Hearts in Cups Read Free

mother, had disgraced herself in her family's eyes
many years ago by eloping with a commoner. Hollin remembered her arrival at the
gates of Castle Lir some years later, straight-backed and proud with a face
betraying her imminent death and a young boy with defiant eyes at her side. Her
husband had died in an accident and the grief of it had wasted her until she
was forced to bestow her only child on her brother's doorstep before she
herself died. Only after she was buried did her father relent, forgiving her and
naming her son his heir. Ian had been raised between his grandfather's house
and his uncle's at Castle Lir. Grandfather and grandson had been at loggerheads
from the start and, Hollin reflected, similarities of temperament had as much
to do with their problems as did exterior forces. Both had fierce loyalties and
stubbornness of purpose.
    "Aside from that
old story," Ian went on, regaining his self-possession, "I have been
to a great many banquets and heard much gossip these last few weeks. The
general consensus in Creon is that the crown must be secured in order to keep
the Pentarchy from dissolution. Branwilde has supported Lord Percamber's
regency in the past but he is growing uneasy. He is a soldier and wants a
commander to follow. Apparently forces outside the Pentarchy, meaning I suspect
the Kassorian Empire, are beginning to show an interest in the current state of
the Pentarchy. The duke is unreservedly loyal and won't move against Percamber,
but he wants a permanent king on the throne and recognized heirs to it."
    "You seem to know
much of the duke's personal thoughts for someone who was only listening to idle
gossip."
    "I listened and
did a lot of reading between the lines. Grandfather and the duke talked a good
deal within my earshot. Now, as to the smaller lords and landholders in Creon,
they will do whatever Branwilde commands. But, they are feeling insecure and
insecure men look for simple solutions.
    "Mirvanovir is a
trickier kettle of fish. It is my opinion that Niall and Rashara want the
throne with themselves on it. It's not said in the open of course, and neither
of them is so stupid as to put on anything but a loyal face, but there were too
many little things said and done that point to that conclusion. From his
letter, I see that Percamber is also wary about them. Niall is good at choosing
greedy men to do his bidding and he holds his duchy in a very tight fist.
 And Rashara? Selfish men are bad, but an avaricious woman who wants power
can be terrible."
    "I should have
thought Rashara was far too interested in herself and her pleasures to take
much interest in the rest of the world."
    "Don't
underestimate her, Holly. She spent several years studying at the Scholastium
in Dacara before marrying the duke. I think she could be a powerful and
dangerous foe," Ian replied severely.
    "I shall keep that
in mind," Hollin replied with mock-contrition. "You have told me that
there is unrest and speculation about the throne, but where do I come into this
play? Why are you so certain that I am viewed as the stepping stone?"
    "To begin with,
your aunt was Lady Bronwyn, who was the late king's first cousin by
blood."
    "Gervase Iscoed
and his sister Genvra are more closely related," she countered. "Lady
Bronwyn was their mother."
    "True, but nothing
would ever induce Gervase to leave Iscoed and Genvra is married into House
Pentarell. I've told you that there are a lot of ambitions involved. Gervase
has no ambitions, at least none beyond his own comfort and seclusion. House
Pentarell might think of using Genvra to make a claim of their own, but they
are a Minor House and I doubt Roraic Danane would allow them to use his wife in
that way.
    "The second reason
that you are at the top of a lot of lists, as I mentioned earlier, is this
matter of your prior handfasting to the prince. This gives you two direct links
to House Sandovar and the throne. Thirdly, you are as yet still unmarried. Need
I remind you that all of