Read Online Magic's Promise by Mercedes Lackey - Free Book Online Page A

Heir-presumptive yet. The Crown was his, like it or not. “ I ... I wish I . . . there's no one else, Van. No one old enough. ”
    “ Then you can't resign your Crown, can you. ” Vanyel made it a statement rather than a question.
    “ No. Damn. Van-you know I never wanted this- ”
    Memory.
    Balmy spring breezes played over the lawn. Randi laughing at something, some joke he had just made- Shavri playing with the baby in a patch of sun. Bucolic, pastoral scene -
    Shattered by the arrival on a lathered horse of a Queen's Messenger. In black.
    Randi jumped to his feet, his face going white. The man handed Randale a sealed package wrapped in silk, but Randi didn't open it.
    “Herald Randale - your grandmother the Queen sends me to tell you that your father - ”
    The package fell from Randale's fingers. The blue silk wrappings unwound from the contents.
    The silver coronet of the Heir.
    An accident. A stupid accident - a misstep on a slippery staircase in full view of everyone-and the Heir, Herald-Mage Darvi, was dead of a broken neck. And Randale was Heir.
    Vanyel's heart ached for him. And he dared not show it. Pity would be wrong at this moment, but he softened his voice and his expression.
    “ I told you Jisa would make a bad Queen. I meant every word. Shavri knows all this, too, you can bet on it. And I'm telling you you're tearing her in pieces, putting her between love for you, and what she knows is her duty. ” Randale looked at him as if he wanted to interrupt. “ No, hear me out - you've sympathized often enough with me and my matchmaking mother. How in Havens do you think Shavri feels with you putting that same kind of pressure on her? ”
    “ Not good, ” Randale admitted, after a long moment.
    “ Then stop it, before you put her under more pressure than she can take. Leave her alone. Let it lie for another ten years; if things haven't come to a conclusion one way or another, then bring it up. All right? ”
    “ No, ” Randale said slowly. “ It's not all right. But you're absolutely correct about there being no choice. Not for any of us. ”
    Vanyel rose, and swung the chair he'd been slouched over out of the way. Randale did the same.
    “ Don't spoil what you have with what you only think you want, Randale, ” he said softly, taking his friend and King's arm. “ This is experience talking; the one thing about the brief time I shared with my love that I have never regretted is that I never consciously did anything to make him unhappy. Had our time been longer, maybe I would have; I can't ever know. But at least I have no memories of quarrels or hard words to shadow the good memories. ”
    Randale took his hand. “ You're right; I'm wrong. I'll stop plaguing her. ”
    “ Good man. ”
    Rand I - oh, Randi - Close; Randale was coming too close. It was beginning to hurt - Then Randale's servant entered behind him, the King's formal uniform draped over one arm, the royal circlet in the other hand, and a harried expression on his face.
    Vanyel forced a laugh, and took the welcome opportunity to escape. “ Now unless I haul myself out of here, I'm going to make your man there very unhappy. ”
    “ What? ” Randale turned, startled. “ Oh. Oh, hellfire. I have got that damned formal audience before dinner, don't I? ”
    “ Yes, sire, ” the servant replied, as expressionless as a stone.
    “ Then I'd better get changed. Vanyel - ”
    Vanyel put his arm around the younger man's shoulders and gave him an affectionate embrace. “ Just go do your duty, and make her happy. That's what counts. I'm off; I'll see you by Midwinter, certainly. ”
    “ Right. Van, be well. ” Randale looked at him - really looked at him, for the first time. He started to reach for Vanyel's arm with an expression of concern;   Vanyel ducked his head to conceal the signs of weariness.
    “ I'm never ill. Go, go, go-before your man kills me with a look!''
    Randale managed a grin, and followed the servant back into the private