An Empire Of Traitors (Of Hate And Laughter Book 1) by Enache Serban Valentin Constantin

Author:Enache, Serban Valentin Constantin [Enache, Serban Valentin Constantin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Serban Valentin Constantin Enache
Published: 2014-08-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter XVI: Kalafar

The roosters signalled a new day’s dawn.

“Blasted creatures...” Kalafar opened his eyes and yawned. He still felt tired and sore from the road. Only last night he had returned to his keep. The emperor’s celebrations for the betrothal of his son had been quite tedious; and he was glad to be home again. Kalafar was left with a sour impression of the capital, impressions of arrogance and pride. The zjialaan name of Sodomis, the red skin... that marked him still a foreigner and a heathen in the eyes of the southern lords.

To hell with them.

Kalafar had left two-thirds of his household knights and guards with Juni. She had wanted to stop by at Redgarden, to say farewell to her family and take some womanly things with her. Gowns, dresses, slippers, those sort of things – for the life that awaited her in the north, in Weiyenor. Kalafar wanted to be spared of such a dull reunion, and rode forth to make haste for his own home. The Streamlands permitted easy and swift passage by way of boat. Kalafar had pushed his mounts hard, as well as his own thighs, in efforts to make haste for his castle, after he had reached Rivermark by water.

He felt rooted inside the Northlands. Here things were better, even if the weather was harsh, even if the realm lacked the wealth of the south. Now that he had chosen the woman with whom he’d spend all of his life’s years, Kalafar was free to reflect on things with an easier mind. And Juni’s party was due to arrive in about two weeks time.

Though they were betrothed, Kalafar had yet to decide upon a wedding day. Truth be told, he wasn’t much interested in the ritual. Everything seemed to be working for him. His brother was married and off in the Snow Plains to do what he liked best, playing the soldier. And now, Weiyenor’s court was left very quiet. Kalafar thought of the dowry paid by Quintus More. For that much gold I’d be tempted to kill mine own mother. The thought had a morbid sweetness to it. Lady Olivia still regarded him with contempt for engaging lord Mayflower about his daughter. The woman even had his lord uncle and steward scold him for the proposition.

“Marriage to a southern house, and a minor one at that, is against our realm’s interest – your family’s interest.” Alghernon Sodomis had said to him in a rough voice. “Marriage brings with it wealth and swords. The Mayflowers have neither; not to mention that they make for very distant allies. How many leagues between the south and the north, between Weiyenor and Redgarden? And your lady mother has told me that you intend to take this southern girl without any sort of a dowry, however small… Your thinking with your cock, boy; not with your head.”

But whatever scolding words his uncle and mother had said to him, Kalafar paid them no mind. The matters of the heart and those of politics rarely mixed.

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