Everyone heard it. The words rang through the hall long after Ryli had already turned his back.
"I would rather die than marry a cripple."
His footsteps echoed across the polished stone as he walked out of the throne room without another glance. The heavy doors groaned open and then slammed shut behind him, the sound rolling through the hall like distant thunder.
Silence followed.
A suffocating, uncomfortable silence. Every lord seated along the council benches shifted uneasily. Some looked down at their goblets. Others stared at the floor as if something fascinating had suddenly appeared there.
No one dared look at Sonia. But they all had heard it.
Sonia sat frozen beside her parents. Her fingers tightened slowly around the arm of her chair. A few minutes ago her cheeks had been warm with excitement.
Ryli was handsome. More handsome than she imagined. Tall. Broad shoulders. Sharp jaw. Golden hair that fell slightly over his brow.
He had initially made her heart flutter. For a moment she had even thought perhaps the marriage might not be so terrible.
Perhaps she could learn to like him. Perhaps he could learn to like her. But now the words replayed in her mind.
Cripple.
Her excitement faded like smoke in the wind. She lowered her eyes slowly. Beside her, Bianca closed her eyes. The words clung to her chest like a blade.
She felt them pierce deeper than they should have. Her jaw tightened.
For years she had lived with whispers behind her back. The lord whose daughter came out crippled.
The proud lady whose child could not walk. But none has dared to say it to her face.
Now the prince of the realm had spoken it openly in the throne room before all the great houses of Astarous.
Her fingers trembled slightly on her lap.
Across the hall, King Robert saw the tension in the hall and suddenly burst into laughter.
The loud, booming sound shattered the tension and jerked the council of lords back into motion.
"Ha! Ignore that young boy," Robert said, waving a dismissive hand as if the entire moment meant nothing. "Young boys hardly understand what the world is about. He will soon come to his senses."
A few nervous chuckles followed. Some lords forced smiles. Others lifted their goblets quickly.
Robert turned toward the servants. "Bring us wine."
Servants rushed forward almost eagerly, grateful for something to do that did not involve looking at Sonia Woodland.
Silver trays appeared. Goblets were filled. The king lifted his cup high. "To the alliance of the crown and the North," he said loudly.
The lords raised their cups. "To the alliance!"
They drank. Wine slid down their throats, thick and sweet, washing away the awkwardness that hung in the room.
Music began again somewhere along the walls as musicians hurried to play. Conversations slowly returned. But Sonia barely heard any of it.
Her ears still rang with the words:
"I would rather die than marry a cripple."
Across the table, Edmond Woodland sat still as stone. His face revealed nothing. But the veins in his hands stood out against his skin as he gripped his goblet.
Bianca noticed. She placed her hand gently over his. "Do not," she whispered. Edmond did not reply. His eyes remained fixed on the wine swirling slowly inside the cup.
After a while, the king set his goblet down. And skillfully excused himself.
He rose from the throne. "I shall be back in a short while."
He stepped down from the dais. But instead of heading toward the exit of the hall, the king turned down the long corridor leading toward the royal chambers.
His smile slowly faded. His boots struck the floor with sharp authority as he walked.
Servants along the corridor quickly stepped aside and bowed as he passed. The king did not acknowledge them. His face had hardened.
He reached Ryli's door. He did not knock. The king never knocked. The door burst open with a loud crack as Robert shoved it inward.
Inside the room, Ryli jerked upright from where he had thrown himself onto the bed. "What is the meaning of the show you just put on in my throne room?" the king demanded.
Ryli stood slowly. His eyes were red. But his chin lifted stubbornly. "I am not putting on a show," he said. "I do not want to marry a cripple."
For a moment there was silence. Then Robert began to laugh. Not the polite laughter from earlier. This was loud and harsh.
"You think I became king because of the appearance of the people around me?" Robert asked.
Ryli stared back.
"You think I married your mother because she was the most beautiful woman in the world?"
The laughter faded. The room fell quiet again. Ryli said nothing.
Robert's expression hardened. "No!" he shouted suddenly.
The word struck the walls like a whip.
"It is an alliance that keeps you on the throne, not perfection."
He took a step forward.
"It is an alliance that builds you an army, not beauty."
Ryli's jaw tightened.
Robert closed the distance between them and seized Ryli by the head, gripping his hair firmly. "Sonia is a Woodland," he said slowly. His voice dropped into something colder.
"Rulers of the Norsemen and the first men. The largest kingdom in Astarous. The strongest army in the realm."
Ryli tried to pull away slightly but Robert held him firm. "Marry one of them," the king continued, "and you stabilize your throne for the rest of your life."
Ryli finally jerked his head free. "I do not care!" The words came out louder than he intended.
"There are other great houses," he snapped. "Beautiful women. Strong alliances. I could take a wife from there."
He spread his hands angrily. "Why this cripple? Why must it be her?"
Robert's eyes darkened. In a single motion he grabbed Ryli's robes and pulled him forward until their faces were inches apart.
"Because," Robert said slowly, "I have sworn an oath."
His grip tightened.
"I swore it to her father before either of you were born."
Ryli froze.
"My first son will marry his first daughter," Robert said.
His voice lowered. "And you happen to be my first son."
He leaned closer. "And Sonia happens to be Edmond's first daughter."
Ryli's teeth ground together. "Your oath is on you," he said bitterly. "Not me."
His hands clenched. "Why must I pay the price of your oath?"
For a long moment the king simply stared at him. Then Robert released his grip. He stepped back slowly. And suddenly he smiled.
A calm smile. Almost gentle.
"You have your choice," the king said.
Ryli blinked.
"I will not force you." He turned slightly and brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve. "You may either marry Sonia Woodland and remain my heir."
He paused.
"…or I will have Rickon marry her and make him my heir instead."
The words hung in the air. Ryli felt his heart slam against his ribs.
Rickon. His younger brother.
Robert's eyes watched him carefully. Ryli knew that tone. That deep voice. Once his father spoke like that, the decision was already made.
The king walked toward the door. "You have until dawn," Robert said without turning. His hand rested briefly on the doorframe. "To decide."
Then he walked out. The door closed behind him.
Silence filled the chamber again.
Ryli stood in the center of the room. For several seconds he did not move. Then slowly he walked back toward the bed.
His knees gave out as he sat down heavily. Both hands rose to cover his face. His shoulders trembled. Then the sobs came.
"I do not want to marry a cripple," he whispered through his fingers. His breathing shook. He dragged a sleeve across his nose.
"I do not want to lose my throne either."
The room remained silent as his quiet sobbing filled the darkness.