Kingdom of Sea and Stone (Crown of Coral and Pearl #2) - Mara Rutherford Page 0,88
with Ceren tomorrow. I know it’s unlikely he’ll be willing to discuss surrender, but I think it’s worth trying.”
“My son would never allow it,” Talia said, echoing Adriel. “And while I may not approve of his relationship with you, I also won’t go behind his back.”
“You don’t approve?”
Her head tilted, a sympathetic smile on her lips. “You’re both so young.”
“No younger than you were when you married.”
“That wasn’t by choice. And as much as I hate to say it, I’m afraid Talin may not be free to choose, either. To strengthen Ilara, Talin will need to marry a princess from another kingdom. Otherwise we’ll remain as weak as we’ve been for centuries.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You married into the royal family,” I said. “Your lineage is no better than mine.”
“Of course not. But look where that got us. I’m fortunate my children grew up healthy, given how weak their father was, but we need to make ties with other kingdoms to improve our standing in the world. Kuven, perhaps, might have a suitable match for my son.”
Seeing Zoi on the throne was never going to be enough for her, I realized. She wanted power, just like every other Ilarean royal. The echoes of the Varenian origin story—of Princess Ilara, being forced to marry a neighboring ruler for power and wealth, rather than the prince she loved—were so strong she couldn’t fail to see them. “Talin will never forgive you if you force him into a marriage he doesn’t want.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I’ll make a deal with you, child. I’ll allow you to meet with Ceren tomorrow, with a dozen soldiers to protect you, behind my only son’s back.”
“If?”
“If you promise to let him go.”
I shrank back at her words. I wasn’t sure I was ready for marriage, but I also wasn’t ready to bargain away my future with Talin. “I can’t make that promise. I won’t.”
“I know I’m asking a lot of you. It’s clear to me that you love him. But do you really want to spend the rest of your life as a royal wife, with no real freedom of your own?”
I flinched involuntarily, and she eagerly seized on my weakness.
“Any girl who dares what you have dared, who risks everything for the possibility of adventure, isn’t going to be happy spending her time in a cage, no matter how beautiful it may be.”
“Talin wouldn’t ask that of me,” I whispered, my eyes pricking with tears.
“Talin will do what it takes to ensure his kingdom’s future.” She reached out for my hand. I was too stunned to stop her. “Sleep on it. If we’re going to arrange a meeting with Ceren, it needs to be tomorrow.” She glanced at Zoi, who had slept soundly through our conversation. “Let me know your decision by noon tomorrow, Nor. Otherwise we’ll have no choice but to attack New Castle, and once the battle has begun, I can’t guarantee that anyone will be safe.”
25
I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night, but I didn’t go to Talin, either. How could I force him to choose between his mother and me when he’d risked so much to get both of us back?
I woke Zadie before dawn and asked her to come speak with me in the courtyard. I needed her advice before I made any decisions.
“You can’t go through with this, you know.” Zadie watched me as I picked up a pebble from the gravel courtyard and threw it as hard as I could. It bounced harmlessly off a stone wall, as ineffective as I would be if I went up against Talia.
“I can’t just let Talia attack New Castle, not when there’s even the slightest chance that I can prevent it.”
“Talin will be crushed by the betrayal. And besides, it isn’t safe.” Zadie wore a new gown that Ebb had found for her, and her hair was braided in one of the intricate styles she’d worn back in Varenia. I couldn’t help noticing that she looked more herself than I’d ever seen her.
I’d settled for a simple dress with split skirts and a soft corset. Gowns felt restrictive and wrong, but I didn’t feel right strutting around in riding leathers like a Galethian. At least I could ride or run, if I had to.
“Talia said she’d send a dozen of her soldiers with me. I can’t imagine even Ceren would attack an emissary on the battlefield.”