The High King's Noble Son, Part Ii
II.
When this affair had gone on for six months,
Reth realized it was just a matter of time
before Saleesa’s taut belly would swell,
revealing their love to suspicious eyes.
So he took a week-long liberty and
rode on out to Lord Efferin’s estate,
he presented himself before the lord,
declared,”I have come with something to say:
“You have shown me such hospitality,
and your daughter is kindness and grace.
I wish to take her as my loving wife,
out of respect, I ask you face-to-face.”
Efferin just gave him a slight, sad smile,
said,”I am thankful that you saved my life,
and you show honor, being so honest,
but my daughter can never be your wife.
“You may be a man of greatest courage,
but you’ve no title or land to your name,
you may be the child of a High King,
but on nobility, you have no claim.
“Were I to marry her to common folk,
‘disgrace’ would be the repeated word.
Saleesa will wed a noble-born man,
I’m her father, I must look out for her.”
Reth struggled to bite back growing rage,
to kill a noble would cost him his neck,
so he said,”Thanks, for sheltering my men,
but I do not think that we will be back.”
As he rode away, he stopped and looked,
atop a tall turret his lover stood,
he dreamed of seizing her, galloping off,
but such fantasies would do him no good.
Reth rode back and resigned his commission,
his men asked him,”Why now do you desert?”
Reth just shook his head, said,”I’m not dying
for a kingdom that views me as mere dirt.”
He didn’t go far, just two hours ride south,
to a monestary for the God of Ale,
put away for his armor for a brown robe,
and a job brewing up beer by the pail.
What they made went to the nearby taverns,
and Reth spent his busy days in the wheat field,
learning quickly to judge the grains and hops
until he could tell they were ready by feel.
And twice a month the towns came there to feast,
from peasants to high lords, every one,
the God of Ales needed no celibacy,
and in his name the folks had endless fun.
So Reth had his duties, and every few weeks,
would have a woman, far too much drink,
his ale-brothers cared nothing for his birth,
they didn’t concern themselves with such things.
For a year Reth lived this easy-born life,
but even there the rumors would reach him,
his brother was now leading the frontier,
Saleesa wed, had a child within.
Reth counted the months, it could not be his,
twas the problem of her noble husband,
but more disturbing still were the whispers
that reached him from the barbarian lands.
|