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Authors: Stephanie A. Cain
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this region. After diamonds, the largest exports of the Kreyden District were fruit and fruit wine.
"I am honored to have you here, Prince Razem," Baron Arkad said as they made their way to the palace. "We have set aside the most luxurious accommodations for you and your honored companions." He wiped a finger along his thin mustache. "I was not certain what you intended for Duke Oler, so we have prepared a comfortable and secure room for him. I have heard that he is in ill health."
Razem nodded. "He is very weak. His mind is still as hale as it ever was--which I realize is not saying much. But the healers who have treated him for the past year of his illness know best what he needs. I will have Rendon, the head healer, speak with your chamberlain."
"Very good, very good." Arkad was a solid man who had once been a warrior of some note. His muscle had largely run to fat in recent years. He was at least sixty and possibly older; his son led their soldiers now. He smiled at Razem. "You are looking well, your highness. It truly is a joy to see you again."
Razem felt a rush of affection for his old advisor. "And you, Arkad. You look hale and happy."
"I am a grandfather now! Rasha's wife gave us twins this past Autumn Evener. Twins! Bless her, a girl and a boy. It has brought new joy to my life, having the babes." Arkad beamed. "I confess, I have not been as attentive to matters of state as I should have since they were born."
Razem chuckled. "I congratulate you and Rasha's wife both. And Rasha, I suppose, though I wonder if he has any time to spend with his children, if he is taking up the slack you leave in the rope."
"Insolence," Arkad said happily. "Rasha and Jemi are here in the city. I summoned them when I learned you would be coming with the Deranged Duke. I could not have you here without seeing them again."
"I am glad to hear it." Razem's pleasure had dimmed somewhat at the mention of Duke Oler, though. He pursed his lips. "Arkad, what is the mood here in Salishok? What do people think about Duke Oler's imminent release?"
Arkad frowned, scratching at his beard. "Well, it has been...a rather mixed reaction, I suppose I should say. There are those who see this as a step towards peace, and plenty of us here in the Kreyden would like to see that. Goodness knows, I had hoped Rasha would inherit my lands in a time of peace, and now here I am twenty years later hoping that perhaps my grandchildren at least will see peace." He shook his head. "But there are others who... Well, they aren't so optimistic, I suppose you might say. And it is hard for me to fault them. This city alone has six or eight score who lost family or property to Oler's depredations. When you look out at the region as a whole, there are probably hundreds of orphans who were made by the Deranged Duke and his men. And that's not counting Dinnsan, which I know was particularly painful for you." He glanced over his shoulder, where the rest of the prince's party walked some distance behind. "Not to mention poor Burojan there. I can't believe he came with you!"
Razem clenched his jaw, but after a moment he managed to relax enough to speak. "Venra's death was a blow to all of us, it is true. And I told Aris that I couldn't come to Salishok if he didn't come with me, to give his blessing." He met Arkad's gray eyes and was pleased to see a light of respect there. "I don't know if I handled it well, but he agreed to come. Though I confess, I had choice words for my father after he put ME in the position to break the news to Aris."
Arkad grunted. "I imagine your father was not terribly impressed."
"My father rarely is." Razem sighed. "He loved Azmei so much, Arkad. I have difficulty living up to the standards she set me. Not only did she offer to live in a foreign country away from all our people, but then she died because of her desire for peace. Father sees only that, and he doesn't understand that I desire peace, too--but peace without conciliations. Is that
"I am honored to have you here, Prince Razem," Baron Arkad said as they made their way to the palace. "We have set aside the most luxurious accommodations for you and your honored companions." He wiped a finger along his thin mustache. "I was not certain what you intended for Duke Oler, so we have prepared a comfortable and secure room for him. I have heard that he is in ill health."
Razem nodded. "He is very weak. His mind is still as hale as it ever was--which I realize is not saying much. But the healers who have treated him for the past year of his illness know best what he needs. I will have Rendon, the head healer, speak with your chamberlain."
"Very good, very good." Arkad was a solid man who had once been a warrior of some note. His muscle had largely run to fat in recent years. He was at least sixty and possibly older; his son led their soldiers now. He smiled at Razem. "You are looking well, your highness. It truly is a joy to see you again."
Razem felt a rush of affection for his old advisor. "And you, Arkad. You look hale and happy."
"I am a grandfather now! Rasha's wife gave us twins this past Autumn Evener. Twins! Bless her, a girl and a boy. It has brought new joy to my life, having the babes." Arkad beamed. "I confess, I have not been as attentive to matters of state as I should have since they were born."
Razem chuckled. "I congratulate you and Rasha's wife both. And Rasha, I suppose, though I wonder if he has any time to spend with his children, if he is taking up the slack you leave in the rope."
"Insolence," Arkad said happily. "Rasha and Jemi are here in the city. I summoned them when I learned you would be coming with the Deranged Duke. I could not have you here without seeing them again."
"I am glad to hear it." Razem's pleasure had dimmed somewhat at the mention of Duke Oler, though. He pursed his lips. "Arkad, what is the mood here in Salishok? What do people think about Duke Oler's imminent release?"
Arkad frowned, scratching at his beard. "Well, it has been...a rather mixed reaction, I suppose I should say. There are those who see this as a step towards peace, and plenty of us here in the Kreyden would like to see that. Goodness knows, I had hoped Rasha would inherit my lands in a time of peace, and now here I am twenty years later hoping that perhaps my grandchildren at least will see peace." He shook his head. "But there are others who... Well, they aren't so optimistic, I suppose you might say. And it is hard for me to fault them. This city alone has six or eight score who lost family or property to Oler's depredations. When you look out at the region as a whole, there are probably hundreds of orphans who were made by the Deranged Duke and his men. And that's not counting Dinnsan, which I know was particularly painful for you." He glanced over his shoulder, where the rest of the prince's party walked some distance behind. "Not to mention poor Burojan there. I can't believe he came with you!"
Razem clenched his jaw, but after a moment he managed to relax enough to speak. "Venra's death was a blow to all of us, it is true. And I told Aris that I couldn't come to Salishok if he didn't come with me, to give his blessing." He met Arkad's gray eyes and was pleased to see a light of respect there. "I don't know if I handled it well, but he agreed to come. Though I confess, I had choice words for my father after he put ME in the position to break the news to Aris."
Arkad grunted. "I imagine your father was not terribly impressed."
"My father rarely is." Razem sighed. "He loved Azmei so much, Arkad. I have difficulty living up to the standards she set me. Not only did she offer to live in a foreign country away from all our people, but then she died because of her desire for peace. Father sees only that, and he doesn't understand that I desire peace, too--but peace without conciliations. Is that
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