Truth and Consequences

Aarni thought about what Mariss had said for a while, the sincerity when she said it, could she have actually meant it? It didn’t make sense, she tried to seduce him and then claimed she was trying to save him. And what was she sorry for? She was never sorry for anything. But what game could she be playing by pretending to be sorry? It made no sense to him, and his head was starting to hurt. It was then that he thought of his brother’s smirk. What if his brother was springing a plot, one that was bad for him and for Mariss? That would fit the circumstances, although he didn’t know why she would need to seduce him. . .

Whatever was happening, Aarni convinced himself to take things normally, don’t let Mariss get in his head, don’t start second guessing and freaking out. He would act normally, as if nothing had happened. He had his servant girls help him dress, fucked the skinny one with smaller tits. She wasn’t his normal type, but she had a bubbly energy and was a really energetic fuck, he was happy with his choice.

When he left his room for breakfast he caught some strange looks but pushed it out of his mind, whatever was going down, he would face it when it came, he wouldn’t panic and run into it. Fortunately he didn’t have to wait long, his brother was waiting for him.

“Good morning Aarni.”

“Good morning brother.”

“I know what happened between you and Yrsa.”

“What do you mean brother, nothing happened, she mentored me on the breeding, that’s all.”

Sune slammed his hands down on the table, “Don’t treat me like a fool, brother, I know how she feels about you.”

“Really? Tell me then, because I don’t know.”

“You feign ignorance while you ingratiate yourself to my daughter, manipulate my wife into your bedroom, and claim that you bear no culpability?”

“Nothing that happened is against any laws of our land or of the Goddess.”

“The Goddess? Your defense is you didn’t offend the Goddess? I’d love to see you try that argument in front of a tribunal.”

“A tribunal? Why would any citizen of Mnozimar answer to Aggador justice, let alone a member of the royal family.”

“You are so naïve brother, I feel bad for you.”

“And I pity anyone who puts more weight in the church of our enemies than our own Goddess.”

“Enemies? Ha. But never mind that.” His brother stood, walked toward him, his face serious. “Look, I’ll give you two options, and trust me, you will face one of them.”

“Okay brother, what are my options?”

“Simple, you either face the tribunal or you leave the capital and don’t return.”

“You want to banish me?”

“No need to bring that into it, you can keep your title, you just get out of my way and stay out.”

“Or you turn me over to Aggador, how would that even work? We have our own courts.”

“The church of Madaza can hold a tribunal in any cathedral. You wouldn’t even leave the city.”

“So I either leave the capital or you would try me in the church of a foreign god, for following traditions our nation has had for centuries.”

Aarni knew his brother had been courting trade and alliance with Aggador, but elevating a foreign church over their own law? Aarni was struggling to believe his ears. He knew the church of Madaza had grown in popularity, especially among the wealthy families, they taught that the rich were the favorites of the gods, an easy sell to those who are already wealthy, but he couldn’t believe the people would support a prince being tried by that foreign church.

Aarni thought a moment more, his brother allowing him time to process, time to let it sink in. If Sune’s position was shaky he would be talking much more, making sure Aarni didn’t have time to think. His silence spoke to this plan being, at least in Sune’s mind, set in stone and unbeatable.

“How much time do I have?” He asked, hoping to have enough time to find a way around this.

“I’ll give you two days, brother, when the full moon arrives, you are either gone or you will face the tribunal.”