For Rix_scaedu‘s commissioned prompt.
Reiassan has a landing page here.
After Navigating Lannamer (LJ.
Arinya kept her uncle pinned with her gaze. Did he know she’d heard him? Did it matter? Nothing he’d said had been specifically treasonous; indeed, he could say, and likely be honest in saying so, that he had been working for the well-being of the Empire.
He kept his gaze on her, but his eyes did flicker to Girey; she could see the moment when he made the connection. She couldn’t keep him hidden forever. She’d always known someone would recognize him. But now that she’d claimed his as her own, it would be harder for them to take him away from her.
“I don’t believe I’ve met your companion, either,” she continued smoothly. The man’s qitari was expensively worked, but gaudy even by Callanthe standards, the patterns a mish-mash of currently-fashionable designs. He was, she was fairly certain, not a relative, or at least not a close one.
“Ah, yes. This is Debnet, Lieutenant Debnet of the Emperor’s Army. But I believe that I have met your companion before, Arinyanca. Prince Girey.”
“I am no Prince.” Girey’s voice was far milder than Arinya had expected from him. “Although I have often been mistaken for one.” He fingered the bracelet on his wrist, and then stroked Rin’s fingers in a clearly affectionate manner. In Bitrani, in a sentence loaded with nuance, he continued, “Although I share a name in common with the former Prince of Bithrain, I am simply Girey of Princess Arinyanca.”
Arinya held back a surprised laugh – or gasp – and wondered if her uncle would catch the meanings twisted into that sentence.
Uncle Esnees was not stupid. “I must have missed the ceremony,” he answered smoothly in the same language. “Certainly my niece would not dishonor such a noble captive with a sun-on-the-water union?”
Mentally, Rin cursed both of them for putting her on the spot. A sun-on-the-water union was exactly what she’d had planned for Girey, a promise whispered over used sheets, a union with him as untitled far-junior partner. If Girey hadn’t claimed himself as exactly that, if her uncle hadn’t pushed the issue…
She smiled brightly at her uncle and his minion. “We’ve been back in Lannamer for less than a day, Uncle. While we’re certainly excited, I don’t want any announcement of ours to overshadow Elin’s wedding. Give it some time, please. The ceremony will come when it comes.” And the look on Girey’s face was well worth it.
Her uncle recovered faster than her captive did. “Well. I look forward to hearing when the happy day will be. Do tell me if you hear where the real Prince of Bithrain is, will you?” He’s still wanted for execution.”
“Certainly,” she smiled back at him. She would need to see if there had been an Imperial order to that effect. And she’d need to find that out soon. “Have a lovely day, Uncle Esnees, Lieutenant Debnet.”
This entry was originally posted at http://aldersprig.dreamwidth.org/307015.html. You can comment here or there.
O_o Hello, extra bonus social complications? (And nobody’s explained what the bracelet actually means to Girey yet? ) I want the rest of this morning’s conversation. And to know what Girey’s thinking. <big eyes>
*grin* I need to finish the segue. Maybe tomorrow? (well, the Father talks about it a little later on, but not much, no.) I need to figure out how this story ENDS
This bit or all of it?
The whole thing.
I need to figure out how this story ENDS Ooooh, an ending! Yes, please! 🙂
Halp? I always planned to end this on the bridge into Lannamer.
How much more do you want to do with it? The two of them sort out what their joint plans are and walk into Elin’s wedding as team, perhaps with some hints of how they expect to handle the politics going down there? Same, plus mom and dad and great-great-aunt-I’ve-forgotten-her-name’s explicit blessing and political backup? After Elin’s wedding? Do you want to bring Elin on stage and draw out some of the current political battle lines among the royalty? Walking into or after their wedding? (Assuming that’s where you want it to go?)
about 5000 words on each end. That’s not a bad idea, ending it at the beginning of Elin’s wedding ceremony. Leave it open for a sequel!!
A sequel could as easily be their great-…-grandchildren in Steam!Callanthe with some casual mention of Empress Rin and/or the current progress of racial integration as Rin and Girey get married and face the politics. I do think something on why Elin left her religious order to get married might be in order before wrapping up this volume. (Did someone report Rin’s disappearance after the attempt at stealing Girey from her?) And/or why Rin is expecting assassins, and/or whether she’s still third in line.
Hrrm, hadn’t thought of it as being a Steam!Callanthe story.
Doesn’t have to be! My point was just that “sequel” didn’t have to mean picking up right where the current one ends. It could pick up at Rin’s coronation, or the birth of their first grandchild, or … But wrapping up the current one before getting too deep into the next one might be wise. Or maybe that’s just me being greedy for endings. 🙂
Wrapping up plots is good for having a coherent novella, too!
It would not surprise me if Lieutenant Debnet does all the dirty work but he needs someone to teach him how to dress…
*giggle* he does indeed!
but he needs someone to teach him how to dress… That’s totally the latest, hottest thing for the young, fashionable Callenian! Only uncool folks over twenty-five think it’s hideous.
*laughs* How old is Rin again?
I don’t know if you’ve told us that. But she’s been off in the arming pretending to be nobody in particular, so she’s clearly not up on the latest court (or young hipster) fashions. 🙂
Good point, good point!
Feh, I cannot type today. s/arming/army/ And it should perhaps have been the uncool or folks over twenty-five (either not both).
Oh wow. They BOTH said more than they intended here. I also think an ending that hints at where they will go as a couple would be good. I would certainly like more stories about them, but you can also advance the plot later in the timeline.
*grin* I have the horrible cliche of them reaching out to take each other’s hands as Elin does her vows Also, plotting a title about trnaslation