Sitting in the dining room across from Illiam was his father, Duke Ean Cowley. He had far more gray hair than Illiam remembered. 

“You seem in good health, why is it that you summoned me?” Illiam asked, looking at his father pointedly. 

“I apologize, my son.” The duke said avoiding eye contact, “I feared that you wouldn’t return if I had explained.” 

“Why is that father?” 

“I’ve gotten a request from the new king.” The duke paused, as if he didn’t want to tell Illiam something. He took a deep breath before saying, “He’s requested one of my children as a concubine.” 

Illiam chuckled, “truly, thought we abandoned that centuries ago.” 

“I did as well.” 

“But that doesn’t explain why I was called back.” 

“All of your sisters are married, and your brothers are as well.” The duke took a sip from the goblet in front of him. “You are my only unmarried child, and he stated in his request that he cares not for the gender of which of my children I send.” 

“Can you not refuse?”
“No Illiam, I cannot.” Ean looked into his son’s eyes. “Refusing this request will result in dire consequences. You are used to the king paying us no mind but this one does not take insults or refusal lightly. The Duke of Hythe refused when he was given the same request as I and his lands were revoked. The king had found he was assisting smugglers.” 

“Did he make the information up?”

“No, but he investigated something that the previous kings had ignored.” Ean explained, “I’m sure you understand what will happen if the king starts paying attention to this isle as a whole. We have been able to get away with much because no one on the mainland paid attention to us. We are not as egregious as the Duchy of Hythe but our economy is not based in legality.” 

“I am aware father, but to sell your own son off to be a concubine.” Illiam was exasperated, “not even a proper marriage. I could understand marrying me off properly but sending me to take part in this outdated tradition.” 

“This is not something I decided lightly, Illiam.” 

“I know father, but I will not idly comply with this ridiculous demand. I am far too old to be taken away from my duties to satisfy a child who happens to have more power.” 

Ean sighed and looked down at the table, “You may have your responsibilities to your hospital, Illiam, but you also have responsibilities to this duchy. If we lose access to the smuggling our island will likely starve.”

“Then we can start purchasing food from legitimate sellers.”

“We can’t afford to do that.” 

“There aren’t that many mouths to feed here, and we can grow food ourselves. We may lack grain but we will not starve so easy.” Illiam argued, “We have survived here long before the mainland started selling to us.”
“It is not just that, Illiam.” Ean looked his son directly in the eyes, “If we are to refuse, we may be in danger of invasion. I was informed that there have been mainland ships off our coast. Not close enough to be an imminent threat but far too close to be purely innocent.” 

“...” Illiam laughed nervously, “You could have led with that father, so this is far more serious than simply losing our smuggled grain.” 

“I fear so.” Ean sighed once again. “From what I can tell, the king wishes to control the various duchies through concubinage. Even our ancestors didn’t do this, they simply took wives from raids.” 

“This is a ridiculous demand.” Illiam folded his hands in front of his face. “Is there any way we can wriggle out of this, perhaps a spare child that's hanging around somewhere. Does uncle have any bastards?” 

“Not that I know of.” 

“Shame…what are the chances I will be sent back once he sees that I’m not what he wants.” 

“My son, I wish I knew.” Ean stood up, “The best thing we can do now is try to twist this to our advantage.” 

“I’m a physician not a schemer, father” Illiam looked down at the food on the table, “but I will give this my best attempt. If I get executed from this attempt I shall return to haunt you.”