Blair
“You are joking?” Blair asked her brother in disbelief. Three years ago her brother had defeated the forces of King Oswald and the Commonwealth of Drala when they crossed the Dralan Trade Route and invaded the Furmann Sector.
Three years since her brother signed the treaty with King Oswald and brought peace and a promise to no longer grant shelter to Furse raiders who sold their wares, and repaired their starships in Furmann Space. A treaty that gave her hand away in marriage. Three years of negotiation which had been turned upside down.
Duncan shook his head and his russet eyes rested on her. “No. If I were I would be laughing.” The Sector-lord stated bluntly. “Although I will admit it is funny,” he said from his seated position at the head of the large family table with his feet rested on the edge much like their father would.
Blair reached out and grabbed one of the blue fruit on the table. “Even the fourth born? The young one, what was he fifteen or sixteen?” she asked her brother and ignored his comment.
The lord of Goldenfields nodded his head. “Yes. But there were other royal names added to the list. Two cousins closer to an age with you.” Duncan said and slid a datapad along the table towards her.
Blair bit into the fruit to reveal it’s juicy green flesh before she grabbed the datapad and looked at the screen and names on it. She moved her hand to scroll through the list. “I am not familiar with the cousins.”
“The cousins are suitable,” Duncan replied. “Distant but suitable and with means. One is younger than you, thirteen I believe. Give you another seven years to wait until he comes of age. See if you can get a better match, but I doubt it.”
“Let me guess,” Blair asked and turned back to face her brother. “Every cousin on this list, other than being so far removed from the succession, doesn't stand to inherit much more than horse shit do they?.
“At least they have their own horses,” Duncan said with a smirk. “There are several of King Oswalds own banner-lords or under-lords on the list. They have more than enough wealth.”
Blair let out a sigh. Her brother never understood. How could he when he was born to become lord. “It could just be a tactic,” she continued half hearted.
Her brother shook his head once again. Dark reddish blonde curls danced in the light that spilled from the open window. “I doubt it Blair. Not unless he remarries but even then who knows if the princes are put back on the list or married by then.”
“I always thought I would marry a son,” Blair said quietly. “I always thought I would settle and marry a son. Erik the second born, but I always hoped for the eldest and that I would one day be queen.” She let out a sigh. “I had heard he would make a good king. He is known as some warrior of sorts I have been told.”
Blair stared out the open window of the family dinning room. She held her gaze on the clear blue skies and gold green horizon as she continued. “I thought it more likely I would marry one of the other two younger ones though.” She continued to stare. “I never considered marrying the king himself. He’s what, fifty, sixty years older than me?”
Duncan laughed. He looked like their father when he laughed. “So don’t marry the king. Pick the young one and wait or pick the rich one. Maybe, and it’s just an idea, but maybe pick the one you have something in common with.” He shrugged before he finished. “The choice is yours.”
Blair stared at her brother and then pushed some of her golden brown locks out of her face. He could be a fool. He was a good man and she loved him so much but he could be a fool, and she would worry about him. He just didn’t get it.
“I don’t want to be some trophy Duncan. Something that was won in some war to be displayed.” Blair said and shook her head. “I want to be queen. Father wanted me to be a queen.”
“Blair the man is 73 years old,” her brother protested and lowered his feet from the table. “Father wanted you to marry the King of the Salians. Not the king of the Commonwealth.”
“That means he will live another what? He will live another seventy five years? Hundred years or so?” Blair asked as though she were talking to herself. “Besides. The kings of the Salians aren’t what they used to be. The Commonwealth is a wealthy and powerful nation.”
“You don’t have to do this Blair.” Duncan told her again.
Clair looked into the russet eyes of her brother and smiled. Inform the king I agree,” Blair said with a soft smile. “No better yet I should write a letter to inform him that I accept. I’ll marry the King.”
Blair looked back out the window for a moment before she continued. “He might be old, but he knows how to get what he wants” She said with a light chuckle.
“What does that mean?” she heard Duncan ask.
“Nothing,” Blair replied as she remembered the only encounter with him all those years ago. She shook her head of the thoughts. “73 years old,” she said quietly.
“You don’t have to do this Blair. There can be another way. I…” Duncan was cut off when Blair moved her eyes to her brother.
“I will be queen brother.” Blair said firmly. “His age does not worry me Duncan. I’ll do my part, you do yours brother,” she told him with a soft smile. “I will be queen.”
