Prologue:

The king sank lower into his chair and thought, not for the first time, how much he would rather be anywhere but here. He could hear Thayet exclaiming in delight over some new fabric that appeared to be practically identical to the last five they had been shown and let out an almost inaudible sigh; why was he even here? It wasn't as if he was actually contributing to the selection of the material. Jon made a tiny gesture with his right hand and felt his gift settling over his ears like a scarf on a cold day, shutting out the sounds of the wedding preparation.

It was a week until the wedding of Alanna of Trebond and Olau and George Cooper. A week too long, Jonathan thought absently through the haze the gift was working on his mind. At least he hadn't had to wear his crown this time; it was safely stashed away under a pile of his old robes in a wardrobe he never used. He could get at it if needed but Thayet would be unlikely to find it before such a time. His gaze flickered around the throne room, resting momentarily on his wife, still deliberating earnestly over the fabric with the help of his champion and moving about the rest of the empty room. There was no sign of George yet. The Lioness' future husband had promised to rescue him from what promised to be a long and tedious afternoon but after three hours Jon had to finally admit to himself that this possibility was becoming increasingly unlikely. As the groom George would probably become entangled as well, he thought gloomily. Still that wouldn't stop Jon cheerfully suggesting that maybe George would like to help Alanna choose the flowers while in easy hearing distance of the Lioness. A slightly smug smile touched the corners of his mouth as he pondered his revenge. Well, it was his own fault after all…

"Jonathan of Conté!"

The soothing gift blanket fell from around his ears and startled Jon looked up into the laughing eyes of the two women opposite him.

"Yes, my dear?" he asked his wife in what he desperately hoped was a placating tone."

Alanna held up the goddess' ember stone and he groaned. "You were trying to block us out again," she reprimanded.

"Well, maybe not block out."

She raised a disbelieving eyebrow.

Thayet came to her husbands rescue as he stumbled over his apology. "You can go once you tell me which you like better."

She held out the fabrics.

"Er…the first one," he hazarded blindly.

"See I told you," Thayet swung to face Alanna, ignoring Jon once more. "George will never wear that one."

As quietly as he could Jonathan raised himself from the throne and moved away from the arguing woman and out of the door. George had a lot of explaining to do.