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Rhyn set his drink down and leaned back in his chair.

“Don’t get me wrong,”

he drawled. “I enjoy your company. But shouldn’t you be getting back to your wife?”

“I wanted to give the human some space.”

“Did she ask you to?”

Vahn grunted noncommittally and Rhyn sighed.

“Far be it from me to interfere with your marriage. But you’re newly-weds. If anyone realizes you’ve been staying here, it’ll raise some awkward questions.”

Vahn knew he was right. He sipped his drink moodily.

“What is being said around the palace about us? Any suggestion there was an assassination attempt?”

“Not a hint. Some jokes about how the Zhaalini has already got you whipped because you’re redecorating your father’s old rooms for her. But mostly positive vibes.”

“And the peace accords? You’ve finalized the text?”

“We agreed the last amendment yesterday. I must say President Cameron is being very accommodating. Probably helps that she has a Vraxian son-in-law now.”

“She isn’t suspicious that I didn’t attend the meeting?”

“Like everyone else, she’s assuming you’re being attentive to your new wife.”

“Good. When do you think the Chennai Accords can be signed?”

“We just need to set a date. I have a meeting with President Cameron’s people tomorrow, we’ll agree it then.”

“I want you to ensure the signing ceremony is within fourteen solar days.”

“It will certainly be within a month, I can assure you.”

“Not good enough,”

Vahn said testily. “Fourteen days, understand? It’s imperative.”

“Fine, whatever you say. I’ll make it happen. What’s the rush?”

“We’ve yearned for peace for so long, I simply don’t want my people to wait any longer than they have to.”

Vahn got up from his chair to pace. He supposed he could have told Rhyn the truth – that he wanted the deal signed before he revoked his marriage under the rules of denerra. But for some reason his Vraxian friend seemed fond of Kara and he didn’t want to put him in a difficult position.

He turned back with an apologetic air.

“Forgive me. It’s been a trying few days.”

“I can imagine. Well, no I can’t. It must have been a shock to discover you’re married to a human if you have no memory of it. But surely now you’ve had a little time, you can see Kara is special?”

Vahn hesitated. He groped for a way to explain his antipathy to the human in a way that made sense.

“You’ve never fought on the frontlines, have you?”

The question came out a little more brusquely than he intended and Rhyn stiffened.

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Just that you’ve never felt the brutality of war, not like I have. Or Ela. Or the countless other Vraxians who’ve lost their lives to humans.”

“You know very well that I requested to join the front lines. But your father kept me by his side to advise on strategies.”

“Strategies. What did that entail? Running the palace? Organizing meetings? Making sure there were enough chairs for everyone?”

Rhyn’s jaw tightened. He wasn’t often provoked to anger, but he felt the burn of it now.

“I may not have been in the battlefield physically, but in every other way I was involved. I was the one who made sure food and equipment reached the troops. I was the one who oversaw the evacuation of the wounded. And when our soldiers were killed, I was the one who informed their families.”

Vahn hadn’t meant to slight his friend.

“Rhyn, I apologize. That is not what I…”

“And your father needed counsel. A shoulder to lean on, especially in his darkest moments. And I was the one who did that too. Because you weren’t there and your brother was dead. So yes, your Majesty, I have felt the brutality of war.”

In the silence that followed, Vahn thought his shame might crush him. He bowed his head.

“Forgive me, my friend,”

he said heavily. “I spoke out of turn.”

Rhyn didn’t reply and he tried again. “My father was lucky to have you. I should never have suggested you didn’t understand war.”

“No, you shouldn’t have.”

Rhyn forced his shoulders to relax. “You’re a yantha’s ass, you know that?”

“A fair analogy.”

“And what the drek has any of this got to do with Kara?”

Vahn sighed.

“What I was trying to say – very badly – is that to me, humans are still the enemy. Yes, I know things have changed. But it’s hard for me to see Kara in any other context.”

“Even though she is your kalehsha?”

“Whether or not she’s my kalehsha doesn’t matter. I cannot accept her as a mate. It’s not natural.”

“Careful. You’re beginning to sound like Baelon.”

“Don’t say that.”

Vahn’s tone was sharp. “I don’t wish to annihilate humans. I just don’t particularly want to be married to one.”

“Look, if you want my advice, just spend some time with her. Get to know her again. Why don’t you take her to the Garana Sana banquet?”

He shook his head.

“It’s too soon. I’m not ready. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Which of your dozens of female admirers will you squire at the banquet?”

“Ah. That’s a good question. I’m not sure.”

“Too many to choose from?”

Rhyn shifted uncomfortably.

“No, no. I’m just, ah, trying to cut down.”

“Cut down on female company? You?”

Vahn was incredulous. “What’s got into you?”

“I’m, ah, trying something new.”

“Like what? Abstinence?”

Vahn gave a bark of laughter, but stopped when he saw Rhyn’s expression. “Are you serious?”

He looked at his friend curiously. Come to think of it, he hadn’t noticed any lovelorn females wafting around in his wake recently. “Rhyn? What’s going on?”

“There’s someone I like. And she doesn’t take kindly to me having several females on the go at once.”

“Fountain of Zandarr.”

Vahn stared. “You like someone. Who is it?”

“We’ve already had this conversation.”

“Have we? It’s obviously fallen out of my brain along with everything else. Tell me again.”

“No. It’s embarrassing.”

“Vannla’s Sword. It’s not the wife of that crystal baron over in the mining sector is it? You were always very keen on her.”

“No.”

“Or Lord Gindar’s daughter? You said she had this trick with her tongue that...”

“No!”

“Then who?”

Rhyn looked away.

“Ela.”

It suddenly seemed to Vahn that the answer had been obvious all along.

“Ah.”

“Well? Aren’t you going to mock me?”

“Me? No. I’m in awe of anyone brave enough to pursue General Solarun. Er, how does Ela feel?”

“She doesn’t know. That is, she thinks my idiotic attempts to charm her are just my normal behavior.”

“Hasn’t she realized you like her?”

“No. I think she’s infatuated with someone else.”

Rhyn watched for any reaction. But Vahn just frowned thoughtfully.

“Is she? There hasn’t been anyone that I’ve noticed. The problem is, my friend, you have a bit of a reputation as a lothario. And Ela is no pushover.”

“I know. What do you suggest?”

Vahn mulled it over.

“I’ve known Ela a long time. She has always been a loyal commander, but she only really started to respect me as a person when I beat her in uarra.”

Rhyn raised his eyebrows. Uarra was an ancient form of martial arts involving short staffs. It was one of the many forms of combat in which Ela was proficient.

And I’d bet my last breath that being beaten by Vahn was what sparked her infatuation. He wasn’t surprised. He knew Ela respected strength.

“So you’re saying in order to win her over, I have to smack her around a bit? Sounds a bit primitive. Plus, impossible. She’s drek’aa tough.”

“I’m saying you have to show her you’re serious. Talk to her. Tell her how you feel.”

Rhyn tilted his glass at him.

“I could say the same thing to you. You should go home and talk to Kara.”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

“Nope. Now.”

“Are you evicting me?”

“Do you know, I rather think I am. Just talk to her, you stubborn dankar.”

Vahn scowled.

“I do not wish to talk. I prefer to do something physical. Work up a sweat.”

“Now that’s a great idea. Why don’t you and she…”

“I’ll see you later, Rhyn.”