“Your father summoned me to reject this. But, you summon me seeking my advice and my approval. Why else would you bring her before me as you have?” Lord Ophain had a point.

“Well,” Aldrik asked finally, “what is your advice?”

“Make her a ward of the West.” Vhalla inhaled sharply at Lord Ophain’s words. “Send her back to Norin with me to study at the Academy of Arcane Arts. Put her out of your father’s reach, and yours.”

“That would be the smart thing, wouldn’t it?” Aldrik sighed.

Vhalla gripped her fingers so tightly she thought one may break. She should be happy. Being sent to Norin to study at one of the oldest academies in the world, nevertheless an academy for sorcery, should sound like a dream compared to marching to war.

But it would not be by his side.

“You’re not going to do it, though.” Lord Ophain heard something in Aldrik’s words that Vhalla hadn’t. The clanking of ice in glasses filled the silence. “What is this woman to you?”

“Vhalla, I need her in so many ways, Mother help me,” Aldrik groaned. “I need her as my redemption, I need her kindness, I need her forgiveness, I need her smiles, I need her humanity, I need her ignorance, I need her innocence, and, yes ... Mother Sun, yes, I need her as a man.”

Her breathing was short as she leaned closer to the door. Vhalla’s heart threatened to beat over Aldrik’s soft words.

“You love her.”

It was not a question, but Aldrik answered it anyway. “More than I ever thought possible.”

“Aldrik,” the lord said thoughtfully. “You have yourself in quite a spot, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what to do.” His voice sounded weak compared to its normal fullness.

“You know your place in life, your duty to your people.” Vhalla didn’t like where Lord Ophain was headed with his logic. “Someday you will be Emperor and no one will be able to question your decisions. No one will question them if they feel that your law comes from a place of honor, sensibility, and compassion. The crown is a heavy burden and you will have to make choices between your wants and your Empire.”

“I know all this, Uncle.” Aldrik’s voice was muffled a moment as he buried his face in his hands. “But I can’t.”

Vhalla released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“I know,” said Lord Ophain. “You remind me so much of your father.”

“What?” Aldrik’s anger was quick at the comment.