Free The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison Page B

She had not thought about what it would be like to be married to a man who also had taweyr. A married husband and wife normally had separate spheres of influence, he with his taweyr and she with her neweyr. Ailsbet had not thought how it would work when she believed she was unweyr, but it was more complicated now. Could she keep it secretfrom Lord Umber that she was ekhono, or would it have to come out? And what would she do then? Would he decide that it was to his advantage to keep her secret? Or would he betray her?
    “Which he clearly cannot do any longer, however strong and tall you are,” Umber added with a sly glance at her bodice.
    It took Ailsbet a moment to understand what he was saying, and then she felt a flood of relief. He meant her father’s hunt.
    “But there are many noblewomen who love to hunt,” Ailsbet said. “The outdoor air is pleasant and the thrill of the chase exhilarating.”
    Umber shrugged. “Of course. But since your father has grown less nimble and has increased his girth,” he said, “he has become more cautious about showing himself to those he wishes to impress.”
    “I am not one of the ladies of the court, surely,” said Ailsbet, “for my father to worry over his appearance.”
    “You are exactly that,” said Lord Umber. “How can you forget that you are a lady of the court? I never do.” And again, his sparkling eyes took in her figure, now clothed in a fine silk gown of ochre, cut low over her breasts and clinging tightly to her arms.
    It was strange, thought Ailsbet, how at times whenshe was with him she could almost forget that she was a woman.

    On the following day, Ailsbet dared to stand before her father in the Great Hall with Lord Umber at her side. “Is there any reason why the ladies of the court must not attend the hunt, as they have done in past years?” she asked. “There are some who would not wish to come, but for those who do, surely horses enough can be found for them, and the hunt itself would be enlivened, would it not, by extra company?”
    The answer was immediately apparent in the king’s dark expression, though he did not reply himself, but turned to one of his ministers.
    “A princess is far too delicate to risk on an autumn hunt, when the male animals are at their peak of taweyr before the winter waning,” said that minister, a Lord Maukrin. “You must see this as your father’s demonstration of love for you, that he keeps the other ladies of the court away when he cannot give you permission to come, as well.”
    “Am I to receive no reply from the king himself?” Ailsbet asked. “I am a princess, and his daughter, yes?”
    “You are what your father wishes you to be,” said King Haikor softly. “And for now, he commands you to remain at the palace, where you belong.”
    Ailsbet turned away, struggling with anger and taweyr once more.
    Lord Umber, dressed in a matching deep indigo waistcoat, caught up to her and whispered, “He is afraid that you will ride ahead of him,” he suggested. “With your youth and health, he does not wish you to best him.”
    Ailsbet realized in that moment that Umber had somehow seen her impulse more clearly than she had. She did wish to best her father, for she had no outlet for her taweyr. She was not allowed in the battle courtyard with her father’s guard, as Edik was. If she were, it would be the end of her. And even if she were allowed on the hunt, she must be careful. She might reveal herself as ekhono.
    For a moment, Ailsbet wondered what it would be like if a man knew that she was ekhono and loved her still. What if he let her compete with him, or even loved her more because she was like he was and could talk to her about his taweyr as he could any man?
    But that would never happen in Rurik, at least not while her father ruled. She had thought she was better off spending more time with Lord Umber and theother men of the court, but now she saw the danger in it. She must keep Lord Umber at a