Sing the Four Quarters Read Online Free

her features
    Finally, it was her turn
    The growth just under the edge of her father's ribs had been killing him slowly for the last two quarters Here, at the end, he was a physical caricature of himself, flesh long melted away skin hanging loose on the bone, gray hair dull and brittle Only his eyes remained unchanged even sunk as they were deep below saffron-tinted cheeks Annice dropped gracefully to one knee, took a deep breath, and caught up the limp hand lying against the embroidered coverlet in both of hers "Most gracious and regal Majesty, I request a boon"
    The corners of his mouth twitched slightly "Go on"
    "I do request that rather than be promised to the Heir of Cemandia, to be joined for political expedience when we are of an age, I be permitted to enter the Bardic Hall of Elbasan"
    Within her grip his fingers moved "Who promises you to Cemandia's Heir7"
    "Theron"
    The old king's eyes blazed "Theron," he said in a stronger voice than any had heard from him in days, "does not rule yet"
    Theron leaned forward "Lord Juraj, the ambassador, only spoke of it, Majesty"
    "Yet neither you nor he saw fit to speak with the king"
    "We did not wish to tire you over mere speculation"

    "You passed this speculation to your sister"
    "Only to see if she would be willing"
    The dying man jerked out a dry laugh "Obviously, she is not"
    Go ahead , Annice thought, tell him that I never told you I didn't want to go along with your premature little power play and I'll call you a liar to your face Go ahead, Your Royal Highness, Heir of Shkoder, I dare you She could feel the heat of Theron's glare, but all he said was, "I would not force her"
    "You cannot force her." The king paused, fighting for breath, but Annice could feel the pressure of his fingers against hers and knew he wasn't finished After a moment, he turned his head toward the Bardic Captain "You have been after her for some time"
    It had been an open secret in the palace for very nearly a year Annice had no idea why her father hadn't agreed and realized she was attempting to force his hand as much as her brother's
    "Her Highness has both talent and skill," the captain al lowed diplomatically. "If you give your permission and she is willing to take the oath, the Hall will accept her for training."
    "Did you know of this… boon?" Captain Liene's eyes never left the king's face. "No, Majesty. I did not."
    "Very well." The king lay quietly for another moment. When he spoke again, his voice held the ringing tone of proclamation. "I, Mikus, King of Shkoder, High Captain of the Broken Islands, Lord over the Mountain Principalities of Sibiu, Ohrid, Ajud, Bicaz, and Somes, do on this day grant the boon of my youngest daughter that she should be permitted to enter the Bardic Hall of Elbasan. Witness?"
    As the only bard present, the captain nodded. "I so witness."
    Annice released a breath she couldn't remember holding. "Thank you, Majesty." Then she stood to take a formal farewell of her king. Her father.
    After the words, which were words only, as her lips pressed a kiss against his cheek, he whispered, "Well played."
    Later, after the death had been witnessed and they were waiting for priest and bard and the new king to leave the bedchamber, Milena cornered her in the king's solar and hissed, "Just what's wrong with the Heir of Cemandia?"
    "Nothing." Annice jerKed her arm out of her sister's grip. "I just don't want to be joined with anyone. I want to be a bard."
    "And you always get what you want, don't you? Did you even consider your family obligations? Of course you didn't.
    There's a price to be paid for good food and warm clothes and a lifetime of servants saying 'yes, Highness, and no, Highness.' " Milena tossed her braid back over her shoulder. "But I always said Theron spoiled you."
    "He did not!" He'd just always been there when their mother had been interested only in the beautiful Irenka or their father had been too busy being the king, which was most of the time. Theron had