Page 28 of The Consolation Prize

Otho’s color drained. “You should not speak thus, Una. It is not right.”

“We both know it to be the truth. He was cruelest of all to you and Umrey.” He flushed at this. “I’m sorry, Otho,” she said gently. “But I will no longer mince my words and pander to lies and blatant falsehoods.” She paused, but he did not speak. “If you wish to join our household, you had better get used to how things now stand.”

He pursed his lips and ran his fingers through his close-cropped hair. “Aye,” he said throatily. He glanced her way meeting her eye squarely. “It does not bother you, how this husband of yours besports himself above? The light of avarice burns in his eyes. He cares not how evilly this treasure was amassed. He means to have it.”

Una faced him squarely. “Otho,” she said seriously. “You were a soldier in our late army. You know how that army was supported in the last stages of the war. The looting of churches and the stripping of shrines—”

“That was done for pure necessity sake!” he burst out, turning bright red. “Not for personal gain.”

“I doubt that mattered much to the poor friars and abbots who were thrown to the ground and trampled.”

“No men under my command—”

“Maybe not, but you forget that I also was dragged around with our father’s forces and let me assure you, I saw many atrocities. It was not merely holy places that were sacked. Crop stores were also stolen from villagers. I saw the death of many men merely trying to defend their livelihoods and feed their families.”

Otho looked away, swallowing painfully. “You should not have been subjected to such sights.”

“I? And what of the wives who were left to pick their dead husbands out of the mud? I think they suffered more than I did.”

“Don’t, Una,” he burst out. “In times of war, many wicked things happen that would never occur in times of peace and plenty.”

“Peace and plenty,” Una said bitterly. “Our father did not care one whit for his subject’s well-being, and you know it. All he cared about was conquest and fame. If he had been content to sit in his throne at Menith, his people would have known peace and plenty, but that was not good enough for him. He wanted the South.”

“He wanted to unify all Karadok,” Otho corrected her.

“Well, it is now unified,” she told him lightly. “So, in a way his greatest wish was granted.”

“Under the Argent King’s standard!” Otho burst out.

“Yes, indeed. King Wymer’s golden lion defeated the green wyvern, and the sooner you accept that Otho, the better your life will be.”

“Is that how you really feel?” he asked incredulously.

“It is.”

He shook his head slightly. “It was me, not this fine husband of yours who came in search of you, does that not tell you all you need to know about his motivation?”

“It tells me you still believe me some cosseted princess in need of coddling,” she answered dryly. “Despite the fact I have not been so since I was fourteen and forced out of the palace. As for Armand,” she shrugged. “We have total frankness between us, which I find refreshing.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, broth—” She corrected herself. “Otho … that we have vowed to be ideal traveling companions together on our adventure. I am fulfilling my end of the bargain,” she said, gesturing to the sack of food. “If our marriage continues on these lines, I will be vastly satisfied with it.” Seeing her brother’s troubled expression, she added lightly, “He did not expect to win that tournament, Otho, or take a wife that evening.”

He snorted. “From what I saw, he could win precious little glory in the field.” He sighed. “He is not a fit husband for you, but at least he bested those two last night. After seeing his woeful performance on May Day, I would not have thought him capable.”

Una winced. “He was beset by robbers the day after we were married and fought them off with aplomb. I think perhaps he is better in a brawl than in a formal match.”

Otho shrugged. “Curious for a knight, but if you say ’tis so, then I will accept it.”

She regarded her brother thoughtfully. “Otho, what were you planning to do, after you had won that competition? You took such a risk. If your imposture had been found out, I do not like to contemplate what your fate would have been.”

He flushed and would not answer for a moment. “There is a convent near Woodcote, with a monastery at the foot of the hill. I thought I could take you to the abbey and I would enroll with the holy brethren nearby. You would be safe, and though we would not be together, we would be close by always.”

Una felt oddly touched. She reached out and touched his sleeve. “That was sweet of you, but I have never aspired to be a holy sister, Otho,” she said gently. “I want children and a home of my own.”

“You think De Bussell can give you that?”

“Yes,” she answered simply. “He has a pleasant personality, open and genial. I think with time he will grow accustomed to the fact he has a wife not of his choosing. He bears no grudges that he was forced into marriage with me.”