The Merchant's Love

by Antonia Aquilante

  “We can speak more about it now that you’re here.” Philip’s tone seemed to imply that they would be speaking about it. “Especially since you’ll be staying on with us.”

  “You must be tired from your journey,” Amory said, perhaps picking up some cue from Philip. “If you’d like to settle in, I can have someone show you to your rooms. You’ve been put in the guest wing. But Faelen, Alexander, since you’ll be staying with us, we should move you to somewhere more permanent before you settle in completely.”

  “Thank you, Prince Amory.” Alexander favored Amory with a bright smile.

  “It’s Amory.” Amory’s smile was quieter. “Shall we do that today before you get too comfortable? I’ll give the instructions.”

  “And you’re all welcome to dine with us tonight,” Philip said. “There are no events for the court this evening, so it will be a quiet family meal. Of course, there’s no obligation if you’d prefer to rest after your journey.”

  Mother, who still looked less than pleased beneath her usual polite expression, stood. “I would like to settle in and rest for a while. Thank you for your hospitality.”

  “You’re always welcome, Aunt Edine,” Philip said. “All of you.”

  “I also have a communication from the ambassador for you.” Mother pulled a sealed packet from the pocket of her skirt. “He apologizes for missing the wedding but asked that I deliver this into your hands.”

  “We’ll miss him and the girls, though I’m sure Etan and Tristan will understand,” Philip said as he took the packet and slipped it into his pocket. It was the polite thing to say, and true that Father probably couldn’t take the time away for the long journey. Faelen’s sisters could have, but they’d been enjoying court life in Teilo and could help Father with the social aspect of his duties in Mother’s absence.

  They took their leave after Amory instructed one of the servants to show Faelen and Alexander to a different suite and have their things moved. The maid led them away in the opposite direction from Mother.

  “Well, that didn’t go badly at all,” Alexander said.

  Faelen nodded. “Mother doesn’t seem pleased.”

  “She wouldn’t have been pleased unless Philip tossed us in the dungeon. Do you think he has one?”

  Faelen pressed his lips together to stifle a laugh and shook his head.

  Philip stood in the dressing room he shared with Amory and stared at the clothes in the wardrobe, somewhat at a loss. Which wasn’t his usual feeling when choosing something to wear at dinner. His day had been quite normal until his aunt and cousins had arrived at the palace out of the blue.

  They’d been invited to the wedding, of course, but no one had expected any of them to come so far. Had they written ahead to accept? He couldn’t remember if Etan had mentioned anything. They’d had plenty to occupy them these last few weeks, with Savarin planning and finally performing the spell to strengthen Tournai’s magical protections and those of the royal family who possessed the Talent having to participate—they could’ve used Faelen and Alexander then, though the spell seemed to have gone well. An acceptance to a wedding invitation might have been overlooked.

  But it seemed Edine had more than one reason for journeying to Tournai. The wedding might have been the least of them.

  “Your aunt sent word that she won’t be joining us for dinner. Thibault either.” Amory walked into the dressing room behind Philip, but he didn’t turn.

  “That’s surprising.” Aunt Edine was scrupulously observant of proprieties. He’d expected the quiet meal he’d anticipated having with Amory, Cathal, and Flavian to turn into something more elaborate with his aunt’s presence.

  “I thought so too. But it’s only going to be the twins.” Amory’s arms circled Philip’s waist from behind. His chin came to rest on Philip’s shoulder; the feel of his body, warm and comforting, loosened something within Philip instantly.

  Philip leaned back into Amory’s embrace, knowing he could lean on Amory in every way. Amory was the only one he could always rely on to see him as more than the prince, while quietly shouldering the burdens with him. Philip let out a long breath and relaxed into his husband, letting the familiar and beloved soothe him.

  “What’s troubling you?” Amory asked, his words a whisper of sound against Philip’s ear.

  Philip sighed. “Am I so obvious?”

  “Only to me. Is it that the twins hid their Talents? Are you worried the secret might have gotten out in Teilo?”

