Wolfblade (85 page)

She would never marry for love again. That was certain.

The chances were high that her next husband wouldn’t be the son of one of the many noble houses. Lernen needed friends in the increasingly affluent and influential merchant class and they were looking equally attractive to a princess wishing to acquire material wealth. Marla already had two sons who were the heirs to two different provinces and the High Prince’s crown. She did not intend to complicate matters further by adding a third heir to the mix.

“Is something wrong, your highness?”

Marla turned as Elezaar approached. He’d arrived back several weeks ago with Almodavar, who was now responsible for the security of her children. She was sleeping much better since he had arrived from Krakandar with three hundred battle-hardened troops.

“No. I was just reliving old times.”

“Old times?”

“I stood here once, Elezaar, a lifetime ago, trying to imagine what my husband might look like. That was the night I met Nash. And Laran. Wrayan, too, now that I think about it.”

“Sounds like quite an eventful evening.”

“It was.”

“And are you still determined to marry again?”

“More than ever,” Marla told the dwarf. “As a widow, I’m powerless. As a wife I have much more freedom.”

“Is it only freedom you want, your highness?”

Marla smiled thinly. The dwarf saw through her so easily. “I want power, Elezaar. I want people to think twice before they harm me or mine again. I want the men of this land to think about what they could gain by harming my sons, and then consider what they might lose if they fall out of favour with me. I want the power to ruin, not just to kill. Any man with enough coin can hire an assassin to redress a wrong he feels has been done to him. I want the serious wealth it takes to destroy a man’s livelihood and his family’s future. That’s the kind of wealth and power I want. I’ll need it, if I’m to keep my children safe.”

“Will you keep them here in Greenharbour with you?”

She shook her head. “I’m too busy with my work at the palace and too frightened for their safety. I’m sending them back to Krakandar. Almodavar will watch over them. And he’ll teach them to look after themselves. Far better than I could. Besides, with Mahkas and Bylinda there, it’ll be just like a
real home. Leila and Xanda are there too, although Travin’s gone to Elasapine with Charel now. Anyway, I don’t want my children growing up in this cesspit. If Lernen wants to be a doting uncle, he can do it from a distance. I won’t let Damin or the twins be corrupted by him.”

“Have you thought about asking the Sorcerers’ Collective to manage Krakandar until Damin comes of age?”

“With Alija in control? I think not. Besides, Mahkas has done a good job as regent so far. I see no reason why his stewardship of Krakandar shouldn’t continue.”

“And what of Alija?”

“What of her?”

“You’re just going to let her get away with everything she did?”

“I have no proof she was involved in anything, Elezaar, other than sleeping with my husband. Besides, she’s High Arrion now. Unless I want to take on the whole Sorcerers’ Collective, there’s no way I can confront her without incontrovertible proof that she was involved in something illegal. I put an end to Nash’s push for the throne. For the time being, we’ll have to be content with that.”

“She turned him against you.”

Marla was silent for a time, then she shrugged philosophically. “Did she? If Nash ever really loved me, Elezaar, Alija couldn’t have made him betray me the way he did. Decent men don’t arrange to have babies murdered to further their own ambition.”

“Wrayan believes she was behind it all.”

“Wrayan also claims he speaks to the gods and that he’s been living among the Harshini in Sanctuary for the past few years, Elezaar. You don’t believe that, too, do you?”

“I’m not sure I
don’t
believe him.”

“And that’s why I’m sending him back to Krakandar, too.”

“Almodavar
will
be busy.”

Marla smiled. “Look at it this way. Either Wrayan is crazy, which means that with Almodavar watching over him in Krakandar he can do very little harm, or he really
can
speak to the gods and wield Harshini magic, in which case I’d much rather have him where he can watch over my children.”

“And the High Prince?”

“What about him?”

“Will you do nothing about your brother?”

“I will fight to keep him on the throne with my dying breath. Damin deserves that much from me.”

“Even knowing what he is?”

Marla sighed. “Kagan told me once that Lernen’s greatest virtue was his total obsession with his own pleasure. He’s not interested in anything else. I
believe he was right. Lernen can do what he pleases, Elezaar. I will look after Hythria until my son comes of age. And then Hythria will have a High Prince it can be proud of.”

“I think Hythria already has a princess it can be proud of, Marla Wolfblade.”

She looked down at the twisted little man fondly. “Do you remember telling me once that your only purpose in life was to remain in my good graces, dwarf?”

“I do, your highness.”

“Keep coming up with comments like that,” Marla replied with a smile, “and you may yet get your wish, Fool.”