The other lands

"By now Mena must have rid the Halaly of the beast in the lake," Rhre

"I truly hope so," Saden said. "It will refill as it always has. I was wondering about a different matter. The Eilavan Woodlands were sorely taxed by the harvest of timber. First-rate lumber, of course, and invaluable to a nation that needed to rebuild after war. The demand remains high, and the replanting efforts have barely begun. Might you-oh, I don't know-make the trees grow back faster?"

Inwardly, Cori

Rhre

"We are one of the many families, yes, but-"

"So you've had more than enough time to learn to manage it properly. The queen does not act to fulfill the personal interests of the few." Rhre

"Forgive us," Talinbeck said. "We just don't know what you're capable of. We don't know how you do the things you do. If you explain it to us, we'll know and-"

Cori

But then Julian, the Council's most senior member, cleared his throat and motioned that he would speak. He was the only one of the group who had been a member of Leodan's Council. Quite notoriously, he was on record as having doubted that Thasren Mein's attack on King Leodan had really meant Hanish was launching a war. He had been wrong about that, but he had been right in managing to stay alive long enough to see another Akaran rise to rule. It was for that co

"I hope you don't mind my mentioning it, Your Majesty," Julian said, his voice tremulous. "I know it's a delicate matter and wholly up to you to consider, but I would be remiss… if I didn't bring up the topic of your betrothal. The topic is discussed openly on Alecia. Openly, in truth. Some have even written asking me to speak with you about it."

Yes, Cori

Julian blinked. For a moment he looked as if he had forgotten, but then it came back, and he spoke as if surely he had described it all to her before-as, indeed, he had. "Why, they wish you to wed, of course! They've even commissioned a team of scholars to look into the lineages of all the eligible Agnates. There's quite a list, I assure you. Should you be interested, I could have it for you-"

Cori

"New or old, it makes no difference," Saden answered. "The recent Agnate appointments stand as solidly as the old. All the same now, as it has to be."

"Does that strike you as true, Jason?"

Her former tutor started in his seat. He had not said a word yet other than reading one of the earlier accounting reports, and would probably have been content with that. Whatever things he had seen during his years of hiding during Hanish's rule had crippled him. Creases carved his face and white strands outnumbered the brown in his hair, though he was just past forty. Sometimes, feeling his eyes studying her when she was not looking at him, Cori

Jason answered, "I don't doubt that the old Agnates will forever remember that they are, in fact, more ancient lines; but in point of fact in the law Senator Saden is correct." His fingers trembled when he gestured with them. "Your list of possible suitors-should you choose to consider it-is larger this way. Easier to find a suitable match, one that none would contest."

"I see." Cori

A cacophony of denials. Voices raised in complaint, so ardent that Cori

Once he reached seventeen, she could step aside and see him crowned king. After that, none would challenge him. A ruling queen always had the option to step aside for a mature son. Cori

The councillors were still squawking when she decided to change the subject once more. Cutting in to the conversation, she said, "I will not discuss this anymore today. If I choose to wed, you'll hear about it promptly, but my marital situation is not to be decided at Council." Several of the councillors looked ready to take exception to that, but she spoke over them. "Here is a thing I wish to speak of: we will bring horse culture back to the center of the empire."

The room fell silent.

Sire Dagon plucked his pipe from the corner of his lips. "Horse culture?"

"Exactly."

"And what horse culture would that be, Your Majesty?"

"Surely, all in this room know of Acacia's ancient traditions of equine excellence. I've been giving it a deal of thought, consulting with knowledgeable individuals, and I've concluded that we should bring the noble practice back into the mainstream of Acacian culture."

The truth was somewhat simpler than that. Aaden had given her the idea while they were riding in Talay. He had observed, quite casually, "One is taller on horseback. I like being taller." Watching him ride away, upright and easy in the saddle, reins held correctly as he had been taught, Cori