Mani let Ro squirm and shift and grumble when they sat down in their private coach car on the train, because trying to rein in the finicky noble always left Mani sleeping alone. He found that his bed stayed occupied when he let his charge be his normal, dissatisfied self long enough to get settled into a chair with a soothing glass of wine.
Ro knew he was a fussy nobleman, which helped, because he put up with Mani glaring at him the whole time. Mani considered it a trade-off.
“Are we going to Endestern to end a war, or start one?” Mani asked as he finally poured himself a glass of wine out of the decanter and sat back in his chair.
“Neither. Officially we all hope that Emperor Rhezv is pursuing peace, but my job is to assume otherwise.”
Mani grunted, sipping his wine. His family was nobility in the distant country of Akanata, where dragons were thick in the skies and politics easily settled through marriage or consort alliances between dragon clans. That Emperor Rhezv of Iskaryyva might actually declare war for the sake of annexing the Isle of Watt was something Ro described as distasteful. Rude, even, which from Ro was a vicious rebuke.
“I suppose they will want you to step in as field marshal.” Mani mumbled into his glass.
“Doubtful. Harry the Fifth of Clan Lomartaan will receive that special blessing, and all power to him, for he has the experience and intelligence to do it well. But I’m sure I’ll be roped into wearing the admiral talons on my epaulettes again, should war come to Watt.”
Mani thought Ro’s skills were better suited for the rank of commodore, leading a collection of dragon flights into battle, but his military experience and his role as a prince of the royal Clan Leonteinparre ensured that he would be placed in a prominent position. It was the price of nobility to never have any say about the role they played in history, after all, Mani thought mulishly. The only thing Ro had ever chosen for himself was Mani, but even that did not count for much as Ro had to choose somebody as his guardian in order to fulfill the diplomatic negotiations, of which he was merely one pawn of many. Mani was simply his choice. Mani treasured that, as sentimental a fool as he was.
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“I’m not sure I even see the appeal. Watt is a lovely, cold, wet, rainy mound of dirt; the emperor can’t possibly imagine that it is some flower-drenched land of willing dragons.”
Ro grimaced. “Watt is the unconquered land, the country without a queen, and as you well know, my dear, it is strategically placed between continents.” Ro gave Mani a smile full of teeth.
Mani grimaced. “Sorry, love.”
Ro sighed. “I know you miss the sun-drenched lands of your youth. I feel guilty enough as it is.”
Mani shrugged, unfurling a little from the rebuke. “I knew I was never going home when Father sent me to Kaaltendt. I’m only pleased that I ended up as your guardian.”
Ro nodded.
Mani had been sent to Kaaltendt from Akanata for much the same reason that Ro had been sent from Watt, a fact that served to bind them closely together as foreigners in a strange land, beholden to Queen Theaedra of Kaaltendt in ways that they assumed meant neither of them were likely to see their motherlands again. Admittedly, chances of Ro getting them to Watt, at least for an extended visit at some point, were better than Mani getting them across the vast sea to his remote, expansive and endlessly rich homeland. Akanata was far away and shrouded in myth and rumor and only played in the politics of the Northern Realms at her queen’s amusement, and no one believed any different, even Mani, who, like Ro, had been moved across the game board for reasons he could not scry. The Guardians of Akanata were treasured and wooed but could rarely be bought, and only then for the sake of their queen’s often obscure plans. Mani assumed if he lived to over two hundred years old he might be obscure about his plans too. Long-lived dragon queens did not have to answer to anyone, after all, and looked at the world around them from a different, unknowable perspective. Compared to his queen, who was also his distant ancestor, the queen of Kaaltendt was but a child at eighty years old.
Looking over his handsome charge, who was focused glumly on his wine, Mani smiled. “It is a long ride to Endestern. We have seven hours, and that’s if the train doesn’t break down on the way.”
Ro nodded, looking up at him. “Yes?”
“We should, perhaps, rest.” Mani waved a hand towards the door that opened to the boudoir of the coach. Ro’s confused look turned into a sly, welcoming grin. Mani made to pick up his journal. “Or we could discuss Queen Theaedra and King Larit’s plans in more detail. Study some maps, perhaps?” He gave Ro an innocent look.
Ro frowned, put down his wine, and stood up. He grabbed Mani’s hand as he walked by, dragging him to their bed.