  “Not really. If it was going to, I’d have expected it to happen when their Talents first manifested, and we’d have heard something of it.” Had anyone considered it when his uncle had been appointed ambassador? Had anyone discussed the possibility of the children developing the Talent so far from home? Perhaps it didn’t matter. Edine would have had to be just as careful for the possibility in Tournai. No one in or out of Tournai could find out about their Talent. It had always been so, and now, after learning that their Talents tied into the country’s protection spells, it was even more important.

  “I do wonder why they didn’t tell their mother.”

  “It is curious, but there’s no sense worrying about it now.” Philip shivered slightly when Amory nuzzled into his neck and left a soft kiss there. He hummed in pleasure. How likely were they to be interrupted if he persuaded Amory to continue what he was starting, perhaps in bed? Did they have enough time?

  “If it isn’t that, then what?”

  Philip tensed slightly, but Amory immediately moved to soothe, snuggling in closer. “While you were meeting with Elleri’s ambassador, we received a message from the army outpost at Marron. There were two more bandit attacks in the area.”

  Amory went quiet for a moment. “Bad?”

  “Bad enough.” Philip turned in Amory’s embrace and wrapped his arms around him, anchoring them tightly together again.

  Amory rested his head on Philip’s shoulder. “I’d foolishly hoped we’d heard the last of them.”

  “Me too.”

  Over the summer, there had been multiple reports of bandit attacks on the villages along the western border, but they hadn’t had any in a couple of months. Philip had hoped the bandits had moved on now that the armies on both sides of the border were actively searching for them. Of course, they hadn’t ruled out the possibility they weren’t bandits at all, but agents of an enemy of Tournai. The Ardunn Empire was the most likely, as they desperately wanted Tournai as a foothold on this side of the mountains, though they couldn’t rule out an unknown.

  “We can delay dinner.”

  “There’s nothing to be done now. We need to meet with Loriot tomorrow, though.”

  As captain of the royal guard, Loriot had no authority when it came to the border situation, but he’d been keeping a close eye on it since he and Savarin had been attacked out there. Philip doubted Loriot knew he was aware of his actions, though he’d find out tomorrow.

  “All right.” Amory lifted up on his toes to kiss Philip. “We’d best change for dinner, then. Why do I get the feeling the twins can get into mischief if left on their own?”

  “I’m hoping they’ve grown out of that tendency.”

  Chapter Two

  Maxen stepped forward to greet Tristan and the man Tristan would shortly marry, Lord Etan, cousin to the crown prince. He’d teased Tristan once about his “royal connections”—as their mother called them—but he couldn’t say at the time he’d expected his older brother to marry into the royal family. Tristan had been friends with Amory, Prince Philip’s husband, since they were children, which had brought him into the highest circles of the court, somewhere the wealthy merchants of Jumelle rarely reached, and into Etan’s path.

  Tristan’s road hadn’t been an easy one, and it had taken him and Etan a long while to find happiness together. Maxen was nothing but thrilled that they finally had, even if he did find it all a bit surreal: Tristan, living in the palace, about to marry a royal cousin. And Maxen living in the house that had once
belonged to Tristan and his late wife, playing host to Tristan and his soon-to-be husband. Maxen hadn’t expected to leave the family house until he married, if then, but doing so had been the right decision.

  “Tristan, Etan, good evening.” He took Etan’s hand and then let Tristan pull him into a brief hug. They’d worked together that morning at the offices of their family’s shipping company, but Tristan acted as if they hadn’t seen each other in days. Maxen was glad to see the return of Tristan’s natural exuberance, though. It had been dulled for far too long. “Come in. Sit down. Dinner will be ready shortly, but would you like a drink first?”

  Maxen led them into the front parlor, which he’d redecorated from when Tristan lived there. The first time Tristan saw it, he’d relaxed just slightly. Perhaps it had been better for him not to see memories every time he came in. The room looked completely different, and Maxen preferred it now that it was to his own taste—a little less formal, a lot more comfortable, warm, and cozy.

