fine to execute in such barbaric style.’
‘They are soldiers.’
‘They are boys!’ she beseeched. ‘When Lute comes of age—and that’s only one more summer away—he will become anhonorary member of our army. His head’s already full of weaponry and combat.’
‘Like any boy,’ Rodin reminded her. ‘I’m glad he’s a strong youth now.’
Lute’s frown deepened to hear his father admit his early frailty.
‘Lute was fragile, but that’s all changed now.’ Rodin nodded his agreement as Miralda continued. ‘He considers himself invincible.’
‘I’m proud of him.’
Lute felt a spike of pleasure to learn this.
‘But he is technically a soldier of your army from next summer,’ his mother countered. ‘And say he were to be captured by your enemy, you would expect him to be ransomed, am I right?’
‘It’s the honourable way. It’s how all royals are treated.’
‘Well, don’t be too sure of Janko. If Besler captures him, I hope you don’t expect any compassion.’
‘It’s not compassion, Miralda, it’s just how it’s done. No royalty is squandered. Captors simply make money from royal captives, and I would pay anything they asked for Lute—does that reassure you?’
‘No. Because he is still just a young man. You’re missing my point. He’s no different to any other boy who is being flung off those escarpments. We have to remember that although Besler is our enemy, his men are simply following their king’s orders.’
Rodin sighed. ‘We could argue this all day—it is a matter of principle. There is no right or wrong. It’s just how war is handled, my love.’
Lute watched his mother round on his father and grab his shoulders. ‘But you can change it,’ she begged. ‘You can order Janko…’
‘No!’ The King shook his head. ‘He is in charge of our army and our security. Believe me, you would not enjoy life if Besler was the emperor he dreams of being.’
‘And you’re comfortable about Stalkers roaming the realm? They were Janko’s idea as well.’
‘They’re our domestic law enforcers.’
Miralda gave him an arched look. ‘They follow their own law, Rodin. You yourself have said that you don’t like them having so much freedom. You said you’d talk to him.’
‘And I will! Now, Miralda, this is state business and I will raise it with my brother when I see him. No, I don’t like the Stalkers having so much freedom but when they were initiated they had a strict purpose. Janko had good reason to ensure we had some sort of domestic law enforcement. I suspect with him away, their leader has probably allowed his own enthusiasm to take control.’
‘Then order them to stand down, Rodin! You’re King!’
‘I will not usurp my brother’s role. Miralda, we are very close in age, Janko and I. But for a year or so he would have been King. I am sensitive to this. We complement each other well. The Stalkers originated through good sense and it was a clever idea of Janko’s. It’s all part of our realm’s progress. It is his duty, his responsibility to rein them back in if they’re not following his strict orders. I don’t feel it’s right for me to step across his area of supervision, which is the security of our realm.’
‘They are bullies, Rodin. That’s what I’m hearing anyway.’
‘And I’m sure everything you hear is very reliable, Miralda,’ Rodin replied, unable to fully disguise his sarcasm. ‘Let it be. I will discuss the Stalkers with Janko at the right time in the right setting. The day of his homecoming after years of being away at war is not that time.’
The Queen gave Rodin a sad look and pulled away from him.
‘Don’t be like this,’ the King cajoled gently. ‘He’s coming home today. I’d like us to welcome him together. We are family, after all.’
‘He is your family, Rodin. Not mine, not in my heart anyway,’ the Queen said bitterly. ‘But I shall be at your side as you wish.’
‘Make sure Lute is present
‘They are soldiers.’
‘They are boys!’ she beseeched. ‘When Lute comes of age—and that’s only one more summer away—he will become anhonorary member of our army. His head’s already full of weaponry and combat.’
‘Like any boy,’ Rodin reminded her. ‘I’m glad he’s a strong youth now.’
Lute’s frown deepened to hear his father admit his early frailty.
‘Lute was fragile, but that’s all changed now.’ Rodin nodded his agreement as Miralda continued. ‘He considers himself invincible.’
‘I’m proud of him.’
Lute felt a spike of pleasure to learn this.
‘But he is technically a soldier of your army from next summer,’ his mother countered. ‘And say he were to be captured by your enemy, you would expect him to be ransomed, am I right?’
‘It’s the honourable way. It’s how all royals are treated.’
‘Well, don’t be too sure of Janko. If Besler captures him, I hope you don’t expect any compassion.’
‘It’s not compassion, Miralda, it’s just how it’s done. No royalty is squandered. Captors simply make money from royal captives, and I would pay anything they asked for Lute—does that reassure you?’
‘No. Because he is still just a young man. You’re missing my point. He’s no different to any other boy who is being flung off those escarpments. We have to remember that although Besler is our enemy, his men are simply following their king’s orders.’
Rodin sighed. ‘We could argue this all day—it is a matter of principle. There is no right or wrong. It’s just how war is handled, my love.’
Lute watched his mother round on his father and grab his shoulders. ‘But you can change it,’ she begged. ‘You can order Janko…’
‘No!’ The King shook his head. ‘He is in charge of our army and our security. Believe me, you would not enjoy life if Besler was the emperor he dreams of being.’
‘And you’re comfortable about Stalkers roaming the realm? They were Janko’s idea as well.’
‘They’re our domestic law enforcers.’
Miralda gave him an arched look. ‘They follow their own law, Rodin. You yourself have said that you don’t like them having so much freedom. You said you’d talk to him.’
‘And I will! Now, Miralda, this is state business and I will raise it with my brother when I see him. No, I don’t like the Stalkers having so much freedom but when they were initiated they had a strict purpose. Janko had good reason to ensure we had some sort of domestic law enforcement. I suspect with him away, their leader has probably allowed his own enthusiasm to take control.’
‘Then order them to stand down, Rodin! You’re King!’
‘I will not usurp my brother’s role. Miralda, we are very close in age, Janko and I. But for a year or so he would have been King. I am sensitive to this. We complement each other well. The Stalkers originated through good sense and it was a clever idea of Janko’s. It’s all part of our realm’s progress. It is his duty, his responsibility to rein them back in if they’re not following his strict orders. I don’t feel it’s right for me to step across his area of supervision, which is the security of our realm.’
‘They are bullies, Rodin. That’s what I’m hearing anyway.’
‘And I’m sure everything you hear is very reliable, Miralda,’ Rodin replied, unable to fully disguise his sarcasm. ‘Let it be. I will discuss the Stalkers with Janko at the right time in the right setting. The day of his homecoming after years of being away at war is not that time.’
The Queen gave Rodin a sad look and pulled away from him.
‘Don’t be like this,’ the King cajoled gently. ‘He’s coming home today. I’d like us to welcome him together. We are family, after all.’
‘He is your family, Rodin. Not mine, not in my heart anyway,’ the Queen said bitterly. ‘But I shall be at your side as you wish.’
‘Make sure Lute is present
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