?My dear Lady Kairee
I trust this missive finds you well. I have just learned of your return to that phantasitcal realm of Rhy?din and rushed to send my greetings and to offer you a humble gift.
Do not think me impertinent in this after so many years and though our lives have held us apart, I must confess how often you have been in my thoughts and dreams and never far from my heart. I did seek you out some years ago and was crushed in spirit to learn that you were away and none knew how to find you.
Perhaps I speak too brazenly but the mere thought of you sends my heart racing. A condition my court physician and my court magi strongly protest for fear of my demise.
Alas, My Lady, I know not how to put it but directly. I am sorely ill and am without an heir. My sons, Garret and Stefan, who you knew, have both met their end on the field of battle. Stefan?s son did not survive his first year.
Lady, I need you. My kingdom needs you. I pray you will not turn a deaf ear to my plea.
In those heady days I spent basking in your presence I saw in you the very nature of a Queen. You have the strength and the wit needed in a strong yet fair ruler. You have the poise of those born to greatness. I have seen how you led the peoples of Rhy?din. I have seen your firmness in the face of adversity. I have admired your flexibility and grace in negotiation. I have seen and I know the devotion you inspire.
My dear, sweet Lady, Appleburg is but a small kingdom, fruitful and rich in trade but humble and rustic. I am ashamed to offer you so paltry a thing but it all I have and it is my life.
I am not so arrogant to presume you would consent to be my bride but please consider my feverent wish that you allow me to name you my heir. Will you take on the mantel of rulership and wield the staff of sovereignty when I have finally passed beyond this physical world?
I have ordered Sir Ives to await your answer. He will answer any question you have before you make your decision. Should you accept, he is at your service.
Regardless as to your final choice, I pray you will still grace me with a visit so I may die having seen you once again.
Your Servant,
Ia?an Rex
Appleburg?
So read the fine vellum parchment brought to Kairee by her Valiant Sword, Brian Ravenlock. Fortuitously, a small party of knights seeking ?Lady Kairee of the Red Dragon? had stopped him in the market.
It was with delight that Kairee read this missive for it was the first time she had been offered a kingdom without the requirement of marrying the then current or the intended ruler of same. Her answer was quick, ?Babes, tell them I will meet with them. Tomorrow.?
Late that evening, curled up next to Braxeus, Kairee passed him the letter, ?I got a new present today.?
A quick perusal of the letter brought a softly dark chuckle, ?A Kingdom?? Braxeus?s eyes glitter at the thought of what such a gift could mean to them. ?How well do you know this king?? he asked as he reread the note in more depth.
?Know him?? Kairee laughed, ?I don?t even remember him!?
Her pronouncement was met with an incredulous rise of his brows.
?Love, with all the admirers I?ve had and all the people that have passed through the Inn and greater Rhy?Din, do you really expect me to remember each and every one? I barely acknowledged most of them.? Kairee explained somewhat flippantly
?Do you think it wise to accept such an offer from a stranger? It may not be what it seems?considering recent events.?
Reaching out she took the parchment from him as he spoke and started tracing her finger over the ornate script. Hope, trepidation, longing had been woven into every stroke of his quill. Worry underscored the state of his mind as he penned this note.
?A gift is a gift. I see no reason to turn it down. It won?t hurt to at least humor him a bit. I am curious to know what he offers for he is not saying all that needs to be said and probably will not until I accept. I feel no malice or deceit in his words just a lot of concern ?more than mere fear I may reject his offer??.Ah,? Kairee smiles as her finger teases over the royal seal embossed with wax affixed to the vellum, ?I know him now. I remember.? She smiled at Braxeus as the she read the lingering psychic impressions bound to Ia?an?s seal, ?He had come to the Inn seeking his son Stefan. Cute kid. Blond, blue eyes, dashing in that questing prince sort of way. Always offering to go on a quest for me and to do something great for me?cute but annoying.? a wink for her lover, ?Ia?an came to fetch his son back since those he sent in his stead could not draw the princeling from me. The dashing young prince dutifully obeyed his father but then Ia?an fared no better than his son for he too became enamored. Funny thing is, Ia?an preferred to admire me from a distance. Hardly ever made an effort to woo me. He just liked to watch. Some men are like that?preferring to worship from afar.? she teased.
?Only the weak and undeserving of you.? Braxeus kisses her temple lightly and was rewarded with a smile, ?When do we go to collect your ?present???
?Soon. I want to speak with this Ives and prepare a proper retinue.?
