The Invisible Hands - Part 1: Gambit by Andrew Ashling Page B

the three of you, to Landemere Castle.”
    Arranulf raised his eyebrows.
    “Seriously? You’re inviting me to my own castle?”
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“No, I’m not. I’m inviting you to my end-of-the-year revels, which I
    happen to hold at Landemere Castle.”
    “You are the regent, I suppose,” Arranulf shrugged, his smile betraying he didn’t care.
    “Yes, I am,” the prince said. “I have my reasons for choosing that particular place.”
    He turned to Eynurm.
    “Masters of pages are entitled to a page of their own.”
    “Landemere takes the curly one,” Obyann said quickly. “We discussed it.”
    “No, Ramaldah, you just ordered me to take Ryhunzo.”
    “Yeah, well, I told you he gets on my nerves. And we can hardly leave them on their own in our old barrack.”
    He shuddered.
    “Terrible, terrible things would happen.”
    “You’re exaggerating. They’re quite innocent boys,” Arranulf replied calmly.
    “Yes, Landemere, you simpleton, and how long do you think it would take for those creeps at the bullies’ barrack to figure out those innocent little sodomites are on their own? Without anybody to defend them? You’re taking the curly one, I take the depressing one and Tarnwood can choose who he likes.”
    He crossed his arms.
    Anaxantis wasn’t paying attention anymore. He was rifling through the parchments on the table, looking pensively at one of them.
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“Guys, move into your new quarters in the castle, and make a list
    for my consideration with your candidates for the open posts of head pages and patrol leaders,” he mumbled absentmindedly.
    Eynurm was leaving the war room last.
    “What are you going to tell my father?” he asked, before parting.
    Anaxantis, distracted, looked up.
    “Your father? Nothing. Why would I tell him anything? I’m not his personal secretary, as far as I know. Neither do I see any need to make the content of his letter to me public.”
    Eynurm let out a relieved sigh.
    “Thank you, Your Highness,” he said, and made to leave the room.
    “For everything.”
    “Eynurm,” the prince said, still looking at his parchments, “my friends call me Anaxantis.”
    “Yes, in private we do. When there's other people around it’s My Lord. He doesn’t like being called Your Highness,” Obyann said while they were walking out of the main gate.
    Soon Eynurm had to leave them to go fetch his things from his own barrack, while Arranulf and Obyann went to theirs.
    “I’ll probably have to leave a week early for those end-of-the-year revels of Anaxantis,” Obyann mused, when it was just the two of them.
    “How so?” Arranulf asked.
    “I have to prepare my marriage to Ninda, don’t I? There’s a lot to arrange.”
    “Have you even asked her father for her hand yet?”
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“Yes, I asked Grindo last time I went to visit there. He seemed actually surprised that anybody would ask his permission for anything.
    You can see it is time to get things moving.”
    “You’re both young,” Arranulf said.
    “Yeah, well, time stops for nobody, Landemere, and I’m on a schedule. I want young Obyann to be born this month next year. Legit— imately born in incontrovertible, duly witnessed wedlock. Babies born in the fall grow up to be strong and sturdy. And then we’ll have to begin thinking about young Eckfred, won’t we?”
    Arranulf whistled.
    “I see you’ve got it all planned out.”
    “Of course I have, Landemere. By the way, have you done anything about your, eh, thing.”
    “My thing?”
    “You know what I mean, Landemere. You and Hemarchidas.
    Anything cooking?”
    “He barely knows I exist. As long as he stays near Anaxantis that will remain so, I suspect. Even if he doesn’t—”
    “Have you done anything about it?” Obyann interrupted him, irritated.
    “Like what, Obyann?” Arranulf responded, equally annoyed.
    “How would I know, Landemere? I know nothing about how you deviants handle these things. Do you bring each other flowers? I bring Ninda flowers, oh, and