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Jaron’s Pov
The afternoon sun lay warm upon the King’s Gardens, gilding the hedges and turning the fountain’s spray into drifting gold. Kerwyn walked beside me along the gravel paths. I listened as he spoke with the steady patience of a man who had survived three kings and far too many treaties.
With hands folded behind his back, he said. “Negotiating with Gelyn to open new trade routes will not be easy, Jaron. For all our efforts since the war ended, they have resisted opening those trade routes. Peace holds, certainly, but that does not mean they are willing to keep diplomatic relations with us.”
I considered that as we passed beneath a line of trimmed yews. “They will not dare start another war with us,” I said, though I was not certain whether I was convincing him or myself. Still, I added. “Not after what happened two years ago. Besides, they cannot afford it Kerwyn.”
Kerwyn nodded. “True but peace does not make them generous. It only makes them cautious.”
We continued a little farther, passing beneath an arch of climbing roses, when a familiar voice called my name.
“Jaron!”
I turned to see Amarinda hurrying toward us, her pale blue gown brushing against the low hedges. She smiled when she reached us, then turned to Kerwyn and inclined her head politely. “Good afternoon, Lord Kerwyn.”
Kerwyn gave her a respectful bow. “Your Highness.” It was interesting how her marriage to Tobias had not diminished the way the court saw her. She still carried her title as naturally as she carried her kindness.
Amarinda looked at me. “Jaron, may we speak?”
I glanced at Kerwyn who did not wait for my answer. “I will leave you for now, Your Majesty.” With another low bow, he took a side path and disappeared among the trees. Soon it was only Amarinda and me, and the quiet rustle of the gardens around us.
We walked down the garden together. For a few moments neither of us spoke.
Finally, I asked. “Well? What did you wish to speak with me?”
She smiled shyly. “It is about Tobias. His birthday is coming soon.”
I had not forgotten it. I rarely forgot such things, even when I pretended to. Of course, I already knew that Tobias’s birthday was near. It would fall in the week after next week, and in fact, I had already thought of a present for him.
I nodded. “Yes. I know it.”
Amarinda’s expression softened, “Tobias told me, when he was young, he used to celebrate his birthday quietly with his grandmother. It was never grand, but it was nice. After she died and he went to the orphanage in Gelvins, his birthdays were barely remembered at all.”
“I can tell,” I said softly. I knew too well how it was like, when a day passed without anyone remembering it was meant to belong to you. Four years of my own life had been spent as Sage, moving from one orphanage to another. My birthdays in Mrs. Turbeldy's orphanage were marked, at best, by bean bread like usual and, at worst, by nothing at all.
Amarinda spoke again. “I want to surprise him. I want him to celebrate his birthday properly this year.”
“Then you should go on ahead,” I replied. “He would like it.”
She slowed her steps and turned to face me fully. “That is why I need your help.”
I stopped walking. “My help?” I studied her though I already suspected what she meant. “Why would you need my help?”
Rather than answer she stared at me and raised her brow slightly, as if that alone should explain everything. After a moment I sighed, already knowing her message. “Of course. You want me to plan it.”
Amarinda smiled, clearly pleased with herself. “Yes. Your plans are always good Jaron.”
“I was under the impression that you disliked them,” I said dryly. “Most people often do.”
She shook her head. “That is not true. Surely, they are strange, but they are also fun. And they always seem to work out somehow. More than that… you are always thoughtful when it comes to your friends and family.”
I could not deny that. Two months ago I had planned Roden’s and Darius’s birthdays, and neither of them had died of embarrassment, which I counted as successes. Against all expectations, including my own, they had gone remarkably well. I had managed Fink’s birthday as well since I had known him. Though Fink didn’t know the exact date of his birthday but he had told me that Erick had made one for him and I had celebrated it for the past two years. I had not meant for it to become a pattern, but perhaps it already was.