I trust this missive finds you well. I have just learned of your return to that phantasitcal realm of Rhy?din and rushed to send my greetings and to offer you a humble gift.
Do not think me impertinent in this after so many years and though our lives have held us apart, I must confess how often you have been in my thoughts and dreams and never far from my heart. I did seek you out some years ago and was crushed in spirit to learn that you were away and none knew how to find you.
Perhaps I speak too brazenly but the mere thought of you sends my heart racing. A condition my court physician and my court magi strongly protest for fear of my demise.
Alas, My Lady, I know not how to put it but directly. I am sorely ill and am without an heir. My sons, Garret and Stefan, who you knew, have both met their end on the field of battle. Stefan?s son did not survive his first year.
Lady, I need you. My kingdom needs you. I pray you will not turn a deaf ear to my plea.
In those heady days I spent basking in your presence I saw in you the very nature of a Queen. You have the strength and the wit needed in a strong yet fair ruler. You have the poise of those born to greatness. I have seen how you led the peoples of Rhy?din. I have seen your firmness in the face of adversity. I have admired your flexibility and grace in negotiation. I have seen and I know the devotion you inspire.
My dear, sweet Lady, Appleburg is but a small kingdom, fruitful and rich in trade but humble and rustic. I am ashamed to offer you so paltry a thing but it all I have and it is my life.
I am not so arrogant to presume you would consent to be my bride but please consider my feverent wish that you allow me to name you my heir. Will you take on the mantel of rulership and wield the staff of sovereignty when I have finally passed beyond this physical world?
I have ordered Sir Ives to await your answer. He will answer any question you have before you make your decision. Should you accept, he is at your service.
Regardless as to your final choice, I pray you will still grace me with a visit so I may die having seen you once again.
Your Servant,
Ia?an Rex
Appleburg?
So read the fine vellum parchment brought to Kairee by her Valiant Sword, Brian Ravenlock. Fortuitously, a small party of knights seeking ?Lady Kairee of the Red Dragon? had stopped him in the market.
It was with delight that Kairee read this missive for it was the first time she had been offered a kingdom without the requirement of marrying the then current or the intended ruler of same. Her answer was quick, ?Babes, tell them I will meet with them. Tomorrow.?
Late that evening, curled up next to Braxeus, Kairee passed him the letter, ?I got a new present today.?
A quick perusal of the letter brought a softly dark chuckle, ?A Kingdom?? Braxeus?s eyes glitter at the thought of what such a gift could mean to them. ?How well do you know this king?? he asked as he reread the note in more depth.
?Know him?? Kairee laughed, ?I don?t even remember him!?
Her pronouncement was met with an incredulous rise of his brows.
?Love, with all the admirers I?ve had and all the people that have passed through the Inn and greater Rhy?Din, do you really expect me to remember each and every one? I barely acknowledged most of them.? Kairee explained somewhat flippantly
?Do you think it wise to accept such an offer from a stranger? It may not be what it seems?considering recent events.?
Reaching out she took the parchment from him as he spoke and started tracing her finger over the ornate script. Hope, trepidation, longing had been woven into every stroke of his quill. Worry underscored the state of his mind as he penned this note.
?A gift is a gift. I see no reason to turn it down. It won?t hurt to at least humor him a bit. I am curious to know what he offers for he is not saying all that needs to be said and probably will not until I accept. I feel no malice or deceit in his words just a lot of concern ?more than mere fear I may reject his offer??.Ah,? Kairee smiles as her finger teases over the royal seal embossed with wax affixed to the vellum, ?I know him now. I remember.? She smiled at Braxeus as the she read the lingering psychic impressions bound to Ia?an?s seal, ?He had come to the Inn seeking his son Stefan. Cute kid. Blond, blue eyes, dashing in that questing prince sort of way. Always offering to go on a quest for me and to do something great for me?cute but annoying.? a wink for her lover, ?Ia?an came to fetch his son back since those he sent in his stead could not draw the princeling from me. The dashing young prince dutifully obeyed his father but then Ia?an fared no better than his son for he too became enamored. Funny thing is, Ia?an preferred to admire me from a distance. Hardly ever made an effort to woo me. He just liked to watch. Some men are like that?preferring to worship from afar.? she teased.
?Only the weak and undeserving of you.? Braxeus kisses her temple lightly and was rewarded with a smile, ?When do we go to collect your ?present???
?Soon. I want to speak with this Ives and prepare a proper retinue.?