  “A drink would be nice,” Etan said as he took a seat on the couch, Tristan sitting right beside him. Tristan had been hovering much closer to Etan the last few times Maxen had seen them, which was odd, since Tristan wasn’t particularly clingy. “How are you, Maxen?”

  “Good.” Maxen swallowed back the honorific that wanted to spill from his lips—that he’d been told he didn’t have to use with Etan—and went to the liquor cabinet to pour them each a drink. “Tristan has been keeping me busy.”

  “You asked for a bigger role in the company,” Tristan said.

  “I did. I’m not complaining.” The shipping business interested him. But perhaps more importantly, with his help—and with the oldest of their younger brothers getting some experience too while he finishing his schooling—Tristan didn’t have to shoulder everything on his own. “How is my niece? You could have brought her, you know.”

  “Bria is wonderful, bigger every day.” Tristan’s face slid into the smile that was reserved for his baby daughter. “And I know we could have, but we’d have had to leave early to put her to bed.”

  “You’ll have to visit with her soon, then. I can’t have my favorite niece getting bigger every day and me not witnessing it.” She was his only niece so far, but that didn’t matter one bit. She might always be his favorite. Maxen handed glasses to Tristan and Etan and went back for his own.

  “You could come up to the palace to see her,” Tristan said.

  “Yes. You’re always welcome,” Etan agreed. It was completely obvious he was sincere as well, but Maxen just wasn’t sure he’d ever feel comfortable showing up at the gates to the royal palace and expecting to be admitted.

  “Thank you.”

  Tristan gave him a narrow-eyed stare, but Maxen only looked serenely back at him until he shook his head.

  Maxen allowed himself to be satisfied. “How are the wedding preparations coming?”

  “Everything is mostly settled now.” Tristan’s voice held a strained quality that hinted at the difficulties of trying to get those plans settled. Neither Tristan nor Etan had wanted the wedding to be bigger or more elaborate than it absolutely had to be, but both of their mothers had other ideas. There’d been a delicate bit of balancing and negotiating—and some line drawing from Etan and Tristan finally—because of the fraught relationships there, especially between Tristan and Mother. Maxen didn’t blame him for it. He was surprised Tristan had allowed her anywhere near the wedding plans, or the wedding for that matter. Tristan shot a look at Etan. “There are always surprises, though.”

  Etan chuckled. “My aunt unexpectedly arrived from Teilo this afternoon with three of my cousins. Of course, we invited them, but we never thought they would come all that way.”

  “That’s a surprise,” Maxen said. “Should you be up at the palace with them? We could’ve dined together another night.”

  Etan shook his head. “My aunt decided to eat in her rooms and retire early, which saved us from a long family meal tonight.”

  “But it’s good that more family will be at the wedding, right?” Maxen didn’t know the dynamics of the royal family. For most of his life, he’d only seen what they showed to their people—the flawless image of strength, intelligence, and beauty. It was only after Amory had married the prince, and then when Tristan decided to marry Etan, that Maxen began to hear more of the inner workings of the family. He mostly knew the good—the strong bonds between siblings and cousins—but surely there was more to it than that.

  Tristan laughed when Etan shrugged slightly. “Well, I haven’t met any of them yet, but Etan says she isn’t the easiest person to get along with.”

  “Oh?” Maxen glanced between them, wondering if he should be asking, but Tristan and Etan had brought it up.

  “My aunt was raised a princess, the youngest daughter of the previous crown prince, and she’s used to getting her way and expressing her opinion.” Etan shrugged again and slid an arm around Tristan, an action he seemed to think nothing about doing, but Tristan radiated pleasure. A pang of envy startled Maxen so much he almost dropped his drink. Instead, he tightened his fingers around the glass and took a long gulp of the liquor inside.

  “I got the impression just from what Amory said that they’re here at her insistence and that she has plans for your cousins,” Tristan said.

  “I wouldn’t doubt any of that. I assume we’ll learn what all of her plans are soon, and what her sons actually think of them.” Etan sipped his drink. “I’ve barely seen them in…oh, it has to be ten years—none of us have—but Philip won’t let her run right over them.”

