With my reluctant acceptance of Kevin's suggestion, all eyes went to Mandalin. She stared at me in shock, and then said quietly, [The king and I need a few minutes alone.]

With respectful bows, the room emptied. I took her hand, but stared at it rather than dare look her in the eye. Things had been so easy for us since I had returned from the pirates. But with the prospect of marriage so suddenly here, all the awkwardness had returned.

"I know this isn't what you want, or the way you want it," I said. "But if we don't do this, you will become obligated to the person I choose as heir to the throne. That's not fair to you, not again."

"But you will return." I shrugged in response and kept my gaze downward. With an unsteady voice, she added, "Richard, do you expect to die in this war?"

My thumb brushed over hers. Not for the first time, I wondered how her skin could be so soft. Then I said, "With the kind of threat we're facing, I will fight to the death before I surrender. And I don't see a path to victory."

"But you'll find a way. You always do."

"Maybe Anneleon will come through this. But mine has never been the kind of life that leads to old age." She squeezed my hand, and I added, "I know the feelings aren't there that we'd want for a marriage. But we should make your title official." I couldn't help but grin. "And if I don't return, there'll be more room on the throne for you."

She wasn't amused. "Stop that! Your death is not a joke to me!" She drew in a deep breath, then continued, "Whatever feelings we share, you are important to me, and to all of Anneleon."

I appreciated that, though her words spoke all too clearly of her feelings. She had very carefully said that while we were friends, she did not love me.

Then Mandalin placed her other hand over mine. "Tell me about Rudy. I know the fight between you wasn't real."

Amused, I arched an eyebrow. "How did you know?"

"You're only angry with him in public. Kristoph knows the full story, I assume."

"He does. And I would've told you, except it might have forced you to lie to the regents, and I couldn't ask that."

"Why did you stage that fight?"

"Someone will report it back to Eero- maybe that's who Aldwin is communicating with. If I can't make myself look stronger than I am, then I'll do the opposite."

She looked frustrated with that idea, but it had worked for me before, and anyway, the time to debate the wisdom of this plan had passed. She asked, "So where is Rudy, really?"

I sighed, relieved to be able to discuss this with her. And yet, speaking the words reminded me of the near impossibility of what I'd asked him to do. "He's up East, on our border with Khario," I said. "With sixty of our best armed men, Rudy's job is to overtake Khario's troops there, then stop their army from coming through."

"But, they'll never succeed! Give up the border and bring Rudy back. He and Kristoph can go after Doranna."

I frowned. "Why not me? Why is my life more valuable than theirs?"

"The value in your lives is the same, Richard. But not the value in your roles." Mandalin's grip on my hand tightened. "I think of Doranna as dearly as if she were my own brother, you know that. But if you get anywhere near that camp, you will hand yourself over to them and this war will be lost before it's begun. It must not be you who goes."

Her gaze bored into me until I finally looked away. She was right, and so was Kristoph; despite my arguing, I knew that. A pit formed in my gut at the thought of not being there to ensure Imogen was safe, but these last few weeks, I had tried to be better at taking counsel from others. It wasn't a natural instinct to me, and the idea of having people in my life whom I could truly trust was something new. But the alternative, of acting entirely on my own judgment, had taught me several painful lessons that I had no interest in repeating. So I looked back at her and nodded. I would not go after Doranna.

Mandalin thanked me, and then smiled. "War is ahead, Richard, and we know what risks that involves. But we must believe all will end well. Our plans for marriage will remain the same."

I wished I could be as optimistic as her, but the reality of what lay ahead pressed in on me from every side. "No, they won't." 

I gazed steadily into her eyes, wide with concern. "I release you from the betrothal, Mandalin. You and I will still marry, but only if that's your choice. Not because of any agreement between our two countries or any obligation you were born to fulfill, but if you can love me. However, Kevin was right before. Something may go wrong in this war.. for me."

"Then you must choose the next king." Mandalin was trying to hide the edge in her voice, but it wasn't working. "Am I betrothed to him now, or am I nothing to Anneleon?"

