Stevic G'ladheon gratefully stretched his muscles as he slid off his horse, handing the reins to a nearby stableboy. He had been eager to arrive at Sacor City, so he had woken early and ridden harder than he normally would. His body had taken the opportunity to remind him that he was no longer a young man. Still, he could not help but feel that it had all been worth it as soon as he stepped onto the castle grounds. He did always enjoy coming to the castle, and with Karigan now residing there, he enjoyed the trips even more.

He debated only a moment before turning to the stable, knowing that Karigan was more likely to be there than anywhere else on castle grounds. As expected, it did not take him long to spot her after he reached the stables. He started forward, intending to wrap her in a warm embrace, but he stopped upon seeing the small figure behind her. The boy had auburn hair, strong, aquiline features, and almond-colored eyes. He reminded Stevic forcefully of Karigan's current suitor, and the realization made Stevic's blood boil. "Who's that, Lass?" he questioned when Karigan was within hearing distance. He tried to keep the accusation out of his voice, but he imagined some of it likely seeped in since her eyes narrowed as she looked at him.

"This is Xavier. Zachary's cousin." Stevic did not miss the emphasis on the boy's relationship to the king, but he had been around enough nobles to understand that a cousin was not often a cousin.

"Cousin?"

"Da, please don't make assumptions about something you don't know."

"Oh? I was unaware that the king had any cousins."

"Well, he does."

"And you trust him?"

"Of course."

Stevic sighed. "Karigan, I know you're not familiar with these things, and that is partially my fault, but it is very rare for a man who has no cousins to suddenly find one who is just the right age to be his son."

"Zachary is not Xavier's father." She stepped further in front of the boy, fully blocking him from Stevic's view as if protecting him. Stevic was struck by how maternal she looked. However, that simply made him more determined to ensure that she did take things further than she already had. She deserved much better than being a mother to a child who was not hers, even if he was the bastard heir to the throne.

"You cannot know that."

"I can."

She stared at him defiantly, and Stevic realized that his little girl was slipping through his fingers. He knew she was going to grow up at some point, but he had not realized that time was approaching so quickly. She had definitely inherited his stubborness. He certainly remembered many a shouting match with his own father when he faced the older man down with the same expression she currently had on her face. The memory of those times caused the next words to slip out before he could fully think through what he was saying. "And how exactly do you know that? You just happen to know the king's entire sexual history?" he hissed.

Karigan startled briefly before her face hardened with resolve. "Yes. I do. So trust me when I say that I know Xavier is not his son." Stevic's face reddened at the implication even though it was he himself who had first introduced the subject. He sputtered as he tried to think of what to say next, and she took advantage of his stupefaction to turn away from him. "Come on, Xavier. Let's go find Garth." With that, she left Stevic gaping after her.

It took Stevic only a few more seconds to recover from his shock. Once he did, he spun on his heel, heading toward the castle. If Karigan would not listen, he would approach the other party involved. He strode purposefully into the castle, stopping a boy in a green uniform. "I'm looking for the king," Stevic said, putting all the command that he could into his tone.

"I believe he is in his study, Sir. But it's not his normal day for visitors."

"Trust me, he will want to see me. Where is the study?" The boy pointed, and Stevic started down the corridor he indicated. Once pointed in the right direction, it was laughably easy to find the king due to the ubiquitous black-clad figures that increased in number as he drew closer. He finally reached a door outside which two of them stood with three more posted surreptitiously in the area. When he approached the door, one of the guards stopped him. "Tell King Zachary that it's Stevic G'ladheon to see him," he said. The Weapon who had stopped him looked skeptical, but recognition flashed on the face of the other. He knocked, announcing Stevic's identity. The king's response was muffled, but it must have been positive, for the Weapon turned back and beckoned Stevic forward.

The king was standing beside a sofa when Stevic entered. He smiled affably at the older man. "Chief G'ladheon, it's good to see you again."

"I wish I could say the same." The king's countenance grew puzzled at the venom in Stevic's tone, but now that Stevic had committed to his current course of action, he was determined to see it through, consequences be damned. "I ran into Kari in the stables. Imagine my surprise when she had a young boy with her. A boy who looked remarkably like the man who had asked me for her hand in marriage just a couple months before."

"I believe you have some misinformation."

"Yes, Karigan said something of the sort. You may be able to deceive my daughter, Sire, for she is still young and not experienced in the ways of the world, but you cannot deceive me. I know how men like you work. You saw a young woman who fancied herself in love with you and had a healthy dowry. No doubt you could use that to replenish your coffers, and as an added bonus, she could be a nursemaid for your bastard child."

