{"id":497,"date":"2017-03-23T11:50:27","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T18:50:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/?p=497"},"modified":"2019-10-25T11:10:56","modified_gmt":"2019-10-25T18:10:56","slug":"the-archimages-fourth-daughter-chapter-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/the-archimages-fourth-daughter-chapter-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Archimage’s Fourth Daughter – Chapter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

Father and Daughter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Briana took a seat next to her father, and the page ushered in Slammert. \u201cMay I approach my betrothed to bestow a kiss of greeting, mighty Archimage?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you may not,\u201d Alodar answered through gritted teeth. \u201cWords of your deeds precede you. What is this about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the tone of your greeting, I infer your daughter has thought it better for me to announce the wonderful news. Here, look at the document I bring. I am sure you will find it in proper order.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alodar quickly read the contract, looked at Briana, then back to Slammert, and scowled.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not consented to this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut consent was given, venerable Archimage. Perhaps with the distractions of state, you have lost track of the time. Your youngest daughter is of age.\u201d He smiled at Briana. \u201cShe has been for some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will abrogate the agreement,\u201d Alodar thundered. Briana had never seen him like this. Usually, he exhibited complete control.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you cannot.\u201d Slammert smiled. \u201cYou know that very well. The Archimage is not a despot holding sway over all of Murdina. Your decisions are accepted by those who rule because of the respect given to you\u2009\u2014\u2009accepted only<\/i> because of that respect. You cannot<\/i> arbitrarily reverse something freely agreed to by another. The matter is concluded. It is done. Time for you to move on to your next crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDecisions are altered all the time,\u201d Briana burst out. \u201cNew information is not ignored.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has taken years of reasoned logic and gentle prodding,\u201d Alodar said, \u201cbut even the kingdoms to the south have seen the value of what I have espoused\u2009\u2014\u2009the value of open borders, free trade, the expansion of commerce. Even the Iron Fist is now an inn for tourists.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcept for the ceremonial palace guards,\u201d the Archimage continued, \u201cstanding armies have been disbanded throughout the world. There is no longer any need for the expense. Everyone abides by what I decree. For that to work, I must be beyond reproach. I, more than all others, must abide by the law.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis crawling slug is right, Briana.\u201d He sighed. \u201cYou have been most foolish, but you have agreed. You are bound.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a moment of silence, then Alodar said \u201cSlammert, why exactly are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

The lord glowered at Alodar. \u201cPerhaps to remind everyone why the wedding must go forward as planned.\u201d He smiled at Briana. \u201cAnd to inform you, my beloved, that in your honor, I will be replacing one of the posts of our wedding bed with a new one. The old lumber is almost already notched from top to bottom. Yours will be the first on the new. Then every time we spend the evening together, you can count for yourself how many other notches have been added for those days we are apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slammert\u2019s tone hardened. \u201cMake no doubt about it, wench. I always get whatever woman I want. Always!\u201d<\/p>\n

Rage contorted Alodar\u2019s face. He curled his fists in frustration. \u201cGet out,\u201d he managed to command through clinched teeth. \u201cSomehow\u2026 somehow, I will find a way to get this undone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat we shall see.\u201d Slammert bowed. \u201cAs you wish, mighty Archimage, I now will leave. I have other kings and lords to visit and extend invitation to the wedding\u2009\u2014\u2009and remind them also about the agreement you must honor.\u201d
\n###<\/p>\n

