“But you’re willing to take what he’s offering!” she whispered back. “You of all people know everything has its price. And don’t tell me you’re tired of paying! This isn’t the time, or the place!” She stared at him, until he looked away. Without another word he entered Mukhtab’s tent.
That night he was all tenderness and apologies, and Alanna’s anger faded. She loved him with all her heart. But marriage?
The next evening she and Myles dined alone in the tent she had been given after turning the large one over to Kara and Kourrem. Once the meal was over, she steeled herself to ask for her foster-father’s advice.
“Myles, what happens when Jon marries?”
The knight glanced at her sharply. “The first duty of any noble wife is to give her husband an heir. The succession must be assured, particularly when a throne is involved; that is especially true for any woman who marries Jonathan. Should something happen to the King, gods forbid it, and to Jon, there are no close Conté relatives. Roger would have inherited had he lived—I know, that’s what he planned!—but there was no one to succeed Roger. His father died when he was a boy; his mother died giving him birth.”
“Like mine,” whispered Alanna.
Myles nodded. “Sadly, it often happens. Roger’s sole close relative was the King. The Contés rarely have large families,” he added with a sigh. “Now there are only third and fourth cousins. It means civil war if Jon dies without an heir.”
Alanna had nothing to say to this: Myles had confirmed her fears. She fought down panic, thinking, I’m not ready to have children!
“What?” Myles had spoken again.
“I said, did you accept Jonathan?”
“I still need to think about it.”
“You do?” The man was obviously surprised. “The way he’s been acting, I thought you said yes.”
“Are you serious?”
“I see you together often enough. If he weren’t sure of you, I should think he’d spend more time wooing you, winning you over. Well, perhaps I’m wrong. I’m not omnipotent.” Myles picked up Faithful and deposited the cat on his lap, stroking the animal’s ears with gentle fingers. “Why are you still considering, if I may ask?”
“You remember what I said, about maybe Jon wanting to marry me for all the wrong reasons?” Myles nodded. “Well, nothing that’s happened since has changed my mind. I know he’s working hard, learning to be the Voice and getting the men of the Bazhir to like him, but when he’s not dealing with them, he seems—well, spoiled. I never really thought he was that way at the palace. Any Prince is somewhat spoiled, of course. Wouldn’t you be, with people buttering you up all the time?”
“I don’t think either of us runs that risk,” Myles said gravely, his eyes dancing.
“Perhaps responsibility would steady Jon,” Alanna admitted with a sigh. “I don’t think he’s a bad person at all; in fact, I think he’s a very good one. But lately I’m not sure if I like him very much. I keep telling myself he’ll get over it, but what if he doesn’t?”
“Many young women would give all they possessed to have your opportunity.” There was no way now to tell what Myles was thinking.
“Not me,” Alanna snapped, fingering the ember-stone. “I’ve been happy since I came here, and I like it. I don’t want to give that up. I don’t want to be well behaved, as a nobleman’s wife should be. The King and Queen would try to make me stop dressing comfortably. They might even try to make me stop healing. I couldn’t go wherever I wanted. No risks, and no adventures.” She blushed with shame. “I love Jon, but I’ve got too many questions to decide to be hurried. I’m not certain I’m ready to marry, even if he is.”
She was astounded to realize the look in her foster-father’s eyes was of pride. “Few people are wise enough to know they might not be ready for such a venture. Too many rush to wed, only to discover they know little about what they’re getting into. I’m pleased to see you put so much thought into this. By the way—I saw George Cooper before I left Corus.”
“How was he?” Alanna wondered why Myles had brought up the King of the Thieves.
“He asked me to tell you he’s moving to Port Caynn for a while. It seems the rogues there have been giving him trouble, so he plans to bring them into line.” Myles drew a crumpled piece of paper from a hidden pocket; it had the address “House Azik, Dog Lane” written on it in George’s scrawl. “He hopes you will visit him, if you can be released from your duties here.”
Alanna folded the paper, her heart leaping. To see George again! The she remembered Jonathan. As the Prince’s bride-to-be, she might never be able to see George alone.
“I doubt if I can visit him,” she announced, getting up. “Excuse me, Myles. I’m taking Moonlight for a run.”
She hurried to the corral and saddled the mare, ignoring her common sense. Although the hillmen had not ventured near Bloody Hawk territory since Ishak’s last battle, they might well be awaiting the chance to pick off a lone rider; it would be wiser to take a companion.