Gently, I smiled at her. "You are a royal princess of this land, and as such, it will be your responsibility to choose the next ruler of Anneleon. You can name yourself in this land and rule alone with my blessing."

"But...the people won't accept that."

"But Albus will, if it's my command, and where he leads the regents will follow. Besides, my lady, the people love you." I sat back in awe of her and then chuckled at my own faults by comparison. "I daresay they'll be relieved once you're in charge on this land."

She weighed that in silence and then asked, "What if I wish to marry?"

"I ask only that you choose a husband from Anneleon." My thumb brushed over hers. "Someone who is the proper match for you."

"And if I don't want?" she asked.

"Then you give it to anyone worthy and walk away from the throne forever and protect this land for the next generation."

It was as if I had lifted a weight off her shoulders. She straightened her back and nodded. A moment of silence lapsed between us, and if I were someone with any courage I'd have sealed the agreement with a kiss. But I didn't, and I was certain she took note of it too.

We finally stood and I offered to escort her to her apartments. But Kristoph was waiting at the doorway, his face pinched and grim. His arms were folded and he somehow seemed wider than usual, making it clear I wouldn't get past him. Joven also lingered nearby, so I asked him to see the princess to her rooms.

Even before they left, I could tell Kristoph was ready to scold me in the severest tones. I dreaded it, feeling as if Master Artemis, my father, and the priests had all combined their energies to prove once and for all how wrong I always was. "We need to talk," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't make this a fight."

"I won't, but you make everything a fight."

Well, that seemed true enough. So I shrugged and let him follow me back into the royal throne room. When the doors were shut behind us, I turned and started to tell him of the agreement I had just made with Mandalin.

However, he was quick to cut me off. He unfolded his large hand to reveal a Big note tucked inside. I was relieved to recognize Rudy's stilted handwriting on an open corner of the paper. So at least he was alive, or had been when this note was written.

"When did you get that?" I asked.

"Not 20 minutes ago. Rudy's courier said he barely escaped Khario alive to deliver this."

"Did you read it?"

"Yes." By Kristoph's expression, I knew the news wasn't good. "Rudy's men successfully snuck inside Khario, and engaged the Kharion army at the troops along our shared border. Then Rudy and his armed-men set up traps that stopped most of the first wave of Kharion soldiers that tried to come through." Kristoph's frown deepened. "He sent this note in anticipation of a second wave of soldiers. The rest are on their way."

That could be hundreds of the enemy, or even thousands. "Does he say how many men he still has with him ?"

"twenty six, Your Majesty"

Twinty six out of Sixty. My heart ached at the thought of so much loss. And even though the men who remained would be among the finest warriors Anneleon had to offer, the odds against them were terrible. It was likely that by now, none of them were still alive.

Kristoph handed me the note. "He asks you to bring reinforcements to join him. He believes it's the only way they'll succeed."

I check his note for myself. Due to his uneducated background, Rudy's spelling and handwriting were super poor, but in this case I was grateful for the errors. It proved that this note had come directly from his hand. "The captain asks me to send reinforcements, not bring them. You'd rather I go into battle against thousands of Kharion than to the camp where Doranna is being held?"

"No. I'd rather you hid yourself in a closet until this is over. But I know from experience that even with our best locks, we couldn't keep you there." There was some teasing in his voice, but after a moment's hesitation, Kristoph became serious again. "They could only have one reason to take Doranna, because they knew you would come for her. Richard, whatever they have planned, it will be awful. So if it must be one or the other, then, yes, I'd rather you go to Khario."

Fortunately, my decision was already made, or else I'd have had to argue, just for the sake of pride. But I only said, "All right, Kristoph. You win this time, but don't let it become a habit." Then, with my heart pounding, I added, "Promise me that Doranna.."

"--I can't promise anything other than to do my best my job." Nervously, he licked his lips. "then you promise me..."

"---I can't do that either." I forced a grim smile to my face. "But one way or another, we will see this war to an end. 

Yes. We must end this for the Anneleon and people.