"I thought I mimicked my father exceptionally well." Sacha shuddered. "What a ghastly thought." He grinned slyly. "And I almost had Galen reaching for his dagger to stab the wicked villain and keep you by his side."

"I was not amused," Galen admitted, his arm tightening about Tess's waist. "Your first act as monarch would have plunged Tamrovia into a war."

Sacha's eyes widened in shock. "Merde, I forgot I must start thinking about those boring kinds of repercussions. What a depressing thought." He uneasily shifted his shoulders as he turned toward the door. "I don't believe I'm going to like this business. I'm not at all suited for majesty."

Four hours later Tess stood on the steps with Galen and watched Sacha mount his stallion in the courtyard below.

"I'll miss him," she murmured huskily.

"He's not gone forever," Galen said.

But they both knew Sacha's road was taking a new curve that was leading him away from them. In spite of Sacha's apprehensions she thought she could already see signs of new power and authority in his bearing as he turned to Count Mazlek and gestured impatiently for him to mount. "He's going to change."

"So are we all." Galen gently brushed his lips on her temple. "Life would be very dull if we stayed the same. You wouldn't like that either, my love." He released her and nudged her forward. "Now, go and tell him farewell."

She started down the steps. "Aren't you coming?"

"I went to his chamber earlier to say good-bye. I have no liking for prolonged farewells."

Sacha smiled down at Tess as she crossed the courtyard toward him. "Don't look so forlorn, imp. Zalandan isn't a world away from Belajo, and I'll remember the way back."

"Did you tell Viane good-bye?"

"Yes." His smile faded. "As well as I could with Kalim hovering in the background. She was very… courteous." He sighed. "It made me feel melancholy."

"Nonsense. "

His eyes widened. "I thought you'd have more sympathy for my suit."

"At first, I thought you should have Viane merely because you wanted her." Tess met his gaze. "But now I realize she wouldn't do for you at all. You and I are a great deal alike, Sacha. You wanted her only because she represented a safety and sanctuary neither of us have ever had. She would have driven you mad in three months. She's much better off with Kalim. He told me once he'd give his life for her."

He frowned. "I'm not without valor."

"Valor has nothing to do with it." She gestured impatiently. "That's why she's wrong for you. You'd enjoy risking your life for her, but what then? You'd go away and search for a new challenge to face. Tell me, why are you leaving Sedikhan so meekly after six years?"

"It could be because no one has offered me a throne before," he suggested dryly.

She shook her head.

"No?" He lifted his brows. "Then I'm sure you're going to tell me."

"You have no desire to be a king. You're leaving because, though the struggle here will continue, the unrest and danger is gone now that we have unity. Don't you see? You don't need a sanctuary. You need an adventure, a great adventure. Viane wasn't your great adventure, Sacha."

His expression softened as he looked down into her earnest face. "And is Galen your great adventure, imp?"

"Oh yes," she said softly.

"No following in Marco Polo's footsteps?"

"Perhaps someday." She grinned. "But you can be sure I'll take Galen with me. Kadines are much too well-accepted in Sedikhan for my liking." She reached up and affectionately squeezed his hand resting on the reins before stepping back. "Go with God, Sacha, and return when you can."

"I will." He smiled down at her. "And come to Belajo in a year or two, and you may see a few changes at court." He turned his horse and rode forward to join Count Mazlek and his escort. "I've always thought it needed a bit of livening."

She chuckled as she watched him ride out of the courtyard, his hair blazing in the sunlight, his bearing indomitable yet insouciant. She had a sudden mental picture of him lolling on the Tamrovian throne, bejeweled crown slightly askew on his curly red head, his blue eyes shining with deviltry.

"Lord help them," she murmured.

"Tess?" Galen called.

She turned to see Galen waiting on the steps, his dark hair lifting in the breeze, his expression a little impatient but very loving. Galen was a complicated man, one she might never know completely, one who would change and grow with every passing day. She could hardly wait to see what interesting challenge he would offer her next.

She smiled. "Coming."

She started across the courtyard toward her own great adventure.

REVISION HISTORY

v1

-a good html release

v2

-mainly punctuation mistakes corrected

-released in standard HTML format, EDG style