Gorsep silently followed his father. It has begun, he thought. Despite the significant corpulence, Hadbel set a fast pace. Ledwira went straight to the kitchen to issue the last orders and Gorsep followed his father to his private chambers in the eastern wing of the keep.
"Bring the wine to my rooms," He ordered as he passed old Wierba on the way.
Once there, Hadbel took off his coat with a one swift move and let it fall to the floor, then he took his place at the table next to the window, Gorsep had only the supplicant's chair, as the servants jokingly called it, to place his bottom on.
"I'm listening." His father's voice was emotionless. Gorsep stared at the Equerd king's face for a moment, searching for features that matched his own. There was nothing more than the color of the eyes and hair. He knew his father's way of talking too well, to immediately curl his tail and let himself be intimidated.
"What else do you not know about?" Gorsep leaned back in his chair. No one had a better spy network than his father, so he has long known everything in detail. Father's tactic: be silent and wait until the interlocutors let loose and start talking more than planned.
The power of silence.
Gorsep was silent as well. After a while, his father got up and walked over to the fireplace, above which hung a shield with two silver towers on a black background, the symbol of all Gardynia.
The oppressive silence was broken by the entrance of the maid with wine and goblets on a tray she had placed on the table. Gorsep waved her away before she could say anything. She bowed her head, picked up the coat, and left quickly, closing the heavy oak-plated door.
"Are you sure about your decision?" Father's voice cut the silence like a sharp knife cuts butter. The tone was unpleasant and stern.
"I can hardly take it back anymore, can't I. Do you resent me for making such a decision?" Gorsep didn't budge.
"Well," Father returned to his seat and poured wine into two goblets on a tray. "I sent you home for a reason." He raised the cup to his lips, but before taking a sip, he looked at his son and with a sneer asked.
"How does it feel to kill your own uncle?"
"It feels like shit." Answered Gorsep without a smile and without a trace of emotion.
"It's decisions like this, that make a man a king, have a drink my son, we have reason to celebrate, you're getting married."
Gorsep choked on his wine. The father smiled, not hiding his satisfaction with the surprise expression on his son's face. He took a long sip of wine, savoring the moment. Gorsep instinctively wiped the drops of red liquor that landed on the tunic.
"You won't ask who I chose as a spouse for you?" Hadbel was clearly enjoying the whole situation. He liked being on top. Gorsep had thought he had won the skirmish with his father a moment ago, now he knew that he was doomed from the beginning. It can only reduce its size.
"Thinking strategically," he began after overcoming the first shock, "We have four places to choose from. Prenian, Gemor, Fenigrid and Bazaldia. I don't expect an alliance with Orchad." He gave his father a crooked smile.
"Bazaldia is out, no clear successor, Gemor is weak and not worth marriage affinity. It's a difficult situation in Fenigrid, it's hard to say who has rights to the crown, so I'm marrying Prenian."
He raised his glass to a toast. Hadbel stared at his son for a moment without saying a word, then laughed loudly in a booming voice, raised his goblet and shouted:
"My son, my blood!"
Erona walked confidently beside the prince, they looked like a dream couple, she was aware of it. The men looked at her and the maidservants sighed at the sight of the young and handsome prince.
In the great hall, all the candles on the iron chandeliers were already lit, some of the guests were sitting in their seats, the rest hurriedly tried to take the best positions to see well and be seen by the royal family. Erona was sitting at a high table placed on a podium next to Gorsep.
When King Hadbel and his wife entered, they all stood up and, bowing their heads, greeted them in silence. Hadbel, leading Ledwira by the hand, took his place and signaled with his hand that the feast should begin. As if on command, the servants set off bringing fragrant platters. Hadbel leaned slightly from his seat and looked at his son's mate.
"You have taste." He nodded in appreciation.
"I see that you made up for the loss of this mercenary woman."
Erona smiled and pricked up her ears, what kind of mercenary were they talking about?
"I think it's time," Ledwira whispered to her husband.
"You're right," Hadbel patted his wife's hand and stood up, holding a goblet of red wine in his hand.
"We're celebrating more than just my arrival today. I have happy news for you, my son Gorsep is engaged to Dagrana, daughter of King Latamor of Prenian!" The hall was in an uproar, everyone with a loud slurp expressed support for the happy news.
Erona felt how the ground shifted beneath her feet.