In the middle of the night, Raleigh opened the door to Attaly's room. Walking towards her bed, he saw that she sat upright, wide-awake. Raleigh walked forward. Attaly turned her head towards his movement. It was too dark to see who it was. Raleigh turned on a light. Attaly's eyes widened, and she moved away from him.

"What do you want?" Attaly barley moved her lips to ask the question. Raleigh smiled and sat next to her on the bed.

"To talk."

Attaly watched him, waiting.

"I am sure that your father told you what took place after you left, what papers were signed."

Attaly nodded.

"Then perhaps we should get to know each other better."

Attaly stiffened. Raleigh moved closer to her. Attaly backed away and nearly fell off the bed. Raleigh reached out to catch her. Attaly looked up at his face, so close to hers. His warm breath on her face warmed her blood – then chilled it as his mouth covered hers. She flailed, trying to push him away. He held her wrists to her body, immobilizing her. He pushed her down on the bed, and straddled her.

"You will be my queen, Attaly. You will bear me an heir. You will be content. Do you understand me?" he griped her arms and shook her slightly. "Do you understand me?"

Attaly nodded meekly. She moved away from him slightly. Attaly debated with herself, not knowing whether to ask him the question that burned on her lips. She came to a decision.

"Raleigh, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what, my sweet?"

Attaly took a deep breath. It took a lot to contradict a king.

"Why are you making me marry you? I don't want to – no offense, your Royal Highness – but I'm so much younger than you, and frankly, this is scary for me. I don't know if I would make a good queen for you."

Raleigh's lips twitched, then he smiled before breaking out in laughter.

"Attaly, you think too much! I like you; I do not need any more reason but that. I am king in this realm, and you will do as I wish."

"Well excuse me, Your Royal Highness." Attaly looked down after the impudent remark. A smile pulled at Raleigh's lips. "I'll not stand for your pertness, my wife-to-be."

The last remark made Attaly mad. She glared up at him.

"And what if I do not wish to be your wife-to-be?"

"So impertinent! I said it before: I am king here, and all my subjects will do as I say. Do you understand?"

"Completely." Murmured Attaly. Gathering sheets around her, Attaly turned her back on him. His large arms encircled her torso. She squeaked in surprise, stiffening as he did so. His arms traveled upwards until his hands reached her throat. Attaly stopped breathing as his fingers tightened.

"I told you I would not stand for pertness from my fiancé. Do it again and you might find yourself with an immobile arm." Attaly stiffened at the threat, trying to ease the fingers on her neck. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord." Raleigh's fingers loosened their deadly grip, turning Attaly's head to face him. He kissed her thoroughly, then let go of her face. She lay gently down on the bed, taking deep breaths, shaking from his threat. Raleigh stood and retreated into the corridor. His smile was cold and mirthless. His eyes were hard and forbidding. When he entered his rooms, he found that his mirror was fogged over by the presence of the God.

When she is seventeen, Raleigh? The God asked. You are going to make me wait another two years to get at her? There was laughter in his voice.

Raleigh stiffened.

"I am sorry master, but I believed that I could make no deal with her father unless I told him so. Besides, just because I would have to wait until she is seventeen does not mean that I must stay away from her…"

All right Raleigh. You may have the two years. It gives me time to think of all the ways I could give her pain before killing her. There was no mirth in his voice this time. With that he disappeared.

A mile away, Alth woke in a cold sweat, having heard the whole conversation.

I should talk to the wizards, he realized. They could help find a way to get the girl out.