—Queen Hanith of Catonia
"Take a seat, Alar." My mother motioned to the dainty couch by the window, then turned to her assistants. "Take a lunch break, ladies."
There were four of them that afternoon, all daughters of good houses, laboring at their small desks, turning my mother's instructions into the elegant correspondence that helped hold the Federation together.
They looked surprised to be dismissed so early, but glad of it, and they didn't waste any time putting their pens away and filing out after offering quick courtesies and murmurs of good day.
As the door clicked shut behind them, my unease intensified.
Why had she sent them away?
They were privy to all her secrets, drafting every letter she sent out, so they knew about every betrothal months before the couples involved were told of their upcoming nuptials.
What could she possibly need to tell me that she wouldn't say in front of them?
She poured two glasses of the pale wine she'd kept in an ice bucket, handed me one, and sat next to me on the couch. "You have no idea what I had to go through to untangle the knot your brother's recovery made of my arrangements." She took a sip from her glass. "I'm not complaining, mind you. I'm overjoyed that things are back to the way they were before the attempted assassination, and my son is back." She shook her head. "I wish his mobility could be restored as well, but I'm just being greedy." She put a hand on my knee. "I'm so incredibly grateful to you for all you have done for your brother."
There was a 'but' coming, and knowing my mother, I wasn't going to like it. Not with this preamble.
"Thank Elurion," I said. "Couldn't have done it without his blessing."
The smile that lifted my mother's lips was too knowing. Did she know about the greycap?
Had she had me followed? Because I didn't think she could have forced a confession out of Healer Lemil.
"Yes, indeed." My mother took another sip of wine. "Elurion is merciful." She let out a dramatic sigh. "But Queen Margada isn't. That woman is a tougher negotiator than I am." She shook her head. "I can't believe her audacity."
Here it comes.
I braced to hear the news from Tarina, and what Queen Margada was demanding in exchange for the breach of the marriage agreement between Arlen and Cardilia, the crown princess of Tarina.
"I graciously offered to honor the betrothal between Cardilia and Arlen, and I asked that Cardilia abdicate Tarina's throne to her younger brother and come to live in Catonia as the wife of the heir."
That was indeed a generous offer, and if the Queen of Tarina refused, she was a fool who was putting her wounded pride before what was good for her province.
"What did she say?" I asked.
"She refused." My mother's mouth narrowed. "She informed me that Cardilia has always been groomed to be the next Queen of Tarina, and that Cardilia's husband, whoever he would be, would rule at her side, in Tarina." She set her wineglass down on the side table. "Frankly, I was stunned by her reply. I thought she would be overjoyed that her daughter was no longer marrying a broken man but the future Head of the Council. As Arlen's wife, Cardilia's position would have been much higher than that of a queen ruling over a small province. But evidently, Margada would rather her daughter be the biggest fish in a pond than a great one in the sea. I find it shortsighted, but it is her choice, and it is final. She wouldn't budge even when I promised to sweeten the deal with promises of investments in Tarina's industry."
I turned the wine glass in my hand. "Why are you telling me this and not Arlen? Arlen is the one who's lost a bride."
She waved a dismissive hand. "Arlen lost one bride and got another. The one who was meant for you. Osrec and Ralehari were never going to give their only daughter to anyone but the crown prince. I knew that when I first betrothed Ailadi to you, back when you were supposed to be heir. With Arlen restored, Ailadi could no longer marry you. I explained the situation and offered them Arlen instead. Not the same prince, but still the heir to the crown of Catonia. They accepted the offer without making a fuss, even after I told them that Arlen had lost the useof his legs. As long as he could still produce heirs, they didn't care whether he had a third eye in the middle of his forehead or was missing limbs. As long as Ailadi was married to the future King Tekumuton, they were content."
I wanted to release a relieved breath. I wanted to believe that I was off the hook and that I wouldn't have to marry any princess, but I knew that my luck couldn't be that good.
Still, I had to try.
"Thank you." I put a hand over my heart. "I never wanted that match. Not that there is anything wrong with Princess Ailadi. I'm sure she's delightful. I just don't want any of this."
The guilty look that crossed my mother's face confirmed my suspicion.
"Arlen's part is settled, but yours is not," she said. "There is also the issue of placating Queen Margada. Breaking a promise between crowns is not as easy as simply backtracking and saying 'Oops, the plans have changed.' There is a price involved, either in coin or concessions, or you make an enemy. Regrettably, Margada refused coin. I owe Margada a prince." She held my gaze, waiting for me to realize what was coming, but I wasn't going to make it easy for her.
"You have three more sons. I'm sure one of them can marry Cardilia."
"No, they can't, because now Margada knows that you are the next in line if anything happens to Arlen, and she won't settle for anyone else."
"And how does she know that?"
