A/N: Sorry for the long gap. August was too hectic to keep up.
TheRanger'sDaughter: Your optimistic enthusiasm always makes me smile :)
Raider: Disillusioned? No. If (WHEN) they bring it to the States I already have my credit card, time off work form, and travel apps ready to book the necessary arrangements for the ticket I WILL acquire.
Disclaimer: Not John Flanagan.
Reese stood in front of the doors and took a deep breath. Inside the court, officers were briefing his parents on events in Iberion. Not just his parents, but Uncle Frey and Uncle Ace as well. Ranger Daniel was in there, probably Lady Julia too. Russ, Holt, and Caroline had all been included along with the entire Battalion Council. Everyone important was behind those doors, and he was stuck outside. Not only had he been excluded from the invitation, but the guards had explicit orders to keep him outside. Even Robin was in there, sitting next to her Aunt Lucy as an apprentice.
He wasn't sure if he should be annoyed or insulted.
A secretary appeared from the servant's entrance. Reese stared at the man, a nervous Scribe in his mid-forties who had terrified him growing up.
"Prince Reese," he said, motioning to the guards to open the main doors. "They'll see you now."
The court had multiple entrances, and as Reese entered the main one it became harder to keep his disdain from his face. Not only Uncle Frey, who was in the middle of organizing Araluen's first fleet of warships, was there, but also Aunt Rosalina, who practically prided herself on not getting involved in wars. Their daughters stood near them with matching smiles, Lily's more genuine than Iris's.
Daniel and Julia were there, though Maggie had been spared from what was surely a dull gathering of grownups. That raised the question of Iris and Lily's presence, but…perhaps they decided to disinherit him afterall. Isn't that what he'd been practically begging for? Iris would need to learn how to handle these proceedings if he failed, and Lily after her. A quick glance across the table and he noticed Aunt Kelly was also in attendance, sitting next to Uncle Ace in his healer's uniform. Their children also hovered nearby. Had he been so incompetent they were not training all four of his young cousins? There weren't too many years between those four…were they to hold a tournament rather than look at birth order? Pit the four against one another to see which would be the strongest leader?
"Reese," his mother greeted him. She stood, though it wasn't protocol for anyone in the royal family to stand in his presence. Not at a meeting like this…not when he was still seen as a spoiled, sheltered child. "Son."
Son. That was enough to calm him. He walked up to his parents' thrones and bowed to them.
"We've spent the day listening to reports of what happened in Iberion," his father continued. Reese kept scanning the room. His grandparents were there, sitting on a bench in the corner. Lady Alyss sat next to his grandmother and Ranger Will sat next to his grandfather. The four whispered like children getting bored during mass, only no one dared quiet them.
"Why was I kept out?" Reese asked. He did his best to keep his tone from sounded confrontational. Those who truly knew him, the only ones who mattered, weren't fooled.
Her father cleared his throat and stood, taking his mother's hand. "Son, your actions in Iberion have impressed all of us…and now we hear of a girl…what was her name? Marquesa Desi?"
Reese blushed. A smirk came from the row of soldiers…Holt. Russ stood near Daniel, both with their Ranger stone faces…but with gleams in their eyes. He didn't even try to look at Caroline. She would have been the worst.
"Son, first I want you to know I've revoked your promotion of a Cavalry lieutenant to knight."
Reese looked to Holt. "Sorry, friend."
Holt shrugged. William continued.
"He can be a captain instead. Is this fair for you, Holt?"
Holt nodded to William. "More than fair, sir. When Dad gets home I can tease him about climbing Cavalry ranks faster than he climbed the Scouts."
"Of course you would," Robin mumbled, earning her a sharp elbow from Lucy. The entire room chuckled.
"Reese, your mother and I would like to offer you a position in Iberion as viceroy."
Viceroy…responsible for organizing and stabilizing the country. It was a sizeable job better suited for an heir that wasn't a crown heir…perhaps Iris, if she were old enough.
"Father, with respect…I think it's time I join your side here. You have a lot to teach me, and…it's important I learn."
An unexpected mutter of approval swept through the court. Reese looked around uneasily. This entire thing felt like a trap.
"Prince Reese of Araluen," Daniel said as she stood. "I recognize you as your father's heir, and pledge loyalty to you whenever he is absent."
Reese stared at Daniel. The Ranger Commandant had always been like an uncle to him, just as Kane had. Daniel spent most of Reese's childhood in Hibernia, but they visited Hibernia often enough. Daniel had gone behind his parents' backs to try and teach him things they wouldn't approve of (or at least, his mother wouldn't approve of). Reese had no interest in the lessons, but he appreciated the bond that came from them.
"I pledge," someone from the Battalion's side said. He turned, expecting the female standing to be Julia, or maybe Caroline. Instead it was Lady Evie. Julia and Caroline joined her promptly, as did Russ…then Holt…then everyone. One by one the pledges became a soft roar, everyone speaking over their neighbor to say two simple words.
