The Chronocide Mission by Lloyd Biggle Jr

Author:Lloyd Biggle Jr. [Biggle Jr., Lloyd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf
Published: 2011-10-04T11:32:23+00:00

13. ARNE (1)

"She won't have anyone else," the land warden said. "She has admired you ever since she was a child, but she was too shy even to speak to you. She still is, which is why she asked me to do it."

"I see," Arne said dazedly. He had the sensation of having a deep pit suddenly open under him, and his mind was scrambling frantically to find an escape. There was none.

"She had always hoped you would be free to be her consort when she became older. She thought it wouldn't matter that you were a one-namer--no one cared what the peer's second daughter did. Now she is the prince, and this is certain to cause an uproar. It would have been wiser for her to wait another sike or two, but she is worried you might get yourself wived in the village and no longer be available." The land warden added anxiously, "I hope you don't find the idea distasteful."

Arne found it staggering. He had never thought of Elone Jermile in any connection at all except as the new prince. His mind continued to search desperately for a way out. He said slowly, "I know that now and then a peerager mates with a one-name server, but it isn't even considered respectable. For the prince to do it--"

"It will cause a commotion," the land warden said regretfully, "but there may be a way around that. There was all that talk among the peers about giving you a second name. If they had done so, you would be a peerager yourself, now, and there wouldn't be any problem. You weren't even consulted--about the second name, I mean. It still could be done."

"No," Arne said. "The peer was entirely right--if she gave me a second name, she would have to find another first server. A peerager couldn't associate with one-namers as I must do."

"You know best about that. Maybe it will help that you have been offered a second name. After all, you are the highest one-namer in the peerdom. The prince is waiting for your answer. What do you want me to tell her?"

Arne suddenly remembered that he had heard of a prince taking a one-namer as consort. Egarn had been consort to the Peer of Lant when she was prince. Perhaps Egarn could help him find a way out.

The land warden hadn't given a thought to how the one-namers would react. Arne would have to consult with the Three and other leaders. He wanted Egarn's reaction. Perhaps if enough people objected...

First of all, he must talk with Deline. The happiness that had seemed within his grasp had suddenly been jerked away.

"Please give the prince my thanks for the high honor she has shown me," he said slowly. "Both of us have important responsibilities, as she knows, and for that reason we are not free to do exactly as we like. First we must consider what would be best for Midlow. The prince should confer with the peer, and the peer's advisors, and other peeragers whose opinion she values.

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