"I am going to try . " Clovis replied remembering his father's words . There was so much left to do just to get back onto the tree . The argument… now Meeting in the morning was likely to be a long one and the queens would have something to say about him being placed back on the tree . They had celebrated so much when he asked to be removed . He knew they wouldn't take him being added again quietly .
"No . You will be . Do not try . If you try your daughter will be tortured for the rest of her life and your mother will die alone . You will do . " Mordrin replied sternly, his words almost too blunt to tolerate . "when do you light your lantern or burn the tree… whatever you people do?" he replied scratching his chin .
"You mean become part of the Phoenix tree again?" he asked and Mordrin nodded . "tomorrow morning will be the announcement and ceremony . " he replied and Mordrin chuckled .
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"whenever it is time to change emperors in my kingdom, eldest by empress takes it . If someone disputes it, they fight it out or the soldiers vote . " Mordrin replied shaking his head . All this frilly nonsense to take the throne . What did any of it prove? How many good rulers were shoved aside for not knowing the proper way to light a lantern while a man who doesn't know how to be humane sat on a gilded seat . Oblivious to the suffering surrounding them .
"Some days I think I would prefer that . Instead we do all these rituals… not that I'm worried about them . I know each by heart and have since I was Raina's age . The problem is that I don't have a wife candidate or a familiar at my side . " he replies sighing both of which were troublesome . Mordrin's face grew somber .
"I never liked that rule . It's one both our kingdoms demand . A wife before a crown . " Mordrin replied with a heavy sigh . His attention drawn by a maid whom he flipped his glass over for . She refilled his cup quickly . Clovis nodded his agreement .
"sometimes the right woman takes time to find . " Clovis replied and Mordrin laughed .
"and sometimes… she's standing 2 feet behind you and you just haven't given her that second glance . " Mordrin added nodding at the girls who were done giggling and focused on their meals . Raina seemed more serious than she had in a long while . Her face clearly displaying the complex workings of her mind .
"Father?" Raina asked, getting his attention . When Clovis looked over he waited for her to speak . "What do you think of a Zither?" she asked seemingly casual . At least as casual as a 5 year old could manage . She was at that peak in age where their minds wished to be more grown up than their tender age allowed . Clovis stopped for a moment .
It was a classic moment of a father whose child asked a question he didn't know the answer too . With everything else going on, did he think about Zithers? Luckily his sister was quick to bail him out .
"You know Mother use to play a Zither when we were little . When ever we were tired she would play swans on a silver lake . Put us right to sleep . " Vella offered with a fond smile . Clovis grinned as well having forgotten those moments from so long ago in the haze lately . "It is a beautiful instrument . "
"Yes it is . I think they are rather beautiful to listen to and a well crafted one can be a site to behold . " Clovis decided to answer his daughter simply, though curious as to why the child would ask .
"If Grandmother played it then a princess could learn it?" Raina asked finding a strand of hope to bolster her nerves . Clovis looked up, sharing a glance with the other two adults at the table . All three seemed to be very interested in the child's question .
"Yes, a Zither is a form of music fit for a Princess . " Vella replied and Clovis nodded in agreement .
"Did you see someone play it, recently? I don't remember the past entertainment group having one in their number . " Clovis asked, trying hard to recall but coming up blank . Zithers were often played by lady's but few stuck with it into adulthood and even less kept their Zither after they wed . Very few men played it here . None of the maids he could think of ever mentioned one .
"Ummm . . " Raina blushed brightly as she sheepishly hesitated to answer . She pulled her little hands under the table, as if afraid they would give her away . Mordrin grinned .
Chapter end
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