A cold pit of dread opened up in his stomach. “You mean I have to choose…”
She touched his arm, her expression shunting aside his rising anger. “No, Thealos. No. I’d not treat you like that. Not after what you have been through. I knew it when you used the magic. I felt it even as far away as here. A nagging feeling, a pressing feeling I’ve been carrying for months was finally lifted. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but Lucyanna confirmed it. She had felt it too and came running to tell me that it was over. She’s a…sensitive girl. And she admires you a great deal. So do I.”
He swallowed. “Then what must I do?”
“I would like you to be the governor of Landmoor.”
Something clattered in his mind. “What?”
“Think of it as your calling. I would have you rule down there on my behalf. Work out a Pax with Dos-Aralon. Restore order to the city, assist in rebuilding it and fortifying it. You will not serve one of the gods, but the Three. I will send counselors to you from all three faiths to teach you diplomacy, military strategy, trade, even the use of Earth magic. You will be in charge of the quaeres assigned to the city as well as the Warders and the barters. It will take some time, Thealos, but it will give you experience in running a city. Experience that I would like you to have.”
He was nearly too stunned to speak. “You honor me more than I deserve, your highness.”
She shook her head. “Hardly. I give you what we should have given your family long ago. You’ve earned this, Thealos. It won’t be easy. Suffering with Nordain’s underlings will challenge any man’s patience. The Wolfsmen are a prideful lot if you had not noticed that yet. I’m also sure you’ll see that the Warders are never short of opinions either.”
“Can I think on it and tell you tonight?”
A quirk of a smile lit her face. “You can think as long as you like. But I’m going to the Sunedrion tomorrow to announce it. Whether or not you’ve said yes.”
“Then I will give you my decision tonight. If I may.”
“You may. A private dinner then?”
“Again, you honor me, your highness.”
“I’ve only just started,” she replied with a voice rich with promise. “Tonight then. I’ll leave you alone with your ghosts.”
“Thank you, Laisha.”
Her smile grew brighter. “That’s better.”
As he watched her walk away, he caught sight of Nordain waiting behind. As soon as she was gone, he approached. The pockmark on his cheek was livid, his expression a bit strained. Thealos gripped the reins of his patience and folded his arms as the Council Elder approached.
The wellspring whispered to him. Don’t let him goad you. Be firm in your dealings with him.
Nordain looked weary with the heat and he mopped his brow with a sleeve.
“I’m glad I found you alone,” he said, chuffing a bit.
Thealos held up his finger. “What do you want, Nordain?”
The Council Elder hedged, shifting his weight. “I know you must be angry with me, lad. But I think that we can come to some sort of…understanding. I’m sure you believe the worst in me and I…”
Don’t let him control the conversation…
“No, Nordain. I don’t want to hear another word. I won’t make this easy for you. You never made anything easy for me. I will only say this. I control my family’s estate. If you desire to see another piece of silver from its coffers, you had best find ways to demonstrate to me your… sincere repentance. You may go. Now.”
A look chafed on Nordain’s face. He seemed to wrestle with his feelings for a moment. Thealos was victorious.
“You’ve grown up in your travels, young Quickfellow. I say that as a compliment. Good day.”
Thealos watched him leave and hoped the sour feeling in his stomach would fade. It took every thought of self-will he possessed to keep from letting the Oath magic loose on him.
With Nordain gone, the grounds continued to clear. He walked a short distance to the walled gardens—the Queen’s Gardens—where he had first met Laisha. The thought rankled him with memories of meeting Ticastasy for the first time. By the Three, how was he going to manage it? Living in Landmoor, so near her, would be tortuous. It would also be sweet. Painfully so. The patter of the fountain sounded refreshing against the heat of the day. He lingered for a moment near it, dipping his hand in the waters and then wiping his face. It was only a moment before the prickle of awareness went down his back again.
“Jaerod,” he whispered and walked into the Queen’s Gardens, thick with shade from the scores of plum trees.
There he was, dressed in the same dark colors, the same half-smirk on his mouth.
At first, he did not know what to say. Feelings that had been numb during the funeral surged to life. They were heavy things, clouds made of rusty iron.
“How long before you must leave?” Thealos asked him.
“I can’t stay long.”