.”

Avalon glanced at his husband. “I don’t recall accusing you of anything at all, Duchess. Your husband is unwell. We will get him seen to by a magical healer at my husband’s suggestion, and you can remain with him until that is done. That way you can travel home together. Surely, that would be the sensible and most responsible thing to do.”

“I want to go home.” The Duchess stamped her foot and then fainted in a pile of petticoats on the floor. A couple of women in the crowd rushed to her aid, but Jasper put up his hand and shook his head.

“If you could have two of the ladies in your guard escort the Duchess to a secure location until her husband has been cared for. He’s been poisoned,” Jasper added to Avalon, in a low voice. “It’s slow acting, but with the stress she was causing him, deliberately, I might add, it is moving quickly through his body. He needs help urgently.”

The castle had efficient staff, and within five clicks, the scene was cleared, the Duchess was being held in a room the guards had set aside for unruly guests, and the Duke was being tended to by someone with extensive knowledge of poisons and the use of magical crystals.

“My goodness, that could’ve been a political nightmare,” Merlin said as he and Duncan, Avalon, and Jasper gathered for a drink back at the royal table. “Imagine the outcry there would be if the duke had died at that table, at a Royal event.”

“It wasn’t political.” Jasper cradled his drink in both hands, watching some of the couples dancing. “The act was deliberately staged here, but the poisoning was due to domestic reasons rather than a ploy to cause problems for the King. I couldn’t see it from a distance. I just knew something was wrong. But when I got closer, my magic alerted me to the poison in his system, likely ingested just before they arrived this evening. It was in his blood, and of course, as he got more and more agitated, due to her behavior, it caused the effects of the poison to accelerate.”

“And everyone knows how kindly the King is,” Duncan grumbled. “She becomes a widow at the presentation of the new Crown Prince Consort, your father would be rendering financial aid until her death, he would feel so badly for her.”

“Especially if her husband’s collapse was made to look as though he’d simply suffered a heart attack or similar, so it was very opportune for the Duke that our Crown Prince Consort has the skills he has,” Merlin agreed. “But you know what I’m thinking?” He leaned over the table and lowered his voice. “If we want to spend any time on the ship this month, we’d better be on it at first light. Because if your father, our gracious and kindly King, hears that Jasper can pick out incidents like he did this evening, we’ll never be allowed to leave the court.”

“Ooh, sound advice, advisor.” Avalon looked at his husband. “Jasper, what do you think?”

“I couldn’t let the man die,” Jasper said, shaking his head. “But yes, I feel suddenly overcome.” He put his glass down, and lifted his hand, resting the back of it on his forehead. “Such a magnificent event. So very generous of the King to put on such an event for our marriage. But I confess to being overwhelmed. For someone who has, until very recently, lived a more solitary life… One would think, as much as I’d hate to pull my husband from his time in the castle, that some bracing sea air…?” He looked at Avalon sideways. “Is it working?”

Avalon chuckled as he pulled Jasper into his arms, uncaring who would see or comment on his actions. “You heard my husband,” he said to Duncan and Merlin, who were also grinning widely. “We need to be on our ship at first light.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Duncan and Merlin saluted him with their glasses.