Ashura wasn't fool enough to believe that the stories about him and Fai would just go away now, but he did believe that their heart had been crushed by his public confirmation of Tancred as his heir. The rumor about Fai being his son would still circulate, of course, but now its only value was as disgusting and salacious gossip. Everyone loved a good scandal, whether true or not, and the idea that Ashura had carried on with Fai's mother while his own wife was pregnant—and dying—and then had taken in the resulting bastard child would certainly keep tongues wagging for a long time. He hoped that any real rancor would be directed primarily at him and not at Fai.
He thought there was a good chance for that. The winter court had been present when he'd brought Fai home, and all of them had demonstrated nothing but sympathy for the starved, traumatized child. Ashura hoped that feeling would continue and be passed on to the rest of the gentry when they arrived for the Sunbirth court.
However, the rumor about the succession was as good as dead. No one with any sense would put much stock in it now. That, plus the work Vainamoinen and the council had done to discredit the idea—with official documentation and actual facts judiciously applied where they would do the most good—should be enough to keep any serious political difficulties at bay. Ashura was a realist, and knew he would have to be content with that.
Ashura stayed close by his brother's family for the rest of the afternoon, chatting amicably with them. He was pleased to note that Fai, Mielu, and Virender were getting along reasonably well, playing board and card games together while their seniors conversed. Fai and Mielu were only about a year apart in age, so that helped. Virender was a very superior nine years old, and seemed to be having trouble deciding if he should stick with the "youngsters" or if he should pay attention to the boring adults. An amusing dilemma. So far, Ashura noted, Fai, Mielu, and games of halatafl and cards appeared to hold Virender's interest better.
They were all on their best court behavior, naturally. Every family member present knew the importance of appearing to be on relaxed and friendly terms, especially given the recent events.
After a while, Ashura briefly left them to visit with some of his council and courtiers for politeness' sake—and also to try to verify that his public confirmation of Tancred as his heir had had the desired effect. Vainamoinen stood off to his left, talking with several noblemen. The council chief caught Ashura's eye, then broke off his conversation and joined the king.
"Your public greeting to Sybilla and Tancred was well done, Your Majesty," Vainamoinen said softly and with a pleased smile. "You defused the succession rumor nicely."
"It was not done nicely enough, apparently," Ashura replied, just as quietly. "Tancred has requested a private audience. I do not know for certain what he wishes to discuss, but I believe he still has concerns."
"A thirteen-year-old?"
"A highly intelligent and competent thirteen-year-old, who has been heir designate for five years now. He pays attention to politics, my lord."
"His mother seems content."
Ashura shook his head. "I'm sure Sybilla is only holding her peace until after I speak with Tancred. However, I believe they are both now reassured that it is not my intention to publicly embarrass them, at least. I shall put their minds at rest for all of it, never fear."
"When will you meet with Tancred?"
"During the setup for dinner, I think. The sooner, the better."
Vainamoinen nodded approvingly. "You two are unlikely to be missed in the bustle of the preparations. Be sure you do not take too long, though, or the gossipmongers will spin even worse conspiracies and fantasies."
"I do not expect the conversation to take much time," Ashura said. "There isn't much to say."
Vainamoinen muttered under his breath.
"Yes, my lord?" Ashura prompted him. "You said something?"
Vainamoinen exhaled. "Majesty, a thirteen-year-old boy, no matter how well educated and trained, is often not a reasonable being. You may find your discussion with Tancred less amicable than you seem to be imagining."
Ashura nodded, accepting the warning, and returned to his relatives.
When the time came for the hall to be cleared and the servants to set up the trestle tables for dinner, the family group broke up and went their separate ways. Ashura left Fai in Kendappa's care, and joined Tancred, saying quietly, "Nephew, let us speak now."
Tancred nodded and walked with Ashura down a side corridor. They went into a secluded wall chamber, and Ashura closed the door.
"We should have a measure of privacy," he said. "Now, shall we have our discussion, Tancred?"
He took a moment to study his nephew. The boy bore a startling resemblance to Ashura's late brother. He had the Vanir high cheekbones, light brown eyes, and night-black hair. Tancred wore it quite long, gathered at the nape of his neck and held with a golden clasp. Tendulkar had always worn his hair that way, too.
It was clear that Tancred would one day be as tall as his father, and he was already showing signs of developing a powerful build. His long-fingered hands would be elegant when he outgrew his adolescent awkwardness.
He looked so much like Tendulkar had at his age that it hurt.
