For as long as anyone can remember, the tradition amongst the nobles of Ocendawyr has been to give each other small gifts of money at the end of Winter. Friends, family, acquaintances, even minor nobles like the Valois', everyone has to be remembered and sent a little decorative pouch of coins. To be forgotten was the deepest insult, to forget was to prove oneself unworthy of one's place in the top tiers of Ocendawyr society.

In Gwellinor, gifts of money are only given to the poor as charity, and to give one to a noble is tantamount to declaring them unfit to maintain their own estate.

Madeleine sighed and crossed "Pouches of coin for Winter gifts" off her suggested budget and pushed the ledger back across the desk towards Cassidy. They'd been discussing the organisation of Cassidy's court for at least an hour, and Madeleine was still being tripped up by subtle differences between the two countries. "Anything else obvious I got wrong?"

"Not that I can see!" said Cassidy with a friendly smile. "And you've thought of lots of necessary things I would never have remembered. As I told you, I don't know much about handling money, that sort of thing has always been taken care of for me."

"As it should be," said Madeleine, taking on a lecturing tone despite herself. "Most of the time. But it's good to have a feel for your own personal finances, as well as a more general idea of how the country's money is spent." She mentally prepared some arguments in case Cassidy tried to complain that it was all a waste of time.

But instead Cassidy gave a gentle nod. "Yes, that makes sense." She ran a long thin finger down the line of figures and then tapped her chin thoughtfully. "My mother and I have discussed general principles, but I know little of the specifics of taxes and expenditure. I'm sure there are questions you have on that score as well. Should we perhaps schedule a meeting with someone from the treasury?"

"That's a great idea," said Madeleine, in surprise. She couldn't imagine Oscar sitting through a boring meeting with treasury bureaucrats, let alone suggesting one. But Cassidy wasn't Oscar.

Madeleine had to keep reminding herself to stop trying to be some all knowing protector. Cassidy was much more patient with her officiousness than Oscar had been (and he had largely outgrown the need for it himself) but the princess was no thrill-seeking youth needing to be poked and prodded into being sensible. She was already sensible, she just had a few gaps in her understanding. And Madeleine was hardly in a position to judge on that score. Nazagi had promised her an equal, not a charge to be minded, and that's what she'd gotten.

"Do you think..." Cassidy's voice had taken on a halting tone, which was a less pleasant surprise. She had been a little shy when they'd first met, but a week or two in each other's company had erased most awkwardness. Was something wrong? "Do you think Lord Nazagi would want to be invited?"

Ah. Nazagi was a prickly man at the best of times, and the unexpected and startling nature of his betrothal to Cassidy had not encouraged much closeness. "He probably would," said Madeleine. "It's not traditional for a King to worry much about the treasury, but Nazagi loves any chance to gain new information. And being from Asineth he has even more cultural differences to catch up on than I do. I'm meeting him after lunch, I can ask him then if you want."

"Yes," said Cassidy, sounding much more confident. "Please do. And...give him my respects."

"I will," said Madeine. She frowned at the princess. She'd made it sound like Nazagi was in some distant land Madeline had to trek to on Cassidy's behalf. "Cassidy...how often do you speak to Nazagi? Aside from when I am there." Thinking back, Madeleine could not remember ever seeing the two of them speak more than a few sentences to each other, though the three of them ate together every day. This was not a good start to a marriage.

Cassidy looked self conscious. "Oh...Well, we have both been so busy lately... There was the conversation two weeks ago when he...when we became engaged. And yesterday we passed each other in the corridor..." She trailed off and then sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't make excuses, especially not to you. I've been avoiding him. I did not mind his company when he was merely a guest, but now when we speak...I feel I should be extending him the familiarity due a fiance and...he is just so cold. His words are always courteous and full of flattery but his gaze always seems empty, I never know what he's thinking. I'm sorry, I shall try to do better."

Well, not everyone had the "advantage" of having spent several days trapped with Nazagi in his rooms. Madeleine smiled. "No, Cassidy, it's understandable, even among royalty engagements usually don't happen quite so swiftly. And you are hardly the first person to find Nazagi off putting. You just need to get to know him better. I didn't like him much at first myself, but then..." She pondered what about her opinion of him had changed. "He is cold to those he doesn't know very well, and his intimidating appearance and reputation for ruthlessness don't do him any favours. He can be domineering too, and very rude. But once you get to know him he's..." She laughed. "Well, he's still cold and ruthless. But you get used to it, and learn to figure out when he's secretly being kind, in his way. He can actually be quite pleasant to talk to." This was faint praise, but it was all the praise she had to offer.