The king's eyebrows rose, but a different voice interrupted before he could say anything. "Another woman who fancies herself in love with you? Father was right—we really need to train Weapons not just to protect you from enemies but also in how to keep all those persistent women away."

Stevic got the distinct impression that the king was fighting a smile. "I would actually prefer they not keep this particular woman away."

"Oh? You're telling me you actually found a bride that suits you? I was beginning to believe you had consigned yourself to life as a bachelor."

Stevic stepped further into the study so he could see the second man. Like Zachary, the man had red hair and brown eyes though his features were slightly more rounded than the king's and his hair lighter. Stevic wondered who the man was. Zachary obviously saw his puzzlement, for he introduced his companion. "Chief G'ladheon, this is my cousin, Quinn Hillander. Quinn, this is Stevic G'ladheon, chief of Clan G'ladheon."

Stevic could only say one word. "Cousin?"

"And the father of the boy I believe you referred to as the bastard heir earlier. I suppose that is technically correct though not in the way you think." Quinn's smile was nearing a smirk as he stood, extending a hand to Stevic. Stevic shook it automatically, still glancing between the pair in shock. He could definitely see how the son of one could be mistaken for the son of the other. Obviously sensing that Stevic was not going to contribute to the conversation anytime soon, Quinn turned back to the king. "I suspected there would be some rumors when you showed up with Xavier, but I apologize if they kept you from the woman you were attempting to seduce."

Zachary's face reddened slightly, surprising Stevic. He had never seen the king embarrassed before. It was certainly a new side of him. Vaguely, he wondered how many other sides of the man he would see now that he and Karigan were courting. It could certainly be interesting. "Xavier was not a problem," Zachary said simply, smoothing over the embarrassment with practiced ease. "Karigan has actually been one of his favorite sitters."

"She's always been good with children," Stevic mused, finally finding his voice. A soft smile broke out on the king's face, and it took a moment for Stevic's brain to fully process what he had said. Karigan's future children would be the king's as well, a prospect King Zachary obviously found quite pleasing.

"I had noticed that. Xavier is picky about his companions."

Before their conversation could continue, the door to the study burst open. All three men turned, and Stevic was unsurprised to see his daughter standing in the now-open doorway. "Zachary, my father is here, and he saw Xavier. I tried to explain that he was a cousin, but he definitely does not believe me, and I suspect he is going to do something. . . oh. Da." She broke off suddenly, noting her father. Stevic raised a single eyebrow.

"Your father and I were just talking about that. I think we have come to an understanding." Zachary glanced to Stevic expectantly. The older man nodded.

"Aye, we have."

"Also, allow me to introduce Xavier's father, Quinn." Zachary made a sweeping gesture toward his cousin. "Quinn, this is Karigan G'ladheon."

"Pleased to meet you," Quinn remarked, bowing over Karigan's hand. He turned his attention to Zachary after doing so, his eyes twinkling. "I can see why you are giving up your bachelorhood."

This time, it was Karigan's turn to blush as Zachary chuckled. "Do you want me to retrieve Xavier? I left him with one of the other Riders. Garth has six younger siblings, so he's good with him."

"Actually, that would be wonderful. I would definitely like to spend some time with my boy, and I imagine you three have much to talk about." Quinn nodded to Stevic and winked at Zachary before gesturing for Karigan to lead the way out of the room.

Once they had gone, Zachary turned back to Stevic. "Please, take a seat. Can I offer you anything to eat or drink?"

Stevic shook his head, clearing his throat as he took the offered seat. "I am sorry for accusing you. I was just worried about Karigan," he apologized. Stevic knew he had behaved rashly, and now that he was thinking more clearly, he regretted his earlier actions.

The king waved off his apology. "No harm done. I understand how it looked. Believe me, you were not the first to accuse, and you had much more of a right than most." He gave Stevic a smile, and Stevic returned it with a faint one of his own.

"I did have a contract drawn up before leaving Corsa," Stevic said, pulling the papers from one of the inner pockets of his coat. Zachary held out a hand, quickly skimming the contract which Stevic gave him.

"It's much too generous," he protested after only a minute of reading.

"Karigan is my only daughter," Stevic said simply. "I just want her to be happy, and I can tell you make her happy."

Zachary gave a soft smile, scanning the document more closely. "Everyone is going to think I married Karigan for the money," he remarked with a laugh.

"Better than because you needed a wife to care for your bastard child," Karigan remarked. Both men glanced over to see that she had entered the room again, much more quietly this time. Stevic laughed, and after a moment, Zachary began to chuckle as well. Karigan took a seat on the sofa beside him. Stevic noted that she was far enough away that they were still proper, but he definitely sensed a closeness between them, one even greater than what he had seen a couple months before in Corsa.

