Heir, page 27
part #5 of Ressaline Series
She laughed. “The weather is nice.”
“That’s an opportunity for some sort of trade agreement,” I said. “Could someone have her First while also advancing herself professionally, somehow? I don’t know. Could someone have her First with Holliahta and become a better glassmaker, or be allowed to keep some percentage of the pieces she makes, or something?”
“I’ll talk to Olivia about that.”
“We should also look at a student exchange program.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“Some of my friends lived a year in Gandeet, and one even went to Karishten. I thought she was insane, but she had adventures. And you probably know some of the lords foster children of foreign lords.”
“Oh,” she said.
“There must be something that the Ressalines can teach better than we can. Figure out what it is, then Olivia can make a school. And we could also spread the word that there are foster opportunities, although I don’t know if anyone would take them. But they might send a younger daughter, if they didn’t have to pay her expenses.”
“Anything to unload a hungry mouth?” She nodded. “I’ll talk to Olivia. Ahlianna, why are you doing this? This is about more than my loyalty or even my happiness.”
I took her arm and turned us back up the beach. “That’s all I had to talk about.”
“You’re not going to answer me?”
I pulled her to another stop. We turned to each other. “Do you have advice for me?”
“You’re really not going to answer me?”
“You’re leaving in the morning. It will be some time before you have another chance to guide your future queen. Any advice, Allium?”
“Yes. When your favorite ambassador asks a question, you should answer her.”
I laughed. “Real advice.”
She looked into my eyes. “Yes. Find some command authority.”
“For the guard?”
“Yes. I don’t have more specific advice than that. Also, find a weapon you can keep close at hand, and become lethal with it.”
“You’re serious.”
“Yes. You intend to command men, and at some point, one of them is going to physically challenge you. You need to put him down hard. Broken bones are a good idea. If he’s a bad enemy, kill him, unless that’s worse.”
I remembered the story she had told. I nodded. “I’ve had some training.”
“Get more.”
“Good advice.”
“Next, you need to be openly seen as a ruler, as your father’s daughter, but it won’t hurt if you are also your mother’s daughter. That would be a different approach than I have taken, and it wouldn’t have worked for me. But I think it’s a mistake to ignore what your mother has to offer, or to entirely reject her role in society.”
“You’re right, and I’ve already begun to take steps.”
“I enjoyed listening to you play the flute.”
“And you’ll tell Holliahta about the show. We haven’t approached anyone yet, but we will.”
“I imagine half of Charth will travel south to see you.”
“Maybe not that many.”
“Will you ever be back?”
“If I can. It won’t be the same if Gionna isn’t there.”
“Then we just need to plan properly.”
“We do. Hug me.”
We hugged, in the Ressaline fashion. “I like that,” I whispered to her. “I think we should encourage this custom to spread.”
“I agree.”
I hooked her arm, and we turned up the beach.
“Ahlianna.”
“Allium.”
“I love you.”
I thought about it. “I love you, too. Going to ask to become one of my suitors?”
“No. I’m not willing to become your consort. But I’ll be your advisor.”
“Thank you.”
We walked a little further before she asked, “How soon would you like to see me married?”
“Oh, you know.”
“No, I don’t. Tell me.”
“It’s your life,” I said.
“Maybe I should talk to Gionna about it.” I stiffened, and missed a step. There was an awkward pause, and then she said very gently, “I think finally I got an answer to my question.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I insisted.
“Right.”
About the Author
A writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A lover of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
Robin can be reached via email as robin.roseau@gmail.com. Robin's web site is http://www.robin-roseau.com.
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Run
Fox Play
Fox Mate
Fox Afield
Fox Revenge
Fox Dish
Fox Lost
Wolf Watch
Wolf Ways
Wolf Women
Fox Fate
Jaguar
Omega Born
Omega Life
Omega Choice (coming soon)
Fox Short Stories
Hunting Pups
Fox in the Water
Fox Rematch (set after Fox Mate and Fox Afield)
Fox Opponent
A Foxy Valentine
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
Familiar
Kitty Cat
Poor Little Witch Girl
Seer
Seer: Thrall
Seer: Guardian
The Selected Series
Collected
Taken
Volunteer
Candidate
Recruited
Galatea
Beginnings
Lottery
Selected Roommate
The Games People Play Series
Stories that ask a simple question: do you want to play a game?
Do You Want to Play a Game?
My Soul to Play
My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Win
The Five Kingdoms
Privateer
Searching the High Seas
The Pawn Series
Pawn
Bishop
Rook
Queen (Coming Soon)
Ressaline
Encircled (Claary)
Delegation (Allium)
Ambassador
Princess
Heir (Ahlianna)
Tiara Parts One and Two (Darfelsa, coming soon)
Other Novels and Novellas
Anonymous Bidder
Blood Slave
A Charming Brew
Emergency Claus
Encircled
Fitting In
Fluid
Free to Love
Galatzi Trade
Galatzi World
Galatzi Joy
Galatzi Life
In Custody
Lace
Lost in the Words
Metabrain
Mind Wipe
Outside The Box
Red Paws Inn
Reluctant Host
Stark's Dell
Submission
Sugar Baby
Surprise
Team Building
More Team Building
The Interrogation
Tresjolie
Trust
White
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short stories of love and lust amongst the slopes.
Snow Fox
Short Stories
Cooking for Love
Southern Night
Captured by the Raptor (writing as Rosetta Robins)
Ressaline Heir
Copyright 2019 by Robin Roseau
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.
* * *
License Notes
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Table of Contents
Ressaline Heir
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Part Two
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
About the Author
Works by Robin Roseau
The Madison Wolves Series
Fox Short Stories
Other Books in the Madison Wolves Universe
The Selected Series
The Games People Play Series
The Five Kingdoms
The Pawn Series
Ressaline
Other Novels and Novellas
The Ski Bindings Shorts
Short Stories
Robin Roseau, Heir