  “This is a possibility, I take it?” Maxen felt a bit of sympathy for these unknown cousins of Etan’s. He had some experience with a strong-willed mother who thought she always knew best.

  “It may be.”

  “Amory told me she’s planned out what they’re each to be doing after the wedding,” Tristan said. “Though he also said the twins seemed to have talked her into getting what they want instead. Or that’s what it looked like to him.”

  Etan chuckled. “I can believe it. The twins always could slip around people, and they had a mischievous streak, though Alexander was always in the lead there. I wonder if they’ve grown out of it. It doesn’t sound as if they have the former. Should be interesting.”

  Etan proceeded to tell a story about the twins as children that involved a party, a fountain, and three swans that was so unbelievable it had to be true. Maxen was still chuckling when they walked into the dining room together a while later. These twins sounded as if they would liven everything up. Maxen was almost sad he’d probably never see it.

  Dinner that night, served in the small dining room in Philip and Amory’s private suite, was the informal meal they’d been promised. Faelen had been guiltily relieved, and a little surprised, that Mother had chosen not to eat with them, but he couldn’t say he was unhappy. Her displeasure with him and Alexander had made for many tense meals aboard the ship.

  Both he and Alexander had taken care with their attire for dinner, nothing overly formal but everything just so. Philip didn’t really know them as adults. The two times Faelen had seen him since childhood hadn’t been conducive to sharing more than a fleeting few words, and if he and Alexander were going to make their home in the palace, they needed to start off in a good light.

  Assuming their minor power struggle with Mother hadn’t already dashed those hopes.

  Faelen didn’t think it had, not after they arrived and were met by a smiling Amory with his two-year-old son—and the heir to the throne—propped on his hip. Amory ushered them into the suite’s sitting room, a surprisingly cozy, comfortable room. Philip was there with a goblet of wine in his hand, chatting with Cathal, another of their cousins. He had inherited a dukedom when his father abdicated the title to him due to health concerns, though Alexander found the whole thing intriguing and suspicious. Faelen despaired that his curiosity would get him in trouble one day.

  Faelen remembered Cathal as serious and some
what rigid in adherence to proper protocol, but he was more relaxed than Faelen had ever seen him that night, with his arm around the waist of a short, slender man with red-gold hair and blue-green eyes. That must be Flavian, Cathal’s husband of a little more than a year.

  “Alexander and Faelen are here,” Amory said as they entered. Julien kept sneaking little looks at them and then shyly burying his face in his father’s shoulder when Faelen caught him. Faelen couldn’t stop his smile. He could see why the little prince had stolen the hearts of Tournai’s people.

  There was a round of greetings, and Cathal introduced Flavian, proving Faelen’s supposition correct. Philip handed them wine in delicate glass goblets, and Faelen finally noticed there were no servants present. Something loosened slightly in his spine.

  By the time they were ready to go in to dinner, Julien had gotten over his shyness and transferred himself to Faelen’s lap. Alexander was making silly faces at him to get him to laugh, even as they both tried to keep up with the conversation, which was mostly about their journey and an exchange of information about various family members. Faelen was reluctant to let Julien go, but he relinquished him into Amory’s arms with a smile. Amory’s own smile was knowing, as if he’d seen Faelen’s enjoyment of his time with the happy child and his reluctance to give that up, despite Faelen’s efforts to hide it. But Amory was kind enough not to mention it.

  Once they were settled around the table, servants slipped into the room, refilling goblets and serving food. As soon as they’d finished, they disappeared again, leaving the six of them alone to enjoy their dinner.

  And Faelen was enjoying it. He’d wondered—worried, perhaps—that he and Alexander would have no place here. They’d spent half their lives in another country, living in the customs and conventions of another court, and even before that taking short sojourns in other kingdoms as their father’s work demanded. He hadn’t known if they’d be well received back home, by family or anyone else. Well, outwardly they always would have been, especially by those at court jostling for power and influence. He and Alexander were still of the royal family, even if they were far down in the line of succession. Faelen knew well enough how to deal with that, but he wanted to embrace family, make friends. To find his place here. If that wasn’t an impossible dream.