Cassidy blushed. "Yes, I'm sure. And I didn't mean...I know that you and Lord Nazagi are close. I did not mean him any disrespect, and I am sure I will come to know him better in time, as you have."

"Close? We're not..." Cassidy looked at her with confusion. Oh, yes. She could hardly argue that her relationship with Nazagi was strictly business now could she? Not when she'd agreed to carry his child. "We are...we will be...intimate as required by my role in your court. And we are friends, of a sort. But we are not close, Cassidy, not really. I'm not sure anyone is close to him."

"Oh!" said Cassidy. "I'm so sorry. When he proposed, the way he talked about you, I just assumed...he said so many nice things."

"He proposed to you by saying a lot of nice things about me?" said Madeleine with a laugh. "That's not the usual approach."

"All the things he said about you were true," said Cassidy. "Prince Oscar spoke highly of you too, and my brother. You are a remarkable woman, Madeleine. The fact that Nazagi holds you in such high esteem speaks highly of him if nothing else does."

Madeleine was glad that she was so good at not blushing. "Well, so does his choice of bride," she replied. "I could not ask for a better place to serve."

Cassidy smiled for a moment, but then her face fell and her head slowly sank, the long tendrils of hair around her face hiding her eyes in shadow. "But...you do not...you are not a servant, you're...Oh dear." Her brow tense with worry, she looked up at Madeleine. "I thought that Nazagi chose you out of love, that you were in some sense as much his wife as I am to be. But for you to simply be his...our brood mare... it is too horrible." Cassidy reached across the table and took Madeleine's hand in her own. "You do not have to go through with this, Madeleine," she said urgently. "Nazagi and I do not need an heir. Perhaps it would be better if my cousin were to inherit instead of us continuing this charade for another generation. Your position here is secure without need of...of that. I'm sure Nazagi will understand, he told me that he and I needn't...that he would never expect me to do anything I was uncomfortable with. And if he does not understand I will make him."

Madeleine had been inclined to like Cassidy from the moment she'd seen her walk into the Gwellinor ballroom, shyly taking a peek at the strangers come to celebrate her birthday. But now she felt a burst of affection for the princess rivalling her love for Oscar. "Oh, Cassidy," said Madeleine. "You are the sweetest, kindest...thank you. Really, from the bottom of my heart. For you to offer to sacrifice your chance at an heir for me...I cannot express how much I appreciate it. But it's not necessary, really it's not. Just because Nazagi and I are not in love, that doesn't mean that I find him repulsive. In fact..." she repressed a childish desire to giggle, "...quite the reverse."

"Oh," said Cassidy, in quite another tone of voice. "That's...well. As long as you are happy with the arrangement." She gave Madeleine a smile that could almost be described as cheeky. Obviously she'd been reading some of the books Madeleine had recommended to fill in the gaps in her education.

"Quite," said Madeleine with a matching smile.

"I must admit, I do not...I am ill suited to that...aspect of marriage in more ways than one," said Cassidy. "I am glad you can...um. Keep Nazagi happy. And he you."

Madeleine wasn't sure exactly what Cassidy was implying, but she was hardly going to pry. What business was it of hers what her lover and his wife did when they were alone? (lover! The word sent a thrill down her spine, though as yet she and Nazagi had only shared a single kiss) At the same time, Madeleine didn't want Cassidy to feel inadequate. "Nazagi will be happy as long as he has power," she said, "and you are offering him plenty. Not only by being a princess...not all the praise Nazagi heaps on you is flattery, Cassidy. He really does respect you a great deal. Like me, he sees what a fine Wisdom you will make, and looks forward to standing by your side."

"By my side, as an equal," said Cassidy, squeezing her hand. "With you."

"Yes," said Madeleine, and for the first time she really believed it. She was not a valette any more, or simply a mistress-to-be. She would share the benefits and the burdens of Wisdom with Cassidy in all ways but name. The idea was staggering, and would take some getting used to. But Madeleine looked forward to the challenge.