Episode 81: Aliks (Rylena)

There were a few facts that orbited and encompassed Rlyena’s life:

1. She was the queen of the pixies.
2. The pixies lived on a reservation in Keshmar.
3. Girik was the king of Keshmar; he was married to Drella, Drey’s twin. Drella was the queen of Keshmar.
4. Drey was the father of her eleven oldest children because Nell couldn’t bring himself to sleep with her (she felt the same. He was her husband but he had raised her).
5. Nell had finally decided to have a baby with her, which brought the total to twelve.
6. Rylena was married to Nell, who was married to Konrad. She suspected K0nrad would have children with her someday as a proxy husband.
7. Aliks was Girik’s younger brother.
8. Aliks was single.

At this moment, Aliks was walking toward her, his fluffy brown hair a stark contrast to Girik’s curly brown hair. One looked arid while the other humid.

“Hello, Aliks,” Rylena said. “What can I help you with?”

“Hello, Rylena,” Aliks said as he moved closer, his hand grazing her waist as he turned her so she would walk with him.

She didn’t budge.

He didn’t care.

“I had an idea I thought you would enjoy the fruits of. Do you have a moment?” Aliks asked.

She began to walk in the direction he wanted her to go, up the stone palace stairs and through the hallways lined in windows that let a breeze in, of her own volition, “Yes. What is it?”

She tried to sound curious, but she suspected she would not like his plan.

“If we were to marry, it would solve your heir problem and strengthen your ties to the kingdom. No one could ever contest your peoples’ right to be here.”

“I don’t have an heir problem. And I’m already involved with someone. Are you not capable of being useful in your current position?” She replied. Nell wasn’t a present king but he showed up when he was needed (rarely) and he …

He loved his kids when he saw them.

Ultimately, he had claimed a life of his own outside of the force of their marriage. When he had lost Drey, something in him had snapped and he hasn’t been around as much. Einin and Eiron, their only children together, were six. They saw him at least once a week. It worked.

“I’ve watched you for years,” Aliks said. “I’ve been unable to act because of my family. They want me to marry someone high-born, and they don’t think you’re enough.”

She didn’t laugh, though she wanted to. Girik and Drella were her closest friends. She did not let her guard down easily, but most of a century as family and a trusted ally had made a clear statement.

Aliks needed a lesson in that. “They gave me land. I don’t believe that, and you’re a fool to think you can sway me away from them. They’ve been nothing but generous.”

“Away? My goal is to bring our people together. Unite our families,” he said, his voice pained. He sounded like a wounded puppy whimpering over her rejection.

“I understand,” he added.

They were on one of the wooden ramps now, one that tangled its way up a tree into the higher levels of the main treehouse.

“I’m relieved you understand. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“I’m here, should you reconsider your allegiances.”

“What are you allegiances? How would they benefit me?”

He ran his hand down her arm, in a somewhat subtle effort to both touch her and guide her down a different hallway, toward what she suspected was the portion of the walkway that allowed a sweeping view of the kingdom.

“The opportunity to ensure your people always have a place in this kingdom feels significant to me. I’ve… I’ve wanted you for years. You’re beautiful, smart, courageous.”

“How would we do that?” She asked.

It was important to gather information, especially in the company of someone persistent. He wasn’t unattractive and he would make a good ally if he was genuine enough. She didn’t feel like he was, but to what degree she could trust him she wasn’t sure. She also didn’t want to ignore someone that could become a problem for her or for Drella and Girik. They were more lenient than she was; she had a no tolerance policy for those acting against her in secret. If someone had a problem with her she expected them to be upfront about it. She didn’t punish honesty and criticism; she couldn’t stand lies and deceit.

“As long as you are part of the ruling family, your heirs cousins to my brother’s children, you and they would always have a home here.”

They were already cousins, because of Drey, but she knew he meant future heirs. It was a good point – a marriage into the family would be good for her.

Still, she hadn’t sleuthed out the entirety of his actions.

She thought through Girik and Drella’s children and recalled a pleasant conversation she had publicly had with one of their sons, Telek. They had discussed doing something another time, a date.

She wasn’t ready for a date, but it would help the situation with Aliks.

“What’s wrong with marrying Telek? He’s family.”

She would have to go on the date now.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Aliks stopped walking and leaned against the stoney wall, near an opening toward the view she predicted he would take her to.

See this kingdom, want this kingdom, take it with me.

She would never cross Drella or Girik, nor did she desire more people or land to control. The pixies and the animals were her priorities. She was happy to have a piece of land within another kingdom, where some things could be delegated to Girik or Drella.

“Is that who you’re involved with?” Aliks asked. He’s young and inexperienced.”

“Yes it is,” she replied.

“Well. I want you to be happy, if he’s who makes you happy then I won’t interfere,” Aliks said, though he did not sound like he believed in it. She suspected he would continue trying to make a case for himself.

“Thank you, Aliks,” she replied. “I will consider your proposal.”

And she would. There was potential in the alliance, but a pixie marriage was unbreakable without death and she wouldn’t give him that sort of power without fully understanding his motives.

She may have to date him as well.

She had to make a date with Telek.

Rylena walked through the palace until she found Drella. She would have accepted either, but she wanted to get this portion of the conversation over with as soon as possible. She was not immune to her own rules.

“Hello, Drella,” she said as she approached her, reading a book on a burgundy chaise.

“Hello, Rylena,” Drella replied. She set her book down and sat more upright.

“Aliks has asked to court me. I’m not sure of his motive, but he seems interested in tightening the bonds between our families.

Drella laughed, “I didn’t know they needed tightening. Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” Rylena assured her. “I am also interested in courting Telek.”

Drella looked at her for a moment.

“Telek?”

“Yes, we had a nice conversation the other day and I think there is some potential there. I am more interested in Telek than Aliks, and I don’t see harm in creating an additional tie between us.”

She frowned, thoughts of Aliks’ recent behavior flashing through her mind. Rylena tried to ignore it, but she caught a few glimpses.

“I will court Aliks if you want me to,” Rylena replied.

She had somehow gone from married to Nell and fine, ruling on her own and capable, to looking for someone to have a more even partnership with. She had never been through a courtship – she was married as an infant because Nell’s father was dying and he was the last living parent between them. Nell raised her, and their awkward marriage-parent relationship ensued.

She was terrified of the prospect.

“You may court either, Rylena. Your happiness matters. We’ll always be close.”

Rylena smiled, “Brielle is expecting a new child soon.”

Drella smiled in return, “I heard.”

“Thank you for talking with me, I hope you have discussed Aliks with Girik. He attempted to drive a wedge between us in our conversation, which alarmed me. I’m not sure if he realized he did it or if he is intentionally doing so. He was very all over the place in our conversation.”

“I have, and I will tell him about this. Thank you Rylena.”

They hugged, a cordial hug, and then Rylena returned home to work.

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