The Queen’s Library is submerged in the ambiance of the rustling of leaves and birdsong of the autumnal world beyond its walls; the silk curtains flow with the wind. All is quiet, all is peaceful, the perfect environment for deep reading, deep thought, or a deep slumber.

  ?nnywella Gekaryna Herst IV sits on its dark-maroon leather sofa reading a thick leather-bound book. Next to her sits Enlynn Konst?nze Glisrynn, slowly working her way through K?rmylda. Ede Myna Heren is fast asleep in the northern most chair—a thrall to the silence of the library. Dyder Dornytter sits in the southern chair, his lips pursed, thinking but nervous.

  “Gekaryna vela’Herst, I have a request.” Dyder looks over to the queen.

  “You may simply address me by Gekaryna; I have known you my whole life, it doesn’t feel right... this sudden change to my honorifics.” This title, vela, is something she doubts she can ever truly get used to. “Please, what is you require?”

  Dyder pauses for a moment before responding, Is it going against ones vows to not address the ruler with the proper honorifics if they specifically ask one not to? “I wish to go to Sk?dstan, I would like to visit Ilsenyla for her birthday.”

  Enlynn snorts loudly, waking Ede.

  “Granted, how long would you like off?”

  “Just seven days.”

  “I shall fill your spot with your two brothers then.” ?nnywella pauses; fragments of an idea coming together—this is the perfect way to use Fran's idea. “How much more do you have to save to pay for Ilsenyla’s dowry?”

  Dyder shakes his head, taken aback. He feels he knows where the question is going (at least he hopes he does), but doesn’t understand why. “I am short 75 full-golds, why do you ask?”

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  “I will cover the 75 full-golds... Under two conditions.”

  The ladies-in-waiting look back and forth between the monarch and her head-guard, both in shock at the offer; while it isn’t unheard of for a monarch to assist in the dowry payments of nobles, to do so for the head guard is.

  “Yes,” Dyder leans in, “Anything, please, name them.”

  “Firstly: I get to choose the cake and who makes it; secondly: we will have two weddings, a large one at the College and a smaller, more intimate one in Sk?dstan. I will cover the cost of catering for both.” ?nnywella places her book down beside her; leaning in, she places her chin in her palm and her elbow against her thigh, the brown corduroy of her pants warping around it.

  Dyder looks at her, baffled. “Yes, yes, of course. I must ask, why?” He had no intention of passing up such a gracious offer, no matter what her conditions might be, but only wishing to choose the cake was absurd.

  “Dyder, I must ask, would you look a gift horse in the mouth?” ?nnywella chuckles; the less he knows, the better; she knows he would be heartbroken to know the true plans she has for the influence of his wedding.

  “No, no, I would not. It just seems very absurd for your conditions to be merely a cake and two weddings—but I shall press no further.”

  “I am quite aware, but do not worry about my reasoning. When do you intend to leave?” ?nnywella says.

  “Her birthday is on the 27th of this maiden; I would like to leave by the 25th to ensure I arrive on time. I must make sure you are aware that my father says he will cover half of Ilsenyla’s dowry—it is 350 full-golds.”

  “Yes, I know; you mentioned this the other day—I listen, I remember. I will give you the rest of the day off as well; spend it how you wish. If you wish to purchase a linshkh [1], I have heard excellent reviews of the jeweler Laex Toulast, his shop is in the Fashion ward of the Artisan district.”

  “Thank you, thank you, truly, thank you.” Dyder leaves the queen’s library; all he can think about is how wonderful Ilsenyla will look in her gown.

  Footnotes

  [1] A chain hung between the right nostril and the helix of the right ear. Traditionally, it is a piece of jewelry worn exclusively by married women; it is either the piece one proposes with or is included with a dowry payment. A new link is added for every year of marriage; most linshkh start with 25 chain-links between the nose and the ear, originally meant to symbolize the completion of five requests of the father, a tradition that stems from folklore—this tradition is kept up in some families with more traditional fathers.