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"The ht with Captain Roden There were likely others before it"

"Let it be sent," I said "And follow it I want to knoho Conner is talking to"

"As you co, Drylliad will stand until your safe return"

To which I only loweredat ether in concern She opened her , but Kerwyn spoke first

"Your Majesty, I won’t bother with protesting about the risks you’re taking," he said tiredly "I know it never does any good But if you intend to do this, then there is so we can to protect you, but --"

"It’s a trap for me, I know"

Kerwyn leaned forward "After your family’s deaths, Carthya nearly fell into civil war You cannot leave without na at the princess, I said, "It should be Amarinda, naturally"

But she shook her head "A Carthyan must be named as successor Not me"

"That’s ridiculous You ht not have been born here, but you’re as Carthyan as I am"

"I’ more," she said softly "Your people will accept , but not as their sole ruler"

"Though you are both young, there is another possibility" Kerwyn’s tone was cautious now, careful not to push too hard "If you were to , Amarinda would automatically retain the throne as queen Nobody could question her rule then"

Aestion neither of us had considered and certainly weren’t prepared to answer There had been other royals who had es than ere now, and usually at desperate times like thosefaced But this was so sudden I knew I had to say so, and say it quickly And yet the words were stuck inand Amarinda spoke first "None of that will be necessary because Jaron will come back from this"

"Maybe I won’t" It was foolish to pretend otherwise And Carthya needed a ruler "We should n"

With estion, all eyes went to Amarinda She stared atand I need a few minutes alone"

With respectful bows, the room emptied I took her hand, but stared at it rather than dare look her in the eye Things had been so easy for us since I had returned froe so suddenly here, all the aardness had returned

"I know this isn’t what you want, or the way you want it," I said "But if we don’t do this, you will becoated to the person I choose as heir to the throne That’s not fair to you, not again"

"But you will return" I shrugged in response and kept aze doard With an unsteady voice, she added, "Jaron, do you expect to die in this war?"