Heirot

Atul chuckled. "I'm glad we are taking this seriously," he admitted, pressing a kiss to the vampire's temple. "I shall read to you both tonight. Different stories of course. The one for you isn't age appropriate for Tenara."

Vlad rewarded the king's joke with a sinister grin. "Good. Now that that's settled, can you remember anything about Tenele's attacker?"

"No," Atul replied. "It was dark and he moved fast. He must have been following us for a while though, else I don't know how he would have known were we would be at that time. He might have been waiting the whole night hoping we'd separate at some point. I was only a few feet in front of her. It wasn't a sneaky shot either. Not the way an assassin would do it. He held the sword high, like he wanted to make a scene. Either that or he was hoping to hack her to death."

Vlad thought about his words. "Anyone strong enough to endure your weaponized narcolepsy should be aware of how to make a kill without being noticed. Sounds like this person wanted attention." He thought about what Lord Masic had said the night before. "Or wanted attention on you and Tenele. Quite the scandal, for a newly betrothed king."

He started trying to imagine who was strong enough to have survived Atul's attack. "Lelana..." he muttered, and shook his head. "No. Why would she care about this."

Atul frowned Vlad. "I haven't seen her in years, Vlad. Since after we won the capital back from my father. I don't think she would care what is happening in my life at the moment. The only thing Lalana wanted was power, and she's not getting that from me."

Tenele stepped forward. "You said that someone wanted to make a scene? Last night you said that Atul protecting me alerted people to a scandal that pushed up his wedding. Maybe someone wanted that? An earlier wedding? I guess that sounds silly."

Tenara made the softest most adorable little sound as her eyes fluttered open and she stretched out her arms and legs. "Ma...." she murmured, the doll slipping from her fingers to clatter on the floor.

Vlad leaned over toward Tenara and messed up her hair with a light hand, summoning her doll back into her arms. "Morning, snack." He looked back at Tenele. "I suppose, but who would care about pushing the marriage? It's already decided. What difference does it make if it happens a few weeks sooner?" The words died on his lips. It made a difference. Two more weeks' claim on his lover made a huge difference, but only to him.

Tenele nodded. "I suppose you're right," she replied. She walked over to the side of the bed where Tenara was lying and sat down. "Good morning," she mused, brushing fingers through her daughter's hair.

"Mommy," she murmured, still in the fog of sleep.

"What do you say we go dressed, and then go find breakfast?"

"Cake?" Tenara asked with a smile.

"You always want cake," Tenele sighed, scooping up her daughter. "I'm not even sure what they have for breakfast in this country. It will be an adventure." Tenele headed towards the secret door leading back into their room.

"Well, let's look at what we know," Atul sighed as Tenele left. He stood up slowly. "Whoever it was is strong enough to survive magic. They aren't afraid to be noticed. And, they seem to want your wife dead. This was probably just a poorly executed assassination attempt preformed by a very lucky rookie."

"It takes more than luck to escape you, Atul," the vampire said. "It doesn't add up. But okay, assuming it was a normal person. Does Espha have any devoted fans? Would they be willing to attack you in public in order to push up your engagement?

"The only guy I know of wouldn't want our wedding to be pushed up," Atul frowned. "He'd just as soon see it over with as fast as possible. He was her betrothed until she ran off to enter the drawing for Queen. If anything, I'd think he'd want to insure that you and Tenele were in my life as a distraction from her."

Vlad paused. "Her betrothed? Were they close?"

Atul grimaced. "No, and if you come to court with me today you will see why. She submitted her name into the drawing for a reason. She does not want to marry him, but her aunt insisted. He's a wealthy man in Ida, and it would provide her aunt with the resources and means to live comfortably for quite a while. He's twenty years her senior."

Vlad pondered that a moment. "Not an ideal reason to marry." Then again, neither were his reasons. "This country's attitude toward marriage makes no sense. It's backwards. It ought to be changed, so people stop suffering for it."

Atul frowned. "One step at a time, Vlad. These people just came out of war, lost their deity, accepted a new King... Changing cultural norms take time and I'll need to win the people's favor. But, as marriages have often been the means for a families survival and increasing social standing, they will not be accepting of a law that says betrothals are illegal. I agree our look on marriage is flawed. The elders of villages do not see marriage as a factor of love, but of survival. And I admit, the women do not win in this."

"Nor the men," Vlad muttered. He was being unfair. Atul could do nothing about his engagement. Protesting it would only make it more painful. "I will support you," he said. "She is a fine bride. I will support you both, and I will be at your side in the shadows as long as you'll have me."

Atul smiled at Vlad. He placed his hands on the man's shoulder and neck. "I will always have you. In the shadows or the daylight. But, tell me... if you and Tenele really could be with me as a man and a wife and a...nother man, would you be happy? No more adventures, no more peace, and no more going places without fanfair. The world would feel claustrophobic."