Deathstalker 06 - Deathstalker Legacy

William. "You have greater responsibilities now. I do ... understand the attraction. But you'll find that if you apply yourself, you can do far more for your people as King than you ever could as a Paragon. There's more to power over people's lives than the edge of a sword."
    "Yes, Father," said Douglas.
    King William sighed. "You always did have a way of agreeing with me that sounded just like Go to Hell.
    Got that from your mother. Speaking of which ... we need to talk, Douglas. I'll admit I've been putting this off, searching for just the right moment, but I can't in good faith keep this {torn you any longer."
    "You're not about to tell me I'm adopted, are you?"
    "No."
    "Or a clone?"
    "Shut up, Douglas. There is ... a part of the Ceremony we haven't discussed yet. An extra announcement that will be made concerning a decision that has been made by myself and Parliament. A decision in which you don't get a say. It's unfair, bordering on arbitrary, but it comes with the job. I can only hope that you are, despite all my misgivings, mature enough to understand its necessity."
    "Father," Douglas said desperately, "stop wittering. What the hell are you talking about?"
    "You're going to be married. A marriage has been arranged for you."
    "What?"
    "A King must have a Queen," William said stubbornly, meeting his son's gaze steadily. "And since these are two of the most important jobs in the Empire, they can't be left to just anybody. To the vagaries of
    the heart. And so, a marriage has been arranged, by myself and a Parliamentary committee, between you and ... a suitable person. This will be announced to the watching public, immediately after your Coronation. And you will nod and smile and go along with it, because you have no choice in the matter.
    Any more than I did."
    "You kept this quiet," said Douglas darkly. "Very bloody quiet."
    "And this is why," said William. "Because we all knew you'd have made a scene, given a chance.
    Discussions were held in strictest secrecy, because we knew you'd object. Or worse still, demand to be involved. I still remember that highly unfortunate affair you had with that... exotic dancer. Appalling creature. Never did know what you saw in her."
    "She could put her ankles behind her ears . . ."
    "I don't want to know!" William had to stop a moment to regain his composure. "I knew this would happen. Your brother was just the same. Threw a hell of a tantrum when we sat him down and told him who his Queen was going to be."
    Douglas looked at his father sharply. Perfect James, throwing a temper tantrum? He would have liked to ask more, but the King was pressing on. "Since we couldn't afford to have you making trouble, it was decided that I would break the news to you, at the last possible moment. And this would appear to be it.
    I wish your mother was here; she was always so much better at these things than me. And don't even think about running; I've got security men standing by with tanglefields and cattle prods, just in case.
    Joke."
    "You'll pardon me if I don't laugh," said Douglas. "I can't believe you did all this behind my back. I always thought marriage was supposed to be the most important decision in a man's life."
    "In your case, it is," said William. "Far too important to be left to you. Royal marriages are affairs of State, not of the heart. Though it needn't stay that way. I learned to love your mother, eventually. I'm sure you'll come to love your Queen too, in time."
    "Are you at least going to tell me who it is?" said Douglas, so far into shock now he was practically numb. "Or is it going to be a surprise?"
    "Of course not, dear boy. You needn't look so disturbed. Nothing but the best for the man who will be King, after all. If I was only fifty years younger I'd chase her round the room a few times myself. The hunchback suits her. Joke! She's beautiful, intelligent, and she'll make a superb Queen. Your bride will be Jesamine Flowers. You have heard of her?"
    Douglas felt his jaw drop, and it took him several moments to get enough air back into his lungs to be able to answer. "Heard of her? Jesamine bloody Flowers? She's the most famous, the most talented diva in the whole damned Empire! And the single most glamorous woman in all the civilized worlds! Hell, Jesamine's already so popular she already is Queen, in everything but name. And this goddess has agreed to marry me?"
    "Of course," said William. "Looked at logically, it's the obvious next career move for her. She's