Interlude One.
'He's not right, you know.'
Cythera looked across at her husband as he shrugged out of his breeches. 'Who? Jon?'
'No, no. Roald.'
Cythera frowned, pulling the bed covers tighter around her. She closed her book. 'Whatever makes you say that? I admit he is looking a little tired but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.'
In his nightclothes now, Gary picked up a brush from the vanity and climbed into bed. Seeing the brush, Cythera smiled and turned her back to him. He began to comb and play with her hair as he talked.
'He's more than a "little tired". He's pale and getting thinner. I don't think he's eating properly and he spends far too much time sitting at that desk working.'
'Well tell him to go do something else then.'
'Don't you think I've tried that already?' He sighed. 'He won't listen to me. He's constantly cutting me off when I try to speak with him. He's getting quite a harsh tongue, actually.'
'Roald?' Cythera looked round in surprise. 'I thought he had a calm temper.'
Gary grimaced. 'He always has. Obviously he's been spending too much time with his Aunt Alanna.'
Cythera rolled her eyes. 'So what do you plan to do?'
He sighed. 'I don't know. I fear he's becoming rather- delicate. I don't want to… push him over the edge, as it were.'
Cythera pursed her lips. 'I could mention it to Thayet, I suppose.'
Considering this, Gary said, 'Only subtly, though. I don't want Thayet getting stressed about this.'
'Gary, if her son is ill, she's going to stress about it, however she finds out.' He fixed her with a stern look and she smiled, rolling her eyes again. 'Of course I'll be subtle, I do deal with the Queen's affairs.'
'And you do a very good job.' He lifted her hair away from her neck and pressed a kiss to her skin.
'Try not to worry too much about Roald, dear. After all, he's not your son.'
Gary sighed again. 'I know that, but Jon and Thayet are too preoccupied to spend any quality time with their children and notice something's wrong.'
Cythera turned in his arms to face him. 'Roald will be fine. I'll mention it- subtly- to Thayet at the next opportune moment.'
He pressed a kiss to her lips. 'Thank you.'
She smiled a little coyly. 'Are you going to thank me probably? You've been so tired recently.'
He raised his eyebrows. 'Is my dear wife dissatisfied?'
She laughed. 'Never!'
Grinning, Gary pulled her down to the bed, discarding the hairbrush.
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