The king actually smiled at that. “This interview will be more informal than the last dozen, anyway. Please, sit.”
A servant appeared with a chair, positioning it in front of the throne platform. Finn perched on the edge of it and then sat back, resisting the urge to fidget. The king was still watching him with an intent expression, as if he couldn’t quite work out what, or who, he was looking at.Clearly, I’m an anomaly, and I already knew that.
“Your brother submitted your application,” Helena said, consulting her notes. “But you weren’t aware of it initially?”
“I found out when he showed up at the Weatherby cottage while I was fixing a roof.” Finn decided if he was going to crash and burn here, he might as well be honest about it. “I told him he was insane and I’d make a terrible king consort.”
“Yet you’re here,” Thomas said.
“Jericho can be persistent, and he is family, and that counts for something. Also, I figured I’d come, have this conversation, andthen go home knowing I gave it a shot.” Finn met the king’s eyes. “No offense, Your Majesty - Darragh - but I’m really not what you’re looking for, and I’m sure you know that, too.”
“Why not?” Darragh leaned forward, elbows on his knees. The formal posture that had been in place when Finn first entered had completely disappeared. “Tell me why you think you’re unsuitable.”
“How much time do you have?”
Darragh grinned. “As much as you need.”
“All right.” Finn counted on his fingers. “I’ve never been to court. I don’t know proper etiquette beyond basic manners. I can’t dance - well, I can dance, but not the formal kind. I know nothing about politics or diplomacy or whatever it is kings and consorts are supposed to do. I’m better with a hammer than a pen.
“I’m a fifth son, which means my societal ranking is basically along the lines of ‘exists but nobody really cares.’ And I’ve been told by all who know me, more than once, that I’m too honest for my own good, which means I’d probably insult some visiting dignitary within a week and get banished from the country if I spent much time in the castle.”
“That’s quite a list,” Aldric said dryly.
“You asked.” Finn shrugged. “I could keep going, but those seem like the main problems from my perspective.”
“What about your strengths?” Helena asked.
“I’m good at fixing things. I’m reliable. I show up when I say I will. I don’t lie, even when it would be easier.” Finn paused. “I’m not sure any of those are useful for being a king consort, though.”
“You’d be surprised.” Darragh’s voice was warm, almost amused. “Tell me, Finn. What do you know about Safe Harbor’s governance?”
“Probably not as much as I should.” Finn decided to just keep being honest. What did he have to lose? “I know you’re hands-on. You greet merchant ships at the harbor, you attend town councils, you’re not one of those kings who sit in a castle and lets advisers make all the decisions.
“I know Safe Harbor’s economy is built on trade, and you’ve got agreements with about a dozen other kingdoms. I know you reformed the tax system three years ago to make it more fair for smaller merchants.” He hesitated. “I know people respect you, even if some of the other kingdoms think Safe Harbor is too rough around the edges to be a real political power.”
Darragh’s eyebrows rose. “For someone with no political knowledge, you seem fairly well-informed.”
“I pay attention. It’s one of my other strengths. I listen, and Jericho talks a lot.” Finn shifted in his chair. “But knowing facts about Safe Harbor isn’t the same as knowing how to be part of running it.”
“No,” Darragh agreed. “But most people can’t even tell me the facts. Let me ask you this - what do you think Safe Harbor’s biggest challenge is right now?”
Finn blinked. This was definitely not a question he’d expected. “I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer that.”
“Pretend you are.”
“All right.” Finn thought about it. “I’d say...perception. Safe Harbor’s got a lot going for it. The economy is good, the country has major trade agreements that benefit both countries, andabove all these things - the agreements and the economy - are stable.
“The issue I see is that other kingdoms don’t take you seriously as a political power. They see merchants, sailors, and people who work with their hands, and they think that means Safe Harbor can’t play the political games the way the other kingdoms do.” He met Darragh’s eyes. “They’re wrong, obviously. Working with your hands doesn’t make you stupid. But changing their perception? That’s going to take time and strategy.”
The throne room was quiet for a moment.
“Interesting,” Darragh said finally. “And how would you change that perception?”
“Me personally? I wouldn’t.” Finn spread his hands. “I’m not the right person for that job. You need someone who knows court politics, and who can play the game. Someone who can make Safe Harbor appear refined and polished without allowing this country’s true strengths to be lost. Someone who...” - he gestured at himself - “isn’t me.”
“What if I don’t want refined?” Darragh stood, walking down the steps of the platform. Up close, he was even more imposing. “What if I’m tired of people who know how to play the game but don’t know how to be real?”
Finn’s heart did something complicated in his chest. “Then you’re looking in the wrong place. Courts run on games. That’s how politics works.”
