Page 36 of Between Sun and Moon

Trying not to roll my eyes, I pinned my gaze to my plate and focused on the crumbs I had purposefully left unharvested.Creator above, the foodie that lived within me made it damn hard to be a proper lady.

Aurelius nodded in reply, setting the goblet on the wood table without so much as a whisper of sound—a testament to his ethereal grace.

“Just yesterday, a carrier pigeon arrived from Old Northoway. It was a letter written by my younger brother, Lord Archibald. You remember him, yes? He visited in the fall,” the man said.

“I remember him. How is his wife doing?” Aurelius asked, his fork slowly sliding into a piece of dark meat. With just enough pressure from his knife, he sawed a chunk off, the process itself graceful and elegant—the epitome of Brunhilde’s proper table-manner dreams.

“Well, that is the thing, Your Royal Highness. My brother has written to inform me that she has become deathly ill, and he does not suspect she will make it to spring.”

“What is she ill with?” Aurelius asked.

“The healers suspect it could be something to do with her condition,” the man replied, his voice growing croaky, but not from emotion. He cleared it before he continued, “She is with child.”

Aurelius’s hands stilled momentarily, before resuming to cut another piece. “I am sorry to hear that she has fallen so unwell. Your brother must be beside himself.” He took another bite, his lips wrapping around the fork.

“Oh, I can assure you he is, especially as he is desperate for an heir,” the man said with an agreeing nod.

Aurelius finished chewing before he responded, “That, I can understand.”

The man continued, “In his letter, he spoke of his wishes to come to court, so that he may begin the search for his new wife. As I said before, heisdesperate for an heir.”

Aurelius dabbed at his mouth with a cloth napkin before he dropped it onto his plate—he’d barely eaten anything. He made eye contact with a servant and gestured for him to take his plate.

When the plate was removed, the man picked up the conversation once more. “Well, Your Royal Highness, what are your thoughts on the matter? Will you grant my brother time at court so that he might find another wife?”

Aurelius didn’t answer right away. Finally, he said, “You may write to your brother and tell him that he can come to the castle, but tell him to bring his wife, as well, when he comes. Regardless of her condition. We have some wonderful healers here, and perhaps they can help her.” Aurelius turned to the man, his tone edging with steel, but it was barely audible. “Would it not be worth his time to try to save his heirandwife, rather than looking for another one?”

The man’s superior tone lost the confidence it portrayed before, as he stuttered, “Y-y-y-es, your grace. You are correct. I’ll write to him at once and tell him to arrange his travels and to bring his wife with him.” His tongue tripped up like two left feet, tangling over his words.

“Very good,” Aurelius said with false praise. “And tell him not to dawdle, yes? From what I understand, her life hangs in the balance.”

“Of course, Your Royal Highness,” the man said with a respectful bow of his head.

I leaned towards Aurelius. “That’s rather nice of you to extend hospice to his brother’s ill wife.”

Aurelius smiled, that lone, charming dimple forming in his cheek. “It was the least I could do.”

I returned a soft smile, then said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Yes?” His attention lingered on my lips.

“Do you know when Arkyn will return?”

His eyes shifted to mine. “I apologize, but I don’t. He is needed elsewhere for the time being. Why do you ask?”

I was asking because I needed to make a deal with Arkyn to save Von. Something I wasn’t entirely sure Aurelius would want to hear, considering the bad blood between them. I wondered if Aurelius knew that Arkyn’s deal hadn’t quite worked and that Von was stuck in a catatonic state, still alive. Despite my curiosity, something within me told me to tread with caution and so I did.

“No big reason,” I lied, pulling my gaze from his and reaching for my goblet. I tipped it towards me, noting it was empty. “I was just curious.”

“Ah, well, I will let you know as soon as I receive word of his return,” Aurelius responded pleasantly as he plucked a gilded wine jug up from the table.

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

“Of course. More wine?”

“Please.” I reached forward, offering him my wine cup.

Sage

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