chosen for the wedding, he was scanning the tables for his key officers. They were not present; though it would not be out of order for them to be absent it worried him. He had his mandatory dance with his betrothed and his mother, and the High Reagent Consort Selenta Morigan, the mother of the bride to be. He was stiff and formal, only doing what he must till he could excuse himself for the night.
The next morning Nab spent trying to avoid the Princess, but everywhere he went she seemed to show up. He looked for his contacts at the palace but they were nowhere to be found. Nab’s manservant Thomas found him in the gardens when it was time for the noon meal.
“Sir, the Princess Devina would like a word with you before lunch. She is in your office.”
“Did she say what it was about?”
“No sir only that it was vital that she speak with you before the noon day meal.”
Nab nodded, “Very well, thank you Thomas, I wont keep her waiting.”
The Princess was standing looking out the window of the alcove setting room off his office. She was not tall but not short either. She was thin but not overly so, and when she moved she moved with a good deal of grace. It was like watching a dance the way she moved.
“Ah, Princess Devina, a pleasure. I trust I didn’t keep you waiting long. Would you care for refreshment?” Nab would play this cool, find out what she wanted, what side she was on.
“No thank you Your Highness. I came to talk to you.” She straightened her back until she was holding herself tautly like a bow ready to be fired. Nab decided she looked nervous. Nervous was good, he could work with that. She was trying to play the worldly Princess but she was unsure of herself, inexperienced in the way life, especially the way life in this palace worked. Royal intrigue had been escalated to a fine art in Opia Nation; Devina had been spoiled by over indulgent parents, of that he was sure. She was used to getting her own way.
Nab smiled, “Well we seem to be alone, please do sit and lets – talk.” He took her arm by the elbow and led her to the couch by the fireplace. He could feel her tremble at his touch. Inexperienced in love too no doubt. He speculated that she had been coddled and protected her whole life, had always had every thing she desired. She sat on the edge of the seat, her hands in her lap. He was something she had never encountered before, an equal. Her face looked strained, the color washed out.
“Princess, are you well? You look pale.”
“I am fine.” She spoke coolly but a quaver was there. Was this an act? He had seen her last night snap at her ladies in waiting with vicious familiarity. She was a good actor if it was. Nab reached out and took her hand. He noticed that her breathing increased. Better and better, it seemed the Princess had a crush on him, no matter the fact that his mother was obviously giving her “friendly advice” on how to handle him. The two had sat at the ballroom lounge for quite awhile talking last night.
“Well what brings you to me today, without your normal chaperone?” She flushed.
“I have to talk to you alone. Your mother said you would be difficult. I – I didn’t think she would be wrong. You are being so polite.” She looked rattled, confused, but Nab would not be fooled, her reactions could be deliberate, a ruse.
“How else should I be Devina?” Nab used her familiar name on purpose to further shake her. His mother had been coaching her, interesting indeed.
“You seemed so reluctant for this marriage to take place, but it is the best for our two Nations. Together we will be stronger, a force to be reckoned with.” She said with fervent force. Almost word for word what his mother had been spouting. Nab forced himself to maintain control, it was not hard, he had been training all his life to be cool under pressure and this little thing was no pressure at all. He would play with her a bit he decided.
Nab brushed her cheek with his hand gently. “How have I seemed reluctant?”
“At the announcement dinner you hardly spoke to me. Or even looked at me.” Now she sounded more her age, the petulant child that she was. She was pouting!
“I couldn’t show you my eagerness in front of so many, now could I?” Nab slid his arm around her waist. “We are all alone now, if you want to get to know me better.” He whispered his lips near her cheek. “What has my lovely mother been telling you?” His hands pulled her forcefully to him. She put her arms up to push him away, slapping him awkwardly across the cheek. He stood up dragging her to her feet. Nab grabbed her wrist as she tried to hit him again.
“What’s the matter Princess, isn’t this the response you wished for?” Nab smiled. His lip hurt where she had hit him.