Tobias, for all his dry wit and sharp intelligence, had earned a place among the few people I trusted without reservation. When we first met in Farthenwood, my opinion of him had been dismal. I had found him insufferable. He had been too cautious, too sharp-tongued and far too willing to challenge me when I had not been in the mood to be challenged. Yet over time, we had come to an understanding and he was one of my truest friends now. He was also one of my most loyal regents, a scholar and a physician in all but official title. Although he was currently apprenticed to the castle physician, during the war, he had done more than many trained physicians could have done. I would always be grateful to him for saving Mott’s life.
In addition to everything else, Tobias endured me with a patience that bordered on heroic whenever I managed to injure myself in new and inventive ways. Better still, he had served me loyally even when I had given him every reason not to. No matter how angry I made him, he never abandoned me.
Tobias needed a celebration.
He deserved more than a forgotten birthday. If he was to be surprised, it might as well be by something worthy of him
Finally, I said. “I will plan it.”
Amarinda beamed. “It will be even better if we all plan it together Jaron.”
“All?” I repeated. “Do you mean Fink as well?” I shook my head slightly. “You do realize he cannot keep himself silent in a room for a few seconds. And Tobias still teaches him in the schoolroom. If Fink is involved, Tobias will know of our plan within a day.”
“Fink can keep secrets. Sometimes,” she insisted. “I will handle him.”
That didn't convince me. I doubted anyone could really handle Fink. But I did not say so.
“Very well,” I said. “We shall plan Tobias’s birthday. Let us just hope that Fink does not ruin it before we even finish our planning.”
Later that day I found Roden where I knew he would be. He was training the new recruits on the practice ground in the courtyard. Carthya had lost too many soldiers in the war two years ago, and again when the Prozarians had attacked my castle last year. It was good to see our army begin to grow again.
Roden, unfortunately, seemed determined to grind the new soldiers into something useful by force alone as they stumbled through their drills with sweat darkening their tunics and moved in clumsy lines before him. He shouted at the them as though he meant to frighten discipline into their bones.
“Again,” he barked, as one of the soldiers stumbled through a parry again. “If you leave your guard open like that in battle, you will be dead before you can regret it.”
Folding my arms, I leaned against the low stone pillar and called out to him, “Do you intend to break their legs now, Roden, or are you saving that for later? You do have a habit of doing that.”
He turned at once, and when his eyes fell on me, I looked at him with a grin that I knew would irritate him.
“Oh,” he said flatly. “It’s you.”
The recruits, who had been too busy with trying not to trip over their own swords suddenly froze when they noticed me. A ripple of whispers passed through them.
“It’s His Majesty… ”
“That is the king… ”
“King Jaron… ”
Several of them nearly dropped their swords. Some of them straightened in alarm; others stared as if I were someone they had half imagined.
Roden barked orders at them again, “Go back to your drills! And at least try, not to embarrass yourselves.” He glanced sideways at me, “before the king.”
They obeyed at once, though this time with even more nervousness than before. Roden watched them for a moment, then muttered, “They are all useless.”
“I have seen worse. They do not look that bad Roden,” I replied mildly.
He turned back to me. “You should be concerned. They are your army, Jaron. Some of them are worse than Tobias.”
I frowned. “That can't be true. Tobias cannot even hold a sword properly.”
I raised a corner of my mouth. “Speaking of Tobias,” I said, seizing the moment, “I have something to discuss with you.”
Roden glanced back at his men. “In case you have not noticed, I am busy, Jaron. Surely you can see that.”
“Oh, I did notice that. But I also noticed that your new recruits have already trained enough for today. Which means you can just dismiss them for the day.”
“I cannot do that,” he argued, stating at me. “They are already bad enough Jaron.”
“They can train later Roden.”
He hesitated for a long moment, then finally turned to the recruits with a scowl on his face. “That is enough for today. You all are dismissed.”
There was no need to say it twice. The new soldiers looked relieved as if they had been granted a pardon from execution and immediately hurried away.
Roden muttered, “This is not good at all. They will only get worse.”
I threw an arm around his shoulder and clapped on it, as I steered him away from the practice ground. “Well since it is my army, I will take the responsibility for it.”
