“As you probably already know, nobles can be a stubborn and finicky lot and coming to such agreements can take quite some time. It may take six months or more for some of the larger houses to finalize an agreement. Then, they would have to wait an entire year for the actual marriage.”

“Why a year?” asked Tam.

Lady Adelina paused to sip her wine, so Rezkin answered Tam’s question. “Some of the betrothal contracts between larger houses can have widespread political and economic ramifications. Waiting a year for the contract to take affect provides enough time for the news to spread and for others to make plans for the impending changes. Anyone who will be affected by the contract has the opportunity to file a protest, and the contract must then be reviewed by the king. The king has the authority to approve the contract, send it back for revisions, or dissolve it completely.”

“What is a prime courtship?” Frisha pressed.

“A prime courtship was devised for two purposes. The first is when it is agreed that a couple will wed, but it will be some time, years, before they can do so. Perhaps one or both of the young people are too young, or one must go away for a time, maybe to study …”

“Or go on campaign.” The general grumbled.

Lady Adelina continued, “So forming a betrothal contract can be difficult if the houses do not know what their state of affairs will be when the time comes. This usually applies to the smaller houses, since their finances and political standing tend to fluctuate. The second application is to get around the problem of the long waiting period. A prime courtship is a simple contract that states that the lady has chosen her suitor, and the suitor has agreed to the marriage, but the terms of the betrothal agreement have not yet been agreed upon.

“The time spent in a prime courtship can be applied to the yearlong waiting period. As a condition of entering into a prime courtship, both parties must either stipulate that the terms of their betrothal agreement will have limited effect on outside parties, or they can publish the potential terms so that outside parties can respond appropriately. In that case, the financial or political impact of the published potential terms cannot be increased, only decreased, during future negotiations,” Lady Adelina explained.

Frisha’s shoulders sagged. “So either way, I cannot go unless I either have a relative or future husband with me.”

After dinner, Tam followed Rezkin to the stables. As the young warrior was checking on his battle charger, Tam decided to broach the delicate subject.

“Rez, why don’t you enter into a betrothal with Frisha?” he asked.

“What? Why?” Rezkin asked, genuinely bewildered.

“Oh, come on. You’ve been courting her for like a month, now. Don’t act so surprised,” Tam chuckled.

I am courting Frisha? Rezkin thought. When did that happen?