Elantris - Brandon Sanderson [200]
“Well?” Sarene asked.
“Telrii definitely intends to take the throne,” Lukel said.
“Not with my legion backing Roial, he won’t,” Eondel said.
“Unfortunately, my dear general,” Ahan said, settling his bulk into a chair, “your legion isn’t here. You have barely a dozen men at your disposal.”
“It’s more than Telrii has,” Sarene pointed out.
“Not anymore, it isn’t,” Ahan said. “The Elantris City Guard left their posts to set up camp outside Telrii’s mansion.”
Eondel snorted. “The Guard is hardly more than a club for second sons who want to pretend they’re important.”
“True,” Ahan said. “But there are over six hundred people in that club. At fifty-to-one odds, even I would fight against your legion. I’m afraid the balance of power has shifted in Telrii’s favor.”
“This is bad,” Roial agreed. “Telrii’s superior wealth was a great problem before, but now …”
“There’s got to be a way,” Lukel said.
“I don’t see one,” Roial confessed.
The men frowned, deep in thought. However, they had all been pondering this very problem for two days. Even if they’d had the military edge, the other aristocrats would be hesitant to support Roial, who was the less wealthy man.
As Sarene studied each lord in turn, her eyes fell on Shuden. He seemed hesitant rather than worried.
“What?” she asked quietly.
“I think I may have a way,” he said tentatively.
“Speak on, man,” Ahan said.
“Well, Sarene is still very wealthy,” Shuden explained. “Raoden left her at least five hundred thousand deos.”
“We discussed this, Shuden,” Lukel said. “She has a lot of money, but still less than Roial.”
“True,” Shuden agreed. “But together they would have far more than Telrii.”
The room grew quiet.
“Your marriage contract is technically void, my lady,” Ashe said from behind. “It dissolved as soon as Iadon killed himself, thereby removing his line from the throne. The moment someone else becomes king—be it Telrii or Roial—the treaty will end, and you will cease to be an Arelish princess.”
Shuden nodded. “If you unify your fortune with that of Lord Roial, it would not only give you the money to stand against Telrii, it would also legitimize the duke’s claim. Don’t assume that lineage doesn’t matter in Arelon. The nobles would much rather give their loyalty to one of Iadon’s relatives.”
Roial found her with eyes like those of a benevolent grandfather. “I must admit that young Shuden has a point. The marriage would be strictly political, Sarene.”
Sarene took a breath. Things happened so quickly. “I understand, my lord. We will do what must be done.”
And so, for the second time in only two months, Sarene was engaged to be married.
“That wasn’t very romantic, I’m afraid,” Roial apologized. The meeting was over, and Roial had discreetly offered to escort Sarene back to the palace. The others, including Ashe, had realized that the two needed to talk alone.
“It’s all right, my lord,” Sarene said with a slight smile. “That is how political marriages are supposed to be—dry, contrived, but extremely useful.”
“You’re very pragmatic.”
“I have to be, my lord.”
Roial frowned. “Must we return to the ‘my lords,’ Sarene? I thought we were beyond that.”
“I’m sorry, Roial,” Sarene said. “It’s just hard to separate my personal self from my political self.”
Roial nodded. “I meant what I said, Sarene. This will be strictly a union of convenience—do not fear yourself obligated in any other way.”
Sarene rode quietly for a moment, listening to the horse’s hooves clop in front of them. “There will need to be heirs.”
Roial laughed quietly. “No, Sarene. Thank you, but no. Even if such were physically possible, I couldn’t go through with it. I am an old man, and can’t possibly survive more than a few years. This time, your wedding contract won’t forbid you from remarrying after I die. When I’m gone, you can finally choose a man of your own preference—by then we will have replaced Iadon’s silly system with something more stable, and your children with the third husband will inherit the throne.”
Third husband. Roial spoke as if he were already