We began to walk together along the edge of the courtyard, away from prying ears. Roden folded his arms. “So what do you want Jaron?”
“It's Tobias’s birthday,” I said. “Amarinda intends to plan something for him with all of us.”
He groaned. “That is why you made me dismiss my men? Tobias’s birthday? What does it have to do with me? I have more important things to worry about.”
“Tobias is your friend Roden,” I said. “And he also helped me plan your birthday two months ago. You must do something for him in return.”
Roden considered that for a moment, then frowned. Finally, he let out a sigh. “Fine. But I have got no gift for him.”
A grin tugged at my mouth. “Oh, I am sure you eventually will think of something for him.”
Outside Jaron’s Pov
Amarinda had gone to Fink in the schoolroom, where he sat with a book open before him that he was pretending to read.
“Fink,” she said softly, “I need your help with something.”
His eyes lit up at once. “Is it something fun?" Then his smile faded away slightly. "Because you and Tobias always make me study and that is just terribly boring.”
“It is Tobias’s birthday,” she whispered.
“Tobias’s birthday?” he exclaimed loudly.
“Quiet,” She pressed a finger to her lips. “It is a surprise. Jaron and I are planning something, and we need your help as well Fink.”
A grin widened across his face. “That sounds fun.”
“Hush. Tobias must not know of this Fink.”
Fink’s voice dropped to a whisper now. “All right, I will not tell anyone. I promise.”
Jaron’s Pov
Involving Fink had not been that hard. Amarinda had already brought him into the plan and once I had convinced Roden to join us, it had not been difficult to involve Mott either. He would follow me into fire if I asked. I even drew Errol into this and he agreed to help without complaint. Eventually, we gathered in a small room off the west corridor to begin planning for Tobias's birthday.
Later that day, I went to Darius’s study. He was bent over his work when I entered. He was sitting at his desk, surrounded by papers and ledgers with his expression fixed on them in that thoughtful, distant way he wore when he was buried in duty.
“You are planning something,” he said without looking up.
“How did you know?”
He only glanced at me, and I understood him at once. Darius had always been able to read me far too easily.
After a beat, he returned to his work. “So, what is it?”
“You will not like it.”
“I thought as much.”
“It is for Tobias,” I admitted. “His birthday is coming soon.”
That got his attention. When he looked up at me, I added. “I know you and Tobias are not particularly close, so I do not expect you to help.”
“I may not help much,” Darius said quietly. “But I will get him a gift. He did the same for me on my birthday.”
That surprised me more than I cared to show. Though they were still not friends, the two had been getting along better than I had expected.
For the next few days we planned in quiet corners and behind closed doors, each of us careful to keep Tobias entirely ignorant of what was being arranged around him. We made certain that he learned nothing. Though it was not easy. Tobias, sometimes, noticed far more than he was supposed to. Yet somehow, we managed it. We spoke in half sentences and glances, and whenever Tobias came too near, every conversation abruptly turned into something dreadfully dull. By some miracle, he didn't suspect anything.
On the night before his birthday, we gathered in the small dining room of the castle. The supper was oddly peaceful in its own way, though Fink had been speaking for what felt like hours about things that had no value whatsoever. He talked as he always did, with the unstoppable energy of a river in flood. He leapt from one topic to the next, crowding far too many sentences in a single breath until even he seemed to forget what he had begun to say. Everyone else had long since given up listening to him. In fact no one even pretended to listen after the first few minutes, though Fink did not seem to notice it.
Sitting across me, Roden was far more devoted to his meal and I was fairly certain he was already on his fourth helping.
Tobias finally spoke as he turned to me. “Jaron, I want to ask about the regents’ meeting tomorrow.”
“Oh the regents’ meeting? I already cancelled it,” I said lightly.
He stared at me, looking genuinely startled. “Cancelled it?”
“Yes. It will happen later. Probably when I feel like it.”
I could sense Mott’s disapproval beside me, and Darius’s as well, though neither of them said anything. Both of them knew exactly why I had done it, but that did not make them any happier because they had at least expected me to attend the meeting. They exchanged a look beside me which clearly meant they were not pleased with my answer. I chose to ignore them.
