Monday afternoon…

KARANTHIR:

…My prince, why the frown? I thought you'd be happy to finally 

be out of bed. Has something happened?

ZYFAN:

I have received a letter from home.

KARANTHIR:
Please tell me no one there knows about the attack on your person?

ZYFAN:

Oh no. Syrrah and I agreed to never tell them.

KARANTHIR:

I concur. So what do they expect of you now?

ZYFAN:

Phae. The Council is demanding an answer within the week. They say - if I do not plan to wed her, then she is to be sent back and another will replace her.

KARANTHIR:

Sent back? Replaced! What is she to them - a fish to be tossed back in the water because it's inadequate? Really, that seems quite unfair.

ZYFAN:

Such is my life.

KARANTHIR:

What are you going to do?

ZYFAN:

I have been thinking of nothing else all morning. Karanthir, it 

would truly help me if you could only tell me how you feel about her?

KARANTHIR:

We've been over this my prince. I refuse to sway you one way or another.

ZYFAN:

But I am only asking my best friend to give me his opinion.

KARANTHIR:

All right - this is my opinion; I think it's highly unfair of you to ask me to help 

choose the woman who will share your bed and outrank me in every official 

capacity of your life. A woman who, with one word, can choose not to grant 

us her blessing to be with one another, ever ...

ZYFAN:

Oh Karanthir, I had completely forgotten about …

I never thought of it all in that way…

KARANTHIR:

Hush my prince, I want you to completely understand me.

I love you. I love you in a way I never thought possible.

KARANTHIR:

… I knew who you were when we first met, and although I never expected 

our flirtation to turn into … this, I knew what was expected of you. 

I walked into this with my eyes wide open.

ZYFAN:

Thank you and forgive me. It never occurred to me what I was asking you.

KARANTHIR:
There's nothing to forgive. And now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of 

reading to do. Before I go, do you need anything, a beverage, a snack?

ZYFAN:

No. I only need to gather my thoughts. I want to speak with Phae as soon 

she gets home from school. I will not want to draw this out any longer.

KARANTHIR:

A wise decision. 

KARANTHIR:

…Oh, and remind later to tell you how I manipulated Racolo today.

ZYFAN:

Karan, I hope you did not hurt him. You tend to tease him so.

KANANTHIR:

Not at all, but I did succeed in securing a purple crystal when any color 

would do. I had forgotten how easy it is to get a rise out of him, and how 

delightful it is to watch. I’ll check on you later.

ZYFAN:

Karan.

KARANTHIR:

Yes?

ZYFAN:

Never forget that I love you, so very much.

KARANTHIR:

And I you.