Free Rules of Ascension: Book One of Winds of the Forelands by David B. Coe

a smile. “I suppose there’s no harm in it.”
    “The rides are actually quite pleasant,” Filib said. “Perhaps you should come with me, and you can see for yourself.”
    His mother gave him a doubtful look. “I’ll enjoy the comfort of my chambers, thank you. I have no desire to go riding into the wood with nothing to light my way but the moons and the stars.”
    “A wise choice, my lady,” Enid said.
    A short while later, his uncle rose and offered the ritual tribute. As was custom, he honored each of the gods by name, citing the blessings they had brought in each of their turns during the previous year, and ending, of course, with Bohdan, god of laughter and patron of the Revel, for whom the year’s final turn was named. He then thanked Aurea Crenish and Yegor jal Sennah, the Eandi woman and Qirsi man who ran the Revel, and who were seated at the table of honor with Filib and the others.
    Once, when they first assumed leadership of the Revel, Aurea and Yegor’s marriage had been the topic of much discussion. To some, it had been an affront. Unions of Eandi men and Qirsi women were forbidden by law, because of the danger posed by childbirth to Qirsi women bearing Eandi offspring. The sin of the moons it was called, because Panya died giving birth to Ilias’s child. Unions between Eandi women and Qirsi men, on the other hand, were legal. But to those who believed that the races should remain separate—and there were many, not only in Eibithar, but throughout
the Forelands—they were still offensive. Many of Eibithar’s dukes refused to allow Yegor and Aurea to attend the Revel banquets. To his credit, Filib’s father had not been one of them, and to their credit, Yegor and Aurea continued to take the Revel to each of Eibithar’s walled cities, regardless of how they themselves were treated. With time, their marriage came to be accepted, and the other dukes relented. Even now, however, Filib saw that many of the people attending the banquet here in Thorald craned their necks to get a better look at the couple. Many of them wore expressions of distaste.
    Finally, Tobbar ended his remarks by thanking all of their guests for coming to the banquet and sharing the celebration with the Thorald family.
    “Very well done, sire,” Enid said, as the duke lowered himself into his chair.
    “Thank you, Enid.” He glanced at Filib, a kind smile on his face. “If you’ve had your fill, you can go.”
    “So early?” Enid asked quickly.
    “I agree with the first minister,” Filib’s mother said, before Tobbar could say anything. “It’s too early yet. You needn’t stay to the very end, Filib, but I think it would be rude of you to leave now.”
    Tobbar shrugged, as if to say, Sorry, I tried .
    “Of course, Mother,” Filib said. “I was going to stay anyway. I’d like to have a dance or two with Renelle before I go.”
    His mother paled. “You’re not serious.”
    “Oh, but I am. Have you seen how lovely she looks tonight?”
    She glared at him, her mouth set in a thin line. Tobbar snickered.
    “Just a short while longer,” she finally said, surrender in her voice. “Then you may leave.”
    Filib smiled. “Thank you, Mother.”
    Out of courtesy to his mother, Filib actually stayed a good bit longer, until most of their guests had finished eating and a few had begun to dance.
    Despite what he had said to the duchess, Filib never had any intention of dancing with Renelle. While many knew that they were lovers, such a public acknowledgment of their affair would have been deemed improper. Both of them knew it. As he left the hall, however, he did catch her eye, and they shared a smile.
    Stepping out of the hall into the central ward of the castle, Filib took a deep breath. He hadn’t realized just how warm it was inside
until he felt the cool air on his skin. He could smell the brine of Amon’s Ocean and hear the music drifting up to the castle from the city.
    Though anxious to be on his mount, he