At the moment, the boy was practically spoiling for a fight. He obviously hadn't believed Ashura's performance in the open court, and was prepared to speak his mind directly to the man who was not merely his uncle, but his king. Even in this, Ashura thought, he was just like Tendulkar.
Tendulkar, Ashura's heart cried. Brother, I'm so sorry I sent you to the border with Arimaspea.
But Tendulkar had wanted to go. He had been a terrible fire-eater when given the opportunity, and at the time no one had believed the situation more serious than another minor skirmish with Arimaspi raiders. Instead, it had been a decently organized incursion of raiders and rogue magicians working in tandem. Tendulkar and the overlord of the Southlands, Lord Taishaku, had crushed it, but during the last battle Tendulkar took too many magical attacks that destroyed his shields and left him vulnerable to an Arimaspi lance.
Unlike Luonnotar's death, Ashura hadn't been tormented by prophetic dreams about Tendulkar's fate. It had come as a complete surprise. Perhaps that was why Tendulkar's demise hadn't scarred him as deeply as Luonnotar's.
However, he had always wondered if the Arimaspi had targeted his brother deliberately, or if Tendulkar had really just been an ordinary battle casualty. It happened, even to strong fighting wizards, but there still remained within Ashura a small seed of doubt. The Arimaspi king abided by the treaty, at least officially, but he made no secret that he hated Ashura just for maintaining the border and protecting his own territory. King Skudra was a greedy and vicious old whoreson. An Arimaspi warrior could win great favor with him by killing one of Seresu's royal family.
But what difference did it make in the long term? Ashura wondered. He was going to kill everyone in the country himself one day. Even Tancred. Was he really any better than Skudra? Ashura gazed forlornly at his nephew, feeling bowed under the crushing weight of unbearable truth.
"Your Majesty? Your Majesty, are you all right?"
Ashura shook himself out of his memories and despair, and realized his nephew was speaking to him. "I'm sorry, Tancred. I was woolgathering."
"You?" Tancred asked, incredulously.
"Even me." Ashura smiled gently. "I was just thinking about how much you look like your father."
The belligerence in Tancred's posture drained away, leaving behind an uncertain thirteen-year-old boy. "Uncle," he said, and swallowed. Then he firmed himself again. "Your Majesty, I didn't come here to talk about Father."
"I know," Ashura said calmly. "You came to talk about Fai and the succession."
"How—?"
"It's all anyone can talk about these days." He let himself sigh. "We must finish our discussion quickly and arrive on time for dinner, else our absence will add to the nonsense."
"Is it nonsense?" Tancred's eyes held challenge and defiance, reminding Ashura yet again of his brother.
"Yes, it is all nonsense. Tancred, the succession is not changed. I will show you the official documents if you like, but you can take my word for it."
"Everyone says that Fai will one day sit on the throne."
"Anyone who says so is wrong. Don't be foolish, Tancred. Fai will never sit on the throne of Seresu. He cannot." Ashura couldn't help but reflect that he spoke the perfect truth. Even if Fai had carried the right blood, there would be no throne of Seresu for him to sit upon.
"But if he's your son..." Tancred trailed off, suddenly looking insecure and nervous.
"Fai is not my son, Tancred," Ashura said softly. "He is the scion of a defunct royal house from another world entirely. I admit that I do love him as my own, but there is no blood connection between us. The rumors are malicious pieces of gossip and quite hurtful and damaging, but they hold no truth whatsoever."
"So you weren't just trying to appease the court? I remain your heir?"
"Barring my remarrying and breeding legitimate children, yes." At Tancred's look of surprise, Ashura uttered a sharp bark of laughter. "Surely you must have realized that those events might yet occur. I am harried often by Lord Vainamoinen and Lady Kendappa on that particular subject."
Tancred cast his gaze downward. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I do understand this, I just didn't think..."
"No, you didn't."
The boy looked up again, his light brown eyes flashing. "And if you don't produce a legitimate heir?" he demanded.
He really was so much like Tendulkar, fighting for what he believed to be his right. "I promise you, Tancred, that if I have no children of my own, and if you outlive me, you will become King of Seresu." The final, necessary condition, Ashura knew, would never come to pass. He held his features in their usual serene mask, but inside he was grieving. How could he murder this nephew who was so much like Tendulkar?
Those brown eyes widened. "If I outlive you?" Tancred asked nervously.