After Slammert had left, the silence hung like a dark raincloud over the two who remained.<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I not worth something more to you than a mere pawn in the world of politics, Father?\u201d Briana asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you are,\u201d Alodar said. \u201cBut in that world, you are only a beloved daughter, not a wielder of power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do not command armies either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but it is my knowledge, my experience, my reputation that serves instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The decision rushed into Briana\u2019s thoughts and solidified. She twirled a loose strand of her hair in her fingers while she decided what to say. \u201cLet me be the one who ascertains the situation with the exiles, Father. And after that, there are other tasks you could give me, too. Then, the royalty and their lieges could understand why you broke the betrothal, why I have value more important than the desires of a border baron, value of importance to all of Murdina.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? The exiles? No, that is impossible. No one knows if what this cloaked visitor says is even true. A proven champion is needed.\u201d Alodar brow folded in a fatherly frown, and then he managed a weak smile. \u201cSomeone who has a very good chance of returning unscathed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut wouldn\u2019t that be the proof you needed? An example of what my worth to everyone would be? Reason enough to nullify the agreement made with Slammert. Everyone would understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Briana continued without thinking which words were tumbling out of her mouth, words she did not even know were there. \u201cI want to go on an adventure, Father, as you did before becoming the Archimage, before checking off all the steps in the same boring ritual: courtship, marriage, children, and then old age. I want my name to be added to those in the sagas, triumphing over adversity, righting great wrongs, saving the world\u2026 or at least a little part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled, \u201cTales like those recorded of the deeds of my famous father. You were scarcely older then than I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alodar startled at the words. “Aeriel warned me it might come to this\u2009\u2014\u2009that is, if we had had sons as well as daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you say that?\u201d Briana exploded. \u201cWhat difference does the gender make? Was not your final victory as much because of what mother did as you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Alodar was silent for a while and then answered softly. \u201cNo, you are right. Of course, I would not be here today. The world<\/i> would not be as it is now if not for her. And to this day she completes me still.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so, I want to be the one who goes through the portal and visits this other orb. The natives look almost the same as ourselves. It could be a woman\u2019s task as well as a man\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alodar started to answer, but then frowned. \u201cWait a moment. You said, \u2018One traveler at a time.\u2019 How do you even know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the writings given to us by the shrouded one on his first visit last year.\u201d Briana shrugged, trying to make light of it. \u201cA library page has been kind enough to gain me access.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have studied the tome well,\u201d she continued. \u201cThere is a dictionary, a tutorial on one of the dominant languages, what the alphabetical symbols look like, and a pronunciation guide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, yes, you are an apt student, able to discover secrets from even the most ancient of texts. Few of your age are your equal. But\u2009\u2014\u2009\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd most important of all, the natives are primitive.\u201d Briana rushed on. \u201cThey have no knowledge of the five crafts. Even if they did, the laws would be the same as they are here. I would not be going to another realm. It will be easy to explore a world that is like ours. How hard could that be? I will be back in a few days.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike other magical items, this portal has controls, settings for where and when to go and such,\u201d she continued at a slower pace. \u201cI have studied that also. After all, we have had these parchments for a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Archimage shook his head, \u201cWe have only the shrouded stranger\u2019s word that the natives do not use the crafts. I do not trust him\u2026 at least not yet. Not until whomever makes the journey reports back what he has learned. Trust me. I will somehow find another way to correct the error you have made.\u201d<\/p>\n

He placed his hands on Briana\u2019s shoulders, paused for a moment more, and then said softly, \u201cThe answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t do that!\u201d Briana yelled back. \u201cEven the Archimage has limits to his power. You admitted as much yourself. You cannot order me around like some serf of an Arcadian lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not order you to stay because I am the Archimage,\u201d Alodar said. \u201cI do so because I am your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Briana felt the anger well within her like a brush fire suddenly out of control. She clinched her teeth so as not to say more. The library page had a key to this council chamber, she thought fiercely. It might take more than a single kiss to get it, but that is what she would have to do.<\/p>\n

Want to read more? Click here<\/a><\/p>\n

Want to read it all? Click here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Father and Daughter Briana took a seat next to her father, and the page ushered in Slammert. \u201cMay I approach my betrothed to bestow a kiss of greeting, mighty Archimage?\u201d he said. \u201cNo, you may not,\u201d Alodar answered through gritted … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archimages-fourth-daughter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=497"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2721,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/497\/revisions\/2721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alodar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}