“Probably? Later?” Tobias echoed sounding faintly bewildered.
“Why do you sound like a chorus in a poorly written play?” I asked. Then I grinned. “You know me, Tobias. Besides, it gives you free time tomorrow. You have been far too busy lately. You should be grateful to me for it.”
“Jaron, that meeting was due for weeks,” he protested.
I waved that off. “It is nothing important. Most of my regents, aside from you and Harlowe, rarely discuss anything worthwhile. Besides, this spares you from your most exhausting role as my Minister of Limiting Boring People to No More Than Eight Minutes.”
“That is not even a real position. I have told you already,” Tobias said.
“But you do seem to enjoy it. You said so yourself on Saints’ Day last year that you find some of those boring people fascinating.”
He looked as though he might argue but he only sighed before turning to Amarinda. “So... are you free tomorrow, then?”
Amarinda blinked at him, then looked away. “No, not really.”
Next, he turned to Roden and asked. “What about you?”
Roden stared at him as he swallowed a mouthful of food before he asked. “What?”
“Are you free tomorrow?”
He paused with a fork halfway to his mouth. “I have to train the new recruits. They are terrible.” Then he returned to eating his meal.
Tobias looked back at me. “And you, Jaron?”
“I am king, Tobias. I might have cancelled the regents’ meeting but I am still busy,” I said.
Tobias's eyes shifted to Mott who met his gaze and calmly said, “I am always busy.” With that, Mott cast a sideways glance at me. I rolled my eyes away from him.
At last Tobias turned to Fink, who had finally fallen uncharacteristically silent by now. “You, at least, are free.”
“Actually, I am busy too,” Fink said quickly.
“No, you are not. I teach you, Fink.”
“I have other important things to do besides studying boring things.” Then, with reckless enthusiasm, he added, “Also since tomorrow is your birth—”
“Fink.” I glared at him so sharply that he wisely cut himself off.
Tobias frowned, looking between us. He tilted his head, confused. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing is wrong at all,” I said. “Let us have dessert, shall we? Errol?”
I turned my head to Errol standing beside me, stepped forward with dessert. Although none of us looked particularly convincing, Tobias let the matter drop for now.
The next morning, just as I had planned the castle had gone unusually quiet. I hid with Fink in the dining hall behind one of the long tapestries that depicted some long-forgotten battle between two kings. Fink’s eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement, whispering questions I refused to answer while I gestured for him to stay quiet.
Around us, others had chosen their own hiding places in the corners and behind the secret doors of the room. It felt absurd and yet oddly thrilling. Amarinda hid behind a long curtain near the windows and Roden remained hidden behind the tall column near the door.
Tobias entered the hall, murmuring softly to himself. “Where is everyone? The castle has never been this quiet and empty.”
He stood alone in the dining hall, looking more unsettled with every passing moment.
Errol appeared in the doorway with a tray in his hand. “Good morning, Tobias.”
“Where is everyone, Errol?” Tobias asked him.
“I cannot tell you, sir,” Errol said. Though I did catch a hint of a smile and for a dreadful moment, I thought he might ruin everything. But, to his credit, he said nothing more and held his tongue in the end. Which made me let out a small breath of relief. Perhaps Errol had learned something from me after all.
“Amarinda is not here either,” Tobias muttered as he sat in his chair at the table. “I know everyone said they were busy, but this is… strange.”
Beside me, Fink pressed his hands over his mouth and his eyes were sparkling. I put a finger to my lips, though, honestly, I could not help but choke back a laugh myself. There was something strangely satisfying in knowing a surprise was about to land where it was least expected.
After a while, servants quietly entered the room, carrying more dishes than any one person could possibly eat. Tobias stared at them with growing confusion as they began to set the dishes upon the long table. He frowned. “What is all this for? It is only me here.”
“Not quite true,” I said, stepping out from behind the tapestry. Tobias turned so quickly that he nearly knocked over his chair.
