Page 236 of The Crown's Awakening
I pause. “However, he is Fyrekin. He is sovereign of Shalvar. He is tied to Alarna through me. And, most of all, he is not a feeder and the country has historically been ruled by one. The council will adamantly object to him taking over the throne.”
Kentan watches me more closely now.
"No one will question Fiorakis's claim,” I say quietly.
I let that sit between us.
"She is our firstborn. She is a feeder. One is produced in a generation, if at all. Her claim is not something Sevrin can argue without undermining his own bloodline."
Wyn leans forward slightly. "And Colsar?"
“We plan to take Veynar regardless. But we must first learn Morrath,” I say, looking at all of them. “Morrath is currently the greatest threat to almost every country in the Thronelands. It is controlled by Veynar but geographically it is dangerously close to Alarna.”
“We must learn what Morrath is hiding that is dangerous enough to keep locked. Who truly controls it. And how we can access it without feeder blood.”
“Yes,” Kentan says. “Currently the only humans who access it are those cursed by deathmagic from the Yorali king as punishment.”
“What if the king proves unstable before then?” Trophi asks carefully.
“Then Colsar will ascend as king,” I say. There is no hesitation in it. "If Sevrin’s judgment continues to falter, or if his intentions toward Morrath are not what they should be, then we take Rathmor. Quickly, and aggressively.”
Silence follows.
"What remains," I say, quieter now but no less certain, "is that in either outcome Kiss must be named heir."
“It is already decided,” I say with finality.
Enovar's expression moves. "Veynar will not ignore that."
"They cannot afford to," I reply. "They know what she is. They know what she represents. If she is not named heir to Rathmor, they risk losing her entirely."
"To Alarna," Wyn says.
"Or elsewhere," I reply.
Kentan exhales softly. "You intend to corner him."
"I intend to give him the opportunity to choose correctly." I pause. “I will give him the chance to act before I do.”
I turn to Trophi.
“As for Mysin and Yvara, Sevrin should have already punished them. That was his responsibility long before this became mine."
Trophi shifts slightly behind Wyn. "Regardless of my status now," I say, "I was the princess of Veynar when the assault took place. He does not get to ignore that. He does not get to pretend it was anything less than what it was."
Enovar's expression darkens. "So I will give him the choice," I finish. "He can act as king and administer punishment himself." A brief pause. "Or I will do it for him."
I pause. “And if he denies my daughter what she is owed, he will find I am capable of far worse than he has imagined.”
Silence follows.
Then, slowly, Trophi nods once. "He will name her."
"Yes," I say. "He will."
The dice remain untouched. The route to Veynar lies open before us, and for the first time since leaving it I am not thinking about returning. I am thinking about what I will do when I arrive.
I rise.
