Pieces of Parthalan by Jennifer Allis Provost

Author:Jennifer Allis Provost [Jennifer Allis Provost]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bellatrix Press
Published: 2023-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

***

Wren located her niece and younger sisters in the walled garden, cavorting under Halse’s watchful eye. She spent the day with them, and when Halse herded the girls inside for their bath—Mara included, much to her dismay—Wren stayed with them.

After the girls were clean and had begun getting ready for supper, Queen Ladyslava arrived.

“What is so important about the Highlands?” Wren asked.

The maids glanced at the queen. She nodded for them to continue on. “Why wouldn’t it be important?” Ladyslava countered.

“It’s far away, Gannera has no significant trade with them, and by all accounts no one goes there because it’s a desolate land of stinking swamps and bare mountains,” Wren replied. “Yet the king is determined to marry one of his children to Gannok. Why?”

Ladyslava’s mouth pinched and Wren worried she’d gone too far, but both she and Latera shared the same stubborn streak. Wren lifted her chin and stared at the queen. After a moment, Ladyslava grabbed Wren’s elbow and led her aside.

“Everything you said is true,” Ladyslava began. “The Highlands is an awful land. But do you know what’s on the other side of all those swamps? The sea. The Highlands once had a thriving port, and Harold means to rebuild it.”

“What happened to the port?”

Ladyslava shrugged. “That, I do not know. But Harold’s father dreamed of getting his hands on those harbors, as did his father before him, and as soon as Latera was born, plans for her to marry into the Highlands were set in motion.”

“Fa—the king can’t still think that will happen,” Wren said.

“He has well and truly given up that dream,” the queen said. “What he wants now—which is why I suspect Latera isn’t here with us at the moment—is for Gannok to marry one of my younger girls, and to name Latera as his heir.”

“Isn’t Latera already his heir?” Wren asked, then her gaze traveled toward her younger sisters. None of them were of age, and none of them deserved a life bound to Gannok. “Which girl?”

Ladyslava squeezed her eyes shut. “Sasha.”

“What? No!” Sasha was the youngest of Ladyslava and Harold’s children.

“Yes. Harold plans to have her sent to the Highlands for fostering, and when she’s of age, she’ll marry the prince.” The queen faced the wall. “This is also my punishment.”

“Why are you being punished?” Wren demanded, forgetting again that one doesn’t make demands of a queen.

“Because I have no sons,” she replied. “Four children, all girls. Did you know that Gannok has many sisters? He’s the only son. Harold wanted two marriages, you see.”

Wren stepped back, amazed that her own father would be so cruel to not only his children, but his wife as well. “I’ve always known he’s my father. No one ever tried to keep that from me. I grew up hearing stories about my brave and wise father, a king that all the land adored.” She faced the queen. “Are any of those stores true?”

Ladyslava smiled, sadly. “No, Wren. I’m afraid they’re not.”

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