"I pledge," Ace said once it died down, giving Reese a wink. Reese found himself smiling.
"I pledge," Rosalina said next.
"I pledge!" Lily giggled.
"I pledge," Ace III and Iris said in unison, overlapped with an, "I pledge," from Halle. Frey and Kelly also pledged, Frey's boisterous and Kelly's meek.
Finally, his mother came down the steps. She took his hands and kissed his cheek, so typical of her. "You will be a good king," she whispered.
"Agreed," his father added as he came down the steps. He threw his fist in the air, turning to his court. "Long live Prince Reese!"
As the cheers roared, William pulled Reese aside. Anamaria followed and shut the door to his private office behind them. The door did little to muffle the cheers, now led by Holt.
"I'm glad you've chosen this," his father told him, motioning for him to have a seat. The expansive office held a desk and chairs, but also a comfortable set of sofas Reese used to fall asleep on when his father forced him to shadow official meetings. He sat on one across from his parents. Anamaria still beamed, but his father's seriousness wasn't lost.
"What's wrong?" he demanded.
William put a hand over Anamaria's. He leaned over and kissed the side of her head. Affection was common for them, and usually his mother would quickly turn her head in attempt to catch his lips with hers. It was their game…a game Reese felt he'd understand better when he was in love with a girl. Real love, not the puppy stuff he felt for Jin and sometimes Robin…and somewhat Desi. Instead, his mother kept smiling at him with watering eyes.
"Mother?" he whispered.
"Your mother's journey home was a difficult one," William began explaining slowly. "I understand being in Iberion was difficult as well."
Reese nodded. He kept his eyes on Anamaria as his father spoke. "You got tired."
She nodded. The smile was gone, replaced with tight quivering lips. William put an arm around her.
"Son," he continued. "Your mother's been ill with a disease…no one really knows what it is. We only know what it does, and…I've already began a search for physicians."
"My symptoms are same as the ones your great-grandmother had. I only have them older than her," his mother sighed.
Reese frowned. "Mother, you…I…"
His grandmother had been so young when she lost her mother she could barely remember her, but the sickness that took her had been incurable. That was the point.
"We do not know much yet. It could just be me getting old. People tend to do that, you know," Anamaria said with her usual optimism. William remained serious.
"We aren't saying there will be a coronation tomorrow, but…you be asked to ascend sooner than anticipated. We wanted you to be aware of that," William finished. Reese continued staring at his mother. Ascending…becoming king…he accepted that day would come, but at this point that wasn't important.
"Are you in pain, Mother?"
Anamaria went back to smiling. She shook her head. "No, mijo. I only get tired easy and…sometimes feel sick. No pain." She leaned over to hug him. "You are a good son. I am proud of you."
Reese wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't believe just a few months ago he'd been so arrogant as to push her away. He felt his father's heavy hand on his shoulder. Reese knew the gesture was as thanks. If Anamaria truly fell ill, William would no longer be fit to lead. Reese knew that. He believed it wholeheartedly. He wondered if he himself would be able to lead if his mother were on her deathbed, but better him than his father.
Once he left the office he picked his way through the court, barely acknowledging the slaps on his back. He rounded a couple of corners before allowing himself a heavy breath.
King. The responsibility of that hit him like a wall, a wall he'd spent so much of his life running from. He knew he wouldn't be coroneted tomorrow, but it was coming. Even if his mother wasn't sick, and she indeed was just getting older, the day was coming. He was obviously ill prepared for it. He'd have to make up for his years avoiding the task fast.
"Is strange here, for people to pledge to prince for what is his birthright."
Reese turned, finding himself face-to-face with Consuelo. He'd wondered about her. "They didn't have to," he explained. "It's a sort of tradition…for when those with rank feel an heir is ready ascend."
She raised her eyebrows. "So you will ascend soon?"
"Hope not," he said a bit too quickly.
Consuelo nodded. "Your mother…she is sick."
"How did you know?"
"She keep me near her, to teach me about Araluen. I hear healer talk, the one that is your father's brother."
"Uncle Ace?"
"Yes, him. He say she need to be watched."
Uncle Ace…of course. He'd ensure Anamaria had the best care. Perhaps they could get Gabby back for this. Now that he thought about it, the basis of Gabby's career seemed to be a pull between who needed her more, the Hibernian royal family or the Araluen.
"Your mother is strong woman. She is wise too. I am happy to know her."
Reese smiled. "I hope you are finding Araluen agreeable."
Consuelo took a step back and held out her arms to show off what was clearly an Araluen-style dress. "Little confining."
"I'll give you that," he agreed.
Consuelo smiled and dropped her arms. "You give me much, Prince Reese."
"None of this is me. You are here because of your brother and my mother."
"No, I am in Araluen because of my brother and your mother. I am here because of you."
Reese raised an eyebrow and swallowed hard. Oh what he'd do to have an O'Carrick brother rush from the shadows to threaten him against flirting with their sister right now.
