House of Cards Contributions Log

The Turning of Age

posted by Blake at 06:27 PM, October 14, 2003 | Filed under : Fiction | Comments and Followups

A few years prior to Eric’s assumption of the throne.

“And the situation with the Tanner’s Guild? How is that going?” Eric asked, leaning back in the chair as it creaked slightly, well worn leather dark with age and use accepting his frame as he put his feet on the stool.

“Acceptable.” Jerod replied. “There’s likely to be some complaints when the Masters get wind of the apprenticeship arrangement that was made, and the gold that was spread around. But the journeymen have all signed on. They’ll carry it forward on sheer inertia. The apprentices will be quick to see the advantages as journeymen positions open up. Figure two, maybe three days. Then another couple to smooth things over.”

“Good. That’s good.” Eric said, rubbed at his beard. “It’s such a pain sometimes dealing with this kind of shit. You’d think it would be less of a problem, what that we’re just dealing with tanners.”

“Except they control the leather trade.” Jerod said, unconsciously mimicking his father’s teaching tone. “Without leather, no belts. No boots. Strappings for equipment, tack and harness. Weapons. Ships. Armor.”

“All the little details.” Eric noted and chuckled as Jerod smiled, realizing what he was doing to his own father. “And you’re right Jerod, all the little details. I’d just wish someone else could take care of it sometimes besides me. Or you. I’ve got better things in store for you than dealing with minutae.”

“Sometimes minutae can be important.” Jerod said.

“So says your mother, and truer words were spoken by no other.” Eric said, nodding and pausing a moment to remember. “But your mother is not here. And this is not Rebma. It is Amber, and you are the son of a king. There are larger matters to be attending to.”

“Oh?” Jerod asked, his expression shifting to a guarded curiousity.

Eric nodded. “The delegation from Bellum is sending a new ambassador and his family. The current one is looking to go home. He’s been too long from his wife and family, wants to see them again. Eight years in a foreign land is a long time I suppose. I’ve approved it.” He picked up a report from the desk. “They’ll be arriving in two weeks, give or take. We’ll be having a welcoming ceremony to receive his credentials.” Eric closed the file, passed it over to Jerod who nodded.

Jerod began to skim the details as Eric continued. “Good man it seems. The usual Bellum routine…career soldier, wounded in the field. Retired from active service to government responsibilities. He’s bringing his wife with him and his three children. Two sons and an elder daughter. Very cute from what I hear.”

The papers stopped flicking for a moment, perhaps as Jerod was focussed on a particular paragraph. But he did not reply to Eric’s comments, merely nodded and continued to scan the text. Eric watched his son for a moment, pursing his lips before he continued. “She’s going to need an escort for the evening meal and the ball. I’d rather not let her fall prey to one of the young bucks around here her first time out. I’d like you to take care of her, make sure she has a nice time.”

“I have duties with the fleet. The sea trials for the two new ships.” Jerod said, his tone carefully neutral. “Uncle Gerard’s going to give me some instruction on how the testing goes about. If it’s like the last time, I’ll be up all hours with notes and questions after the sea-trials are done.”

“I’ll speak to him.” Eric said. “Make sure he knows you’ve other duties to attend to.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Jerod said, his voice carrying just a hint of sharpness before he masked it again. “There are several others that would be quite suitable to serve as escort for this young lady.” and he tossed the file on the desk. “There won’t be any trouble.”

“No, there won’t be. Because you’re going to make sure you’re escorting her to the ball.” Eric said, looked at Jerod directly.

“Is that the King’s order?” Jerod asked, his voice carrying a note of derision.

“Treat it however you wish…father’s request, or King’s order.” Eric replied, his own demeanour calm in that infuriatingly superior way that Eric had with his siblings, and his children. “It amounted to the same thing with my father too.”

Jerod’s jawline hardened momentarily as he took a breath, but he reined in his temper in before he nodded just once, barely.

Eric looked at his son for a moment before he shook his head slightly. “You’re not going to let me forget it, are you?”

“Is there something that needs to be forgotten?” Jerod asked.

“Oh, don’t pull that shit with me young man.” Eric retorted, as he came to his feet, moved around the table to stand close to Jerod. “You might not like it, but you can’t deny it wasn’t the best thing to do.”

“Best for who? The kingdom?” Jerod asked.

“And for you.” Eric replied. “Don’t think that I did it out of spite.”

“It feels like that’s the reason.”

“Well it’s not. For the Unicorn’s sake, we’ve been over this. How many times do we have to argue this?” Eric said, rubbed at his beard as he moved a pace, then another, before he turned to face Jerod again. “How long have you been taught that you have responsibilities? Committments that others don’t?”

“Since I was ten.” Jerod replied. “You and mother burned it into my brain. Duty and honor and responsibility. It’s my life.”

“It’s part of your life.” Eric said. “It’s part of the price you pay…that we all pay, for being who we are.” and he paused to take a breath. “We have such tremendous power. Incredible ability. We can go whatever we want. Be whoever we want. Do anything that we want.”

“Yes, I can have whatever I want.” Jerod said. “Any object, any gift, any possession. I can go anywhere and be whatever I want to be.” There is a tone of cynicism in his voice. “But we all know that’s bullshit. What do we care for shadow? It’s all at my fingertips…and it means nothing. All the power, and none of the choices. There’s only one thing that has any real value. And it’s the one thing you won’t let happen for me.”

Eric looked at Jerod, and his expression was akin to as if he had been slapped, though it faded rapidly. “That’s part of the price.” he said after a moment. “Your uncles and aunts know this. It’s why none of them have ever married. At least, not publically. And for a king, or the son of a king, there are even fewer options. You know that.”

“Yes, I know it.” Jerod said bitterly. “Marriage is never about love. It’s about intrigue and power. It’s about fleets and influence and military potential. It’s about parlaying favors and securing allies to cover your flanks. Such wonderful, noble sentiment.”

“It’s what it is.” Eric said, his tone firm. “You might not like it but I expect you to follow it.” and he stopped, lowered his eyes for a moment before he looked up again. “Besides, it’s not like I’m telling you not to see her again. Just…be discrete.”

“Yes, we wouldn’t want to upset the Court or the family now would we.” Jerod said, the sarcasm in his voice but dimmed by bitterness and regret.

“Your family understands better than you might realize, my son.” Eric says. “Most of them had been in the same situation at one point or another with your grandfather. And he was a lot less understanding in his refusals.”

“He didn’t refuse you. Where mother was concerned.” Jerod said.

“My father wasn’t around enough to notice. And I made sure not to invite too much attention towards your mother.” Eric admitted.

“Why?” Jerod asked, curiousity overwhelming his sense of bitterness for the moment.

Eric looked at Jerod and the confidence slipped for just a moment. “Because I didn’t want him to say no to her.” and he paused. “Like I had to say it to you.”

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