"Rumors have already begun to spread, Mistress," Thane said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his ankles in front of him. "Some rumors say that you've brought men from the High Fen because you intend to submit the Vale of Mists to the rule of High Fen City. Others wonder if you're about to take friend Savis as your husband to gain the support of High Lord Hamdi's progeny in fighting against the Lothians."
The first rumor Thane mentioned drew a handful of scoffs from people who knew Nyrielle well, especially people like Heila, who had seen the way Lady Nyrielle interacted with High Lady Erna. Some of them could envision the serpentine High Lady offering up her domain to her teacher, but no one could imagine things flowing the other way.
When Thane mentioned the second rumor, however, the entire room broke into laughter, though Savis adopted a detached posture, as if the idea of a betrothal between himself and Nyrielle was too ridiculous to acknowledge enough to laugh at.
