A few days later. Kyvril and the mayor, Joveta, laid out plans to expand Refuge. The wall was to be pushed forward, allowing room for at least thirty new houses. In addition, they would build it in such a way that the wall would be lengthened along one side. It was going to be a lot of work.

Rhunal had her own ideas about that. She had the power to manipulate metal. But could only reshape a certain amount at a time. She wouldn’t be able to manipulate metal into an entire wall made of metal. But she could create a framework of iron to build off. After a bit of practicing with the technique, Rhun and Kyvril came up with a blueprint. Using the same iron frame technique, Rhun laid down the foundation for her house. The distraction to their work came a few days later. 

Bron’s father, Ragnulf, came to visit, and he was not alone. Princess Taletha Ghurkan had come with him, all the way from Qismat. Princess Taletha, Bron’s betrothed wife, was a young woman with honey-brown skin and curly long hair. She was petite and pretty, but the expression in her dark-brown eyes was one of steel. She had her mother and a couple of ladies-in-waiting with her. It wasn’t a situation Bron had expected to face. She approached him alone, her expression one of reserved trouble.

“Taletha? It’s a long way from Qismat. What are you doing here?” 

“I’m here for you. You, the breaker of your oaths.”

Her sudden accusation surprised him, but he steeled himself quickly. He planted his feet, literally and figuratively. “We’ve never even met. I am a man who keeps my vows, my vows. My betrothal to you was a promise from another, my father and mother. I never made it myself. It was a sham, signed by the kingdom. I will only keep the promises I make myself. It’s impossible to keep the promises that others put on me. These were promises made in my name before I was even a grown man. Many things have changed, Princess Taletha.”

Bron raised his left arm, pulling back his mail sleeve, showing the stump of his left hand. “You didn’t know who I was before, during the betrothal. You certainly wouldn’t know who I am now.” 

“You are a fool. Would I not want you more, now that you’ve made a name? A missing hand doesn’t bother me. The fact you still continue to adventure proves your stout heart. I am the youngest princess of Qismat. I don’t have political power. I’m not against the idea of an adventuring husband. But it is to my shame that my fiance has abandoned me.”

“You accept my crippled hand so easily? I’m impressed. But, I live a different life now. I left my life as a noble, and never intend to go back. I am committed to my role as a defender and wanderer of the frontier.”

The girl made a face, unimpressed by his selfless words. “I don’t own you, even if we did marry. If you want to spend most of your time adventuring, that is fine. It is a political marriage at the end of the day.”

“I can’t have divided loyalties like that. I can’t go back with you. Would you really marry just to save face?”

“Which loyalty is keeping you here? Qismat has more than its share of adventure. I would even love to hear about it from you. It is an interesting life.”

Bron looked to Rhun, who pointedly turned her head away, letting out a little grin at his predicament. “I pledged my loyalty to the she-orc. Rhunal. It is here my life must be.”

Taletha had kept tight rein on her expressions, but couldn’t hide outright shock at his words. “What pledge could you have with a she-orc? Certainly not a pledge that would override the promise to a princess? You are a strange man.”

“I remind you, the promise of marriage was not my doing. My only current vow is to Rhunal the sorceress. She saved my life, and in turn, I promised to fight at her side as companion. An arrangement of equals, one I will not break.”

“And how long do you owe this she-orc possess you?” The princess demanded.

Bron counted the months in his head. “Best I can tell, somewhere around ten months more. After that, my vow is fulfilled. But that doesn’t mean I intend to break up my partnership with Rhunal. I’ll keep working with her after that. We’ve experienced much in our short time together. Enough stories to tell for a lifetime.”

The princess scowled at him. “Most men wouldn’t make so many excuses to avoid marrying a princess. I’m not so hard on the eyes, am I?”

“And so humble,” he quipped.

“Impossible,” she shot back. “Try being a princess for a single day and remaining humble.”

“You are objectively a beauty. But an acolyte to the god of Life, as I am, tends to be less hot-blooded than most. Even at a young age. I remember my friends calling me like an old man, even as a youth. Besides, why should a princess pine over the son of a baron. There is every chance I won’t survive the next ten months. Rhunal’s quests are nothing if not dangerous. I was more fearful at first, but I think I’m getting used to it. Should I die, you’ll be free to marry any other.”