“How dare you touch me in this manner? I am –“
“You are soon to be my wife. And I will touch you as I wish. I am Prince Nabarun of the Opia Nation not some backwater boy you are trying to impress. Grow up Princess. You are a spoiled child with fantasies of power fueled no doubt by my mothers influence. Though I think it was quick of you to fall into her plans, tell me, how long have you been talking to my dear mother? What did she promise you? Did she fill your pretty little head with visions of ruling MY Nation? Dear, dear Devina if we marry and I assume the throne, do you think you will make any decisions about my Country? You will bare MY children. You will have no say what so ever about matters of state!” He spoke softly now. “Dear little Devina, this will be a marriage of state. You will have my children. That is it. I don’t love you. I don’t know if I ever will.” He touched her face. She pushed him away from her. She looked stunned then angry.
“My father -” She hesitated then continued. “My father wrote a letter to his man in Denham and I have told your mother of it. My father is an old fool!” she stamped her foot. “I will rule.” So she reported to his mother about a communiqué her father wrote, now his mother wanted him to deliver it to her ambassador in Denham. Did the girl feel any remorse for betraying her father and Reagent like this? At first it looked like there had been a flicker of some deep emotion then she had put on a carefully schooled look of haughty distain. She must have practiced that look to protect herself. Maybe she did know about Palace politics after all. Though she had told him what he had wanted to know rather easily. Maybe there was hope for her. If he could show her what a nest of lies his mother had laid for her. But no, there was no time.
“Make no mistake, Princess, this marriage is one of convenience, not passion. I will lead these two Nations, be careful how you address me in future. I suggest we pretend we never had this conversation.” His voice hardened, “Now leave!” His eyes found hers and she looked away. No doubt his mother would hear every last detail in the next few minutes. He smiled.
Nab was up early the next morning packed and ready to leave. He walked toward the door of the garage where his single passenger treb was ready to go, when he felt someone touch his left side. Nab swung around and caught the boy as he tried to run away. The boy pushed a note into Nab’s hand. Nab recognized the boy from some of the meetings with the underground and let him go. “You need to work on your sneaking Sid, you could have ended with no head if I hadn’t recognized you.” Nab unfolded the torn note and read the one word it had written on it. All it said was Nip. Nab threw the paper into the sewer grate and continued on his way.
21 – Denham, City of Trade
A thousand years ago Denham had started as a trade camp where the western and Northern peoples came to trade with the Eastern and Plains peoples of the Amonic Continent. It was always neutral ground where conflicts between nations were put aside in the spirit of commerce. Twenty-five years ago when the teleport crystals stopped working, the Nations of the Amonic Continent stopped converging on Denham for trade. Now only the plains, Western, and Northern people who were close traded here at their own risk. The City had shrunk from a thriving trade center to a little back of beyond outpost. Many buildings were abandoned or crumbling into ruins. The Opia still held an ambassadorial complex there for affairs of state. It was difficult to get to the Capital City of the Opia in the best of weather. Denham was m
uch easier to travel to.
Only the North Western part of the city was occupied with the Opia Complex and the markets where some brave soles still came to trade runes, weapons, and other goods. Denham had become a risky place to visit due to bands of thieves and mercenaries who took up residence in the deserted parts of the city, often fighting over territory. People who still came here for trade or to speak to the Opia ambassador did so with guards and a prayer.
Some of the Rune Master-Smiths still called Denham home due to the closeness to the source of the material used in their craft. These Masters had companies of guards and only took visitors on request. The Rune Masters was a good reason to visit Denham these days. Often Denham was the only place you could commission rare runes or have them set into the item you desired to have permanently imbued with the magic of the runes.
White stonewalls gleamed gold in the morning sun as Nabarun crested a hill and beheld the city spread out before him. Nab rode into the city with his royal guards and servant close beside him. His entourage drew curious looks for the people already out in the street. The people were bustling about heading to their various work and appointments turning a head and gazing at the new arrivals as they hurried on