Ashura hadn't meant to make that slip, which he realized sounded too much like an immediate threat to a hot-headed teenager. "Tancred, in a few months you will be sent to Lord Bishamon for your military training. When he deems you ready, you will most likely engage in battle on the border with Arimaspea. And when you are of sufficient age and experience, you will lead your own troops. Can you see the future, that you know for certain you will outlive me? Your father was a year younger than me, but he has been gone for five long years now."
Ashura stopped talking and blinked rapidly to clear a blur of moisture from his eyes. No matter what, Tancred would not outlive him. He again thought of Tendulkar, and of his own bloody future, and his relatives' ultimate fates. He would one day tear them to pieces, laughing. It would be a blessing if Tancred died as his father had, with honor in battle, rather than be savagely murdered by his own uncle.
"Un...Uncle," Tancred stammered, "I'm sorry." He reached out to touch Ashura's hand. "Don't worry about me. I know how to fight. I'm good with weapons and combat magic both. You won't keep me away from fighting, will you? Lord Bishamon has promised he won't hold me back just because I'm your nephew, and I... I do want to go. I really do."
Ashura appreciated Tancred's gesture of comfort. Truly, he was a good child, and a worthy heir. "Of course you do. You're as much of a fire-eater as your father was," Ashura said briskly. "You need not fear that I will overprotect you. In fact, I look forward to having you command the royal army one day."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Tancred said obediently, but Ashura knew he was about as obedient as his father had been, which was not at all. Then Tancred fidgeted and hemmed and hawed a bit before asking, "Your Majesty, how do you want me to act around Fai?"
"Just treat him kindly, Tancred. One day he will be the greatest wizard in the entire world. Perhaps he will even be your own chief wizard, as Lord Suhail is mine." It would never happen, but it was nice sometimes to dream of pleasanter futures than the horror to come. "It would be best for the two of you to be on good terms. That will help to defuse the rumors, as well, if it is seen that you are kind to him."
Fai. Ashura considered Fai, this time in terms of combat magic. He could visualize Fai riding into battle at Tancred's side, the two of them vanquishing their foes with ease. Together, they would be invincible. Fai would probably be a natural war wizard, if he so chose. Destruction was a trivial matter when power was so great. Why, just look at his seek spells. Like Ashura, he could easily annihilate the target without intending to do so...
A shocking, unbidden idea took life in Ashura's head. He could offer himself as Fai's first living target of a seek spell. He could do it before Fai learned to control the spell, and let Fai's unrestrained power shatter him like it shattered Suhail's wooden practice blocks.
Even as the thought formed, Ashura dismissed it. There were too many reasons not to try it. It would destroy Fai emotionally. Fai was too young to protect himself from the inevitable backlash of Seresu's nobles against their king's inadvertent killer; they wouldn't care that Fai was only a child, nor that it had been an accident on his part. It would do nothing to remove Fai's first curse, which also needed eliminating. Ashura's own curse might prevent Fai from killing him too soon, or even redirect the spell so that it harmed someone else.
Additionally, the act would violate Ashura's contract with the Witch of Dimensions to raise Fai to adulthood. For all Ashura knew, the contract would prevent the lethal spell from succeeding, or twist it so that instead of killing him, it punished him with physical or mental damage but left him alive. The stories all claimed that horrific consequences befell those who broke faith with the Witch, and Ashura believed them. He had no idea what could possibly be worse than what was already going to happen to him and his country, and he wasn't yet desperate enough to tempt fate and find out.
There were so many reasons against making the attempt, but it would solve so many problems...
"Uncle, are you woolgathering again?" Tancred's worried voice broke into Ashura's depressing musing.
He looked affectionately at his nephew, accepting that for now he would just have to continue living his burdensome life. "I'm afraid so, Tancred. It is a sign of advancing age."
Tancred laughed dutifully, but in truth it wasn't really a joke. Ashura knew he looked much younger than his physical years, because great magic retarded the aging process significantly once full growth and development had been achieved. He wouldn't look old until he started approaching Suhail's age—also greater than anyone would suspect—and his body finally began to wear out. Not that he ever had to worry about that happening, he thought bitterly.
"So, my nephew, have I set your mind at ease?" he asked. "Or do you still believe I plan to displace you?"
"No, no... I believe you. I always wanted to believe you wouldn't do that to me, but we heard those stories, and they just seemed so...so..."
"So plausible? That is what makes them such a danger," Ashura said. "However, as long as the family presents a united front, all will be well. Now, let us go back in to dinner, and demonstrate to all assembled that we are in amity with one another."