Her face twisted into a scowl. “You have shamed me with your abandonment of our marriage.” She fixed her mother with a look and turned to walk away. She didn’t exactly stomp off, but her quick steps showed her anger as she returned to Refuge with her mother. 

Bron’s father approached. Ragnulf looked like a shorter version of himself. His hair and beard were a uniform grey, where Bron’s was black. His father had told him that his hair had gone grey early in life, but he had also married well into his middle age. Ragnulf glanced at the departing princess with some amusement. 

“You’ve really done it now, son.”

“Why is this beautiful woman hung up on me?” Bron asked. “All I’ve ever wanted is my own life. I’ve told you as much.”

“Qismat is not doing very well these days,” Ragnulf explained. “Before, it would have been only the disgrace of your rejection that annoyed the girl. Qismat is facing famine and civil disorder once again. This is a common problem with that large city. Qismat has trouble growing enough food to sustain itself. Every few years, Greihold is visited by waves of refugees from that land. This is the cause of Greihold’s repeated battles with that larger city. We would have been swallowed up in the last war if it hadn’t been for the intervention of the orcish host.”

“Why doesn’t Greihold make a permanent deal with Qismat to ship them food? The city grows plenty of extra.” Bron asked.

“That idea has been brought up before. A stable Qismat is less likely to strike out at our kingdom. But it is also a much more dangerous enemy if it attacks us. A well-fed Qismat has more supplies to feed their much larger army. Historically, it was Qismat’s inability to feed large amounts of troops that has saved Greihold in the past. They weren’t able to sustain a siege for long enough to starve out our city. We send them food during their times of famine. But I won’t lie and say it’s for a fair price.”

“Whatever Greihold is doing, it isn’t working,” Bron said.

“You’re not wrong Bron. But despite the politics at play between our kingdoms, I had hoped your marriage could do some good. I saw good qualities in the girl. She was young and ambitious, but also showed curiosity about the lands of Greihold and the frontier beyond. You were always a knowledgeable sort. Perhaps in time the rivalry between Greihold and Qismat could end. There are things each nation can teach the other.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Bron said. “Trying to influence an entire kingdom is far above what I can accomplish.”

“A marriage of politics doesn’t have much of a chance, but I know my son. You wouldn’t just sit there and remain a hapless, unwilling husband in Qismat.”

Kyvril had been listening close by and interjected. “The situation in Greihold won’t change while the king remains so weak.” 

Ragnulf sternly turned to the Guildmaster. “You speak such words. Are you aware I have been the king’s bodyguard for over two decades?” 

“I do know this.” Kyvril said.

“How then, can you be so blunt? Your words are unwise.”

“Kyvril speaks the truth.” Bron said sternly. “It was the kingdom’s weakness and corruption that made me leave Greihold. I watched the selfish nobles and their petty plays for power while refugees fought over bread in streets. Orphans formed gangs to battle each other for crumbs. And coming out here, I saw Refuge left to battle the frontier alone. I too, put the blame on the king.”

Suddenly outnumbered, Ragnulf faced them both. “Neither of you know the king, or the politics of the kingdom. It is not a system of absolute power. In any decision, the king needs the support of the nobles. There are three major houses, and all of them need their say. The king is a good man. He’s done me no wrongs over the years. I am only a baron, nothing compared to the landed nobility of this kingdom. Yet he offered this marriage to a princess to my family. To you.” 

Bron couldn’t help but shake his head ruefully. “I would imagine the king regrets this decision now.”

Ragnulf scowled, letting out an angry grunt. “There’s nothing funny about the situation. It’s a disaster for both kingdoms. Your decision will have consequences down the line. I’d hoped meeting the young woman might have changed your mind. A pretty face often overwhelms a man. But I should have known better.”

“I’m more clear-minded than that. As I told my future wife, I had no say in the betrothal. My only choice was to leave the city, break a promise that wasn’t my own. And now I have a new goal. To adventure with the sorceress, Rhunal. However, her goal is also a good one. Building up Refuge is a task I also put my whole heart and mind behind.”

His father heard his words and nodded. “These are the words of a man. Whatever the kingdom’s troubles, I am proud of you.”