At the same time Amarinda emerged from behind the tall curtain near the windows and Roden revealed himself as well with his arms folded.
Fink leaped out beside me and grinned. “Surprise!”
I grinned. “Well, today is your birthday. So we are going to have a nice breakfast together right now. And there will be a celebration this evening as well.”
“You were all hiding?” Tobias asked, incredulous.
“Yes!” Fink declared cheerfully. “It is your birthday after all. Jaron planned it.”
“Amarinda is the one who suggested it,” I corrected and glanced at her now. “You should thank her.”
Tobias turned to Amarinda, looking visibly moved by all this. She stepped forward and offered a small wrapped parcel with a bright smile on her face. “Happy birthday, Tobias.”
He took it and smiled shyly. “Thank you. I shall make sure to write another poem for you.”
That earned him a groan from Roden. “Please spare me listening to that.”
“And do not recite it in any room I am in as well,” I added gravely. “That is a royal decree.”
I smiled and gave my gift to Tobias. “Happy birthday Tobias. Consider this for tolerating me all this time. That's hard work, since you already have so much to do.”
“It is.” He smiled in return, then thanked me as he took the gift.
Roden followed with his own gift in his hands. He said. “I didn’t get enough time to decide a gift for you. This is all I got but I hope you will like it.”
Tobias gave him a smile and accepted it as well, offering his thanks to Roden.
Fink sprang forward with a package and passed it to Tobias, “Thanks for helping me study, even though you lecture too much and the books are boring. But I like you.”
Tobias blinked at him, clearly taken aback. “I’m… not entirely sure how to respond to that. But thank you Fink.”
Mott and Darius arrived with their gifts. Darius said stiffly, “You wished me on my birthday. We are not friends, but you are Jaron’s friend, so this is for you.”
He held out a package, which Tobias accepted with visible surprise and a soft smile on his face. Mott stepped forward with his own gift and wished Tobias well.
After that we sat down together for a warm breakfast and ate.
Music and laughter filled the halls during the celebration that evening. From the corner of my eye I noticed Amarinda lean in and kiss Tobias on his cheek, which immediately turned him not slightly but rather impressively red. Being a considerate friend, I politely looked away.
“Oh, I saw that,” Fink said loudly. Which entirely ruined the moment.
When the cake was brought to the table, Tobias cut it and gave the first slice to Amarinda. Then he gave one slice to me, Roden, and finally to Fink, who received his slice as if the saints themsleves had descended to bless him. For once, nothing went wrong. Which was indeed an amazing thing.
After a while, Tobias said. “Perhaps I should open the gifts now.”
“You will definitely like mine,” Fink said excitedly.
Tobias opened Amarinda’s present first which was a silver ink set engraved with delicate runes. Tobias held it as though it were something precious. He looked like he might actually be struck speechless, which for him was no small thing.
Roden’s gift was a heavy book. When Tobias opened it, Roden said. “It has big words in it. I cannot understand them, but you like those kind of books.”
“Thanks. But… well, I have already read it,” Tobias said apologetically.
Roden’s jaw fell open. “What?”
My gift for Tobias was a book on astronomy. “I thought you have probably exhausted the shelves on herbs and medicine in the library.” I said. “So I chose something different for you. This one has some interesting theories of astronomy and even I found it worth reading. Since I only read if the subject matter is interesting enough, I thought you might like it as well.”
Tobias smiled ruefully. “Actually, I have read this one too Jaron.”
At that my smile faded immediately. “Oh.”
Beside me, Roden let out a groan. “I told you we should not be getting anything for him.”
Tobias looked down at the books. “I will still keep them anyway. These gifts mean you all thought of me.”
Darius’s gift was a manual on sword fighting.
“You need it,” Darius said flatly. “Surely you have not read this.”
“No,” Tobias looked at the cover. “I have not read this one. But perhaps I should.”
“That’s not surprising,” Roden muttered.
Tobias laughed at that. I grinned. “It is a good thing you finally found a page you haven’t turned yet. Try to enjoy the mystery of it, Tobias. Knowing everything is far more boring than you make it look like.”