Free The Stillness of the Sky by Starla Huchton Page A

I’d much rather sit and play music all day. My father has cursed my godmother’s gift to me on many, many occasions.”
    Brows knitted, trying to comprehend his reasons, I watched him take a nonchalant sip of tea. “So why not just give it up? Couldn’t you…” I paused, unsure if there was a word for such a thing.
    “Abdicate?” he said with a chuckle. “It wasn’t that simple. My father refused me when I requested as much, instead informing me that he’d arranged for me to marry some duke’s daughter to secure their loyalty and considerably boost the royal coffers. If the girl had any sense in her head, or was even moderately attractive, I might’ve made do, but not only was she stupid and cruel, she was too wide for any chairs in the palace and couldn’t stand music of any sort. Really, there’s likely been a poorer match in all of recorded history.”
    While I didn’t blame him, I didn’t know that I’d have left only for that. However, it was abundantly clear to me how different my own personality was than that of Prince Aaron’s. “But how did you end up here? The same way I did?”
    He laughed. “Hardly. I doubt there are many who’d go to the lengths you did. No, I was sent as an emissary to the giants in the eastern regions of Litania. It was on that trip that the Lady Oria heard me play. We…” His words trailed off, his face coloring. “Well, let’s say that my father would never approve of such a relationship.” Adjusting himself in his seat, he focused on me again. “And so we decided to come here. Her parents passed some time ago, leaving her the lands and castle. None ever come here. It’s a lovely arrangement. I play to my heart’s content, which pleases Oria greatly, and my brother becomes king, as he should be.”
    Staring at him, it was hard for me to fully appreciate how utterly, undeniably selfish the whole matter was. I was all for fostering love, but walking away from obligation to an entire kingdom? It was beyond horrifying to me. “And the war?”
    He shrugged. “I wasn’t there to see it myself, but I suspect he thinks the giants took me prisoner for some reason.”
    “What will you do now that you know?”
    He popped a piece of cheese into his mouth. “Nothing, I suppose. What can I do? My father started the war, he can end it easily enough.”
    My mouth hung open, completely stunned. “Nothing? People have died, are still dying, and plenty more suffer when all you have to do is return and explain it to him.”
    At first he looked at me as though I’d spoken a foreign language, but then he shrugged. “Maybe, but likely as not I’d simply end up a miserable wretch the rest of my life. What good would that do anyone? I told you I was selfish and ill-suited to rule. Why are you surprised?”
    I pushed back from the table, feeling queasy. “Do you care for no one at all? Why would you allow a war to continue if you could stop it?”
    “I don’t know that I can,” he said with a sigh. “My father has far too much pride to ever admit to making a mistake. He’d likely as not continue fighting simply to prove a point.”
    “But you won’t even try?”
    “I’ve no interest in futile pursuits,” he said, waving off the suggestion.
    The door to the study opened with a bang, and the Lady Oria flounced in, sitting in the overstuffed armchair with a great thud. “Good morning, little Bard. Feeling better?”
    My frown persisted, though I tried not to look too cross. “Yes, My Lady. Thank you.”
    “Is something the matter?” She leaned down and squinted at my face.
    “She’s displeased with me,” Prince Aaron said, sipping his tea.
    “Displeased?” Oria said as she sat up straighter. “Whatever for?”
    He shrugged. “It’s more disappointment that I’ve given up my princely duties, I think.”
    “What, about the war?”
    He nodded.
    She waved it off. “Well, that’s just silly. What could you do?”
    “Precisely what I said.”
    I stared at them,