"Kari, Lass, I am sorry for what I said."

"I know." She glanced over at Zachary, and Stevic noted that a silent conversation flowed between them. Yes, they had definitely grown closer.

"I assume there are protections for Karigan in here as well," Zachary remarked, turning back to the contract he held.

"Of course."

"Protections?"

"Of what would happen if we were to dissolve the marriage." Karigan's eyes widened in shock at the thought, reminding Stevic that no matter her experience, she was still a young girl in many ways. Zachary gentled his words with a smile. "It's a standard clause just in case. Trust me, I have no plans to do any sort of dissolving."

"And if he does, he will have me to answer to, king or not," Stevic added. That comment elicited a startled chuckle from his daughter. The king turned the topic to the contract, and the three debated some of the finer points for a bit. Stevic noted that Karigan seemed even more reluctant than the king at the sheer amount of money he was providing. In the end, however, he won the debate, an outcome he had expected since the beginning. Zachary suggested that perhaps they could set aside the money for the future children, a comment that made Karigan blush scarlet. The two men's eyes met, and Stevic could not suppress a small smile at the thought of the future princes and princesses. If they had even half of his daughter's spunk, they would certainly keep their parents on their toes.

"Have you thought at all about how you are going to announce your courtship?"

Zachary glanced briefly at Karigan before answering. "I was thinking we could do so at the Midwinter festival." Karigan turned to face him, obviously surprised. "I have been doing some planning," he explained. Though he was answering Stevic's question, it was obvious he was talking mostly to Karigan. "The governors should all be arriving in the next few weeks, so I can start gathering support soon. We have our large budget meeting the day before the Midwinter Festival, so I can announce it to them then and then to the rest of the kingdom at the festival the next day. That is, if you are amenable to the idea."

"I. . . hadn't considered it," Karigan said, wetting her lips.

"I think it's a fine plan," Stevic agreed, noting his daughter's nervousness. "I only regret that I will not be here for the announcement. I need to be back in Corsa soon."

"But you only just arrived!" Karigan said.

"Don't worry, Lass, I will be back for the wedding," Stevic said, grinning at his daughter. "But you know how the winter season is. It's the time to prepare for the coming year, plus travel is difficult."

"Let me retrieve your trade permits." Zachary stood, crossing to his desk. He sifted through the myriad of papers covering it for a minute or two before finding what he wanted. Stevic did not even bother to read them before tucking them into his coat pocket. Zachary had never once made a mistake on them, even before he began courting Stevic's daughter. Stevic suspected that they were particularly generous the current year, however.

That thought made him grin, an expression that caught Karigan's attention. "What?"

"I was just thinking about how easy this will be in future years. You can just bring the trade permits with you when you visit your dear old Da."

Karigan rolled her eyes. "What makes you think I will visit?"

"Oh, I am sure you will be quite busy, but it cannot be worse than being in the messenger service. At least you will not be travelling to Aeryc knows where for days at a time, risking life and limb in service." Karigan and Zachary exchanged a glance, and Stevic became immediately suspicious. "What?"

"I. . . well, I may still be called on for message errands from time to time."

"What?" Stevic glanced sharply at Zachary. "Surely you can't expect her to not only be your Queen but also embark on dangerous message errands."

"It has nothing to do with what I expect or even with what she wants," Zachary explained carefully. "The Rider service is. . . a calling. It will eventually release her, but until that time, she is bound to service by something even more powerful than the command of a monarch."

Stevic looked to his daughter who nodded in agreement. He sighed. "I can't say I understand it, but I suppose I will have to accept it. At least promise an old man that you will take the less dangerous errands, maybe even a few that bring you near Corsa."

Karigan gave a faint smile. "I will do my best."

They talked late into the night. Stevic took the opportunity to watch Karigan and the king more closely, and he noticed that his initial inclination was correct. They had grown undeniably closer since he had last seen them. The difference was subtle but definitely present. As the hour grew later, Karigan's head started to fall sideways until she was fast asleep on the king's shoulder. He directed a soft smile in her direction before turning back to Stevic. "I believe that is our cue to retire for the night."

"I believe it is. Would you like me to wake her?"

"I can do so." Stevic paused for a moment before finally standing. On the ride to Sacor City, he had resolved himself to the fact that he would need to give up his little girl. It was time to put those thoughts into action. With a final nod toward his monarch, he turned to leave the room. At the door, however, he could not stop himself from glancing back. He saw Zachary reach down and tuck a strand of hair behind Karigan's ear before pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. Stevic smiled, remembering a similar gesture he had performed numerous times with Kariny. Perhaps giving up his little girl was not so bad after all.