Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked across the room at Atul's fiance. Years had passed, but to him, she looked like the same strong-willed child he had guarded in a dying city. She couldn't be Atul's fiance. He didn't want that kind-hearted child to be his rival. She couldn't marry the man he loved.

"Hi, Espha," he greeted her, masking his caution. "It's been a while."

[Emora Deen]

Espha smiled. "A few years," she told him, shifting her hands less formally behind her back. She swayed on her feet. "I'm twenty-three now..." she added, as if she needed to justify her age as a reason for being qualified to marry the King.

"You look beautiful," Tenele greeted the woman. She wasn't sure how well they knew eachother, but Tenele had to compliment her. She was a pretty young woman.

Espha blushed. "Thank you," she replied, placing a hand to her cheek. "I have servants now who won't let me leave my room unless I have make-up and fancy clothing on. I'm not sure I like all this..."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad studied her words. Atul had said she needed to marry him to escape her family. He wondered a little bitterly if she even appreciated the man she was marrying. He knew it was petty, but it frustrated him. Atul deserved better. Espha deserved better.

Instead, he managed a smile and said, "It is a strange world to get used to. But I doubt your strong character can be easily snuffed by a little makeup. You'll fit in well here. You have a strength of character the people will respect." He let himself admit it. She would make a good queen.

[Emora Deen]

Espha's smile brightened. "I'm glad you're back," she told them. "Atul missed you. You will make him happy being here again. I hope you stay for a while."

Tenele wasn't sure how long they would stay. She knew they had lived here for a while, and maybe being accepted back with Atul would mean a more permanent venture than the one they'd originally planned.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's gaze was steady. For a while. He confronted the possibility that she didn't expect them to live here. She agreed to allow him affairs, but consorts? Even if Atul was willing to love him on the side...Could he just live here? What if Tenele didn't want it?

"I don't want to wear out our welcome," he said to her testingly.

[Emora Deen]

Espha glanced away, like she was trying to hide something. "I'm sure you wouldn't," she replied, turning her gaze to the gold slippers she wore. "You are welcome here as long as you wish to remain."

"That's very kind of you," Tenele replied, not able to see through the carefully veiled lines. Espha was just to bashful to make it any more obvious than the averted gaze she held.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's garnet eyes locked on her, studying. "And your feelings, my lady?" he asked seriously.

[Emora Deen]

Espha twisted her hands together. "I want my King to be happy," she whispered. "I want whatever makes him happy to be happy... I hope what makes him happy will not hate me... and know that it is better this way. For him, and for what makes him happy." Espha swallowed and added quickly, "It was between me and some very sour Queen from the north. Not as accommodating, I'm sure."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad frowned at her. He stood up, gliding out of the bed and over to the girl's side. With a light grip, he guided her outside the door and closed it behind them. "Sorry," he said in the privacy of the hall. "Atul has explained that part to me. What I meant to ask was about your feelings." Looking at her gave him protective instinct not too different from Tenara. Damn it, she was marrying his lover, yet she seemed like a daughter. If she gave Atul the same impression, it could be a very awkward marriage.

[Emora Deen]

"I feel fine," Espha replied, but couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm marrying a king. I'll be a queen. I won't have to want for anything. I'll be very taken care of. Atul even says we'll get a surrogate for his heir so I won't have to die..." The young girl winced before collecting her expression back into the placid acceptance she'd come to display. "It works very well for both of us, really. Atul is very nice to me. We enjoy each others company. I think he actually smiled once." She laughed softly, but looked on the verge of tears. "We even discussed... the arrangements. After the wedding night, he can love who he wants and... I can love who I want."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's expression softened, a caring look he'd only learned after his daughter was born. "And who is it that you want?" he asked.

[Emora Deen]

Espha glanced up. "Me?" she asked, looking taken-aback. "I... I... no one. There is no one. Not... really. Not, that I know of. I... I should get back to my lessons."

[Soran Nightblade]

"My mistake, Lady," he lowered his head in peace. "I didn't mean to push." She wasn't happy, but that was as far into her behavior as he was able to read, and it seemed it was all she would give him. If the girl was smitten with the king, the idea of Atul embracing her in a loveless marriage seemed cruel. It wasn't just his jealousy. Something in the girl's eyes made him really concerned. "For the best," she'd said. Such grown up words. "Lessons," he excused her with a casual wave.

[Emora Deen]

Espha brightened with a smile. "I will see you later," she told him, turning to go off about her own business.

Inside Tenara had climbed into Tenele's lap and was showing her all the things she'd managed to fit into her muskrat purse. All her old toys were exactly where they'd left them. She'd missed them.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad watched her go. He remembered a conversation he'd had with Tenele, a long time ago, about hating his fiance even though he hadn't met her yet. He'd told her whoever it was couldn't be good enough for him, he just didn't know why yet. It had made him feel petty and territorial.

Looking at the beautiful young woman walk away, he was certain she was good enough. She was pretty enough, smart enough, kind enough.

And god damn it, he was still petty.