Arutha nodded. “And it keeps other political issues in balance.”
Jimmy and Dash both knew that meant Duko would be permitted to appoint his own captains to key locations along the southern borders, probably gaining titles for them. There were presently more offices than nobles to fill them due to the high mortality rate of the recent war in the West. Eastern nobles would already be pestering the King for some of those titles—more to the point, the taxes their lands brought. None of those, however, would be willing to venture to the West to directly rule them. Absentee rulership was not an alien concept in the Kingdom, but it was frowned upon in the West. There were too many problems —Queg, Kesh, the Brotherhood of the Dark Path, among others—to leave the administration of a Barony, let alone an Earldom or Duchy, to a bailiff or seneschal. A few key offices would be given to western nobles’ second or third sons, so that Duko wouldn’t be able to build a structure beneath him of only personal retainers.
Jimmy said, “Let me change the subject.” He indicated the young women dotting the room. “Is there anything we should know. . .”
“About what?” queried Arutha.
Dash said, “Has Patrick made a decision on who is going to be the next Princess of Krondor?”
Arutha glanced around, seeing if anyone was listening. “Our two most recent queens were from Roldem. Borric, and Lyam before him, were anxious to fix alliances in the East.” He put his hands on his son’s shoulders. “You have the blood of Roldem in you. You know your mother’s people. They are vain and proud of their heritage and think of themselves as a people apart. This is why we have seen so little of your mother.” There was a bitter note in Arutha’s voice neither son had heard before.
They both knew their parents’ marriage had been arranged by their grandfather, Duke James, and had been as advantageous to the Kingdom as the two marriages of the last two kings to Roldem’s royal daughters. Dash and Jimmy’s parents had always been able to maintain a pose of wedded happiness in public, though the boys both knew the marriage was far from ideal. Only now were they learning just how strained the relationship between their parents truly was.
Dash said, “So it must be a Kingdom bride?”
Arutha nodded. “The King has said so, to me, in private. And it must be an eastern noble’s daughter. Preferably one from a Duke with a great deal of influence in the Congress of Lords.”
“Brian Silden,” said Jimmy.
“Borric has determined to let his son have the privilege of liking the woman who is to bear Isle’s future King. So there are five likely candidates for the position of Princess.”
Jimmy said, “Have you any inkling of who Patrick will ask to wed?”
Arutha regarded his son closely, and said, “Francine will be our next queen. All that remains is the timing. Patrick and she have been friends since childhood. He genuinely enjoys her company. There have been far worse foundations for state marriages in our time.”
Jimmy looked stricken.
Dash said, “Are you all right?”
Jimmy glanced from his father to his brother. “I just didn’t. . . realize.”
Arutha said, “What? Are you in love with her?”
Jimmy looked at his father and said, “I’ll never know.” Without another word he turned and walked away.
Arutha looked at Dash, who said, “Let him have some time to himself.”
“I didn’t realize,” said Arutha.
“He didn’t either,” said Dash. “That’s the problem.”
“What is?”
“Taking things for granted.” Looking at his father, he said, “Did Grandfather ever ask you if you wanted to serve the crown, Father?”
Arutha looked as if this question was equally perplexing as what he had just witnessed. After a pause, he said, “No, of course not.”
“Why ‘of course not’?”
“Because I was just a boy. I began, much as you did, running errands for him, then I was given work with the Royal Pages, then the Squires.”
“But when you became a man, did he ask if you might wish to do something else?”
Arutha looked at Dash and said, “No. He never did.”
“Did you ever consider you might have had a happier life if he had?”
Arutha was silent a moment, then said, “That may be the oddest question I’ve ever heard, son.”
Dash shrugged. “I’m full of very odd questions these days.”
“Why did you ask that?”
“Because I’m not certain I wish to continue in service to the crown.”
“What?” said Arutha. His tone was a mix of surprise and disbelief. “What would you do?”
Dash shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps return to Mister Avery’s employ. He is a very wealthy man.”
Arutha laughed. “On paper. The King may make good on repaying him by the time his grandchildren are running Avery and Jacoby.”